Sitting in a large meeting hall about a month ago, a question came from one of the speakers I was listening to that that made quite an impact:

“How many of us have been affected in some way by Mental Illness?”

I turned to look at the other hundred or so people in that hall. Old, young, women, men, multiple races and nationalities, people dressed in three piece suits and those dressed in t-shirts and jeans, those who were known public figures and those who would blend in with the crowd…

Every hand in that room was up.

One of the greatest obstacles to recovery from mental illness is stigma. It stops people from being open about their problems and from getting the help they or a loved one need, but as I looked into the faces of those in that hall, there was no hesitancy, no shame, no meekness…

Every hand in that room was up.

Working for a Managed Behavioral Health Company I hear and see the stats on mental illness daily. One illness affects 1 out of 4, another, 4 out of 5, yet another 7 out of 10. I can tell you first hand those stats don’t tell the whole story…

Every hand in that room was up.

Mental Illness affects us all. Maybe it’s a loved one, a friend, a colleague, or a neighbor. Those who suffer from mental illness are not alone, those seeking help are not alone, and those who know someone with a mental illness are not alone…

Every hand in that room was up.

The odds are good we all know someone or have had our lives in some way touched by someone with a mental illness. I know it has touched my life…

My hand in that room was up.

October is a National Depression and Mental Health Screen Month. Within October is also Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 4-10,) Depression Screening Day (October 8,) and World Mental Health Day (October 10.) I encourage you to check out our News section each of those days to find links to learn more about each. Also please look around our site to learn more about mental illness by checking out our Behavioral Health Resources Section. Join us and our great Community Outreach Partners in becoming more aware of mental illness and fighting the stigma…

In other words, put your hand up.

Bobby DiPasquale

Web Specialist

Tags: awareness, behavioral, bi-polar, depression, health, illness, manic, mental, october, schizophrenia
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October 4-10 marks Mental Illness Awareness Week. Started by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in 1990, the Week is a joining together of Mental Health Advocates to not only raise the awareness of Mental Illness in our communities, but to fight the stigmas that can become a major roadblock to recovery.

To learn more about Mental Illness Awareness week click on the previous link and also make sure to check out some of the definitions and Myths and Facts of Mental Illness.

Also, during this week many PBS television stations will be broadcasting “Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness.” Check the program’s listings for days and times it will be showing in your area. Help spread the word! Use this provocative, informative program to support advocacy for reform of the mental heath care system.

In addition Fred Friendly Seminars, Inc., which produced Minds has issued a challenge to people who register as friends on the program’s Facebook page. For whoever becomes the 1,000th person to register, they will donate $250 to the non-profit mental health organization of the person’s choice.

Tags: advocates, awareness, behavioral, depression, Facebook, facts, health, illness, mental, myths, NAMI, october, PBS, recovery, resiliency, results, week
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October marks the beginning of National Depression and Mental Health Screen Month.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 14.8 Million Americans suffer from Major Depression.  Depression occurs in 40-65% of people who have experienced a heart attack, in 10-27% of stroke survivors, and 25% of people diagnosed with cancer.

Depression can be treated. According to the National Institute of Health, up to 80 percent of people treated for depression start to feel better within four to six weeks of starting medicine, therapy, support groups or a combination of treatments.

As part of Mental Health America’s Campaign for America’s Mental Health, they’re offering a free, confidential Depression Screening.

To learn more about Depression along with other Behavioral Health Issues please check out our brochures.

Tags: america, awareness, behavioral, confidential, depression, health, illness, mental, month, october, recovery, resiliency, results, screening, therapy
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On Saturday August 29th, the Cenpatico Cleveland office participated in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk. NAMI works not only to help support those with mental illnesses, but also looks to educate the community to better understand mental illness by fighting the stigma of mental illnesses. NAMI also work as advocates for those with mental illnesses by working with lawmakers to better help the lives of those with mental illnesses.

The 13 member Cleveland team raised roughly $1000 for NAMI. Along with the Cleveland Team, Cenpatico is putting together NAMI walk teams across many of our markets. NAMI will hold 74 walks in 2009. All are welcome to create or join a Walk Team. To find one in your area check out the NAMI Walks page.

Cenpatico is a proud sponsor of NAMI and NAMI Walks throughout the country.

Tags: awareness, behavioral, care, Cleveland, depression, health, healthcare, hope, illness, mental, NAMI, recovery, resiliency, results, schizophrenia, stigma, walk
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Since 2005 the I.C. Hope – Don’t Duck Mental Health Program is committed to educating students about the importance of mental health.  I.C. Hope’s mission is to define mental illnesses in terms that students can understand and erase stigmas that may become roadblocks to seeking help.

Some of the issues tackled by the I.C. Hope program include bullying, teasing, peer-pressure, diversity, making new friends, eating disorders, self-esteem, suicide prevention, ADHD, and much more.

Cenpatico supports this program by underwriting all their handout materials. Kansas Provider Relations Specialist, Jeanie Kimball, presented a check for $2000 to Carrie Ewing of I.C. Hope.  We are proud to partner with a program that aligns with our philosophy of supporting Recovery, Resiliency and Results for individuals at risk, or suffering from, behavioral health disorders.

Tags: awareness, behavioral, Duck, health, hope, illness, mental, mental health, mental illness, recovery, resiliency, results
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Currently in the United States over 500,000 children are in the child welfare system.

Almost one third will be there for three years or more.

Children in the foster care system have a 25% chance of homelessness after the age of eighteen.

Over 270,000 persons in prison in this country were once in foster care.

Children in foster care have twice the rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than veterans of the first Gulf War.

These statistics are included in the powerful awareness campaign Raise Me Up (www.Raisemeup.org)   created by the Casey Family Programs in 2008 and have shocked many people who are unaware of the issues surrounding children in the child welfare system.  While many of us are aware of the prevalence of abuse and neglect in this country, there is a belief that once these children are removed from their home, society has provided a safe haven where they can grow and flourish as a normal child until they can either be returned to their biological families or be adopted.   This unfortunately is not the case for many children.  One of the most common factors among children who are unable to go to a permanent home (what the child welfare world calls permanency) is unstable behavioral health symptoms.

Despite the efforts of many states to address this issue by funding multiple services and treatment options the problem persists, leaving state systems, providers, advocates and stakeholders frustrated and confused.   Child welfare administrators and regulatory entities can’t understand why children aren’t improving with all of this care (therapy, medication, residential treatment).  Providers often point to the actions of caseworkers, state policy makers, licensing or regulatory entities, schools or foster parents for limiting the effectiveness of treatment.   Advocates and the judiciary feel caught in trying to advocate for children and trying to resolve problems that are evident in their communities.   So what is the real problem here and how in the world would managed care do more than add another layer to the existing problems?

In the standard world of behavioral health managed care  services to be successful, we would ensure that members have access to high quality treatment services, that treatment is necessary and appropriate, and  information is gathered, analyzed and shared to promote positive outcomes for members and our contracting entities.  When children are our members in the traditional managed care environment, we look to their parents or guardians to make informed decisions about care alternatives that are the best interest of the child.

In the child welfare world, we do all of the above but the guardians (legal and/or influential)  of these children are state policy makers, caseworkers, foster parents, judges and others who form a system of care that effects every aspect of the child’s life – including their behavioral health treatment.  In no other population is this system perspective as important as in foster care.   Every action within this environment impacts the other part of the system.  Therefore, treatment can not be seen as an isolated intervention to the child when the “family” of caregivers and stakeholders is critical to its success.   In Foster Care, the emphasis on coordination, communication and integration is a primary function of our mission.  Understanding all parts of the system of care for foster children allows our management efforts to promote a partnership and shared vision for the positive outcomes for our members.  We have the unique advantage of seeing the system from a different angle and thereby helping our partners to align their strategies for mutual success.

In our Foster Care program, we have placed a concentrated effort on participating in system review activities with providers, stakeholders and policy makers to share our expertise in children’s behavioral health.   We have also provided training and consultation to all parts of the system from the judiciary to caseworkers to individual foster parents to promote best practices and facilitate the sharing of information.   This “partnering” effort has created the opportunity for Cenpatico to be part of an exciting initiative to improve the future for some of our most vulnerable members.

Stay tuned for additional program updates from the exciting world of foster care.

- Marsha McMann, MSW , Director Foster Care

Tags: awareness, behavioral, child, child welfare, children, foster care, health, healthcare, hope, illness, mental, raise, raise me up, recovery, resiliency, results, stigma, welfare
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