Advocate Newsletter - Mental Health America of Franklin County

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A Quarterly Publication for Members and Friends of MHAFC
Spring 2015
Advocate
Laura Moskow Sigal, Executive Director
Maggie Hallett, Editor
After 25 Years of Service to MHAFC, Laura Moskow Sigal Bids Farewell
Early in Laura’s career at MHAFC, 1994.
20 years later, the Sigals: Jerry, Becca and Laura at Laughing Away the Blues in 2014.
Laura Moskow Sigal has announced her retirement from
MHAFC and plans to step down from her position,
effective March 31, 2015. Laura has served as the
Executive Director for 25 years.
“As I transition to a new phase in my life, I plan to stay
active in the human services realm within Columbus.
I have a passion for bettering our community and will
remain connected to all the wonderful people who have
been involved with and supported MHAFC over the
years,” Laura stated.
“MHAFC is well positioned for continued success, due
in large part to Laura’s vision and her commitment
to excellence. She will truly be missed by MHAFC’s
members, staff and the Board of Trustees,” said Dave
Schoettmer, Founder and Chairman of Navigator
Management Partners and President of the MHAFC
Board of Trustees. “Laura has the Board’s fond
appreciation and we thank her for her many years of
exemplary service to MHAFC’s mission.”
Laura began her career at Choices where she was
responsible for the coordination of volunteers, annual
budget and administrative oversight.
Prior to taking the helm at MHAFC in 1990, she was the
director of Children’s Hunger Alliance for five years. Over
her career, she has developed and implemented innovative
programs to help serve people in need of mental health
support, including MHAFC’s award-winning Ombudsman
and Pro Bono Counseling Programs. During her tenure,
MHAFC staff grew from 3 to 13 people and the revenue
increased from $100,000 to $1.2 million.
“We have a dedicated staff, a strong and involved Board of
Trustees and an entire community of members supporting
our work,” said Laura. “I know that the next Executive
Director will have all the tools, resources and support
needed to ensure that MHAFC continues to champion
mental health advocacy and services throughout Central
Ohio.”
In this Issue
To Your Mental Health Page 2
Community Matters Page 3
MHAFC News Page 4
Thank You Page 6
Programs Page 7
You can overcome life’s hurdles. We can help. Visit www.mhafc.org.
To Your Mental Health
by Laura Moskow Sigal
MHA’s 2014
Report Ranks
States’ Mental
Health Status
and Access to
Care
Our country is failing
those in need of mental
health services, according to a new report released
by our national organization, Mental Health America
(MHA). For the first time, MHA has provided overall
rankings for all 50 states and the District of Columbia
on mental health status and access, and calls on the
country to address mental health before stage four.
The new report, Parity or Disparity: The State of
Mental Health in America 2015, provides a more
complete picture of mental health status in America,
and indicates the country has a long way to go to
adequately address critical mental health care needs.
This report paints a picture of the entire nation,
depicting our mental health and the quality of care we
give to people in need. Sadly, disparity—more than
parity—is what’s most salient in the results.
The numbers are alarming: over 42 million adults
suffer from a mental health problem, with over eight
million reporting suicidal thoughts. Over eight million
adults suffer from a mental illness and are uninsured,
and one out of every three adults with a disability report
the inability to see a doctor due to costs. Additionally,
over six million children suffer from an Emotional,
Behavioral, or Developmental (EBD) problem, and
more than eight percent of youth have attempted
suicide. One out of every three families reports that
their child’s insurance was inadequate.
The report showed that Ohio ranks 39th of 50 states
in adults with mental illness, with about 1 in 5, or 1.7
million people, affected. The national rate is 18.19
percent. The state was 28th in adults with drug and
alcohol dependence, 8.86 percent, or 771,000 people.
The national rate is 8.46 percent.
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Youths in Ohio fared a bit better than adults in some
categories, coming in fourth (behind Utah, Iowa and
Alabama) for having fewer drug problems than other
states, and the eighth-lowest attempted suicide rate.
Ohio was better than the national average on both
measures.
Possibly most alarming is that while more Ohioans are
insured than in the past because of the Affordable Care
Act, Ohio still ranks 32nd in the U.S. for the amount of
adults with mental illness with unmet needs. Although
access to insurance is an important first step, insurance
coverage does not guarantee meaningful access to
treatment and supportive services. There remains a
significant workforce issue, with too few psychiatrists
and therapists. Individuals face large out-of-pocket
costs, and many patients have to wait months for an
appointment.
Bottom line—we need to do more. Regardless of
where you live, we must improve access to care and
treatments, and we should put a premium on early
identification and early intervention for everyone with
mental health concerns.
A special note from Laura...
MHAFC has been my life’s work and passion for the past
25 years. I’ve met so many wonderful people and have
learned so much during my tenure. I’m very sad to say
goodbye. However, as I reflect, I feel good about where I
am leaving the organization and all we’ve accomplished
during the last quarter of a century.
I can’t begin to thank all of you for the support you’ve
given to me and MHAFC over the years. Making a
difference in the community and helping people with
mental health issues is what keeps me going. Please keep
in touch, my friends. Most importantly, please continue
to support MHAFC. We are making our community a
healthier, happier place to live.
mhafc.org
Community Matters
MHAFC joins the Columbus Blue
Jackets promoting Mental Health
Awareness
In Loving Memory of Dean
Tepper
MHAFC is heartbroken to share the passing of past
board member, advocate, creative partner, and above
all, friend, Dean Tepper. Dean lost his long and
courageous battle with cancer on January 28, 2015.
Dean was an Executive Creative Director at GSW
and led the creative development for MHAFC’s
anti-stigma campaign, “The only thing crazy
about mental illness is the way we talk about
it,” which evolved into our current campaign,
#StopTheCrazyTalk. He was an MHAFC board
member for six years (2008-2013) and generously
donated his time and brilliant creative talents to ensure
MHAFC communication materials were professional
and memorable.
MHAFC was proud to be included in the Columbus
Blue Jackets’ efforts to raise awareness of mental
illness at the game against Vancouver on November 28.
The Blue Jackets Alumni Association’s kick-off event
was a benefit hockey game in the OhioHealth Ice Haus
to support “Do It For Daron,” a non-profit organization
created by former Blue Jackets captain Luke
Richardson and his wife, Stephanie. Four years ago,
the Richardsons founded Do It For Daron (DIFD),
which is dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring
conversations and transforming youth mental health,
following the suicide of their teenage daughter, Daron.
The benefit game was held before the professional
game that evening, and it raised over $10,000 for
DIFD. At the evening game, MHAFC joined other
local mental health organizations on the concourse with
awareness and educational materials for CBJ fans. A
big thanks to the Blue Jackets Foundation for setting up
the event and including us in such an important night!
Our hearts go out to his wife, Kathy, and son, Sam,
during this difficult time.
Dean, we miss you dearly. We are beyond grateful for
all you’ve done for MHAFC and the mental health of
our community.
Brandi Rubel, MHAFC Marketing and Development Coordinator, raising awareness at the Columbus Blue Jackets game.
Stay Tuned for Exciting
News about our 2015
Signature Event!
In Our Next Issue: The 2015 State Budget
The Advocate - Spring 2015
The state budget was presented as this issue was
headed to the printer, so we will be presenting what
the budget updates mean to the mental health
community in our next Advocate. In the meantime, you
can visit: mha.ohio.gov/budget for more information.
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MHAFC News
The Power of Support Groups
Help can be hard to find when you’re overwhelmed with either your own mental illness or that of a loved one. Add
to that any financial burdens, and recovery may feel impossible. In our culture of autonomy and individualism, the
option of support groups may be downplayed or disregarded. Yet, for many people, support groups can be the ideal
way, both financially and emotionally, to keep walking the path of recovery.
MHAFC’s menu of support groups is evolving and expanding. As advocates of the organization and of mental
health, we ask you that you familiarize yourself with our offerings and share the information widely. Word-ofmouth recommendations often have deep influence on a person’s decision making; your awareness of our groups
may help change someone’s life. All groups are free and do not require registration.
For group dates, times and locations, please visit our website at mhafc.org or call our Program Coordinator,
Megan Daugherty, at (614) 221-1441, ext. 109. Thank you, as always, for championing the causes of recovery and
wellness!
Depression Support Group
By far one of our most popular and successful, our
Depression support groups are filled with longtime “veteran” attendees and plenty of new faces at
any given time. Members attest to the power of the
group with comments like “It’s great to know I’m
not alone,” “Everyone cares about everyone,” and
“[It] felt good to get out and actually talk to people.”
A new group was just added at Syntero’s Dublin
Counseling Center location.
Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA)
Another one of MHAFC’s firmly established groups,
SA touches numerous lives as the group with the
most locations. SA operates under a peer-led model,
in which the facilitator is someone living well with
the diagnosis. This greatly increases the odds for each
group member that there is someone in the room with
a history of similar experiences to him or her.
Giving those with ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder Alternative
Lifestyles (GOAL)
Created in Philadelphia in 1981, the GOAL group
curriculum and format has shown steady success
and has been offered by MHAFC since 2013. Local
psychologist Beth McCreary specializes in OCD in
her private practice, and has been facilitating GOAL
since its launch. GOAL is the most structured of all
the MHAFC support groups and is the most similar
to actual group therapy.
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Families In Touch (FIT)
Mental illness has a ripple effect, touching the lives
of all those who love and interact with the person
bearing the diagnosis. Since recovery happens best
with the help of empowered supporters, we’ve been
offering our FIT groups since 1978. Led by mental
health professionals, friends and family members
reap a range of benefits from FIT, including:
education on mental illness, better communication
skills to use with both mental health professionals
and their loved one, awareness of community
resources, and the skills to advocate for themselves
and the person they are trying to support.
Perinatal Outreach and
Encouragement for Moms (POEM)
The POEM program was acquired by MHAFC
in 2013 but has always had a strong identity and
following since its inception in 2005. As the sole
pregnancy and postpartum mental health support
group in Central Ohio, POEM provides a safe,
inclusive atmosphere in which new mothers can
come together and receive support for the effects
of postpartum depression/anxiety and other related
mood disorders. To get the best quality of care,
women are encouraged to call the support line at
614-315-8989 before attending their first meeting.
mhafc.org
Give Mom the Mic: Tales from
the Motherhood
Laura Moskow Sigal with Norman Guitry Award winner, Gabe Howard and MHAFC Board President, Dave Schoettmer at Holiday Magic
Holiday Magic 2014: The Recap
In early December, the Holiday Magic awards banquet
and gift drive for Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare
(TVBH) celebrated its 58th year. It was a lovely night
with a room full of supporters, mental health care
providers, mental health care consumers, and other
partners in the MHAFC mission to promote mental
wellness.
Close to $1400 in gifts and monetary donations was
raised for TVBH’s care of those with severe mental
illness. MHAFC staff always enjoy this time of year for
the chance to meet donors and hear why they support
MHAFC and doante to the gift drive.
Holiday Magic is also a night devoted to thanking
and awarding our most outstanding partners and any
departing board members. This year we say goodbye
and thank you to Roy Lydic, Matt Mizer and Anthony
Redic for their invaluable perspectives and leadership.
The 2014 award winners were:
Since 2011, the Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement
for Moms (POEM) program has partnered with
local celebrities and actors to produce a hilarious
and poignant benefit show examining the realities of
motherhood called The MOMologues: The Original
Comedy About Motherhood.
The MOMologues served as POEM’s primary
fundraiser and awareness event. It’s been a one-ofa-kind “moms’ night out” presented annually near
Mother’s Day. Since we have performed all available
MOMologues scripts, we are creating an original script
for 2015. We’ve recently solicited stories from local
moms to develop the funniest, most relevant show yet:
Give Mom the Mic: Tales from the Motherhood. The
performance will be held Friday, May 1, 2015 at the
Makoy Center in Hilliard.
The goals for Give Mom the Mic are to celebrate
all mothers, enhance awareness and community
understanding of mental health issues surrounding
motherhood, and raise funds to support POEM’s
evidence-based support services, which are provided
free to clients.
Give Mom the Mic creates an opportunity for women
to reconnect, laugh and share their experiences, while
also reinforcing the importance of maternal self-care,
mental health support, and peer support to all mothers.
Pro Bono Counselor Volunteer of the Year
Carrole Roberts
Teddy Sigal Volunteer of the Year
Janice Beaty
Corporate Partner
GSW
Community Partner
BMI Federal Credit Union
Norman Guitry Award
Gabe Howard
The Advocate - Spring 2015
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Thank You!
To Our Recent Members & Donors (Nov 1 - Jan 31)
Leadership Circle ($1000+)
Barbara Chuko
Robert and Lisa Kennedy
The Montei Foundation
Jim and Vivian Williams
David and Mary Ann Pemberton
Sally Phillips
Bell Ringer ($500+)
Walter Augenstein
Pacesetter ($250+)
Douglas and Carol Langenfeld
Mia Lewis
Philip Meeks
Edna Menke
Cynthia Morris
William Notz
Sharon S. Parker
James E. Schmidt
Larry and Susan Vetter
Gary and Jane Wenk
Todd and Lisa White
Beth Whitted
Thomas Battenberg and Helen Liebman
Pablo Hernandez, M.D.
Betty Hersch
Gary and Kathryn Kiefer
Anthony Redic
Dean Tepper
Professional ($60+)
Patron ($135+)
Salema J. Alli
Maureen Casamassimo
Al Celli
Bill J. and Paula Connor
Barbara Tewart-Darwin
Mary A. Dohn
Richard and Christine Eisenstein
Larry and Karen Fournier
Reed and Mel Fraley
George Henry
Jackie and Cheryl Jacobs
Jeri Klopfenstein
Kevin and Elizabeth Kraska
Susan Leonard
Julie Matlack
David and Sharon Moore
Laura Moskow Sigal
Connie Mulder and Doug Roberts
Jack and Hannah O’Handley
Anthony and Elizabeth Petrarca
Mary Sikora
Nancy Sikora
John Stiltner
Maureen Traverse
Cecilia Ward
Brian White
Adam Winter
Blanche and Teme Young
Garry and Michele Bergman
Janet Castor
Marcy Cohn
Kay Crowe
Susan Lear
Dave and Cathy Levy
Connie and Roger Long
Roy M. Lydic, Jr.
Jeff and Jeanne Quayle
Karl Rubin and Sharon Simon
Linda Wetters
Donald and Ruth Solsman
Deanne Witiak
Myrna Yashon
Daniel and Greta Zidel
Business/Organization ($135+)
CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence
Columbus Area Integrated Health Services, Inc.
GLA
Worthington Lodge 1427
Advocate ($60+)
Mary Brennen-Hofmann
Teresa Blakely
Michael and Helen Chan
Hugh Clark and Joan Simon
Leslye Creek
John W. Cunningham
Catharine Cyr
Jeannette Dagam, D.O.
Maria DeNardis
Amy Figliuolo
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Frenzer
Eleanor Gease
Paul and Darcy Granello
Terry and Lois Heffernan
Carol Jimenez
We make every attempt to accurately acknowledge our
donors. To report an error or omission, please contact
Maggie Hallett: 614-221-1441 x105 or mhallett@mhafc.org.
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Janice Rond
Dee Roth
Phillip E. Roy
Richard J. and Carolyn Sears
Randy and Betty Scalf
Eugene Shifrin
Tamara Spann-Ford
Alice Tyler
Rebecca Vetters
Mary Weldon
Katie Norman-Welpe
Richard and Molly Vargo
Patricia L. Zidar
Sandra Hoover
Martha Maas
Sandra S. Phalen, Ph.D.
TRIBUTE GIFTS
Friend ($40+)
In Memory of Warren James Bow
Wendy Wilder
Other
Janice A. Beaty
Tim and Margaret Christman
James Christopher, M.D.
Barbara DeFrank
Victoria M. Evans
Kathy Gerard
Dana Pearson Kellerman
Chang Zoon Kim
Lisa Lubkeman
Blaine J. McDonald
Robert and Penelope Moore
Courtney Phillips
In Memory of Kathleen Brady
Katie Whitlatch
In Memory of Ann Fornshell
John Fornshell
In Memory of Helen V. Kittle
Mike and Jean Koon
In Memory of Lenore Loewengart
Steven and Victoria Loewengart
In Memory of Penelope Myers
Rob Myers
In Memory of Barbara Salay
Sue Mocniak
In Memory of Nicholas Solsman
Donald and Ruth Solsman
In Memory of Dean Tepper
Karen Kasich
In Honor of Wendy Wilder
Jody Hettinger
In Memory of Mike Wilkinson
Patricia Benedick
Carmela Pauly
Sean G. and Roseanne Cleary
Adrian Clark
M. Elaine Smith
Sharon Brecher
MJ and Rick Dickinson
mhafc.org
Programs
New Program Offering: Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid educates on recovery and
resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing
these challenges can and do get better, and use their
strengths to stay well. Participants learn how to apply
the Mental Health First Aid action plan in a variety
of situations, including when someone is experiencing:
Last November, Tonya Fulwider, Program Director,
and LeeAnn Mattes, Pro Bono Counseling Program
Director, became Certified Mental Health First
Aid Trainers, after attending a week-long training.
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that
teaches individuals how to help someone who is
developing a mental health problem or experiencing
a mental health crisis. The course is provided to
businesses, organizations and individuals. The
training helps participants identify, understand, and
respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use
disorders.
Participants learn about: depression and
mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis,
and substance use disorders.
Board Spotlight
Dr. Jeannette Dagam is a
Psychiatrist and Assistant
Clinical Professor at Wexner
Medical Center at The
Ohio State University. She
received her undergraduate
degree from Syracuse
University and did her
medical training at Kansas
City University of Medicine & Biosciences. She
completed her residency training in psychiatry
at OSU in 2010 and has been in clinical practice
ever since. Prior to working at OSU, Dr. Dagam
worked in community mental health settings in
Phoenix and here in Columbus, at Southeast,
Inc. When asked why she became involved with
MHAFC she stated: “The individuals I work with
are heroic in their struggle and I’m proud to be
affiliated with an organization that exists to aid
individuals in overcoming barriers to recovery.”
Dr. Dagam is originally from Los Angeles. She
loves animals (she has three cats and a dog) and
enjoys good food, wine and travel.
The Advocate - Spring 2015
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Panic attacks
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Non-suicidal self-injury
Acute psychosis (e.g., hallucinations or
delusions)
• Overdose or withdrawal from alcohol or drugs
• Reaction to a traumatic event
The opportunity to practice through role play scenarios
makes it easier to apply these skills in real-life
situations. And best of all, the trainers are right here
in Columbus now!
Call us at 614-221-1441 for more
information or to schedule a course.
MIND Movement
VIDEO CONTEST
Imagine a World
Imagine a world
where people are free
from discrimination
and actively seek
treatment, wellness
and recovery...
Create a 30-60 second
video about reducing
stigma and win
up to $1000!
Contest details at:
ohiomindmovement.com
Deadline extended until 3/14!
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2323 West Fifth Avenue, Suite 160
Columbus, OH 43204
P: 614-221-1441
F: 614-221-1491
E: info@mhafc.org
www.mhafc.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
MHAFC’S MISSION
Founded in 1956, Mental Health America
of Franklin County works to promote mental health
and improve the lives of
those affected by mental
health issues through
advocacy, education
and support services.
Member Agency
End The Stigma
#StopTheCrazyTalk
@MHAFCINC
@MHAFC
Shop on Amazon and support MHAFC!
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• Go to smile.amazon.com and sign into your existing Amazon
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to make it your charity of choice.
• The purchasing process and products are exactly the same on
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Donating has never been as quick and easy! Please share with your
friends and family and help MHAFC continue to provide all of our
much-needed services.