Family-to-Family Week 8

Note: One of our current Family-to-Family participants is writing a weekly series about her experience in NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 12-week class. This is her eighth post.

While learning about mental illness is vital, learning how to communicate and work with loved ones can make a huge difference in a family member or caregiver's ability to cope from day-to-day.

This week's Family-to-Family class focused on communication skills. When someone with a mental illness is symptomatic, their cognitive overload can make communicating with them extremely difficult. Additionally, the stress of caring for someone who is suffering from a mental illness can impair normal communication skills. In order to overcome these barriers, it is helpful to first understand why our loved ones have trouble hearing us, and secondly to employ communication skills that respectfully set boundaries and convey empathy.

First we performed an exercise to help us understand what it may be like for a person with an active mental illness to listen to and make sense of what they're hearing. The exercise underscored the difficulties many people have in filtering out external distractions and sometimes even the thoughts in their own head when trying to focus on one voice or task.

We then learned and practiced two communication skills: "I statements" which directly communicated thoughts, needs and feelings in a way that does not put the other person on the defensive; and "Reflective Responses" to demonstrate that you hear what the other person is saying and that you understand why they might feel the way they do. This type of response validates the other person's feelings and enables you to connect and empathize with them.

Certainly it will take practice, and as we discussed in class, some planning to implement these strategies in the real world, but with patience and understanding, hope is that they will help break through some of the communication barriers in our relationships with our loved ones.

For more information, visit the Family-to-Family section of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's website.

Happy Thanksgiving

We at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, volunteers, supporters and professional colleagues for helping us achieve our mission every day. We are grateful to be in a position to help families and individuals affected by mental illness through support, education and advocacy.

Our office will be close on Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Actress Glenn Close: Changing Minds About Mental Illness

Emmy-award winning actress Glenn Close has launched a BringChange2Mind campaign to fight stigma and provide people with mental illness, their family and friends with access to information and support.
Earlier this year, Close helped lead Maine's NAMI Walk near her home. Her sister Jessie, who lives lives with mental illness, credits NAMI for helping their family.

"It will be a great day when I'm able to introduce the subject of my own bipolar disorder or my son's schizophrenia without seeing the flicker of fear behind the eyes of whoever I'm speaking to," Jesse declared in thanking NAMI.

In launching the campaign, Close and Jessie appeared on numerous television talk shows, including Good Morning America.

This week, Time Warner rolled out a public service announcement (PSA), featuring Glenn Close and the song "Say" by John Mayer, which can be viewed by clicking here.

For more information on mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

Family-to-Family Week 7

Note: One of our current Family-to-Family participants is writing a weekly series about her experience with NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 12-week education program. This is her seventh post.

"Empathy is: The intimate comprehension of another person's thoughts and feelings, without imposing our own judgment or expectations."

It can also be thought of as "putting oneself in another's shoes." But, how can you do that when you have never actually, and most likely could not possibly ever fully experience what your loved one with mental illness is experiencing as the life they know is taken away from them?

In class we listened to several scenarios that challenged us to imagine how someone with mental illness might be feeling. For instance, imagine that your mind, the origin of your personality, is lost, or altered in some way so that it no longer feels right to you. People have started treating you differently, giving you wary looks that you can't understand, getting impatient when you can't remember something, or telling you that what you're experiencing isn't real. How would you feel, and how would you act in this situation? Would you be afraid - so afraid that you would start to withdraw from others? Or would you pretend like it wasn't happening, just keep pushing the growing terror down and lashing out at those who were trying to help you? And, after you realize that this situation, this altered state of being is the new status quo, would you feel like giving up? Would you keep trying to make it back to your old life even though it seems that every one step forward runs the risk of dragging you two steps back?

By understanding how these inner feelings affect behaviors, we gained a better understanding of the emotions fueling the actions of our loved ones with mental illness. And, by understanding the stages of emotional response, we learned to accept that there is a path that they need to follow (albeit a path beset with obstacles, switchbacks and meanderings).

In essence, by having empathy for our loved ones, we are acknowledging them as individuals rather than illnesses or diagnoses or dependents. We are recognizing and attesting to a part of them--their inner selves--that they have been desperately guarding for fear it would be taken from them by their illness. And in doing this, we are fostering the self-esteem that is essential to their recovery.

For more information, visit the Family-to-Family section of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's website.

News Footage From WPXI-TV

We were able to get our hands on news coverage of the NAMI Walk that appeared on Channel 11 news on Oct. 4.

We previously posted walk coverage that appeared on Channel 4 news. Below is the Channel 11 clip featuring Chris Michaels, Executive Director of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania.

If you cannot view this video clip, click here to download Apple's Quick Time, which can be installed in under a minute.

Step #2 Of Leading A Balanced Life

NAMI's signature family education program Family-to-Family is a multi-faceted 12-week course for families who have a loved one diagnosed with a mental illness. Self-care for the caregiver is one of many focuses. There are seven principles for a caregiver to lead a balanced life. Last week we discussed the first principle.

The second principle is: Strive for good physical health.

Of course, everyone should strive for good physical health, but it is especially important for the caregiver. Growing bodies of evidence show that a family member providing care to a loved one with a chronic or disabling condition is also at risk. Physical health problems can arise from complex caregiving situations.

There are many ways to sustain one's physical health. Even following the most basic rules for good physical health can make a huge difference in a caregiver's overall well being.

Nourish your body with healthy food and drinks. Eating well most of the time is key to optimal health and energy when caring for another. There are a wealth of resources on the Internet and books/magazines available to educate yourself on healthy eating. Also check with your health insurance plan to see if it covers or offers nutrition counseling.

Exercise or use your body. Some people think exercise will wear them out, but it actually gives you energy! While you should check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program, simply adding extra activities to your day, such as taking the stairs, helps to use your body as it was intended.

Visit your doctor regularly. Don't skip annual exams. Talk openly to your doctor about any physical and mental health concerns. Advocate for your own health the way you do for your loved one.

Try deep breathing. This is something anyone can do, anytime. Again, there is a wealth of information available on deep breathing exercises, and more and more experts are encouraging this practice for good physical health.

As a caregiver, it is imperative to your loved one that you take care of YOU.

For more information on support for family members, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

NAMI Wins Exceptional Employer Award

The Howard Levin Clubhouse recently named NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania one of the recipients of its 2009 Exceptional Employer Recognition Award.

A proclamation passed in Pittsburgh City Council on Oct. 20 states, "Whereas, these employers continually demonstrate the utmost respect for the Clubhouse community and the ongoing initiative to combat the stigma associated with mental illness."

The Howard Levin Clubhouse held an Employer Recognition Reception on Monday honoring the winning organizations. Paul Freund (pictured below right), C/FST Services Director at NAMI's Consumer Action & Response Team (CART), accepted the award from CART Interviewer Brian Rayne (pictured left), who nominated NAMI for the award.

The other organizations honored were WPIC Transition for Recovery, Jay Fingeret - Attorney at Law, Community Day School, Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, IKM Architects, United Jewish Federation, Trader Joe's, U.S. Department of Labor, Thriftique/National Council of Jewish Women, TriState Petroleum, Peer Support & Advocacy Network, DeLuca's Restaurant and BENDER Consulting Services.

Family-to-Family Week 6

Note: One of our current Family-to-family participants is writing a weekly series about her experience with NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 12-week education class. This is her sixth post.

Medications can be a very frustrating aspect of treatment for mental illness, both for the consumer and caregivers. What works well for one person with depression, may not work at all for another; or the medications that keep a person functional during the day, may also keep them up all night. Often one medication's side effects must be treated with another medication.

Many people in our Family-to-Family group had experienced the frustration of having their loved one's diagnosis -- and subsequently their medication -- changed time and time again, leaving them to wonder if the professionals they trusted to give them answers were doing anything more than guessing.

It's hard to ask a doctor about these seeming inconsistencies, especially as they sometimes take affront to any suggestion that their professional opinion is being questioned. So it was extremely refreshing and enlightening to have a physician come to our class and talk openly about the the problems of diagnosis, pharmaceutical treatments, and side effects; and, to frankly address how mainstream medicine creates a mirage of seemingly inviolate truths when, in fact, science is challenging and changing what we know about mental illness every day.

One of the most impactful revelations, to me, was the "Bible" of mental illness, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in its next revision (version 4 is used currently) will be more focused on categorical diagnoses as opposed to the dimensional mechanisms that are currently employed. This change will make diagnosis more fluid, with considerations for co-occurring disorders and the overlap between diagnoses of many symptoms. Diagnosis, and treatment plans, will then target symptoms rather than attempt to force all the varied and numerous expressions of mental illness neatly into blanket categories.

Next Week, we'll learn about empathy -- a gift we can all give and, gratefully, use.

For more information, visit the Family-to-Family section of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's website.

Step #1 Of Leading A Balanced Life

NAMI's signature family education program Family-to-Family is a multi-faceted program for families who have a loved one diagnosed with a mental illness. Self-care for the caregiver is one of many focuses. There are seven principles for a caregiver to lead a balanced life, as discussed in last week's blog post.

Here is more detail on principle #1: Do as much as you can physically and financially to improve the situation, but don't feel guilty about all you won't be able to do.

If it isn't possible to maintain a degree of peace, dignity and well being within the family while the person with mental illness lives at home, other arrangements should be made. If it is necessary, don't be embarrassed about seeking public support through available social services such as community clinics or state hospitals. You have every right to ask for information and help from the facilities of our state Department of Mental Health. Tax dollars are meant to support the truly disabled.

For more information on mental illness or the Family-to-Family program, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

Life-Saving Legislation for Troops

There is no better time than Veteran's Day to announce an important piece of legislation that has become law, thanks to our friend and colleague, Matt Kuntz, Executive Director of NAMI Montana, and Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus.

The legislation requires medical screenings for returning combat troops to help identify and treat post-combat related behavioral health issues.

The legislation, which is modeled after a program currently used by the Montana National Guard, requires the military to provide screening for every Soldier, Marine, Airman or Sailor before he or she deploys to combat as well as six, 12 and 24 months after their return. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that once fully implemented, this new requirement would result in the need for an additional 150,000 mental health assessments every year.

The purpose of this screening is to identify Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, suicidal tendencies and other behavioral health issues to identify which service members are in need of additional health care and treatment.

Matt Kuntz, who was the keynote speaker at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 2009 annual conference, championed this effort in memory of his step-brother Chris Dana, who died by post-traumatic stress related-suicide 16 months after he returned from Iraq.

"I can't tell you how much I've appreciated NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's support throughout this advocacy effort," Kuntz said. "Your efforts will make a major difference in the lives of service members and their families."

To read the full press release and see video footage of Sen. Baucus, click here.

New Research on Depression

Americans do not believe they know much about depression but are highly aware of the risks of not receiving care, according to a survey released today by the NAMI National.

The survey reveals a "three-dimensional" measurement of responses from members of the general public who do not know anyone with depression, caregivers of adults diagnosed with depression, and adults actually living with the illness.

• Seventy-one percent said they are not familiar with depression, but 68 percent or more know specific consequences that can come from not receiving treatment--including suicide.
• Sixty-two percent believe they know some symptoms of depression, but 39 percent said they do not know many or any at all.

One major finding: almost 50 percent of caregivers who responded had been diagnosed with depression themselves, but only about 25 percent of them said they were engaged in treatment.
Almost 60 percent of people living with depression reported that they rely on their primary care physicians rather than mental health professionals for treatment. Medication and "talk therapy" are primary treatments--if a person can get them--but other options are helpful.

• Fifteen percent of people living with depression use animal therapy with 54 percent finding it to be "extremely" or "quite" helpful. Those using prayer and physical exercise also ranked them high in helpfulness (47 percent and 40 percent respectively).
• When people living with depression discontinue medication or talk therapy, cost is a common reason, but other significant factors include a desire "to make it on my own" and, in the case of medicine, side effects.

"The survey reveals gaps and guideposts on roads to recovery," said NAMI National Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. "It tells what has been found helpful in treating depression. It can help caregivers better anticipate stress that will confront them. It reflects issues that need to be part of ongoing health care reform."


"There are many treatment strategies," said NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth. "What often works is a combination of treatments that fit a person and their lifestyle."


"Research indicates that a combination of medication and psychotherapy are most effective. But physical exercise, prayer, music therapy, yoga, animal therapy and other practices all can play a role.


"The good news is that 80 percent or more of the public recognize that depression is a medical illness, affecting people of all ages, races and socioeconomic groups, which can be treated."


Harris Interactive conducted the survey for NAMI online between Sept. 29 and Oct. 7, 2009. Participants included 1,015 persons who did not known anyone diagnosed with depression, 513 persons living with depression and 263 caregivers of a family member or significant other diagnosed with depression.


See full survey results by clicking here.


All information above provide by NAMI National -- the National Alliance on Mental Illness -- which is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.


NAMI has over 1,100 state and local affiliates, including NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania, which provides support education and advocacy for individuals living with a mental illness, their families, professionals and the community.

Family-to-Family Week 5

Note: One of our current Family-to-Family participants is writing a weekly series about her experience with NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 12-week class. This is her fifth post.

Imagine harnessing the collective experience of nearly 20 experts and "lay-experts" to personally address your one most pressing problem.

We were assigned homework for this week: to define one problem that you have with your loved one and describe our emotional response to the problem. Then, we were to see if our emotional response to the problem helped us redefine the original problem. I see where they're going with this--in many cases the only thing I have control over is my own reaction to the problem. And, often, my reaction causes escalation of the original problem or creates a whole new problem altogether. This reminds me of the variation of the Serenity Prayer I learned at the NAMI National Conference: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know that that one is me."

Unfortunately, while most of the problems described in our group tonight involved extremely emotional responses, there were more serious and pressing issues underlying them. As a group, we worked on each dilemma, following a problem-solving technique called P.O.W., which involves reviewing the Past Experience with the problem--who has tried what, what has worked, what hasn't; listing Options--new things to try to resolved the issue; and What if--picking a second option to try if the first choice either cannot be implemented or does not work as planned.

For each problem, the group was tasked with listing 10-12 possible solutions. The reaction to some of our suggestions was as if we were giving new hope to people who felt they'd "tried everything." Most of the people had never heard of Clubhouses--places where a person with a mental illness can go to socialize, learn job skills or get information on housing, jobs and other supports. In several cases, it was suggested that a new doctor be consulted or medications evaluated, encouraging action in situations that had become accepted as "the norm" although they were steadily eroding the lives of those involved.

Next week we have a guest speaker who will answer our medication questions--how valuable would it be to have answers to your questions about your loved one's medication?

For more information, visit the Family-to-Family section of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's website.

7 Principles of Living a Balanced Life

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania and Allegheny Family Network recently presented a workshop called "Self Care for Families and Caregivers" at the Regional Recovery Conference.

During the workshop, they discussed the 7 Principles of Leading a Balanced Life.

1.) Do as much financially and physically to improve the situation

2.) Strive for good physical health

3.) Watch your stress level

4.) Maintain social contacts

5.) Seek out and join a support group

6.) Continue pursuing your own interests

7.) Do something for someone else; give back

We will highlight one of these principles each week for the next seven weeks. Stay tuned.

7 Principles taken from NAMI's signature program Family-to-Family.

Regional Recovery Conference

Today marks the final day of the 2009 Regional Recovery Conference in Pittsburgh.

This year's theme was "Bridging our Communities: Closing the Gaps with Recovery and Resiliency." It attracted over 500 people including individuals with mental illness, family members, advocates, providers and community members.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania was there as workshop presenters, exhibitors and participants.

One workshop that NAMI co-presented was "Self Care for Families and Caregivers." Executive Director Chris Michaels and Associate Director Debbie Ference presented this workshop with Ruth Fox, Executive Director of Allegheny Family Network.

One of many pieces of valuable information they imparted was the "7 Principles of a Balanced Life." Check the NAMI Blog on Thursday for a list of those seven principles.