It s Time to Raise Your Voice!

Transcription

1 The Iris JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Vol 31 Issue 1 Wisconsin The State s Voice on Mental Illness IN THIS ISSUE Poetry by Crystal Hester 2 3 Reasons to Come to the Annual Conference 2016! 3 Affiliate Highlights 4 Snapshot of CIT in Mental Health Advocates Role in LGBT Issues Federal Budget Includes $400 Million for Mental Health NAMI Wisconsin Rolls out Voices in Action Training 7 Interpreting Trauma in Our Lives 9 Family Program Teachers & Group Facilitators Gather Barbara L. Jacobs Receives Claire Ryan Award 10 NAMI WISCONSIN 4233 W BELTLINE HWY MADISON, WI (608) (800) NAMIWISCONSIN.ORG NAMI Wisconsin is an Affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness 2016 NAMI Wisconsin. All Rights Reserved. It s Time to Raise Your Voice! As many of you are aware, 1 in 5 youth, ages 14-24, are living with a mental illness but far too many suffer in silence. The delay between onset of symptoms and intervention is 8-10 years. This lag is largely due to the lack of mental health support and education that is provided for youth and their families. Consequently, half of students with mental illness drop out of school, end up in our juvenile justice system or die by suicide (which is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24). The high school years and the transition from high school to college are critical periods in the lives of young people. State and federal priorities have identified a significant need to expand services and interventions for transition age youth and provide early intervention for first episode psychosis. But, a gap remains giving a voice to the young people themselves. There is not an integrated statewide initiative to cultivate youth leaders in the area of mental health in Wisconsin. Only one other state in the nation, California, has developed a statewide youth mental health leadership curriculum. In 2016, NAMI Wisconsin will be part of the solution by launching a new youth movement, Raise Your Voice, which empowers youth to create a new conversation about mental health. We will provide young Continued on page 8 NAMI Releases State Legislation Report NAMI s third annual report, State Mental Health Legislation 2015: Trends, Themes and Effective Practices, tracks state mental health budgets and identifies legislative trends across the country. The report provides both a summary of leading mental health legislation and appendices with links to legislation grouped by topic. To see the full report, go to org/statereport. In 2015, many states enacted innovative bills that can serve as models to improve mental health service delivery. However, the overall investment in state mental health budgets continues to decline. State Mental Health Budgets Fiscal Year NAMI s report notes whether state mental health budgets are increasing, decreasing or merely maintaining Continued on page 8

2 HOPE AND RECOVERY POETRY BY CRYSTAL HESTER A Happy Girl An Intelligent girl will use her knowledge to benefit herself and those around her. A Loving girl will share her warmth with each new person she meets. A Wise girl will not concentrate on what s in front of her, but what lies beyond. An Esteemed girl will show respect for others by first showing respect for herself. An Honest girl will know the value of saying and doing what s right, even if it s not what s easy. An Educated girl will plant the seeds that will nurture new minds to grow. An Empowered girl will stand up for injustices she sees in her community. A Patient girl will remember that struggles and hardships are part of the journey. A Humble girl will never boast about her position, because she knows the path that brought her there. A Strong girl will rise up from the ashes and defeat what has made her weak. And a Happy girl is the sweetest of them all. Because a happy girl will grow up to be a happy woman. And a happy woman, by this time, has already spread her sunshine to the entire world. I Am the Phoenix All of life is a game of loss and gain. The universe needs both to be in balance in order to keep turning. One is no more essential than the other, yet the side effects of loss can be so extreme. Loss by death, by betrayal, by abandonment. Loss dances with heartache, broken dreams and broken promises. It leaves us shattered, blinking, empty, burned and left to wonder what hit us. How long we stay down varies each time. But through my personal losses, I ve learned one very important thing: the end result of loss is magical. It allows us to rise up out of the ashes like a phoenix fierce, tremendous, free! A phoenix rises stronger and mightier blazing and illuminating the sky. It rages and sears, blistering all it touches. It is faster, more resilient and harder to shoot down. Try if you will, the light it radiates cannot be put out. Its strength is powered by weakness. Its boldness fueled by pain. Like a bird in a cage, when released, it soars! The phoenix rises up and sees no end to its ascension. It is simply ON FIRE, raging beautiful fire, and no one can smother its flames! Each day I experience a little loss and a little gain, I am poked, prodded and kindled like the last flame of a fire about to give in and be suffocated. All in preparation for the day I will rise up again! 2 namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

3 3 Reasons to Come to the Annual Conference 2016! The mission of NAMI Wisconsin is to improve the quality of life of people affected by mental illness and to promote recovery. NAMI Wisconsin will accomplish its mission through the following: Establishing local Affiliates in keeping with NAMI National s principles and guidelines. INSPIRATION This conference has energy, the type of energy that spreads throughout the crowd like wildfire. When one flame is sparked, all become inspired to make a change, whether it be within their own life, the life of a loved one, their community or their job. You will leave feeling invigorated to not only advocate, support and educate but also to enhance your life and the lives of others. STRENGTH Strengthen your mind, body and spirit through hands-on learning and opportunities for growth in whatever role you play in mental health. Become a stronger force for yourself and for others by gaining knowledge, building a network and lifting your spirit. Uncover your potential to be your best self. Supporting Affiliates by providing follow-up advice and counsel, educational and training programs and materials, access to financial resources as appropriate, conferences, seminars, and presentations. Advocating at all levels of government and throughout the public sector. Promoting public education and understanding of mental illnesses. CONNECTION The very theme of this conference is connection, the kind of connection that is supportive and empowers you to assume meaningful roles in your community. We want you to feel more hopeful and engaged in life and you can do that side by side with others who work towards the same cause and feel just as passionate as you do. Early bird pricing goes through Feb. 29. Conference registration is available online at namiwisconsin.org/annual-conference. Exhibit, advertise and sponsorship opportunities are also available. Call for more information. CALL FOR IRIS AWARD NOMINATIONS! Do you know an outstanding leader who deserves to be recognized? We want to hear from you! Each year, NAMI Wisconsin s Board of Directors selects people to recognize at the statewide Annual Conference. Recognition awards are given to people who stand out in their efforts, contributions and dedication to improve the quality of life of people affected by mental illness and to promote recovery. This newsletter is published six times per year. The views expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily those of our officers or funding sources. Submissions are due by February 10. To see a full list of Iris Award categories and to download a nomination form, go to namiwisconsin.org/annual-conference. namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY

4 AFFILIATE HIGHLIGHTS Q: What was your biggest success of 2015 and what is your goal for 2016? 4 NAMI BARRON COUNTY 2015: We held a 5k walk/run fundraiser with which we were able to finance a 16-week Public Service Announcement supplied by NAMI, to be shown as an ad in our local movie theatre and on the public access television channel in the Rice Lake area. 2016: We would like to continue developing our working relationship with the local schools and improve our connections with the faith community and service providers. NAMI BROWN COUNTY 2015: We trained 180 Brown County Sherriff s Department guards at the jail about mental illness. It was an 8 hour training offered on 6 different days. 2016: We hope to increase visibility about NAMI Brown County and subsequently, our membership. NAMI DANE COUNTY 2015: The highlight of 2015 has been our success in expanding programs including Ending the Silence and CIP. 2016: Our goal is to expand and initiate more CIP and CIT trainings in Dane County. NAMI DODGE COUNTY 2015: We presented two signature programs Parents and Teachers as Allies and NAMI Family-to-Family and held 3 fundraisers. 2016: We will concentrate on growing our membership and adding new board members and volunteers with the goal of adding diversity of experience and qualifications to our expanding team. NAMI DOOR COUNTY 2015: This has been a year of self-study for our board. We worked on a strategic plan which resulted in forming an ad-hoc merger committee. We are looking at merging JAK s Place with a larger non-profit organization with a similar mission statement. 2016: On February 14 we will celebrate our 10 th Annual Love Festival! namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NAMI DOUGLAS COUNTY-WI 2015: We had our very first steering committee meeting in September and achieved affiliate status in December. 2016: One of our goals for 2016 is to bring Ending the Silence to our local schools. NAMI FOND DU LAC 2015: We appreciate the new and continuing memberships, and take pride in now offering NAMI Peerto-Peer in our community. 2016: We hope to educate our youth with NAMI Ending the Silence before signs/symptoms become cumbersome. NAMI GREATER MILWAUKEE 2015: We provided 3 CIT trainings for the Milwaukee County Sheriff s Dept., 4 CIT trainings for the West Allis Police Dept. which included officers from 4 additional area municipal police departments and we partnered with the Milwaukee Police Dept. to provide 8 CIT trainings, totaling over 425 officers receiving the training. 2016: One exciting goal we have is to establish a Court Support and Advocacy Program modeled after the success of NAMI Waukesha s program to assist individuals and families going through the Chapter 51 commitment process. NAMI GREEN COUNTY 2015: In addition to fulfilling requirements for NAMI re-affiliation, NAMI Green County had another terrific fund raising year through its participation in NAMI Walks. 2016: We ll focus on how best to invest our funds in mental health while driving awareness for our affiliate. NAMI KENOSHA 2015: Thank you to all the volunteers who made this year s NAMI fundraiser, Christmas Party, support groups and Familyto-Family Class such a success. 2016: Our goal is to have all the high school sophomores in Kenosha County experience the NAMI signature program Ending the Silence. NAMI LA CROSSE COUNTY 2015: We merged with NAMI Vernon County, strengthening two affiliates in leadership, financial and membership support. Kathy Rohr and Barb Martinez from Vernon County have been tremendous assets to our team. 2016: We plan to continue to increase membership in both La Crosse and Vernon County areas to enhance our efforts in decreasing the stigma of mental illness. NAMI MANITOWOC 2015: We had our updated bylaws approved and policies and procedures manual updated and approved as part of the re-affiliation process. 2016: Our goal is to offer a signature NAMI program to our community. NAMI MONROE COUNTY 2015: We began a Mental Illness Recovery Support group that is very well attended. 2016: We hope Continued on page 8

5 PROGRAM FOCUS CIT facilitation 10 team locations CIT&CIP Wisconsin Newsletter: Bring Wisconsin s Crisis Community Together Hello to all the Wisconsin CIT/CIP community members and partners! We are excited to announce Wisconsin s first CIT/CIP Newsletter. This quarterly newsletter provides CIT/CIP highlights and focuses on what is happening in the state. It will include updates and information on local NAMIs and spotlight CIP in the DOC and specific officers and communities. To receive the CIT&CIP Wisconsin Newsletter and stay connected with the crisis community, please visit citwisconsin.org. STAY CONNECTED! Get the latest updates in mental health news and research. Follow NAMI Wisconsin on social media! In hosted 23 CIT trainings 14 CIP trainings reaching 900 What s ahead for CIP Coordinator 1 at the DOC Police Officers First Responders Correctional Staff And more... NAMI Wisconsin is working with NAMI Northern Lakes to establish a CIT facilitation team and location. There is also invested interest from Chippewa, Portage and Wood, Marathon, Rock and Walworth Counties. Keep up the great work everyone! NAMI Wisconsin s Local Affiliates: Barron: (715) Brown: (920) Chippewa Valley: (715) (Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire) Dane: (608) Dodge: (920) x217 Door: (920) Douglas: (715) Fond du Lac: (920) Fox Valley: (920) (Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca, Winnebago) Green: (608) Jefferson: (920) Kenosha: (262) La Crosse: (608) Manitowoc: (920) Marinette (WI) & Menominee (MI): (715) Milwaukee: (414) Monroe: (608) Northern Lakes: (715) (Vilas, Oneida, Forest) Northwoods: (715) (Marathon, Lincoln, Langlade) Oshkosh: (920) (Winnebago) Ozaukee: (262) Portage/Wood: (715) Racine: (262) Rock: (800) Sauk: (608) Southwest Wisconsin: (608) (Grant, Iowa, Crawford) St. Croix Valley: (715) (St. Croix, Pierce) Trempealeau: (608) UW Madison: (262) Vernon: (608) Walworth: (262) Washington: (262) Waukesha: (262) namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY

6 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES Mental Health Advocates Role in LGBT Issues Mental health advocates work in a variety of roles with many different populations. The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community is one that includes an incredibly diverse group of people with unique challenges to accessing mental health services and support. Learn about an assembly bill currently in legislature along with some basic facts and information on the bill s potential harm. 6 On October 30, AB 469 (which has become known as the transgender bathroom bill) was introduced in the state legislature. The bill, if passed, would require public school districts to clearly identify and separate bathrooms and changing rooms according to sex. In turn, it would ban transgender and gender non-conforming pupils from using the facilities of the gender which they identify with, denying basic rights to use the school facilities with which they feel most comfortable. At the public hearing, hundreds of LGBT youth, educators and advocates turned up to testify on the damaging effects the bill may have on the health and wellbeing of developing youth, including depression, gender dysphoria, urinary tract infections, stigma and discrimination. LGBTQ individuals are almost 3 times more likely than others to experience a mental health condition. The fear of coming out and being discriminated against for sexual orientation and gender identities can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression or generalized anxiety disorder. LGBTQ people must confront stigma and prejudice based on their sexual orientation or gender identity while also dealing with the societal bias against mental health conditions. This community is at a higher risk for suicide because they may lack peer support and face harassment, mental health conditions and substance abuse. For LGBTQ people aged 10 24, suicide is one of the leading causes of death. LGBTQ youth are 4 times more likely and questioning youth are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide, experience suicidal thoughts or engage in self-harm than straight people. Between 38-65% of transgender individuals experience suicidal ideation. LGBTQ young people face fear, hatred and prejudice in school, with friends, in the community and at home. LGBTQ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than the general population. Additionally, LGBTQ youth struggle in coming out to family members, friends, classmates and teachers, especially those that are not accepting of the LGBTQ community. Due to many of the above factors, an estimated 20-30% of LGBTQ people abuse substances, compared to about 9% of the general population. The history of mental health treatment of LGBTQ populations is an uneasy one. In the 1950s and 60s, many psychiatrists believed that homosexuality, as well as bisexuality, was a mental illness. Gay men and lesbians were often subjected to treatment against their will, including forced hospitalizations, aversion therapy and electroshock therapy. Learn more terminology at: namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 TAKE ACTION! NAMI Wisconsin s mission is to improve the quality of life of people affected by mental illness and to promote recovery. We believe that with the right treatment and support, everyone is capable and everyone deserves this! If you care about LGBT issues as they relate to mental health, call and let your legislator know. Find your legislator and their contact information here: maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/ Talking Points Tell your legislator: As your constituent, I care about mental health legislation that affects the LGBT community. I believe we all deserve the same access to care and support in our communities. I am calling on you to be a leader in making Wisconsin a safe, inclusive and healthy place to live for all citizens! Please support legislation that has these ideals in mind. Thank you. Call NAMI Wisconsin To learn more about specific bills being introduced in our state legislature that may impact the LGBT community, contact the Advocacy Coordinator at NAMI Wisconsin. You can also learn more about what is happening on the national level by visiting the resources provided at: nami.org/find-support/lgbtq

7 AROUND THE STATE AND NATION 2016 Federal Budget Includes $400 Million for Mental Health The House and Senate passed and the President signed the $1.1 trillion 2016 budget bill (HR 2029) on Friday, Dec. 18. The great news is this budget bill includes important new investments in mental illness research and services including: An increase of $50 million for the State Mental Health Block Grant program administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), with 10% of these funds designated as a set aside for funding early intervention programs for people with serious mental illness, an increase from the current 5% set-aside. NAMI, in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), held a Congressional briefing in October to focus attention on the promise of First Episode Psychosis (FEP) programs and to ask Congress for this increase in funding. An increase of $85.4 million in funding for biomedical and services research at NIMH. Total funding for NIMH in FY 2016 will be increased to $1,548,390,000, a vital investment in research to advance understanding of the causes of mental illness and to identify new treatments for these conditions. An increase of $1.5 million for Criminal Justice/Mental Health Collaboration grants funded through the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. This program, whose total funding will be $10 million in fiscal year 2016, provides vital grants to states and communities to support jail diversion, mental health courts, law enforcement training, and community reentry programs for people with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders involved with criminal justice systems. This bill clearly demonstrates recognition by the Committee that wise investments in mental health services and research benefit people with mental illness, families, and the nation as a whole, said Mary Giliberti, NAMI Executive Director, in a statement applauding the agreement. We are particularly grateful for the agreement s increased funding for early intervention in the treatment of psychosis, funding for research at the National Institute for Mental Health, and investments in vital services and supports that can prevent negative consequences such as homelessness and incarceration. NAMI is grateful for the efforts of key bipartisan leaders in Congress in bringing about these important investments including Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representatives Tom Cole (R- OK) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). NAMI Wisconsin Rolls Out Voices in Action Training for 2016 Everyone can be an advocate! But it can be difficult to know where to start. You may ask yourself a number of questions: Is my story important? What do I want to change? Who has the power to do that? Now there is an answer! This year we are thrilled to make available Voices in Action, a customized version of NAMI Smarts. Whether you are a mental health consumer, family member or services provider, everyone has a story to tell. The hard part is figuring out how to tell it and who your audience should be. Voices in Action is an hour and a half long, step-by-step training that teaches you the skills to effectively write and tell your mental health story in order to inspire change. We are thrilled that it will now be made available on the NAMI Wisconsin website for all to take advantage of. Previously, only a few NAMI leaders in the state were trained in Voices in Action, limiting the audience that could receive it due to time and travel restrictions. Now, the training can be taken in the comfort of your own home in front of your computer screen or as a group at a NAMI affiliate office. All handouts and materials are included and the best part is that it is free. Our hope is that 2016 will inspire a whole new wave of advocates to take action to improve the mental health system in their communities or on the state and national levels. There really is no limit to how far one can create change. For more information, please contact your local affiliate or Crystal Hester, NAMI Wisconsin s Advocacy Coordinator, at or crystal@namiwisconsin.org. Get connected with your local NAMI affiliate at namiwisconsin.org/find-help-near-you. namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY

8 Continued from page 1, It s Time to Raise Your Voice adults the tools they need to end the stigma of mental illness through peer support and education, leadership development and civic advocacy. Youth leaders will emerge who serve the critical function of linking their peers with school and community based mental health supports. As part of this program, NAMI Wisconsin will develop a model program of NAMI high school clubs to support Wisconsin s youth while expanding youth high school education programs like Ending the Silence and Honest, Open and Proud. The high school club curriculum will include leadership trainings to engage youth in mental health education and advocacy. NAMI Wisconsin will also expand NAMI on Campus programs for young adults enrolled in college or technical school with an end goal to get NAMI on Campus clubs on every Wisconsin university campus. Through this initiative it is our hope that youth and their families will recognize early symptoms and be empowered to seek help. Youth will receive early intervention, education and support that will allow them to fulfill their education goals and develop into thriving adults. Investing in youth leadership will enable these future leaders to take control of the conversation and advocate to change the way people in Wisconsin think about youth mental health. Continued from page 1, NAMI Releases State Legislation Report compared to the previous year as an important indicator of a state s commitment to mental health care. Alarmingly, the number of states increasing spending on state mental health budgets shrank for the third year in a row. Wisconsin was one that maintained its budget from the previous year. The report also indicates the current status of state Medicaid expansion decisions. Nationally, half of all adults with mental health conditions received no treatment in the prior year. In states that expand Medicaid eligibility, more people have coverage for the mental health care they need. Medicaid expansion also brings added federal resources that allow state mental health systems to better provide mental health treatment and supports. Wisconsin was a state that did not adopt Medicaid expansion. Now more than ever we need advocates to speak up and let their legislators know what we need to thrive! 8 Continued from page 4, Affiliate Highlights to take a different, more robust, approach to assist family members in Monroe County by promoting our Family-to-Family classes. NAMI NORTHERN LAKES 2015: This year we ramped up two major initiatives to serve the people of Forest, Vilas and Oneida counties. 2016: We will see the fruits of this labor, offering the firstever CIT training in northern Wisconsin AND opening the Northern Lakes Center, a peer-run drop-in center. NAMI NORTHWOODS 2015: We received training and started our first NAMI Family-to-Family. The open discussions contained in the course have definitely been a highlight for us. 2016: Our goal is to grow our membership numbers. NAMI OZAUKEE 2015: Our highlights include offering NAMI Family-to-Family in the spring and fall as well as three CIT trainings and participating in the NAMI Greater Milwaukee Walk and Mel s Pig Roast. 2016: We plan to train additional NAMI Family-to-Family facilitators and reach out to other locations to hold three more CIT trainings. NAMI PORTAGE-WOOD COUNTIES 2015: Our highlight was the response we had from people celebrating Marv s retirement as president and the financial support we ve received. 2016: We plan to expand our outreach, participation and programming for families and peers namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 especially in NAMI signature programs. NAMI RACINE COUNTY 2015: A highlight for us was honoring the work of Luann Simpson, who retired from our agency after 18 years of energetic and dedicated support, education and advocacy within the Racine Community. 2016: We hope to further develop our work surrounding youth mental health and strengthen our services related to peer support. NAMI ROCK COUNTY 2015: We are proud to reveal that we were able to obtain office space, expanded our support groups including the introduction of a Spanish-speaking group, and grew our board from four to 14 members. 2016: We are excited to increase our presence in our communities and spread awareness by offering diverse educational opportunities and fundraising events. NAMI SAUK COUNTY 2015: Our affiliate accomplished a major re-organization, allowing board members to do the tasks to which they are better suited. 2016: Our goals include reinstatement of our 501(c)(3) status and implementing a schedule of fundraising activities. NAMI ST CROIX VALLEY 2015: One highlight is the growth of our Peer Support Group from three members to approximately 10. We have also added wonderful new members to our board! 2016: We hope to expand programming to include some children and their families. NAMI TREMPEALEAU COUNTY 2015: We had a wildly successful MIAW event that helped increase education and reduce stigma in our community. A big thank you to our partners, again, who made this a success. 2016: We are excited to plan a Wellness Fair focused on holistic health and prevention, supporting at least 30 booths and promising to be a fun evening for families, children and youth in May! NAMI WALWORTH COUNTY 2015: We had nine members of our group attend the NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference in Madison, with excellent reporting at our regular meeting in May. 2016: Our goal is to expand and improve our programs and outreach to people in our community who need help, with an improved website and other social media use. NAMI WAUKESHA 2015: We were instrumental in planning and implementing the first Youth Focused CIT and CIP offered in Wisconsin. During 2015 we facilitated a total of 5 week-long CIT s, 2 two-day CIP s and a 1 day Advanced CIT providing training for more than 260 patrol officers and other first responders. 2016: We hope to expand our peer support services to meet the needs of adolescents and transition age youth and young adults.

9 ASK THE DOCTOR Interpreting Trauma in Our Lives BY JOHN BATTAGLIA, MD My uncle Fred (from Australia) was a prisoner in a Japanese war camp during World War 2. He never talked about the experience to anyone, except to say, I ll tell you this much, you learned to eat anything. Even though he didn t talk about it, the experience impacted his life in many ways, not the least of which were horrible nightmares that left him agitated, sweating and yelling during the night even decades later. Trauma has a way of working itself into both your mind and your body, and it is never forgotten. We are just beginning to understand both the psychology and the biology of how trauma permeates our lives. Trauma can be defined as any physical or psychological injury that happens to a person. We all begin to experience trauma the minute we are born, and this continues throughout our lifetime. In fact, our unique personalities can be seen as a combination of our physical selves intertwined with both the rewarding and traumatic experiences of growing up. Trauma and our responses to it make us who we are. Viewed in this way, trauma is essential, and lends credence to the quote that which does not kill us makes us stronger (Friedrich Nietzsche). Nietzsche s quote makes a lot of sense for most adversity we face in our lives. There is a point, however, where trauma becomes a negative force, and that is when trauma significantly impacts the person s life in a damaging way. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs when a person develops a number of physical and psychological symptoms after exposure to one or more traumatic events. Whether or not a person develops PTSD will depend on the nature of the trauma, and the nature of the person. If a person is very strong from a mental health perspective, it will take a large trauma to negatively impact their lives. If a person is suffering from mental illness or is otherwise vulnerable mentally, then sometimes even seemingly small traumas can have damaging effects. Some traumas are so severe, it doesn t matter who the person is undergoing it they will be damaged. Torture, for example, will create PTSD in just about anyone who is exposed to it, even if the person is a Navy Seal. Sometimes the response Our unique personalities can be seen as a combination of our physical selves intertwined with both the rewarding and traumatic experiences of growing up. to trauma is very masked and hard to link to the trauma itself. Many people develop drug and alcohol use disorders because of trauma they cannot cope with. Also, for some people who have been abused in childhood even small traumas in adulthood can trigger reactions that seem out of proportion to the event, however, make perfect sense if you take into account their life history. Trauma affects all of us, whether on a personal, social or societal level. For example, racial injustice, poverty and war can all be traumatic in different ways. Not sure how to respond to those who have experienced trauma? Compassion is always a good approach. As Atticus says to little Boo in To Kill a Mockingbird, you don t really understand a person until you climb into his skin, and walk around in his shoes. trauma-informed care: an intervention and organizational approach that focuses on how trauma may affect an individual s life and their response to receiving behavioral health services. It provides a new perspective where those providing the support shift from asking What is wrong with you? to What has happened to you? This change reduces the blame and shame that some people experience when being labeled and builds an understanding of how the past impacts the present, which effectively makes the connections that progress toward healing and recovery. Want to learn more about Trauma-informed care? Come to the annual conference 2016, where we are excited to welcome Wisconsin s Trauma-Informed Care Coordinator, Scott Webb, as one of our keynote speakers! Webb will explore trauma and its prevalence in society and discuss how the five values of trauma-informed care drive connection and can be applied in both mental health and substance use services. namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY

10 NAMI Wisconsin, Inc W Beltline Hwy Madison, WI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Julianne Carbin, MSW OFFICE STAFF Colleen Rooney Crystal Hester, MSW Dennis Wilder Erin TerBeek Kyira Hauer Stacey Mohr VOLUNTEERS Bob Fox Lindsey Johnson BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Jim Connors Vice-President Thomas Christensen Secretary Katherine Rybak Treasurer Erica Falk-Huzar Members At Large John Battaglia, MD Pat Evers Chris Finnell Rob Golub Lowell Jacobson Kevin Slaby Michael Newton Phone: (608) (800) FAX: (608) nami@namiwisconsin.org 10 namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS FROM NAMI WISCONSIN Family Program Teachers & Group Facilitators Gather for Nov. 14 Summit 44 NAMI family program teachers and group facilitators from 16 affiliates gathered at American Family Training Center, Sun Prairie, for a day of networking, learning, and recognition. The day started with participants identifying common concerns and issues they face in their local volunteer roles. In small groups, teachers and facilitators shared ideas on how to handle issues like program marketing, difficult group situations, and volunteer recruitment. Educational content of the day included handling stress, using digital mental health resources, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, communication, early psychosis treatment, trauma, and living with depression. Thank you to all Wisconsin s family program teachers and facilitators! Barbara L. Jacobs Receives Claire Ryan Award Gail Louise Auerbach (left) and Barbara L. Jacobs (right) Barbara L. Jacobs, NAMI Greater Milwaukee, was presented the Claire Ryan Distinguished Service in Family Education Award at NAMI Wisconsin s 2015 Family Programs Leadership Summit on November 14. Retired NAMI Wisconsin Family Programs Coordinator, Gail Louise Auerbach, presented the award commenting on Barb s 20 year NAMI involvement and transition from teacher in training to experienced state Family to Family State Trainer. Gail said, I loved doing trainings with her! Barb s commitment and passion for training NAMI Family-to-Family teachers has been extraordinary. Family-to-Family teachers continuously praise her instruction style and are grateful for her dedication and support, said Peter Hoeffel, NAMI Greater Milwaukee Executive Director. Beyond being a Family-to-Family instructor, we are grateful for Barb s passion and dedication in facilitating a NAMI Family Support Group which continues to meet every 3 rd Wednesday at Underwood Memorial Baptist Church. Thank you Barb! Barb noted the journey the Jacob family has had with NAMI, I started my involvement with NAMI by participating in a support group on the east side. My husband and I also began attending the monthly education meetings and became friends with some of the people there. My involvement gradually grew as I learned more about NAMI and what it was doing for our community and our country. I started telling my classes at USM about how mental illness affects the family from our personal perspective.

11 FROM THE PRESIDENT I saw recently that Joel Elkes died. In case you don t know, he was considered the father of modern neuropsychopharmacology. He helped shape treatment for schizophrenia in the 50s. Joel Elkes introduced the modern paradigm for psychiatry, it was said of him, and it was a unique blend of neuroscience and humanity. This makes me think of the many of you who fight to keep mental health issues in the public and policy forefront. Out of a lunch meeting in 1977, what Harriet Shetler and Beverly Young discussed eventually became the National Alliance on Mental Illness which now has over 1,000 local affiliates. This was advocacy in action! So much has happened since the 50 s; so much continues to happen, thanks to advocates who have had the courage to speak out on their on personal circumstances and experiences. NAMI Wisconsin s website has an excellent page on advocacy (namiwisconsin.org/what-isadvocacy-dd) in which advocacy is defined as the act of speaking, writing or acting in support of something or someone. It reminds us we have to let elected officials, the media and the general public know what s needed. In light of the seemingly ongoing tragic deaths and the politicians and other groups blaming these deaths on mental illness it is vital to educate the public that people with mental health issues are involved in criminal activity at no greater rate than the population as a whole. It is simply not allowable to let the powers that be to blame these events on mental illness. Now more than ever we need you to advocate for persons who live with mental illness. Jim Connors, President EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S CORNER Do you ever have that feeling that the stars are aligning and things are exactly as they should be? Now is one of those moments for NAMI Wisconsin! We are on the cusp of something extremely exciting and are surrounded by positivity, inspiration and hope. For the last few years our strategic priorities have focused on ways to expand our work with youth and young adults. As you can see on our affiliate page, there is a great desire to expand our efforts with children, youth and families in 2016, which is exactly what we will do. Thanks to a bequest that was left to us by a Wisconsin school teacher, we will launch Raise Your Voice Youth creating a new conversation about mental health that will include the expansion of NAMI on Campus clubs, Ending the Silence and Honest, Open & Proud (high school) as well as the launch of NAMI on Campus High School Clubs. This initiative has come to fruition because of the dedication and creativity of our board, staff and affiliate leaders. I was recently honored by a local magazine as one of their 2016 Women to Watch because of the launch of Raise Your Voice. To be honest, being recognized in this way is a bit uncomfortable for me but I had the opportunity to meet the other women and was truly inspired. To be recognized alongside such talented and influential women whose contributions are strengthening Wisconsin communities is absolutely an honor. It is also exciting to see our work at NAMI Wisconsin get this kind of recognition. I am one small part of the Raise Your Voice initiative and am supported by many other powerful women (and men!) and together we are affecting real change. As we move forward in 2016, I hope you will join us in these efforts. You can support your local affiliate by running NAMI programs for youth, you could attend the youth leadership summit at our state conference or take part in our very first 100 Extraordinary Women event in Madison which will draw supporters from around the state for an evening of celebration and inspiration. More details will emerge in coming months as we welcome our new Youth Engagement Specialist. It is invigorating to see our work expand and merge with other established initiatives. As I step back and look at the year ahead I am filled with hope, knowing that together, we will make a real difference in the way youth talk about and experience mental health and change the future for the better. Julianne Carbin, Executive Director namiwisconsin.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY

12 Wisconsin 4233 W Beltline Hwy, Madison, WI Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No.1731 Madison, WI Return Service Requested Help NAMI Wisconsin bring vital education programs to people affected by mental illness. Yes, I d like to join NAMI: $3 Open Door Membership $35 Individual Membership Yes, I d like to renew my membership: $3 Open Door Membership $35 Individual Membership Yes, I want to support NAMI Wisconsin with the following gift: $250 $100 $50 $25 Other $ Name Address City State Zip Phone: Home Cell Please charge $ to my: Visa MasterCard Acct # Exp. Date / Name on Card Signature Is your donation being made in memory or in honor of someone special? If so, please complete the following: In memory of: In honor of: Address to which we should send recognition of honoree: Donors may be publically acknowledged. Please check here if you prefer your gift to remain anonymous. Be part of the movement that helps families find help and find hope. 88 cents of every dollar you give to NAMI Wisconsin goes directly to program expenses that support Wisconsin residents. Please consider making a gift to NAMI Wisconsin. Your support is tax-deductable and touches the lives of hundreds of families throughout Wisconsin. Consider making a generous gift today. Your membership dues are completely tax-deductible.