The Mental Health Association in North Carolina E-Advocate

The Mental Health Association in North Carolina
E-Advocate

Working for North Carolina’s Mental Health through Advocacy, Education, Service, & Research
February 2008

MHA/NC Headline News…
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 24-March 1

You are invited to join the Mental Health Association in NC and the National Eating Disorders Association (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org) in recognizing Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 24 – March 1, 2008. Young adulthood should be a time of optimism, hope, and idealism. However, many young women and young men wake up each day only to loathe the image peering back at them from the mirror. Body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and dieting (the “Three D’s”) are all too common in our society. Young people who are so filled with potential should not feel “weighed” down by their body size or shape. Together we can make a difference in insuring that our community supports healthy and prosperous young adults who refuse to weigh their self-esteem in pounds on a scale. Remember, eating disorders do not discriminate among age, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, contact Adrian Lovelace at 919-866-3273 or alovelace@mha-nc.org.

The Coalition Forum for NC Governor and Lt. Governor Candidates

The Coalition, of which MHA/NC is an active member, is hosting a Candidate Forum on Monday, February 25th, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the RBC Center in Raleigh. All major party candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor are being invited to attend and participate in this forum. Each candidate will be offered 30-45 minutes to come before those attending the forum and address various issues relating to mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. Candidates will be given time for a brief statement, be given four questions on topics we suggest they address, and will then have some time for moderated audience questions. This is NOT a debate. Candidates will each have their own time slot. Please join us to hear and be heard during this important election year. This event is free and open to the public – registration not necessary. For more information, contact Jennifer Mahan at 919-981-0740 ext 270 or jmahan@mha-nc.org.

MHA/NC Working Toward National Accreditation

The Mental Health Association in NC has created an Accreditation Team, chaired by Dr. Ed Eastman, to work with the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) to fulfill the requirements needed for a successful first-time accreditation. National accreditation is consistent with the goals of system reform and helps provide assurances that providers of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services are striving to meet nationally researched and established standards. Any agency that enrolls to provide mental health services must achieve national accreditation. As set forth in the respective service definitions, national accreditation must be achieved within three years of enrollment as a provider. MHA/NC is currently working toward this goal.

NC Mental Health Vote

NC Mental Health Vote is a non-partisan project that aims to create a more informed candidate and voter on issues concerning North Carolina’s Mental Health system during this 2008 Election Year. The website, NCMentalHealthVote.org, seeks to provide voters with information to make an informed decision on Election Day and to unite all North Carolinians who care about mental health and responsible government into one strong voice that will be heard by our State politicians. NCMentalHealthVote.org bumper stickers are also available. To get a bumper sticker, or for more information, contact NC Mental Health Vote at 919-859-3370 or info@ncmentalhealthvote.org. Join NCMentalHealthVote.org today, and together, we will be heard.

Upcoming Events…

Save the Dates – 2008 Coalition Legislative Events & Important Dates

More information on the following events will be available soon, but mark your calendars now!

February 25 – Coalition Candidate Forum

May 13 – First Day of Legislative Session

May 21 – Coalition Popcorn Rally

June 4 – Coalition Central Regional Breakfast

June 11 – Coalition Eastern Regional Breakfast

June 18 – Coalition Western Regional Breakfast

Substance Abuse Workshop

In collaboration with Connections and The Sandhills Center, MHA/NC is hosting a free workshop on the topic of substance abuse on February 8, 12:00 – 2:30 PM, at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 303 Lambert Rd., Biscoe, NC. Lunch is included at no cost. Presented by Tracy Roach, Prevention Consultant for Alcohol and Drug Services, this training will provide information on current research, teens and substance abuse, prescription drugs and over the counter medication, prevention strategies, and how to talk with your teen. Families, school officials, and professionals working with teens and adolescents with substance abuse issues are encouraged to attend. For more information or to register, contact Vickie Wilson at 336-629-9550 or vickiew336@embarqmail.com.

Learn How to Be an Effective Mental Health Advocate

MHA/NC is hosting three advocacy trainings in various locations across the state. These trainings will help individuals build skills to be effective mental health advocates and expand their appreciation of the value of advocacy and public policy. Areas to be covered include: How to get started, the basics of advocacy, and how the legislative process works. Each session is identical and runs one-day, 10:30AM - 2:30PM. The scheduled presenter is Liz Jordak, former Executive Director of the MHA of Central Carolinas. Lunch is provided and these trainings are free, but you must register in advance by contacting Jeff Furst at Jfurst@mhancmail.org or 800-745-5067. See below to find the training most convenient for you:

Central: Asheboro Area: Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Oakhurst Baptist Church, http://www.oakhurstbaptist.com
2225 South Fayetteville St., Asheboro, NC 27203
PH: (336) 625-3856

West: Winston-Salem Area: Friday, February 8th, 2008
Centenary United Methodist Church , http://www.centenary-ws.org
646 W. Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
PH: (336) 724-6311

East: Kinston Area, Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
NC Global Transpark Center, http://www.transparkcenter.com
3800 Highway 58 North, Kinston, North Carolina 28504
Room 148-C
PH: (252) 523-1351

MHA in Stokes County Holds 3rd Annual Bass Fishing Tournament

MHA in Stokes County will hold the 3rd Annual Bass Fishing Tournament on Saturday, March 1st at Carolina Marina on Belews Creek, 7:00 am - 3:00 pm. The tournament will be hosted by James Marshall of Fisherman’s Journal. The entry Fee is $110 per boat. Many prizes will be awarded, including $1,300 to the first place winner and a potential $10,000 grand prize for biggest fish! For information or to register to participate, contact Ben Rogers at (336) 994-2368.

Save the Date – Children and Families of the NC National Guard Symposium

In honor of National Social Work Month, March 2008, the North Carolina State University Department of Social Work is hosting a symposium on Tuesday, March 18, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh to teach ways to support National Guard children and families before, during, and after combat deployments. Speakers include First Lady Mary P. Easley, Major General Bill Ingram, Mrs. Lil Ingram, and Major General Elder Granger. For more information, contact amduncan@chass.ncsu.edu or 919-513-0488.

ECU Social Work Professional Development Lecture Series

East Carolina University’s School of Social Work is hosting the 2008 Social Work Professional Development Lecture Series, which is designed to serve the continuing education needs the ECU’s graduates, practicing social workers and other professionals in the human service field. The registration fee is $15 for individual lectures or $60 for the entire series. For more details please about the lectures or to register, please visit http://www.eastcarolinacpe.net/subcat.aspx?mcat=19 or call (800) 767-9111. The current schedule of events is as follows:

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Substance Abuse & Dual Diagnosis: Issues and Answers for Working with Co-Occurring Disorders
2 contact hours (0.2 CEU’s)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
End of Life Care: Helping your Clients make Difficult Decisions
2 contact hours (0.2 CEU’s)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Use of Self – A Relational Perspective
2 contact hours (0.2 CEU’s)
Wednesday, April 12, 2008

Suicide and Suicide Prevention
2 contact hours (0.2 CEU’s)
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Updating Client Information Management System by Using Microsoft Access
3 contact hours (0.3 CEU’s)

UNC 15th Annual Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program (STEP) Symposium

Schizophrenia is an illness that is twice as common as Alzheimer's disease. More than 2 million Americans cope with this brain disease, which affects the ability to process information, organize thoughts and perceive the environment. An estimated 1 out of 100 people will develop schizophrenia in their lifetime. To help raise awareness among allied medical personnel, individuals with schizophrenia and their families, and the public, the Department of Psychiatry of the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine is sponsoring a symposium on schizophrenia, the 15th Annual Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program (STEP) Symposium on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at the William and Ida Friday Center at UNC, 8:00 am - 1pm. Breakfast buffet and lunch will be served.

The title of this year's symposium is “What’s New in Schizophrenia: Reports from the Front Lines of Research at UNC.” Featured speakers will present overviews of recent research at UNC with relevant topics including early brain development in children at high risk for schizophrenia, genes of risk for schizophrenia, and new treatment approaches especially for the first episode of schizophrenia. Guest speakers are UNC faculty including John Gilmore, MD, Professor and Vice Chairman for Research and Scientific Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry and the Director of STEP; Patrick Sullivan, MD, FRANZCP, Professor of Genetics, Psychiatry and Epidemiology; Eva Anton, PhD, Associate Professor with the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology; Diana Perkins, MD, MPH, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of OASIS (Outreach and Support Intervention Service); Aysenil Belger, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry; David Penn, PhD, Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Scott Stroup, MD, MPH, Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry.

CME and CEU credit offered. Registration is $15. Scholarships will be available. For more information or to register, contact Janice Linn at 919-966-8990 or jlinn@med.unc.edu.

Other Topics in Mental Health…
Alcohol and Drug Council Seeking Certified Individuals for National Guard Assessments
The Alcohol and Drug Council of North Carolina (ADCNC) is looking for licensed individuals (LCAS certification) to complete assessments for National Guard Soldiers. ADCNC will be organizing a one-day training for 6 hours of SA specific credits. If interested, please contact Hector Mendoza or Ashley Cox at 919-493-0003 or acox@alcoholdrughelp.org.

New Gym Caters to Clients with Disabilities
All Things Considered, August 1, 2007 · At Fit Together, people who say they don't fit in at a traditional gym can work out in comfort. The new gym in western Massachusetts caters to mentally disabled clients, who get the extra help they need in following directions and managing the equipment. Listen to the full NPR story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12430139

New NSDUH Report: Misuse of Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medications among Persons Aged 12 to 25
Date: January 10, 2008
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office, 240-276-2130

About 3.1 million people in the United States aged 12 to 25 (5.3 percent of this age group) have used over-the-counter (nonprescription) cough and cold medicines to get high at least once in their lifetime, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Newly analyzed data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show the number is comparable to those who say they have used LSD (3.1 million) and is significantly greater than the number who reported having tried methamphetamines (2.4 million).

Overdosing on many cough and cold medications may result in serious life-threatening adverse reactions. Adverse reactions include blurred vision, loss of physical coordination, intense abdominal pain, vomiting, uncontrolled violent muscle spasms, irregular heartbeat, delirium, and death.