the crab is safe and delicious crash course launched

NAMI Contra Costa
1
Contra Costa’s Voice on Mental Illness
The NAMI Contra Costa Newsletter is available on the web at:
Email: xnamicc@aol.com Phone Number 24/7: (925) 465-3864
February 2016
July
2014
61714 1200P
www.namicontracosta.org
Office Number: (925) 942-0767
If Your Family Faces The Challenge of Serious Mental Illness . . . Email: info@namicontracosta.org and 5150crisis.com
THE CRAB
IS SAFE AND
DELICIOUS
The fundraising committee has done its research. We have
checked with other non-profits,
and they are enjoying delicious
Dungeness crab and people are
delighted with it.
Buy your ticket now!
You will have a great time with
the great food, entertainment and
a wonderful evening with friends.
There will be a raffle,
with much better odds than the
lottery. Prizes are items to pamper
yourself, support your exercise,
enjoy fine spirits, and even something for the grandkids. $20 dollars will get you an amazing number of tickets.
We need your support to
continue our programs: Family to
Family, Peer to Peer, NAMI Basics, In our own voice, etc.
When: Fr iday, Febr uar y 26,
2016, 6:00 to 9:30 pm
Dinner will be served at approximately 7:00 pm
Where: Centr e Concor d, 5298
Clayton Road, (Next to Clayton
Bowl) Concord.
CRASH
COURSE
LAUNCHED
The first orientation to
the mental health field will be on
Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at
7:00 pm. And it will be offered
every Wednesday thereafter.
It will be the same program each time. It will not be a
series of classes like the Family to
Family program.
The people that attend
the 90 minute seminar will go on
to the other NAMI educational
programs.
It will always be in the
same place and at the same time.
Location:
Family Justice Center
2150 Salvio Street
Concord, California
If you have questions about mental illness, the Crash Course is the
place to go.
February 2016
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 18, 2015
GENERAL MEETING
Speakers
Roberto Roman
Stephen Boyd
Jonathan San Juan
Contra Costa
Behavioral Health Services
Office for Consumer Empowerment
Topic



OCE staff will present an
overview of its programs directed
towards reduction of
stigma and discrimination,
including:
Committee for Social Inclusion
W.R.E.A.C.H. Speakers’ Bureau
(including family member
Presentation)
Photo Voice Empowerment Project
Meeting Location
John Muir Hospital
2540 East Street, Concord
Open To The Public
Free Admission
Tickets:
$60 per person/$600 per table
of 10.
On-line at
www.namicontracosta.org
by check to NAMI CC
Crab Feed, 550 Patterson
Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA
94523.
Matching Donation Challenge of
$10,000 will be matched by a generous donor and supporter of
NAMI
NAMI Contra Costa
2
February 2016
NAMI-CC Care and Support Groups
Central Contra Costa County
3rd Monday of Each Month, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., J ohn Muir Medical Center , 1601 Ygnacio
Valley Road, Walnut Creek Campus, downstairs in the Epstein Conference Room. Park in the
FREE public garage on the La Casa Via side of the hospital. The group is facilitated by Sharon
Madison and Bob Thigpen. Email: xnamicc@aol.com, or call: (925) 256-9640, (925) 676-5771.
NAMI Connection
A weekly recovery support group run by Peers
1st and 3rd Saturday each Month: 1:00 –2:30 pm
John Muir Behavioral Health –2730 Grant St, Concord.
Classroom A- Facilitated by Roberto Roman 925-957 5105
NAMI Contra Costa Writers’ Group
All writing levels welcomed. 1st Tuesday of Each Month
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
Rainbow Center-2118 Willow Pass Road, Concord
Roberto Roman 925-957 5105
Margaret Netherby, facilitator, mlnetherby@yahoo.com.
NEW HOPE SUPPORT GROUP
Offering support, education and resources to parents, caregivers of
children, teens and young adults diagnosed with a mood disorder
or neurobiological
disorders (bipolar, depression, anxiety and more).
Meets the 2nd Monday of Each Month
Lafayette/Orinda Presbyterian Church
49 Knox Drive, Room 204, in Lafayette
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Christina Mellin 925-899 0862
NAMI CC Mandarin Programs
NAMI Richmond Support Group
3rd Monday of Each Month, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The Latina Center-3701 Barrett Ave., Richmond
Enter Through 38th Ave.
Call: Veronica-925-250 4032
defamiliaafamilia@namicontracosta.org
Educational Program: 2nd Saturdays-March-May-August-Sept.
Family Support Group: 2nd Saturdays-April-June-August-Oct.
Time for above programs: 10 am – 12 noon.
Family-to-Family Class: J an. 9, 2016 – Feb. 13, 2016 every
Saturday 8 am – 12 noon. Pre-registration is required.
Location: Both Pr ograms: 10:00 am to Noon. Danville Chinese Bible Church, 2278 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, 94583
Contacts: 925-487-8288 Gloria or 925-216-9592 Susan
Additional Support Groups — www.namicontracosta.org
Open Our Hearts
Family Member Support Group
For family members of adults with mental illness.
All faiths welcome!
4th Monday of Each Month 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Temple Isaiah
Support Group for Parents of Children
with Mental Illness
Meets the 2nd Sunday 2-3:30 pm
San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church
902 Danville Blvd., Alamo, CA 94507
Karen Scalzi: (925) 820-7495 or kscalzi@comcast.net
Marilyn Clarke: (925) 837-5243 Office: (925) 837-5243
945 Risa Road, Lafayette
(In The Talmud Torah Center, Room E204)
Call Karen at (925) 945-7272 or
email at karen@mmcohen.com
www.openourhearts.net
Bi Polar Chill
Mood Disorder Support Group
Wednesday 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
710 Broadway #3F, Walnut Creek
Contact Lisa or Scott at (925) 743-1160
PITTSBURG SPANISH LANGUAGE
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
1ST TUESDAY EACH MONTH
7-8:30 pm Faith Based-Everyone Welcome!
Church of the Living God-12th and Santa Fe
(Pittsburg)
Call Veronica: 925-250 4032
NAMI Contra Costa
3
NAMI Contra Costa
National Alliance on Mental Illness
PRESIDENT’S
COLUMN
By Charles Madison
OFFICERS:
Charles Madison, President
(925) 256-9640
C_madison@msn.com
Douglas Dunn 1st Vice President
douglaswilldunn@sbcglobal.net
Michele Lamb 2nd Vice President
michelelamb1@gmail.com
Mark Cohen, Secretary
mark.cohen@namicontracosta.org
David Kahler, Treasurer
(925) 676-5771
dk122932@aol.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kay Derrico
Barbara Scott
Susan Horrocks Lauren Rettagliata
Al Farmer
Gene Schulting
Gloria Chang
Executive Director: William Taylor
COMMITTEES:
Gloria Chang
Mandarin Groups
Susan Horrocks Membership
Kimberly Krisch NAMI Newsletter
David Kahler
Publishing
Veronica McManus F 2 F Spanish
Barbara Scott
Scrip Program
Nancy Seibert
Family-to-Family
Clare Beckner
Database
Richard Derrico Behavioral Health Court
Julia Bonacich Family-to-Family
Gigi Crowder FaithNet Coordinator
Mae Bragen
Clubhouse Liaison
Gene Schulting Internal Auditor
Tonya Williams In Our Own Voice
Sharon Madison
Volunteers
Kay Derrico Outreach Committee
Lisa Honegger Peer to Peer
Newsletter Group
Caroline Jackson Fran Martin
Peggy Luna
Dick Owens
David Kahler
Karin Baker
Greg Beckner
Rich and Yvonne DeAndre
Email: xnamicc@aol.com
Website: www.namicontracosta.org
Phone: (925) 465-3864
12716 W943P Final
Newsletter Deadline:
20th of Each Month
There will be a giant
Crab Feed, February 26th at Centre Concord. The fund raising
committee has been busy working
on this program and I want to
thank Barbara Scott for chairing
this event.
We have lined up an
excellent crab company that will
get us crab from Oregon and/or
Washington. We have reports
back from other organizations that
have utilized this company and
have received raving reports on
the quality of the crab. Again this
is not only an extremely important
event to raise funds for all the
free programs we provide but it
will also be a lot of fun. We all
look forward to seeing you there.
The Crash Course that
David Kahler is heading will
commence on February 3rd. This
program will provide an essential
orientation to families in crisis
and people who work in the mental health field. The program will
address valuable information to
people new to the journey of
those living with a SMI and what
is available in our community. It
is important that they know that
they are not alone.
I want to welcome Nora
Daly to NAMI Contra Costa.
Nora will be a part-time employee
and she will report to and work
with Will Taylor on grant writing.
Will has indicated that she has a
lot of proven experience in this
area and it is another important
step in our ability to acquire the
funding needed to enhance, improve and expand our wonderful
programs. Welcome, to NAMI
CC Nora.
(Continued on page 7)
February 2016
NO ROOM
AT THE INN
The vast majority of patients who arrive at California hospitals with a psychiatric emergency are not admitted.
That has been true in
Contra Costa County for quite
some time. 60% of those taken to
the Psychiatric Emergency at the
County hospital are released within hours.
The staff knows they
have just 23 beds on the acute care
ward to send a patient to.
Such was the case with
William Shultz who after a few
hours went free and returned home
and later stabbed a 9 year old boy,
in his bed, to death.
Shultz’s cycle of in and
out is unfortunately not unusual.
NEWSLETTER
PROOFING
NAMI California tells us
we have one of the finest newsletters in the state.
The members who are
responsible for catching the errors
are our longtime proofreaders:
Fran Martin
Peggy Luna
NAMI Contra Costa
Office and Library
550 Patterson Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 942-0767
info@namicontracosta.org
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday
Not Open: Monday, Wednesday and
Friday
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
NAMI Contra Costa
4
AOT STARTS
FEBRUARY 1
NORA HEELAN DALY
TO WORK WITH
NAMI CONTRA COSTA
Cynthia Belon, Behavioral Health Director has announced
that on February 1, our county
will begin providing Assisted Outpatient Treatment services (AOT)
to people with severe mental illness, in accordance with Laura’s
Law.
Our new AOT program,
developed with Contra Costa Superior Court, the Public Defender’s Office and County Counsel, is
critical for community members
whose mental health challenges
put them or others at risk.
NAMI CC is proud to
announce our new Development
Consultant!
Nora Heelan Daly is a
non-profit development specialist,
working with charitable organizations to maximize all aspects of
marketing and development. Ms.
Daly has a degree in Anthropology and Gender Studies from University of California, Los Angeles.
She is a Bay Area local
and California native, who has
been working for 7 years with
local non-profits. Ms. Daly brings
extensive experience with grant
writing,
social
media,
branding, and
community
egagement.
She is
commitNora Heelan Daly
ted to the
mission of NAMI Contra Costa,
and aspires personally and professionally to help individuals with
mental health concerns to live
safely and independently in our
community.
Our new Executive Director, Will Taylor and Ms. Daly
will be working hard to develop a
future for NAMI Contra Costa
where the organization can maximize its ability to reach individuals in need through government
and foundation grants, expand its
membership, and continue to provide crucial services for family
members of those with mental
health concerns and their loved
ones.
AOT is designed to break
the cycle of repeated hospitalization or incarceration many of
these community members face,
delivering safe, effective and respectful treatment as well as access to services such as primary
health care, substance
abuse
counseling and supportive housing.
While a process for court
ordered treatment is now in place,
we are optimistic that it will remain a last resort. Our AOT program emphasizes voluntary participation, and the experience of other counties with similar programs
suggests that most patients do
engage services without court
involvement.
NOTE: The speaker at
the General Meeting in March will
be Crystal Luna-Yarnell, LMFT,
Program Manager of MHS Contra Costa Action (2280 Diamond
Boulevard, Concord.)
She will speak on
Laura’s Law, the basic design of
the program and how the ACT
model can support services.
February 2016
LETTER FROM
A PARENT
Editor’s Note: This is a letter from a concerned Contra Costa parent, Barbara
Serwin, NAMI member and chair of the
Mental Health Commission’s Quality of
Care Committee.
My experience with medication and kids comes primarily
from working with my own three
children who all take medication.
Their diagnoses are or
have been ADD and ADHD, anxiety, OCD, depression and mood
instability. I also talk with many
parents regarding medication for
kids and I read up on it as well.
I am an unequivocal supporter of kids receiving doctor
recommended medication, especially for their own benefit, but
also importantly for the benefit of
their family/caregivers, educational setting/school, and society at
large.
Any child who does NOT
receive required medication is a
tragedy in the making on many
levels and this is a total failure on
the part of those responsible
whether it be a caregiver, court
system, insurance company or
funding agency.
Medication is rarely a
cure-all, but when it is prescribed,
assuming a skilled physician, it is
an absolutely critical component.
FAMILY ADVOCATE
Bob Thigpen
925-521 5121
Bob Thigpen is the County’s
Family Advocate. He is an
employee of the county with a
wealth of information.
NAMI Contra Costa
5
MENTAL
HEALTH
REFORM

One thing that most
Americans can agree on is that the
mental health system is broken. In
many parts of the country, mental
health treatment, services and supports are not available until a crises
occurs. In some communities, jails
and prisons have become the default place for mental health treatment. The facts make one thing
clear: mental illness is a major
public health crisis in the U.S. today. However, changes to our
mental health system can help address this crisis.
Improve integration and program coordination across
federal agencies that serve
people living with mental
illness.
 Improve integration of mental healthcare and physical
health care in Medicaid.
 Promote early intervention in
the treatment of psychosis
and use of evidence-based
interventions.
 Emphasize and work on outcome measures and data collection.
 Remove discriminatory barriers to acute inpatient treatment in Medicaid.
 See more at:
http://www.nami.org/
mentalhealthreform#sthash.VfqdNnyp.dpuf
What Is Congress Doing?
The Helping Families in Mental
Health Crisis Act of 2015 will
also:
Two major pieces of legislation have been introduced in
Congress
to
comprehensively improve the mental health system. Representatives Tim Murphy
(R-Pa.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson
(D-Texas) have introduced HR
2646, the Helping Families in
Mental Health Crisis Act of
2015 and Senators Chris Murphy
(D-Conn.) and Bill Cassidy (RLa.) have introduced S 1945,
the Mental Health Reform Act of
2015.

The Mental Health Reform Act of
2015 (S 1945) and the Helping
Families in Mental Health Crisis
Act of 2015 (HR 2646) will:
In addition to multiple provisions
that are widely applauded, the
Helping Families in Mental
Health Crisis Act of 2015 includes issues that provoke discussion and even disagreement
among mental health advocates
and organizations, including:

Enhance enforcement of the
Mental Health Parity Law.
Provide resources for suicide
prevention.
 Improve the use of health
information technology in
mental health care.
 Remove the 190-day lifetime
limit on inpatient psychiatric
treatment in Medicare.
Both bills will improve our nation’s mental health system by
realigning federal policy and
funding to better support effective
treatment for mental health and
substance use conditions.
February 2016

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) and access to information for caregivers
 The role of the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health
Services
Administration
(SAMHSA)
 The role of the Protection
and Advocacy (P&A) System
 The role of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)
 The Institutions for Mental
Diseases (IMD) exclusion
Want more information on comprehensive mental health reform?
See more at:
http://www.nami.org/
mentalhealthrform#sthash.VfqdNnyp.dpuf
2016-2017
GOVERNOR’S
PROPOSED
BUDGET
Good news! Mental
Health Services Act (Prop. #63)
revenue is continuing to increase,
with 2014-15 revenue estimated
to be $1.9 billion and 2015-16
revenues projected to be $2 billion. The
state proposes an
increase to SSI/SSP with a nearly
3% cost of living increase in payments beginning in January 2017
and $20 million is allocated for
grants to cities to promote positive relations between city police
departments and the homeless
community.
Not so good news . .
Proposition 47 savings are much
lower than predicted, at $29 million for this year.
NAMI Contra Costa
6
Book
Reviews
Bipolar
Disorder
A Systematic Approach
to Treatment
Schizophrenia
Revealed
Author: Michael Foster Green
Publisher: W.W. Norton– 1971
Review by Dick Owens
This is an engaging and
comfortable book to read on a
subject that is a mystery to most
people. It will be very helpful
in understanding schizophrenia.
The book is mainly free
of jargon and that makes it a
quick read. For those that only
know schizophrenia from the
media, movies and television,
this will bring them up to speed.
The author makes many
clear statements
that some
might disagree with: “Childhood
emotional trauma or skewed
family relationships do not cause
schizophrenia.”
He says (pg.5) schizophrenia can be viewed as a disorder that starts with problems
in establishing connections between neurons. The problems
in neural connections lead to
neurocognitive deficits including
problems in the areas of attention, memory, perception and
problem solving. . . The psychotic symptoms are part of the
illness, but they are not central
to it.
As described by Ming
Tsuang “psychosis is the ‘fever’
of severe mental illness, a serious, but nonspecific indicator.”
“Optimism and schizophrenia are rarely mentioned in
the same breath. Nonetheless,
an impressive amount of light
has recently been shed on the
world’s most enigmatic disorder
and better days lie ahead.”
Authors: Gary S. Sachs, MDF,
and Michael E. Thase, MD
Publisher: Martin Dunitz, Ltd.
Published: 2000
Review by: William J. Boyle
This is an excellent book
and a must for anyone interested
in or concerned about Bipolar
Disorder.
For example his definition: “The term ‘bipolar disorder’
describes a heterogeneous group
of conditions characterized by
episodes at the two ‘poles’ of
mood disturbance. Mania, a sev
ere state of psychomotor activation and euphoric or irritable
mood, defines one pole. The second pole is depression, although
perhaps about 90% of people
who have manic episodes will
also suffer major depressive episodes.”
The author reprints from
the DSMV the exact list of bipolar
symptoms. He adds: “Although
mania is not, by definition, a psychotic disorder, up to two-thirds of
acutely manic individuals will
report delusions or hallucinations.”
His comments on Lithium
salts
are
interesting.
“Although many medications are
believed to have prophylactic
mood-stabilizing effects, only
lithium salts have been proven to
reduce the risk of recurrent episodes of mania and depression by
multiple studies using double
blind, placebo controlled discontinuation designs.”
Rapid
cycling
he
says is defined by the occurrence
of four or more episodes or two
complete cycles in a 12 month
period.
It is a book well worth
reading.
February 2016
A CRY FOR
HELP
The manager of a housing
facility in Martinez called one of
the NAMI members January 21,
and related a sorry story of a mentally ill, sight impaired man who
was about to be given an eviction
notice.
The room he has been
renting for years has deteriorated
to such an extent and is so filthy
that the facility owners were going
to issue an eviction notice.
Somehow the county has
not become aware that this person
was and is entirely unable to manage his own affairs.
The unacceptable condition of the apartment was predictable. The solution is certainly not to
put a seriously disabled person on
the streets in mid-winter.
The facts of this situation
will be presented, by an ad hoc
committee of concerned citizens,
to the facility’s owners and to the
Behavioral Health Administration
seeking a resolution to this dilemma. The scene below is the sleeping area with no bed.
(Continued on page 7)
NAMI Contra Costa
7
PRESIDENT’S
COLUMN
(Continued from page 3)
February 2016
NAMI CONTRA COSTA
DONATIONS
Dr. Marti Wilson and
Rich Derrico presented an excellent program at our January General Meeting. They provided us
with an in depth look at the Behavior Health Court (BHC). They
provided us with a little of the
history of BHC and a comprehensive discussion on the who, what,
when andwhy. It was a great
presentation and all in attendance
learned about BHC and gems that
we can all utilize in their lives.
In Memory of:
Ryan Mork
The Donors are:
Melvin Wells, Jr. D.D.S.
Edward and Marianna Schaefer
Richard and Marcella Savage
J.H. Gianakos
Kurt Brombacher
Wayne Sheridan
Our February General
Meeting will feature the Office of
Consumer Empowerment which
is part of the Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services. Roberto
Roman, Stephen Boyd and Jonathan San Juan will provide us
with an overview of its important
programs directed towards the
reduction of stigma and discrimination. I Look forward to seeing
you on February 18th.
In Memory of:
Lyman Dyson
Please let us know of
topics you would like to be presented. Also let others know
about this wonderful series of
speakers and bring a friend.
(Continued from page 6)
As this newsletter was
going to press, Matthew Luu,
Deputy Director of Behavioral
Health e mailed:
“I have instructed Central County
Adult Mental Health clinic manage Kennisha Johnson to Assign
the subject a case manager. In the
meantime Robert Thigpen will
work with this consumer immediately and will see him this morning. (February 25).”
So things are looking up!
From: Michael Wilson
Donation
Donation
Martin Auto Supply
Elisabeth Jackson
In Memory of:
In Memory of:
Walter Sweet
From: George Beddor
David Myers
From Joy Gausman
Donation:
Mark and Judy Cohen
NAMI Contra Costa
8
NAMI Contra Costa
P.O Box 21247
Concord, CA
94521
February 2016
3rd Monday Support Group
Phone: (925) 465-3864
Email: xnamicc@aol.com
Stamp
February 15, 2016 7:00 p.m.
John Muir Medical Center
Walnut Creek
Epstein Meeting Room
Basement Area (See page 2)
Email: xnamicc@aol.com
NAMI CRAB FEED
NAMI’S ANNUAL GALA
For All the Information: See Page 1
Friday, February 26 6:00 pm
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
NAMI CONTRA COSTA
DONATION FORM
Amount ________________________________
Make check payable to NAMI Contra Costa
Complete this information and please return to:
Treasurer
NAMI Contra Costa
P.O. Box 21247
Concord, CA 94521
Mail to:
Treasurer, NAMI Contra Costa
P.O. Box 21247, Concord, CA 94521
Note: Tax ID #68-0209474
(No goods or services have been received
from the following donor or donors)
Name _______________________________________
Name ____________________________________
Address ______________________City ___________
Address __________________________________
Zip _________Phone ___________ Cell ___________
City _________________ Zip ________________
Email Address _______________________________
Phone ________________ Cell _______________
 Renewal
 Open Door
 General Membership
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$3
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