Region 10 Review - Genesee Health System

Region 10 Review
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
JUNE / JULY 2014
REGION 10 BOARD
2014
Chairman William Winarski
Vice Chairman Lori. E. Curtis
Secretary Lynn Laughlin
Treasurer Stephen Armstrong
Ronald A. Barnard
Naketa Dani, M.D.
Ted Hammon
Gary L. Jones
Linda C. Keller
Robert J. Kozfkay
Elva Mills
Edwin J. Priemer
Edward A. Rieves
Jameca Patrick-Singleton
Wayne W. Strandberg
Michael McCartan, PIHP CEO
OTHER ARTICLES
IN THIS ISSUUE
Collaborative Documentation—page 5
Movies with Mental Health Themes page 6
Genesee County’s “It’s Magic” Spring
Dance - page 7
Lapeer County Suicide Prevention Network Fundraiser - page 8
St. Clair County CMH participating in
annual Music Festival - page 8
REGION 10 REVIEW!
The Region 10 Inpatient Health Plan
(PIHP) manages public services for
mental health and substance use
disorders on behalf of community
mental health centers in Genesee,
Lapeer, Sanilac & St. Clair Counties.
Region 10 Review is a monthly
newsletter for network providers and
other interested parties. Regular
contributors to the newsletter include
Renee Keswick, Debra Messing,
Melody Munro-Wofe, and Mark
Hutchinson. To suggest a story,
email Mark Hutchinson at
mhutchinson@scccmh.org.
Region 10 CMHs
Participate in
Walk a Mile in My Shoes Rally
Sanilac Broadcasting’s
Bob Armstrong
Receives State Award
On May 14th the annual Walk-A-Mile
in My Shoes Rally was held outside the
Capital Building in Lansing, Michigan.
This year, approximately 125 people
from Genesee Health System, 35 people
from Lapeer County Community Mental
Health, 60 people from Sanilac County
Community Mental Health, and 33
people from St. Clair County Community Mental Health participated in the
event to educate the public and state
legislators about issues related to mental
health, developmental disabilities, and
substance use disorders.
Sanilac County Community Mental
Health (CMH) is pleased to share the
news that Bob Armstrong, General
Manager of Sanilac Broadcasting, was
chosen as the 2014 recipient of the
prestigious Jim Neubacher Media
Award, sponsored by the Michigan
Association of Community Mental
Health Boards (MACMHB). He
received the award at MACMHB’s
spring conference on May 20, 2014.
Inaccurate Media Depictions
Continue Stigmatization
$50 Million for Hollywood;
Cuts for the Mentally Ill
Often, those of us who work in the
Behavioral Healthcare field fail to
appreciate the degree to which, after
decades of anti-stigma efforts, there still
exists a divide between what we know
is true about mental illness and the
beliefs of the general community.
On June 12th the Michigan state legislature passed a $52.3 billion budget for
FY2015, an 6% increase over FY2014.
Big winners included the education sector, where kindergarten through 12th
grade funding increased 4% and public
universities saw an increase of 5.9% in
funds. Other winners were Michigan’s
cities, villages, townships, and counties,
which saw their total revenue sharing
payments increase 7.4%. And while
legislators rejected proposals to address
Michigan’s crumbling roads by raising
fuel or sales taxes, they nonetheless
found $271m million in General Fund
(GF) money to fix the roadways.
Mr. Armstrong was nominated for the
award by Jim Johnson, Sanilac CMH
Executive Director. “We feel truly
Activities included lunch, the advocacy blessed to have such an excellent
continued on page 2
continued on page 2
The primary source of information
about mental illness for the general
community continues to be the popular
media, in the form of television
programming, television news reports,
and motion pictures.
Despite some marginal improvement,
continued on page 3
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continued on page 9
Walk a Mile in My Shoes Rally 2014
walk around the Capitol block, and a number of speakers, including Anthony Ianni, a former MSU basketball
player and leader of anti-bullying initiative the Relentless Tour, a group called Kinetic Effect who performed
spoken word, and Connie Wilson from Genesee County, who spoke about her own journey to mental
wellness. Her talk was very inspirational!
Every year a representative from each county in the state is invited to speak
from the capital steps to read a prepared statement that reflects the challenges
they face and what it means to “walk-a-mile in my shoes.” Genesee Health
System holds a contest every year to determine the speaker who will represent
Genesee County . This year the winner was Kim Myers (with flag, right) who
said, “I will not let the stigma of mental illness keep me down. Walk A Mile in
My Shoes.”
Other Region 10 members were also
represented, including Michael
Crawford, pictured left with St. Clair
County Community Mental Health Executive Director Deb Johnson. This annual
event continues to serve notice to legislators and other decision makers in the
state capital that individuals with mental
illnesses and developmental disabilities
can and will advocate for their rights!
Sanilac Broadcasting’s Bob Armstrong Receives State Award
partnership with Bob, as an individual, and with Sanilac Broadcasting as an organization, that hold such great potential to shape
community perceptions,” reports Johnson. “Bob and his staff
consistently operate in a manner that benefits the public mental
health system, and they are truly our partners in recovery!”
Johnson went on to explain, “Bob and Sanilac Broadcasting have
been very good business partners in helping to produce our
“Mental Health Minutes” that air on all three stations, and they
are also quick to work with us on other informational materials,
making certain that they get aired at times that give us maximum
exposure. Bob has also worked with us to do live radio broadcasts from the open houses for both our regional and state-wide
CMH art shows when they were hosted in Sanilac County. His
smooth and professional delivery, accepting attitude, and
compassion for others made the interview process for participants at the art show enjoyable, whether the interviewee was a CMH staff member, an individual receiving services, or another member of the community.”
“In addition, Sanilac CMH is welcomed by Bob and his staff to participate in both taped and live radio
interviews whenever we want to communicate broadly,” Johnson continues. “This has served as a great
opportunity for us to promote recovery and inclusion community wide. In our rural community, where radio is
the primary news source for daily information, Bob Armstrong and Sanilac Broadcasting are truly ‘the voice’
of Sanilac County. Under Bob’s leadership, Sanilac Broadcasting has been an outstanding media partner for
the public mental health system!”
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Inaccurate Media Depictions Continue Stigmatization
continued from page 1
these sources of information continue to perpetuate stereotypes about, and encourage stigma toward, individuals with a mental illness.
Television Programming
The average American household has three working televisions.
Televisions at home are turned on for approximately eight hours
a day, while the average American watches four and a half
hours of programs per day. Although the impact of television on
behavior is still debated, after a review of available literature
there is little doubt that attitudes about specific subjects are
affected by the number of hours of television watched, in which
that subject is referenced. In particular, numerous studies have
shown a strong relationship between the number of hours spent
watching television and negative attitudes towards individuals
with mental illness.
Alice Marie Oostdyk, in her thesis for a Master of Public Health from Kent State University, performed a
meta-analysis of 42 studies conducted between the mid-1950s and 2008, examining the portrayal of mental
illness on television shows. Her analysis revealed that mental illness was consistently and overwhelmingly
portrayed in a negative fashion on television. Commonly, characters with mental illness were depicted as
violent and unintelligent, usually acting as the villain of the program. Representative of the 42 studies was a
2007 study which concluded that characters with a mental illness were ten times more likely to be portrayed as
violent criminals than characters without a mental illness. Other common findings of these studies was that
individuals with a mental illness were rarely shown receiving treatment for their diagnosed disorder and they
were rarely shown progressing in recovery. Oostdyk postulates that the need to provide compelling dramatic
programming results in these inaccurate and damaging portrayals of individuals with a mental illness.
The same damaging stereotypes exist in children’s programming. For example, a 2007 study conducted a
content analysis of 269 hours of 527 programs with a target audience of children under 14. Only 14 shows
(3%) contained a character with a mental illness, but in each case the character with the mental illness was the
villain of the episode. Also, there were copious instances of non-recovery language, such as one character
describing another as “a few bricks short of a load,” or “four quarters short of a dollar,” and other unfortunate
euphemisms for mental illness.
Television News
The vast majority of news stories about mental illness fall in one of five categories:
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The Wonder Cure Story, where the reporter tells a story about a new astonishing remedy for a mental illness. Usually superficial and inaccurate, it extrapolates erroneous conclusions from very preliminary data.
The Dollar Story, where the reporter talks about the extreme expenses of a treatment. Often this is done in
the context of fueling resentment if the treatment is paid for through public means.
The Human Interest Story, where the reporter relates an anecdotal story about an individual or families
living with mental illness and how they cope. These are often presented sympathetically, but are no more
accurate than any of the other categories.
continued on page 4
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Inaccurate Media Depictions Continue Stigmatization
continued from page 3
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The Panic Story is prominent during “sweeps weeks,”
which determine what a TV network can charge for
commercials. Here, the reporter stokes fear about
mental illness. These are the stories where you hear
teasers like, “At eleven o’clock: is your family safe?
Do you have a sociopath living next door?”
The Ethics Story, where the reporter explains mental
illness from the point of view of a pharmaceutical
company, hospital, or doctor. These are often done in
either the context of criticizing or praising the pharmaceutical company or hospital, depending on whether
they provided or denied a particular medicine or
treatment.
Most recently, in coverage of tragedies such as Sandy Hook and Newtown, the Fourth Estate demonstrated a
knee-jerk reaction by automatically ascribing mental illness as a causative factor in the shootings, regardless of
whether any actual evidence existed to support these conclusions.
Motion Pictures
Even more than television shows, most characters in motion pictures with a mental
illness are depicted as violent. In fact, an entire genre of horror film, emulating
1977’s Halloween, is devoted to perpetuating this stereotype.
Assuming the film does not present an individual with a mental illness as lying in
wait to kill their neighbor, you can be sure it will depict an individual quickly cured
by a gifted analyst or through the love of a good man or woman. A recent example of
the latter is Silver Linings Playbook, which although a well-acted, enjoyable film,
leaves viewers with the impression that all you need to do to recover from bipolar disorder is fall in love. Both extremes are dangerous and damaging to the public’s understanding of mental illness.
When treatment is depicted in film it is also usually inaccurate. Frequently in a film, all that’s needed is for the
psychologist to unlock some deep, dark secret from a person’s past and – voila – they are cured. Rarely
discussed is the effort and commitment of the individual, as well as the frequent necessity and effectiveness of
pharmaceutical intervention. Other times the mental health professional is depicted as a Svengali, manipulating the patient for his or her own dastardly motives. And if you are a female psychologist or psychiatrist?
Well, you are just biding your time until the right patient comes along to sweep you off your feet (re: The
Prince of Tides).
While there are few 100% honest depictions of mental illness in the movies, there are some which are on
balance more accurate than not. A partial list of these movies is provided on page 6.
The reality is that a large majority of citizens continue to accept false and negative stereotypes about
individuals with a mental illness. First and foremost, the lesson is that anti-stigma efforts must continue to be
an important focus of behavioral healthcare organizations.
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Trends in Mental Health Treatment Collaborative Documentation
Over the last several years in the Behavioral Healthcare field there has
been a significant increase in paperwork required to document
regulatory compliance. Simultaneously, integrated care, whose success
depends on timely record keeping, has become increasingly pervasive.
As regulatory compliance and integrated care increase both the amount
of documentation and the speed with which it must be completed, many
clinicians believe it competes for time with clients, shifting the focus
away from the care of the individual receiving services to writing about that care. Harried clinicians are left
hoping for a no-show or two in order to have time to complete their paperwork.
Riding into this desert of despair is Collaborative Documentation, the practice of creating the case record in
the presence of the individual receiving services. This includes the documentation of the Assessment,
Assessment Updates, Service Planning, Service Updates and Reviews, and their ongoing interactions in the
form of Progress Notes. It allows individuals receiving services the opportunity to provide their input and
perspective on services and progress, and allows them and their clinicians the opportunity to clarify their
mutual understanding of important issues.
However, despite deep dissatisfaction with their current level of paperwork, many clinicians express negative
reactions to the idea of writing case notes in conjunction with the individual receiving services. Many
clinicians believe it will intrude on the time they have to spend with the individual and that their relationship
with the individual will suffer as a result of the content of the notes. This is especially important given that
the strength of relationship between clinician and individual receiving services is a strong predictor of
positive outcomes for the individual receiving services.
In fact, preliminary findings indicate that the use of Collaborative Documentation has resulted in an
increase in the quality of care, offering the following benefits to clinicians and those receiving services:
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increased clinician efficiency through significant time savings
improved clinical focus on outcomes
decreased stress among clinicians
fewer “no shows”
increased reflection, empowerment, and assertiveness among individuals receiving services
increased mutual trust between clinician and individual receiving services
improved goal agreement between clinician and individual receiving services
improvement in timely and accurate progress notes
improvement in linkage among assessment, treatment plan, and progress notes
increased adherence to following medication schedule
Beyond these immediate benefits for people receiving services and clinicians, several other benefits exist,
which include:
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supporting the “meaningful use” of electronic records.
improving education and documentation accessibility
facilitating real time communication with other providers both within and outside the organization
(i.e. Physical Health Partners)
continued on page 7
5
Recommended Movies with Mental Health Themes
This list is by no means exhaustive. However, these films are all aesthetically excellent and offer a viewer the
opportunity to develop greater understanding and awareness of mental health issues. They are listed in order of
release.
Through a Glass Darkly (1961) An Ingmar Bergman classic, this was one of the first films to attempt an
honest portrayal of schizophrenia, as well as examining the effects that mental illness has on a family.
Equus (1977) A disturbed boy blinds six horses in the stable where he works and is referred to a
psychiatrist for a report. The doctor unravels a complex web of religion and sexuality. The film
convincingly portrays an individual with psychosis.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1977) Probably the most famous movie ever about mental illness, it is
responsible for many negative attitudes about mental health treatment, as it focuses on long abandoned
treatments such as lobotomies. However, in its favor, all of the patients are presented as genuine,
three-dimensional individuals.
Ordinary People (1980) An honest look at post-traumatic stress disorder, survivor’s guilt, attempted suicide, and the impact of suicide on families. The film offers no easy answers and
the viewer is left hoping, but not knowing, that the film’s characters will persevere.
As Good As It Gets (1997) The film depicts the impact of obsessive compulsive disorder on the life of its protagonist, Melvin Udall, and the people with whom he comes in contact. Like Garden State (discussed below) it
cannot resist the happy ending of Melvin “getting the girl.” However, we walk away understanding that
Melvin’s journey of recovery is just getting started – not ending.
Requiem for a Dream (2000) The greatest and most brutally honest film about drug
addiction ever made. If any film has the power to dissuade young people from trying or
using drugs, this is that film. It is truly disturbing, with images that linger unwanted in
the mind’s eye long after the film is over. It destroys stereotypes about addicts and
demonstrates the dangers of stigmatizing drug users.
A Beautiful Mind (2001) Based on the life of mathematician and Nobel winner John Nash, the film takes
factual liberties while nonetheless educating the viewer about schizophrenia. The film makes clear that schizophrenia is not something one gets better from, but rather is a condition that can be managed.
Donnie Darko (2001) Presented from the point of view of the eponymous character, the
viewer is forced to consider whether Donnie is suffering from a mental illness or if he is
really experiencing side effects of time travel. Mental health professionals have cited it as one
of the few films to capture the experience of schizophrenia.
Garden State (2004) A comedy-drama that leavens its message about depression with humor. The main
character has been taking lithium and other mood stabilizers for about ten years, since he was in high school.
The film shows how his feelings, attitudes, and behavior change when he stops taking them. And while it succumbs to the inevitable “happy ending” via his meeting and falling in love, it makes clear that he realizes, and
thus helps us realize, that supportive relationships are only one part of recovery.
continued on page 7
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Recommended Movies with Mental Health Themes
continued from page 6
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) A film that realistically and convincingly portrays antisocial personality
disorder. Like Requiem for a Dream, it is a hard film to watch. The lack of empathy and proclivity to violence
Kevin demonstrates as even a small child escalates as he grows older.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) This film follows a couple, he dealing with bipolar disorder for which he refuses to take his medication, and she dealing with depression following the death of her husband. Like other
romantic comedy-dramas discussed here the film makers appear compelled to provide the viewers a happy
ending, implying the two protagonists can “dance their way to recovery.” This criticism notwithstanding, it is
a worthwhile film that treats individuals with mental illness with dignity and respect.
“It’s Magic” Spring Dance a Great Success!
Every May for the past 34 years, Genesee Health System
has held a spring dance for individuals to whom they
provide services. The dance is held in honor of “May is
Mental Health Month” and usually attracts around 200
people. This year was no exception.
This year’s dance was held at the Perani Arena in Flint. This
year’s theme was “It’s Magic.” T-shirts were made with the
logo to commemorate the evening. A photo booth was also
available to capture pictures of couples and friends who
wanted a photo to remember the evening.
A DJ kept the group hopping all night, and pizza was available to keep up the energy! Everyone had a great time!
Trends in Mental Health Treatment - Collaborative Documentation
continued from page 5
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providing same day access to information, ensuring timely notes exist to assist with Centralized
Scheduling and Cancellation Backfill Management
Where Collaborative Documentation has been implemented, reports from clinicians indicate that the average
time before it is successfully integrated into their daily routine is only 6 weeks, and the average time to
complete the collaborative document at the end of a session is only 4 to 7 minutes.
Furthermore, data indicates that transitioning from a Post Session Documentation Model to a Collaborative
Documentation Model can save from 6 to 8 hours per week for one full-time staff . This is equal to an
additional 7 1/2 to 10 weeks of work per year per clinician!
Given the benefits to the care and recovery of individuals receiving services and the increased efficiency of the
healthcare provider, Collaborative Documentation is poised to increase dramatically over the next decade.
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Lapeer County Suicide Prevention Network Fundraiser
The Lapeer County Suicide Prevention Network’s first ever fundraiser and awareness
event is set for August 9, 2014 at the Hunter’s Creek Club, located at 675 E. Sutton
Rd. Metamora, in Lapeer County. It will be a day of outdoor fun for both the hunting
enthusiast and the whole family!
For the basic ticket price of $35.00, participants can enjoy lunch at the clubhouse,
fishing, kayaking, archery, and children’s activities including crafts and bounce
house. A silent auction will also be held.
For those who want to test their marksmanship, for $55.00 they will also be able to
shoot 25 rounds of trap, and for $75.00 they will be able to shoot the 25 rounds of
trap and 75 rounds of clay. (Bring your own shotgun and shells of course!)
This is a rare opportunity to experience this very exclusive and private hunt club while supporting the cause of
reducing deaths by suicide. For tickets call Melody Wolfe at Lapeer County Community Mental Health at
810-667-0500.
St. Clair CMH Participating in Music Fest 2014
St. Clair County Community Mental Health is once again
participating in the Annual Southside Music Festival, which this
year will be held on Sunday, July 20th from noon to 7 p.m. in
Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park is bordered by Electric Avenue,
North Avenue, Military Street and South Avenue in the heart of
the south side of Port Huron.
Free to the public, the annual festival is a great opportunity to
spend an afternoon listening to local bands and singers of rock-n
-roll, blues, jazz, folk and country music. For those unfamiliar
with Port Huron, it is also a wonderful introduction to the Blue
Water area.
In addition to the great music, guests will enjoy health and
nutrition resources, free blood pressure exams, information on
housing and childcare, as well as family fun activities—all at no
charge.
Food and beverage will be available for a small fee from local
vendors. For more information, please call Sandy Duffy at
810-985-6583.
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$50 Million for Hollywood - Cuts for Michigan’s Mentally Ill
continued from page 1
But readers of this newsletter know that individual’s with mental illnesses were among the big losers in
Michigan's FY2015 budget. To recap: the 2013 state budget set monthly GF payments to Michigan’s 46
community mental health agencies at $23.5 million. After April 1st this was slashed to $13.9 million per
month, and after the end of the fiscal year on September 30th, it was set at a paltry $4.3 million per month.
Even with the $25 million supplemental passed by the legislature to address budget shortfalls, this is only $6.4
million per month, 27% of the funding available at the beginning of 2014. This provides an overall cut of
$205 million from 2014 funding levels.
Currently the legislature and governor refuse to address the issue further, despite clear evidence that as a
result of these cuts people will be denied services they desperately need. In this atmosphere of disregard for
the consequences of cutting GF funding to Michigan’s mentally ill, Region 10 Review will spend the remainder of the year examining the spending priorities of the governor, legislature, and our own representatives,
beginning with the Michigan Film Office. The FY2015 budget provided:
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A $50 million dollar give-away to the motion picture industry.
Particularly benefiting from this example of corporate welfare
is Time Warner, parent company of Warner Brothers, which is
producing the film “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” in
metro Detroit. Despite a profit of $1.33 billion in 2013, Time
Warner is receiving $35 million from Michigan taxpayers.
Paramount Pictures had a profit of several hundred million
dollars in 2013, and its parent company Viacom had a profit of
$3.7 billion, but Paramount was still the recipient of the Michigan legislature’s generosity—to the tune of $13.5 million for
the latest installment of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. Viacom CEP Philippe Dauman received $37.2 million in compensation in 2013, so essentially Michigan taxpayers will be subsidizing his 2014 salary.
Because the Office for Michigan Film will apparently be bestowing at least $25 million every year to
wealthy Hollywood players, it was decided they needed a new office - to the tune of $1 million.
Dozens of other production companies receive funding from the Michigan taxpayer, albeit in more modest
amounts.
It is fair to ask how legislators like Republican Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, who actively
campaigned in favor of movie incentives, can justify corporate welfare for Hollywood elites at a time when
they support cutting funding for individuals experiencing serious mental health symptoms. Tens of thousands
of individuals could have continued to receive treatment had this money been allocated to help them instead
of lining the pockets of out-of-state millionaires.
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