Mike Wallace is a Special Guy

Mike Wallace may have lots of money and an illustrious journalism career that spans more than fifty years, but in these parts he’s one in hundreds of thousands (in an unfortunate way). Years ago, he spoke publicly about his depression, and, and now he’s disclosed that he attempted suicide twenty years ago. He’s 88 now, so that means he was 68 when he had his attempt. So he was white, senior and male, and that’s a group at particularly high risk for dying of suicide. In this respect, his club isn’t very exclusive.

In an important respect in mental health circles, however, he’s one in many, many people, in a very good way. He’s 88 and he’s willing to buck stigma and talk about his suicide attempt on TV. Most of us in younger generations would feel kind of funny about that, and older generations are notoriously closed-lipped about these things, so he’s a special guy for coming out with this information, even if he waited years to do it.

He discussed his attempt Sunday, May 21 on “60 Minutes,” which aired on CBS stations at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The network posted further details about the interview at: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

For more on Mike Wallace, you can check out his Wikipedia listing here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Wallace_%28journalist%29

Posted by Daniele Sadres

Compeer Celebrates in Rochester

I am very grateful that I was able to attend this year’s Compeer International Conference in Rochester on April 5 -7, 2006. I was honored at the conference for my participation of the definitive new book about our organization, Compeer: Recovery through the Healing Power of Friends. On the first night of the function, Bernice Skirboll, founder of Compeer and editor of the book, recognized me for my accomplishments and for being so forthright in my story. My story was selected for this publication based on my heartfelt account of how Compeer has helped me over the years in my recovery. Sarah Nathan, our new program manager, also attended, and we both agree that Compeer is doing wonderful things throughout the United States and in other countries as well.

A powerful three hour presentation was given by Amy Long, a consumer who works for the National Empowerment Center. The NEC provides technical assistance for consumers and mental health professionals. Veteran consumer advocates Dan Fisher and Judi Chamberlain are also members of the NEC. Ms. Long engrossed the audience, which consisted mostly of providers with her resilience and humor. She reminded them that being a consumer is a role not an identity. That comment is so true! Our mental illness is just part of who we are. One of the most poignant moments of the conference was when Amy visualized a client’s chart and read a very clinical evaluation of a man who seemed to have little or no hope. Ms. Long walked across to the other side of the room and pictured the same man having a much brighter future. The purpose of the demonstration was to show how an evaluation can dehumanize the person and leave him or her with a lifetime of despair. I thought this little exercise was so profound that I believe it will be etched in my mind forever.

Another featured speaker was Eric Weaver, a retired sergeant from the Rochester Police Department. Weaver spoke about his struggle with mental illness while he was still with the police force. During most of his adult life Weaver proudly wore a façade of male bravado. He believed there was nothing he couldn’t handle until he suffered a nervous breakdown. He gave a moving account of how he barricaded himself in his home and how he only came out of his house when his supervisor ordered him to do so. The chain of command was so ingrained in him that only his superior officer could get through to him that he needed help. Today, Weaver trains police officers on how to be sensitive with people who have mental illness while they are in crisis.

The last night of the conference was very special. We were invited to an awards dinner and everyone was dressed for the occasion. Several Compeer professionals accepted awards honoring their long standing dedication to our fine International Organization. One woman, who is the Director of Compeer in Alaska, made me teary-eyed as she spoke of how much fulfillment she gets from going out with her companion. She emphasized that she wanted to share her award with her match. The director has been involved with Compeer for over twenty years, and she runs her program from a tiny office in a basement of a building that doesn’t have any windows. Her commitment to Compeer is truly inspiring.

After the award ceremony, Bernice Skirboll introduced her friend of many years, Herb Katz. Katz is a musical actor who suffers from bipolar disorder. He has written and starred in a one-man play called Depression: The Musical. He was scheduled to perform his play for the audience that night, but was unable to do so because of his depression. However, he was there and answered questions after a video of his one-man play that was shown to the Compeer audience. Katz grew up in Philadelphia and attended Central High School and the University of Pennsylvania. Interestingly, he had so much promise that he was once on the Ed Sullivan Show. The play made me laugh at times, yet much of the humor came out of the performer’s pain. He brilliantly satirized his parents’ reaction to his mental illness by playing both his mother and father, answering each other through song. This was an obvious take off from Fiddler On the Roof, and it was simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious. After the performance, Sarah and I posed for pictures with Compeer founder Bernice Skirboll and other staff from Compeer International headquarters including Karen Wilk.

The next day was the last day of the conference. While we were eating breakfast, Ben Giambrone, the President of Compeer Inc., thanked his wonderful compassionate staff who give of themselves so fully to make Compeer a first-rate organization. Giambrone envisions making Compeer a household name, and there is no doubt in my mind that the creative people from Compeer International will some day make this goal a reality.

Posted by Jeff Shair
Friend of the Clearinghouse
and Co-chair of the CSP Committee in Philadelphia

Wig Blog

I’ve posted below a copy of an email I sent today to a woman at Abbott Laboratories, which markets Depakote. I thought our readers might be interested.

Dear Ms. (person I spoke to),

As I stated on the phone, I very much appreciate your willingness to contribute to my efforts to help provide wigs for people who lose their hair as a side effect from taking Depakote. Many programs exist to provide wigs for cancer patients who lose their hair because of treatment, but, as far as I know, no similar programs exist for consumers of mental health services. Even a modest effort would demonstrate to people with mental illnesses that they are as important as people who lose their hair because of cancer treatments. Also, Depakote is a very effective drug, but, unfortunately, many people either stop taking it or opt for other drugs because of hair loss. This sometimes leads to repeated hospitalizations, arrests, homelessness, unnecessary suffering and even suicide. Also, when patients opt for drugs other than Depakote, Abbott loses the very customers it hopes to help.

We at the Clearinghouse would be thrilled if your company would take on this cause and possibly create a program to either provide wigs and/or reimbursement for purchasing them. Also, we might work together with mental health professionals and insurance providers to pursue the same coverage some cancer patients enjoy for wigs as ‘prosthetics.’

Thank you again for being so receptive to this idea. I hope the leaders of your company will see the value of this project and help us make it a reality.

Yours truly,

Daniele Sadres, Project Coordinator,
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse

Please, post a comment and tell us what you think.

If Only Money Were No Object

I’m a firm believer that top-notch mental health services can make or break a person’s recovery in a lot of cases, so I’m tickled pink when I find an organization that offers scholarships for people to get really good treatment. Where is this fantasy organization, you say?

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Bradley C. Riemann, Ph.D., founded the Anxiety Disorders Foundation with three aims:

* To increase public awareness about anxiety disorders, which include obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

* To improve services by funding training for professionals

and

*To provide scholarships for people who can’t afford appropriate treatment.

According to Riemann, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has a 75% success rate in treating these conditions, but little more than a quarter of sufferers get the treatment they need. He cites two factors affecting the availability of CBT: The paucity of high-quality treatment centers around the country, and the inability of many people to afford the treatment.

The group is set up so a hundred percent of donations go toward scholarships for treatment provided by a skilled clinician in Wisconsin for a dramatically reduced rate. People do not have to live near the center to qualify, though the organization can’t fund transportation or lodging. (They’re hoping to provide aid for that in the future.)

I hope this program serves as a model for projects to people with other illnesses. The sickest people are often the poorest, and a lot end up in state hospitals or at community mental health centers with low-paid over-booked doctors who don’t have the time or often the expertise to treat the most difficult cases.

If you work for an organization that might be able to develop a program like this, PLEASE check out the foundation’s Web site at www.anxietydisordersfoundation.org . People with anxiety disorders can apply for scholarships by calling 262-567-6600.

Posted by Daniele Sadres

Breaking the Silence

I just got home from an evening event in suburban Philadelphia called Breaking the Silence: Opening Eyes and Minds about Mental Health. This event was sponsored by Active Minds. Founder and Executive Director, Alison Malmon, spoke about her organization’s success at educating college students around the country about mental illness and recovery. Ross Szabo, Director of Youth Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, came from California to present as well. His energy and candor appealed to the adolescent members of the audience, with whom I happened, by chance, to be sitting. Also presenting were Dr. Wade Berrettini, whose research at the University of Pennsylvania is making inroads into the genetic map of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and Gail Griffith, author of the now-in-paperback book “Will’s Choice: A Suicidal Teen, a Desperate Mother and a Chronicle of Recovery.”

Early on in the evening, I was struck by many of the facts that Ross Szabo kept throwing out. One in five young adults has a mental illness. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. He pointed out that high school and college are tougher today than they have ever been due to our culture’s ever increasing glorification of alcohol, drugs, sex, self-harm, violence and even suicide. We all know that factors such as fear, denial, misinformation, and isolation contribute to the pressure to keep silent about mental illness, whether one is young or old. But adolescents and children are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to dealing with stigma. Their access to information may be sorely limited. Developmentally, they are heavily influenced by peers, many of whom most likely do not understand mental illness. Ross talked about having been the most popular kid in his high school, playing varsity basketball, having a 3.6 GPA, until he was hospitalized for bipolar disorder. Suddenly, he began to lose friends and become the subject of rumors. This kind of negative peer influence has a chilling effect on teens talking about their emotions at a time when they are most vulnerable.

So, you would think given the extra difficulties that children and adolescents face, there would be established programs and educational campaigns informing youth about mental illness. One of the first questions that came out of the audience last night was where do I find this kind of curriculum to educate my children? The answer was that there is virtually nothing out there. NAMI has developed a program for secondary and elementary schools called Breaking the Silence (http://www.btslessonplans.org/), but it requires its purchasers to forge their way into unreceptive school environments without much guidance. Alison and Ross are working together on creating a school based intervention, but it hasn’t yet been finalized. Even when it is finalized, they face a series of hurdles in the implementation process, first and foremost, reluctant school districts responding to worried parents.

I left the presentation realizing that there is so much to be done if we truly intend to educate our children about these issues. I have a seven year old and a five year old myself. I have talked to them about my mental illness in an age appropriate way. But think of how much better it would be, if they could not only talk about mental illness with me, but also with their peers and with other mental health professionals? It could normalize their experience. It could give them a greater understanding of people. It could give them an opportunity to share their experiences—to help someone else or be helped themselves. I left last night’s presentation with a promise to myself, that by the time my children are adolescents, there will be an effective program in place in my school district. I have a renewed commitment to spreading the word about mental illness to today’s youth. Will you join me?

Please start by supporting Active Minds.

Posted by Loran Kundra