The Newsletter for Consumers & Supporters
Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council 3200 NW 48th St , Ste 102 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Tel: 405.604.6975 Toll Free: 1.888.424.1305 Fax: 405.605.8175 E-mail: www.omhcc.org “We care, because we’ve been there” Editor Danita Gaut
c o n s u m e r a l e rt
How To Find Your State Legislature & Senators Ever wonder who to contact when you have a question or concern relating to government? Before picking up the phone or sitting down in front of the computer to send an e-mail to your elected officials, take a moment to consider what level of government your issue applies to. Doing so can help you save time and get a quicker response from the right person or agency. We understand that navigating the maze of government can be confusing for even the most well-informed citizen. Many people are unsure who to contact with their concerns about today’s most pressing public policy issues. A quick civics lesson can help clear up some of the confusion. Every Oklahoman is represented in Washington by three legislators; your local member of Congress and two United States Senators. Questions related to Social Security, Medicare, international affairs, immigration policy, and federal spending, for example, should be directed to your local Congressman and/or United States Senators. To find your Congressman, all you have to do is enter your zip code on the official website of the U.S. House of Representatives. Then just click on your Congressman’s name and you will be automatically linked to their website, with contact information for getting in touch with the local office in your area. Oklahoma has two U.S. Senators. Contact information for all of Oklahoma’s State Representatives and 59 State Senators can be found by visiting the www.oklegislature.gov/FindMyLegislature and www.okhouse.gov/FindMyLegislature.
O k l a h o m a m e n ta l h e a lt h c o n s u m e r c o u n c i l
The Coalition of Advocates will be hosting its annual My Mind Matters Day at the Capitol to bring attention to the mental health and addiction needs of Oklahomans. There will be a reception honoring a individual, a group and a business that has made efforts to provide quality treatment and recovery opportunities for those in Oklahoma communities. Contact omhcc to find out who your legislative representatives are and how to speak to them to get your questions answered and let your important voice be heard. Have You Been Through the Key Leadership Academy Yet? This free leadership empowerment training has taught individuals how to develop self determination, leadership, and the ways to improve services for themselves and others living with psychiatric disorders in Oklahoma. The Key Leadership Academy has helped many individuals across the state to reach out and advocate. One participant has began the process of having a Mental Health Court in their region. Another is now a member of a Board of Directors. Others have joined together to advocate for the right to hold a fundraiser at their CMHC, including advocating for mental health issues and ways to reduce the stigma that is associated with mental illness. OMHCC has successfully trained over 200 participants in the last year thus far. OMHCC will continue the efforts to have a statewide consumer voice. If anyone wishes to have OMHCC to hold a free training in your community please contact Shae Leggett by e-mail at shaeleggett.omhcc@coxinet.net or by phone at 405.604.6975 or toll free 1.888.424.1305. Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council is dedicated to promote recovery & wellness through the development of a statewide consumer network that works to provide advocacy, education, and stigma education efforts at the individual, community, organizational, and state level. We are here to help individuals that do not have the means or ways to take that first step into a new life. Everyone sometime or another needs help whether it be for yourself, a loved one, a neighbor or a friend. Come walk with us. OMHCC is here to help!
spring 2013
2 7 Cardinals Rules in LIFE 1.
Make PEACE with your PAST so it doesn’t spoil your present.
5. DON’T compare your life with others’
2.
What others THINK of you doesn’t matter.
6. STOP thinking too much
3.
Time HEALS almost everything
7. SMILE. SMILE. SMILE.
Six Powerhouse Foods for Kids by Susan Enfield Esrey Avocado: Loaded w/ healthy monosaturated fats, potassium & folate. Berries: Antioxidants in blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are well known aids in helping to prevent illness and improve brain function. Chia seeds: New to the US market this South American grain may be the world’s healthiest. Chia seeds provide more omega-3 fatty acids than any other plant food, contains 6x more calcium than milk and is rich in vitamin C, protein, fiber, magnesium and iron. Quinoa & Amaranth: Both contain more protein & calcium than wheat, oats, rice or rye. Wild Salmon: Salmon is the healthiest fish source of omega-3 fats and protein, the two most important nutrients that kids need to grow. Cocoa Shortage Boosts Prices on Record Demand by Marlene Y. Satter, AdvisorOne Chocolate lovers, beware–there’s a shortage afoot, the first in three years. And although cocoa grinders are boosting their output, when lack of supply meets inexorable demand, the only thing that’s going to give is price. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that cocoa beans yield both powder and butter, the former used in such products as cookies and ice cream and the latter in those tempting chocolate bars. As global economic woes led to a fall in demand for the luscious product’s powder earlier in the year, grinders cut back output and used reserves of butter to fill supply orders for candy makers. Now, however, a perfect storm of lower yields among cocoa bean growers in West Africa thanks to dry weather and rising demand, and depleted reserves, prices are on the rise even as grinders seek to up their output. Barry Callebaut AG, which supplies chocolate to Nestle and Hershey Co., said in the report that processing was likely to increase. “Cocoa is a good buy at the moment,” said Shawn Hackett in the report. Hackett, president of Hackett Financial Advisors Inc. in Boynton Beach, Fla., had predicted back in February that there would be a rally; over the next three months there was a 15% increase. “When cocoa powder demand comes back in the first half of next year,” Hackett continued, “the upside rebound in cocoa bean demand will be much greater than it has been in the past.” Cocoa futures have risen 11% on NYSE Liffe since the start of January, but are still expected to return the lowest annual average in four years. The report cited Hackett saying last week that he expects a gain of as much as 40% over present prices in the first half of 2013. Prices haven’t risen more than 40% in the first half of the year since 2008. In September, Macquarie Group Ltd. predicted that cocoa demand would exceed production by 101,000 tons this season. According to Rabobank, the ratio is even larger, with demand coming in at 122,000 tons more than production. Global output, says Macquarie, will fall 2.9% to 3.85 million tons, with smaller yields from the four countries that produce 74% of the world’s supply of cocoa beans: Ghana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Happiest words & states by Heather Kelly (CNN) -- If you're sick of cheerful, happy people, it might be wise to avoid Hawaii or Napa, California. They were found to be the United States' happiest state and city, respectively, in a recent study of geotagged tweets. Researchers at the University of Vermont sifted through more than 10 million geotagged tweets from 2011 to map out the moods of Americans in urban areas. They ranked the locations based on frequency of positive and negative words using the Mechanical Turk Language Assessment word list. The list includes 10,000 words that have been rated on a scale 1 to 10 according to how "happy" they are. Happy words include the omnipresent LOL and haha, as well as good, nice, sleep and wine, and food or beach related words. According to the list, rainbow is one of the happiest words. Maine, Nevada, Utah and Vermont round-out the top five happiest states list, following rainbow and beach-filled Hawaii. The study, which was broken down by The Atlantic, also looked at the results for 373 urban areas to rank the happiest and leasthappy cities. Vacation destination Napa, California, was determined to be one of the happiest cities along with Longmont, Colorado; San Clemente, California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Santa Cruz, California. Take time out of your day to travel to your favorite happy place. Is it Willy Wonka’s factory to swim in the chocolate river? To fly in the sky in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Is it a Skittles commercial that showers the candy non-stop? Even a black & white masterpiece where bells ring hourly when an angel get their wings? Wherever your imaginary happy place is. Be sure to always have a round trip ticket handy for those long moments when your waiting in rush hour traffic to or from work or when your waiting for your dr. appointment that should’ve been 45 minutes ago in a small crowded waiting room. -Danita Gaut Use your smile to change the world but don’t let the world change your smile
Superfoods Sweet Potatoes: Large tater contains 9x daily recommended vitamin A. High levels of potassium, fiber and other vitamins. Edamame: Excellent source of protein is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids & antioxidants, Edamame is Japanese for young soybeans. Blueberries: They’re also rich in vitamin K and 3x of your daily vitamin A and only contains 33 calories. Goji berries: Tons of antioxidants & vitamin A Kiwi: Gives you 85% of your daily vitamin C and only 50 calories each.
6 Scary Things Hiding In Your Food: Ingredients aren't always what they seem By Erica Widesw Large Garden burgers. Power bars. Protein brownies. Bottled water that makes you thin, young and smart. And we used to wonder what they put in Pop Rocks… These days it’s hard for even die-hard foodies to know what they’re eating or drinking. That’s because food has changed from something that didn’t need a modifier – if it walked, swam, flew or grew out of the ground, it was food – to something that stopped off at Mr. Burns’ nuclear plant on the way to your plate. Let’s call it “foodiness.” Like Stephen Colbert’s truthiness, which wasn’t about truth, we’re not consuming food as much as we’re consuming an edible manufactured doppelganger designed to look and taste like food, but isn’t actually food: like veggie puffs with no vegetables; fruit bars with no fruit; like gold fish crackers with no goldfish. And now, a look at some typical foodiness ingredients that are packaged, flavored and presented as food: 1. TBHQ, a.k.a Butane: Turns out Butane isn’t just for lighters anymore – it’s also an artificial anti-oxidant that they put it in chicken nuggets to keep them “fresh” tasting. So instead of your chicken nuggets being fresh, Butane keeps them “fresh." Eating butane probably wasn’t what you had in mind last time you lit up, got the munchies, and ordered those nuggets. Found in: Frozen, packaged or pre-made processed foods with long shelf lives such as frozen meals, crackers, chips, cereal bars and fast food. 2. Estrogen: Regular milk is full of hormones used by the milk industry to keep the cows knocked up and lactating all year round. Sound gross? It is. So when you drink regular milk you take a shot of hormones with it. And all you wanted was a bowl of cereal. Found in: All non-organic dairy. 3. Spinach dust: Think that green sheen on your veggie snacks is giving you your daily serving of vegetables? Think again. That’s just powdered spinach dust, which is spinach that has been dehydrated and sucked dry of its nutritional value. So the upshot is that green sheen is about as nutritious as actual dust. Found in: “Healthier” vegetable flavored snack foods. 4. Propylene glycol, a.k.a antifreeze: Antifreeze is used in cars, pills, cosmetics, deodorant, moisturizer…and food! It keeps your car from freezing over, your moisturizer moist, and your fat free cookie dough ice cream creamy, smooth and juicy. If it’s good enough for your SUV it’s good enough to eat, right. Found in: Cake mix, salad dressings, low fat ice creams and dog food. 5. Wood Pulp: Vanillin: Vanillin, which is a byproduct of the pulp industry, is used as an artificial vanilla flavor. Ester of wood rosin, which comes from pine
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3 Mental Health Commissioner Outlines Need for Increased Agency Funding By WARREN VIETH Editor’s Note: It’s no secret that Oklahoma consistently ranks near the bottom in state surveys of physical health indicators such as obesity, diabetes and smoking. It’s less well known that Oklahoma also has some of the highest rates of mental illness and addiction. Gov. Mary Fallin cited those statistics and the Sandy Hook massacre when she asked lawmakers to provide a $16 million funding boost next year to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services headed by Commissioner Terri White. If the Legislature adopts Fallin’s plan, White’s department will use the added funding to open a new mental health crisis center, target prescription drug abuse, launch suicide prevention programs and expand counseling for disturbed children and their families. In an interview with Oklahoma Watch’s Warren Vieth, White explains why Oklahomans report more mental illness and addiction problems than residents of other states. She discusses what the state can do to prevent tragedies like Sandy Hook and why she thinks her agency deserves a bigger slice of the state budget. White, 39, is an Edmond native who received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Oklahoma. A former fiscal and policy analyst for the Oklahoma Senate, she has headed the mental health department since 2007. Oklahoma Watch How prevalent are mental health problems in Oklahoma? We’re No. 2 in the nation in the number of adults struggling with mental illness. A lot of people are surprised when they hear that. Think about our overall health rankings, though … We have high rates of all diseases in Oklahoma. So it’s not surprising that we have high rates of mental illness and addiction. The brain is simply another organ in the body. When you’re in a very unhealthy state, when your population is unhealthy and has high rates of diseases, of course you’re going to have high rates of brain diseases as well. We’re also a state that believes in people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. In most cases, that’s a great way to approach things. But it has allowed for some misunderstanding about what mental illness and addiction are. Has the stigma of mental illness contributed to the problem? The stigma around mental illness and addiction is what has allowed us to get to the point in Oklahoma where for so many years, for decades, we have not provided the resources needed to address these issues. No one should feel shame for having a medical condition. When people show up at the emergency room because they’re having a heart attack or a stroke, we don’t make them feel ashamed. We really have got to get to the day when all Oklahomans understand these are diseases like any other diseases. Are there other causes? We have incredibly high rates of trauma in Oklahoma … child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, the number of people that we have incarcerated. … Those are huge contributors to whether someone is going to develop mental illness and addiction. What thoughts went through your head when you learned about the Sandy Hook shootings? What tragedies like this bring to light is what the consequences can be when people don’t receive the help they need. When mental illness and addictions are treated, people live full and productive lives. They have families. They run companies. They represent us as our elected officials … People with mental illness and addiction can do anything when they have treatment. Realistically, is there much policy-makers can do to address the problems that may have led to an incident like that? Absolutely. That isn’t to say that there is a guarantee that a tragedy like this won’t ever occur again ... but we can certainly lessen the chances significantly. First, we need to do screenings. We’ve got to identify people who are at risk. How often does your physician ask you if you’re using drugs and alcohol or if you’re suffering from depression? It’s not happening. People aren’t being identified. Second, we’ve got to make people more aware of what mental health and addictions really are. That’s where mental health first-aid training comes in. It helps people understand general information about mental health. Would screening occur in schools? We have some amazing partnerships already with schools. But we have many, many schools we still haven’t reached. The need is still huge. Is Oklahoma doing all that it could to make sure guns don’t wind up in the hands of people with serious mental or emotional problems? There is a national registry for persons that have been identified with mental illness. Our state could submit names to that. However, our state law currently prohibits us from doing so. There’s legislation this year to allow Oklahoma to begin submitting names to that database. It’s a joint effort between the district attorneys’ council, our agency, the administrative office of the courts and the (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation). Have you had any personal experience or exposure to mental illness or addiction in your life? I have family members who have struggled with the issue of addiction and mental health, primarily addiction. We’ve had a lot of alcoholism in my family. If you ever meet someone who says that they have not been touched by mental illness or addiction, either personally or in their families or with a close friend, they simply don’t realize it. One in four Oklahomans struggle with mental health and addiction issues in their lifetimes. What would you consider your biggest success so far? A real change in the culture and a commitment to evidence-based, data-driven practices, as well as a commitment to stretching our dollars as far as possible. Some people would put those together and call it being cost-effective. It’s the right thing to do for taxpayers in every case, but it is critical when you’re an agency that historically has been as underfunded as we have. Mental illness is the third-leading cause of chronic disease in this state, yet we are funded 46th per capita to treat mental ? Probably my biggest worry is just how huge the treatment gap is in Oklahoma. Every night there are people going to bed in this state who didn’t get the help they need. … On any given day we have 600 to 900 Oklahomans who’ve actually made the step to ask for substance abuse treatment. They’ve had an assessment. They need residential inpatient services, and every single bed in the state is full. How does Oklahoma’s suicide rate compare with other states? We’re 13th highest in the nation, which is absolutely unacceptable. Suicide is a preventable cause of death. If you think somebody might even be considering it, ask the question directly: Are you thinking of killing yourself? People will often answer honestly … If you ask that question, then get them on the phone with a professional or the crisis hotline, you can save a life. How do you make the case that your department deserves a bigger share of the state budget than others? Why do we deserve a bigger piece? It’s not simply because we’ve been historically neglected. It’s because we are the biggest public health problem, the most costly when left untreated, and we are the entity that is committed to using evidence-based programs with proven outcomes so that taxpayers know that every dime spent here is going save them a dollar somewhere else.
Mark your calendars for the Oklahoma Health and Wellness Expo Saturday, April 6, 2013, 10am-4pm in the Cox Pavilion at State Fair Park! Proactive, preventive care helps you save on health care. Meet with health care professionals to learn how they can help your family be healthier. Taste fresh, green vegetables and fruits to fuel your body. Explore the outdoors! Do you have a green thumb? Try your hand at gardening. Explore healthy homes, to alternative fuels, to smart home remodeling, to energy efficient fuels for home and cars. Meet celebrities and members of the FOX 25 News Team! The Oklahoma City Health and Wellness Expo is designed to showcase vendors, programs, and opportunities to get people moving, taking action and making choices to be more healthy. The Expo promises to be fun, engaging all ages in health and wellness activities to be healthy and fit physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. The Expo will provide health screenings, wellness information, resources, and much more, all in one place at one time in Oklahoma City! 3
4 February is African American history month Famous African Americans diagnosed with a mental illness. Halle Berry, Earl Campbell, Ray Charles, Kendall Gill, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Dwight Gooden, Janet Jackson, Alma Powell, Charley Pride, Alonzo Spellman, Darryl Strawberry, Dimitrius Underwood, Ben Vereen, Damon Wayons, Ricky Williams, Dave Chappelle, DMX, Martin Lawrence
I may not be who I ought to be. I know that I am not all I want to be. But I’ve come a long way from who I used to be. And I won’t give up on becoming what I know I can be.
Black Women and Mental Health By: George Leary, M.S At the beginning of the 21st Century African American women find themselves achieving new heights and reaching new milestones. Education and hard work has enabled them to achieve successful careers and respect in mainstream society. Despite this good news, Black women still find themselves lagging behind Whites and other women in health and mental health indices. For example, the depression rate among African American women is estimated to be almost 50% higher than that of Caucasian women. Black people account for approximately 25% of the mental health needs in this country though they only make up 11- 12% of the national population. To make matters worse, only 2% of the nation’s psychologists are Black. The rates of mental health problems are higher than average for Black women because of psychological factors that result directly from their experience as Black Americans. These experiences include racism, cultural alienation, and violence and sexual exploitation. Attitudes Toward Mental Health It has historically been difficult to treat mental health problems in African American women. One reason for this is that Black women tend to minimize the serious nature of their problems. Many believe their symptoms are “just the blues” and are not proactive in changing their condition. There also exists a stigma placed on mental health problems within the African American culture that they are a sign of personal weakness, not a sickness. Black Women and the Mental Health Profession African American women tend to rely on supports other than mental health services. There is a strong reliance on community, the support of family, and the religious community during periods of emotional distress. Black women seek mental health care less than White women; and, when they do seek it, do so later in life and at later stages of their illness. Part of the explanation for this is the poor service they often receive from mental health professionals who, historically, have consistently under-diagnosed disorders like depression and over-diagnosed disorders like schizophrenia in the African American community. In addition, because of socioeconomic factors Black women have limited access to health care compared to Whites. The Importance of Black Psychology Black Psychology is the study of the psychological functioning of Black people. Some of the exciting and important research Black psychologists are doing today includes studying the importance of racial identity as a protective factor against depression and stress, studying the detrimental effects of racism and evaluating the effects of the media on the Black psyche. Other research includes the evaluation of therapies appropriate for people of African descent, and the implementation of prevention programs for inner-city youth. African American women are among the originators of important Black psychology concepts. Psychologist Dr. Linda James Myers is well known in the field for her contribution of “Optimal Psychology.” This emphasizes achieving maximum mental health through three main concepts: 1) holistic-spiritual unity; 2) communalism; and 3) proper consciousness. It assumes that reality is spiritual and material at once an idea congruent with traditional African healing (Myers, 1991). Dr. Francis Cress-Welsing is a well-known psychiatrist who provides insights into the processes by which African Americans are made to feel inferior. According to Dr. Cress-Welsing (1991) these include cultural beliefs such as women and Blacks being inferior, media images which suggest that the closer to White skin and hair texture, the more attractive one is, and 3) education and miseducation in the school systems which train youth to believe that there are no significant Black contributions to religion, technology, art, and other aspects of civilization. Among the first Blacks in the U.S. to receive doctorate degrees in psychology, Dr. Mamie Clark and her husband Dr. Kenneth Clark, in the 1930s asked how growing up in an environment of racism affected the psyche of Black children. They found that Black children typically identified White dolls as desirable and Black dolls as ugly. These same children also stated that they resembled the undesirable Black dolls. This provided clear evidence that the racist environment of Black children negatively affected their self-esteem. Their research was instrumental in the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision effectively overturning legal racial segregation in U.S. schools. How to Improve Mental Health To improve ones mental health, Black psychologists and other mental health professionals agree that spirituality is a necessary concept in healing. Emphasizing spirituality creates attitudes that embrace hope and positivity. Some keys to optimal mental health include: Know Thyself. A healthy identity is critical for overall good mental health. For women of African descent, this means seeing themselves as the recipients of generations of collective wisdom and experience from African and African American culture. Use Social Supports. Using social networks found in the family, neighborhood, church, mosque, temple and community is how Black women seek healing through others with similar experiences. Currently, many independent support groups for Black women are being created around the country. Build Self-Confidence. This comes from action. Those who put forth effort to achieve their positive ambitions must overcome fear and work hard. Regardless of how successful we are in the end, it is our determination and sense of control that gives us confidence in self. Recognize Symptoms. No two people experience mental disorders in the same manner. Symptoms will vary in severity and duration among different people. For example, while feelings of worthlessness is a common symptom of depression in White women, changes in appetite is cited as a common sign of depression for Black women. Develop an Attitude of Optimism. Those who think positively are greatly immune to the stress and feelings of depression common in everyday life. An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure. Maintain a good health especially when not sick. Most illnesses of the mind can be prevented by following the above daily so always practice being hopeful, forgiving others, and resisting stress.
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5 Stop Smoking Helpline 1.800.stop.now (784.8669) Text quit to iquit (47848)
In her State of the State address, Gov. Mary Fallin is to be commended for the inclusion of mental health when talking about health and for proposing increased funding for mental health programs. Mental illness is a medical condition of the brain, an organ of the body, and should be treated like any other organ related malady. A report on mental health care by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, gave the state a grade
How Safe Are Electronic Cigarettes? By Charles Recknagel Electronic cigarettes are still so new on most markets, many languages haven't yet decided what to call the users. Should they be called "vapers," as some American smokers dub their colleagues who smoke smokeless cigarettes? The word makes sense. If smokers are named after smoke, then "vapers" should be named after the nicotine vapor that electronic cigarettes emit instead. Whatever one calls smokeless smokers, their number is growing rapidly. A recent study by the British health campaigning charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that the number of people in that country who reported trying electronic cigarettes more than doubled, from 9 percent in 2010 to 22 percent in 2012. Almost all the new users were people who already had smoked cigarettes and 40 percent of them hoped switching would free them from the usual hazards of smoking. Those hazards include an increased risk of dying from cancer, mostly due to inhaling the tar and other toxins released by tobacco when it is burned. How Much Safer? But are electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, really safer than smoking? Amanda Sandford, a research manager for ASH in London, says the only tobacco product the new devices contain is nicotine. "Nicotine, compared to tobacco smoke, is relatively benign. It is the addictive component of tobacco, of course, and that is what keeps people coming back to smoking, but the harm [in smoking] comes largely from the inhaling of tobacco smoke," Sandford says. "Nicotine itself, once it is isolated and extracted from tobacco and just used in its pure state, is relatively harmless.” E-cigarettes, which are inhalers, use a small battery to heat a dose of liquid nicotine into mist. The mist also contains water, flavoring, and propylene glycol, a solvent for flavorings that are not very soluble on their own. Sandford says it is still too early to know for certain the health effects of e-cigarettes because the products only arrived in Britain in quantity two to three years ago. Extensive medical testing still has to be done, leaving the door open to questions. One question is whether people will smoke more e-cigarettes than they would conventional cigarettes because they believe they are safer, and what health risks the increased nicotine addiction might bring. A Regulatory Issue. But a more pressing question is how to assure that e-cigarettes, mostly imported from China and other Asian countries, contain what they say they do. Individual e-cigarettes have been found to contain widely varying levels of nicotine, despite using labels promising a "light" or "strong" dosage. There also can be little quality control regarding what additives are used for flavoring. In many countries, government regulatory boards are now trying to decide how to classify e-cigarettes and assure quality standards. And as they do, a battle is developing between the new e-cigarette business and the much older conventional cigarette industry. That battle is being fought not just over consumer loyalty. It also is being fought in courts as the new e-cigarette companies seek to get their device classified as a "tobacco product." Ray Story, head of the U.S.-based Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, says that across Europe regulatory agencies tend to label e-cigarettes as a medical device or drug. That puts them under much tighter sales constraints than conventional cigarettes and helps protect established cigarette distributors from competition. 'So Sue Us!' Story says the new business is fighting back by defying the regulatory bodies. The goal is to end up in court, where his association legally challenges how the product is classified. "The [regulatory boards] continue to stand on the position that an e-cigarette is a drug but give us zero clarity, no factual basis, zero. So, what we then do is try to force the issue by selling the product anyway in a particular [country], which will then trigger some type of ban, or legal recourse, or criminal recourse that these regulatory agencies think they have," Story says. "And then we will end up in court to answer to the citations they have given us for selling a product without market authorization and we then question why this particular product would fall under that category." It is an uphill battle, and for now e-cigarettes remain substantially less common on shop shelves than conventional cigarettes. But Story says there is growing interest among major tobacco companies in the United States in entering the e-cigarette business, should many smokers switch to the new devices. And if the tobacco giants do so, he predicts, the world of smoking could become considerably less smoky in the future. "
of B, citing innovations such as mental health and drug courts, collaboration with the state Departments of Corrections and Health and peer recovery support specialist certification. Oklahoma is making progress. Much more needs to be done, however, to make appropriate services available to all who need them. The NAMI report card highlights the following needs: —reduce the high rate of incarceration of people with mental illnesses; —address the shortage of inpatient beds; —increase supportive housing; —address Medicaid’s restrictive medication policies that utilize a tiered approach for psychiatric medications; —provide culturally competent services to Oklahoma’s diverse population; —expand PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) and other evidencebased practices; and —invest in the state’s comprehensive plan for substance abuse and mental health service. For adults with severe psychiatric illnesses, two of Oklahoma’s greatest needs are crisis and inpatient treatment. According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, experts estimate a need for at least 50 public psychiatric beds per 100,000 population. That assumes the availability of good outpatient programs and outpatient involuntary commitment, which prevent the need for hospitalization. In 2010, Oklahoma had 11 beds per 100,000 — 23 percent of target beds per capita. Today, it isn’t uncommon to have no available beds for a person in crisis or in need of inpatient treatment. The consequences of the bed shortage could be improved with the widespread utilization of PACT programs and involuntary outpatient treatment. Oklahoma’s PACT program needs to be expanded statewide. Likewise, both inpatient and outpatient involuntary commitment to treatment need to be appropriately and consistently implemented. While civil liberties must be protected, the pendulum has swung too far in restricting access to care for individuals who, because of their illness, are incapable of seeking help voluntarily. Involuntary treatment is compassionate care for persons whose ill brains do not recognize that they are ill. Increased public education about mental illnesses and treatment services is also essential. Too often, ill individuals and their families do not recognize the symptoms and do not seek help until a crisis occurs. The state could do more to promote public awareness of mental illnesses and services. The NAMI report card concludes: “If Oklahoma can successfully implement its state plan, it could become a national leader in comprehensive, recovery-oriented mental health care. But, the state has one of the lowest per capita rates of mental health funding in the nation … the Legislature needs to give high priority to mental health care reform.”
Festival of the Arts April 23-28, 2013 in Downtown Oklahoma City at the Myriad Botanical Gardens Paseo Arts Festival Memorial Day Weekend, May 25, 26, 27, 2013 Medieval Arts Festival of Norman, April 5-7, 2013
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6 Goodwill Job Connection Center Our services are free. With help from our Employment Specialists and Consultants, you will develop an effective job search strategy, in addition to receiving access to community job postings. The center also offers internet job searches & application submission, resume development, interview prep and GED test prep. We can help you and if GICO doesn’t provide the service, we can locate other community organizations that do. Who they help: People with criminal backgrounds GICO helps you reintegrate into society and become a contributing member in your local community. People with disabilities GICO helps you live independently, get a job, and advance your career by providing access to support services, specialized training and assistive technology. Seniors GICO coordinates job readiness programs and supportive services to help you live independently, pursue your employment goals and gain economic security. Veterans and Military Families GICO helps you and your military spouse find employment, health services and skills for entering or reentering the workplace. Youth GICO prepares you for a successful educational and financial future. People re-entering or changing careers GICO helps you with find a job outside GICO that fits your needs and abilities. Anyone looking for employment GICO is ready and willing to serve anyone who is looking to improve their quality of life through the power of work. 6824 E. Reno– Midwest City 520-7697 Contact Carrie Howe for more info or locations. A Story Of Hope 120 N Robinson Ave Ste 125E, OKC HOURS: M-F 9:00 to 5:00 (405) 815-4216 All proceeds go to Feed the Children
Oklahoma City Vet Center 1024 N.W. 47th St. Suite B Oklahoma City, OK 73118 (Located off of NW 47th & Western) 405.456.5184
Community Health Centers Inc. also has a program for those who do not have vision insurance to see Dr. Thomas Wolf, Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Eyeglasses, if needed, are free. For more information call 769-3301. Carole Brown, Coordinator of the Parent Resource Center Metro Career Academy 1901 Springlake Dr., OKC, OK 73111 carole.brown@metrotech.edu or www.metrotech.edu
Pet Food Bank If you are having financial trouble feeding your animals the OKC Animal Shelter at SE 29th & Bryant may be able to help. Please contact our Pet Free Spay or Neutering If you reside in Oklahoma City...you no longer have an excuse not to get your pets spayed/neutered! Why? Because it's FREE!! That's right. Thanks to a grant Oklahoma City pet owners can get their cats and dogs spayed or neutered for free at the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter through the Animal Birth Control (ABC) project. For information or to schedule an appointment, Call 405-3163663. Of course I called for you - there are NO requirements other than...you have to live in OKC! Give 'em a call and do your part in controlling pet overpopulation. Don't need it? Share this with your friends - you never know who it might help.
Take a moment & send a card or letter to this address & make a soldier’s day. A recovering soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue NW Washington, DC 20307-5007 Contact the PSI Postpartum Depression Helpline @ 1.800.944.4773 You are not alone. You are not to blame. We are here to help. www.postpartum.net
Know the signs of a stroke. Think F.A.S.T. Face….. ask the person to smile does one side of the face droop? Arms…. ask the person to raise their arms. Does one arm drift down? Speech….Is there speech slurred or strange? Time…..If any answer is yes Call 911 immediately. Stroke symptoms include: SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body. SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes. SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause
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Wars end...the battles don’t woundedwarriorproject.org
211 We all know about dialing 911 for emergency services, but there's another telephone number to dial for health and human services in Oklahoma: 211. Here are all the details on Oklahoma 211, including what services are offered in the Oklahoma City metro area. What is 211? - Introduced by the United Way and Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) in 1997, the 211 system (dialing 2-1-1 on your telephone) is reserved throughout the United States and Canada as a referral for health and human service organizations. It is available throughout the state of Oklahoma. How does 211 work? - The Oklahoma 211 service is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can be reached from any landline or cellphone. The service is Absolutely Confidential. Who answers when I call 211? - Call centers are staffed with certified specialists that can direct a caller to any number of local health or human services agencies. The specialist accesses a database of services and gives a direct referral. Oklahoma also employs a language translation service. What kind of services are available through 211? - Available health and human services depend on the geographical area. But for the call center in Oklahoma City, known as Heartline, the list is long and includes both public and private services such as as addiction counseling, disaster relief, charitable donation opportunities, homeless services, housing, senior citizen assistance, job counseling, suicide prevention, support groups, parenting & child care programs, debt counseling, information for military families & more.
Important Information About Suicide Oklahoma ranks 13th in the nation for deaths by suicide. HeartLine answers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7, 365 days a year. Risk Factors: Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, Recent Loss, Societal/Peer Rejection, Depression Warning signs: Talking or joking about death, giving away prized possessions, significant changes in behavior, increased alcohol/drug use, withdrawing from friends/family, lack of interest in regular activities, discussing suicide plan, increased hostility and aggression. How can you help? Contact a mental health professional or call 911 for a wellness check Never leave someone at immediate risk alone Tell them about 1-800-273 TALK(8255)
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, PRESS 1 to be connected with a mental health counselor. Our Veterans can also TEXT: 838255 to talk with a mental health counselor or go on-line to chat from the National Veterans Crisis line website. There are also 2 websites for veterans that have a lot of resources for veterans, family members, and friends. Includes all military eras, Guard, Reserve, etc. Both allow veterans to connect with other veterans with similar experiences. Make the Connection: http://maketheconnection.net Vets Prevail: https://www.vetsprevail.org Thanks to Juanita Celie w/ the VA for providing this info
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7 Free HIV Counseling & Testing RAIN Oklahoma (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network) offers free counseling & testing Mon - Fri 9-3:30pm. Test results are available in 20 minutes or less and are painless and bloodless. Main office is located at 600 NW 23rd St., Ste 101, Project Red State by Darla Sheldon Photography exhibit by local artist Ashley Griffith opens people eyes to the face of HIV/AIDS with Project Red State. To help raise awareness about Oklahomans living with HIV/AIDS, The Project Red State has a display titled “Putting a Face on HIV/AIDS” at the A.K.A. Gallery, 3001 Paseo, in Oklahoma City. The project’s goal, through the use of portrait photography and personal stories, is to provoke thought and dialogue in an effort to instill a deeper understanding of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Oklahoma. “My goal is to photograph 1000 Oklahomans who are HIV/AIDS positive. Help me to achieve this goal by getting the word out to anyone that you know who is positive. This project will only work if I have models.” Griffith said. Expected completion date is December 2013 in time for World AIDS Day, but in an effort to get more participants and raise awareness. Participants are asked to come by the gallery on Saturdays from 12– 3pm, to get involved. Griffith added, “I understand that many people may not or can not reveal their positive status due to work or family etc., but I wanted those people to be able to tell their story and I think that those photos of the back of someone’s head will make the piece even more powerful to the viewer.” “I think that a lot of Oklahomans still see HIV/AIDS as a gay man’s disease. The truth is for a while now the growing rates of infection are in young women and straight men.” To make an appointment to participate in Project Red State call Ashley at 405.606.2522 or for more details visit facebook.com/redstateproject. Senior Law Resource Center Information and assistance with the following issues: Powers of Attorney, Wills & Estate Planning, Probate & Probate Avoidance, Guardianship, Elder Financial Exploitation, End of Life Decision Making, Long Term Care-Medicaid & grandparents raising grandchildren. They also can make home visits. 600 NW 23rd St, Ste 106 OKC, OK 73103
The Nicoma Park United Methodist Church Thrift Store has been named 'The Best Thrift Store in Choctaw’
CIT: Crisis Intervention Team: Who, When & How
At the core of the model is a Crisis Intervention Team comprised of highly trained CIT Officers who function as part of the regular police patrol division. These officers receive 40 hours of specialized training in psychiatric diagnosis, suicide intervention, substance abuse issues, deescalation techniques, the role of the family in the care of a person with mental illness, legal training in mental health and substance abuse issues, and local resources for those in a mental health crisis. In addition to classroom instruction, officers-in-training also participate in nine hours of role playing exercises based on real-life scenarios and spend an entire day visiting mental health and substance abuse inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities where they have the opportunity to engage in one-onone dialogue with mental health consumers. The training is designed to educate and prepare police officers who come into contact with people with mental illnesses to recognize the signs and symptoms of these illnesses and to respond effectively and appropriately to individuals in crisis. Because police officers are often the first responders in these incidents, it is essential that they know how mental illnesses can alter people's behaviors and perceptions. The trained CIT Officer is skilled at deescalating crises involving people with mental illness, while bringing an element of understanding and compassion to these difficult situations. Currently there are 167 trained CIT officers on the Oklahoma City Police force. The Oklahoma City Police Department in conjuction with the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police have sponsored CIT trainings for other interested agencies in Oklahoma, currently they have trained over 250 police officers. In 2008, the Oklahoma City Police Department began partnering with Midwest City Police, Moore Police, Edmond Police, and Norman Police to continue the growth of CIT in Oklahoma. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to call law enforcement to intervene with a person experiencing a mental health crisis, it's okay to request a CIT officer. The Oklahoma City Police Department has partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse to conduct CIT Trainings for officers in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Police Department has an approved CIT Training Curriculum by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. The Oklahoma City Police Department conducts annual trainings in order to maintain 100 trained CIT officers. Currently there are 167 trained CIT officers on the Oklahoma City Police force. The Oklahoma City Police Department in conjunction with the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police have sponsored CIT trainings for other interested agencies in Oklahoma, currently they have trained over 250 police officers. In 2008, the Oklahoma City Police Department began partnering with Midwest City Police, Moore Police, Edmond Police, and Norman Police to continue the growth of CIT in Oklahoma.
Nicoma Park UMC Thrift Store Wednesday 9-3 & Saturday 9-1 All clothes & shoes 25 cents— Jeans $1 All proceeds go to help those in need.
The Hokey Pokey Clinic– A place to turn yourself around Oklahoma in Urgent Need of Foster Parents Foster home care is a safe, temporary placement providing 24-hour-a-day substitute care for children in Oklahoma Department of Human Services custody. Thousands of children each year are placed by the court, for various reasons, in the custody of OKDHS. The children range in age from birth to 18 years and are all races, cultures and religions. Many times the children are in sibling groups needing to be placed together. Some of the children are physically, mentally or emotionally challenged. A child may have suffered from physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse or severe neglect by a person who is responsible for the child. The child’s parents may have been arrested and put in jail. Whatever the circumstances, each child has a story. Each child has many strengths and also many needs. They all need a safe, temporary place to live and tender loving care until they can return home or move to a permanent placement. Call for qualifications & requirements New Foster Care & Adoption Families Recruiting Hotline: 1-866-612-2565
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8 What You Really Need To Know About The Safety Of 5-Hour Energy Drink by David Kroll Are those tiny 5-Hour Energy shots dangerous? Should you worry about drinking too much Monster Energy — or any other energy drink for that matter? These are the questions on our minds this week following another US Food and Drug Administration missive on deaths and hospitalizations as reported by energy drink manufacturers. Those specifically cited in this week’s report (PDF) include Monster and Rockstar energy drinks as well as 5-hour Energy “shots” that are ubiquitous throughout US convenience stores and pharmacies. These 5-hour Energy products are no stranger to Forbes: Staff Writer Clare O’Connor had this article and sidebar in the February 27, 2012 of the magazine. O’Connor reported that 5-hour Energy accounts for a whopping 90% of the national energy shot market. So, exactly how dangerous are these drinks and energy shots? The main number being batted around — beginning with The New York Times article by Barry Meier — is that 5-hour Energy has been cited in reports of 13 deaths; that is, 13 people who died had ingested 5-hour Energy drink at some time prior to their passing. The first death was reported on December 17, 2009. But a close analysis of the report itself leads me to conclude that two of those deaths were reported twice, lowering the number to a still-disturbing 11. The non-fatal reports extend back to 2005 and include typical symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and nausea all the way to seizures, brain hemorrhages, and heart attacks. Monster drinks were listed in five deaths and about 35 other non-fatal adverse reactions. Rockstar was listed in 13 cases, none of which were deaths. What’s in these drinks? Monster and Rockstar are brightly-labeled beverages that contain 160 to 175 milligrams of caffeine in drink sizes ranging from 5 to 16 fluid ounces. That’s about three-to-five times the amount of caffeine in 12-ounce serving of a typical mass-marketed soda. The more concentrated 5-hour Energy doesn’t list its caffeine content but Consumer Reports recently determined that it contains 215 milligrams of caffeine per 2 fl. oz. bottle (the “extra strength” only contains a bit more at 242 milligrams). I’m a coffee drinker. Is that a lot of caffeine? Well, it depends on where you get your coffee. One of the most comprehensive sources for caffeine content of beverages is this database at energyfiend.com. There you’ll see that a large McDonald’s coffee (16-ounce) has 145 milligrams of caffeine, just a bit less than the same as in a typical regular Rockstar or Monster product. But if you are a Starbucks fan, a 16-ounce serving (Grande) of their regular brewed coffee (not espresso-based) there can average 330 milligrams of caffeine but range from 259 to a whopping 564! These are Starbucks’ own reported values, levels that led energyfiend.com to list this product’s caffeine content as “Extreme.” But think about this: that high end for the “Extreme” content of Starbucks is roughly the same as only two small bottles of 5-hour Energy, perhaps telling us how deceivingly potent these “shots” can be. Is the problem only with the caffeine? What else might be dangerous in these drinks? They also contain various combinations of vitamins and amino acids, with some vitamins far exceeding recommended daily values. Among all of these components, I’m most concerned about phenylalanine, an amino acid that cannot be adequately broken down by people with a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria. This is why you’ll see diet sodas containing the artificial sweetener aspartame listed with a warning for phenylketonurics: aspartame contains phenylalanine. In such individuals, the amino acid gets converted instead to a chemical that can cause seizures, and even mental retardation in developing infants and children. Phenylketonuria is rather common in the US, occurring in 1 out of 15,000 people but is three-to-five times more common in Turkey and Scotland. Does this mean that 5-hour Energy caused the reported deaths and hospitalizations? This is the question that FDA scientists are trying to assess. The major problem is that these reports don’t list other very important information such as age, weight, pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, or any Indication of drugs or dietary supplements that might have contributed to these adverse reactions. For example, younger (and smaller) people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and might also be taking other substances that could make the energy drink deadly. We need to remember that caffeine is a drug, capable of providing us with mental alertness but at higher doses can make us anxious, shaky, and have gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea. In energy drinks caffeine is regulated as a food additive but its drug status is complicated by the fact that it occurs naturally in foods such as coffee and chocolate. Caffeine was previously classified by the FDA as an additive “Generally Recognized As Safe” (or GRAS) at levels commonly used since 1958. I’ve always been wary of the so-called GRAS list. No chemical, natural or synthetic, is 100% safe. The dose determines the relative safety of anything, as does what that chemical is taken with. In 1969, President Nixon ordered the FDA to re-review the substances on the GRAS list. The special review committee didn’t get to caffeine until 1978 but they expressed serious concerns about its health risks that include high blood pressure with doses as little as 4 milligrams per kilogram body weight. That’s roughly a 16-ounce Starbucks coffee for a 180-lb adult. The committee specifically concluded, “It is inappropriate to include caffeine among the substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS).” Yet caffeine remains a food additive almost 35 years later. Marrow Matches for Minorities Are Harder to Find Minority Volunteer Donors Needed by Mary Kugler, R.N. There are several bone marrow and stem cell donor registries in the United States, the largest of which is the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) which lists more than 6.2 million donors. Although the NMDPs Registry has a diverse pool of donors, whites are by far the largest group, represented by more than 3.1 million donors. NMDP Registry Donors as of 12/2004: Whites -- 3,167,307, Hispanic -- 547,034, African American -- 490,603, Asian/Pacific Islander -- 429,177, Multiple Race/Other -- 160,905, American Indian/ Alaska Native -- 74,716, Decline/Unknown -- 1,415,542. When a person volunteers to be a donor, his or her particular blood tissue traits, as determined by a special blood test (histocompatibility antigen test), are recorded in the Registry. This "tissue typing" is different than a person's A, B, or O blood type. A person needing a bone marrow transplant (recipient) needs to receive marrow from someone whose tissue type is close to his/her own type. Because tissue types are inherited, similar to hair or eye color, it is more likely that the recipient will find a suitable donor in a brother or sister. This, however, happens only 25 to 30 percent of the time. If a family member does not match the recipient, the Registry database is searched for an unrelated individual whose tissue type is a close match. It is more likely that a donor who comes from the same racial or ethnic group as the recipient will have the same tissue traits. For African Americans, this is particularly true, as some African American tissue types are rarely found in donors from other ethnic backgrounds and may be unusual, even among other African Americans. Therefore, if the group of potential donors being searched is small, the likelihood of finding a match will also be small. In 1993, the NMDP started four educational and recruitment programs to recruit potential donors from diverse racial or ethnic groups: African Americans Uniting for Life, Asian/Pacific Islander Donors Can Save Lives, Hispanics Giving Hope, Keep the Circle Strong (American Indian/Alaska Native). The NMDP also has international outreach initiatives in 19 countries around the world. Privacy issues: The NMDP recruitment programs address common concerns that individuals have about volunteering to become marrow donors, such as concerns about giving out personal information and about giving up a part of one's body (bone marrow), even though it will regenerate itself in a few weeks. Cost of tissue testing: Potential donors also may be concerned about the cost of testing for tissue traits ($52 to $96, depending on what tests are done by what lab). Many minority donors are not aware that all or part of a volunteer's tissue typing cost may be covered by a patient's family, community group, corporation, or a group sponsoring a donor recruitment drive. Any money paid to cover costs is taxdeductible. Some states have required private insurance companies to cover donor screening tests. State health plans, though, don't cover costs. Therefore, the cost of testing may prevent low-income people of all backgrounds from registering. All of these issues need to be addressed in order to increase the number of minority donors in the Registry. Also, scientists need to figure out ways to get more unrelated donor matches to work, so that those donors who are available could be used. If you'd like to become a volunteer donor, the process is straightforward and simple. Anyone who is between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health can become a donor. There is a form to fill out and a blood sample to give; you can find all the information you need at the NMDP website. You can join a donor drive in your area, or go to a local donor center to have the blood test done. Note: The author has been a registered donor since 1993.
The newsletter editor Danita Gaut is available to do your newsletter. Please contact her at 405.923.4224 or danitagaut.omhcc@coxinet.net w/ further information.
Tupperware Do’s & Don’ts from Dr. Oz Melamine is a flame-retardant chemical used to make adhesives, industrial coatings and certain types of plates, cooking utensils and other plastic products. The chemical made headlines in 2008 when some China manufacturers of infant formula added melamine to watered-down milk to trick tests measuring protein. Some 300,000 babies became sick after consuming the tainted formula and milk, and six died. The chemical has also been linked to kidney and bladder stones (urolithiasis), kidney failure and even cancer in animal studies, according to the World Health Organization, but research on human exposure is lacking. Never heat food in the microwave using melamine containers. Let food reach room temp before storing. Look for any cracks or scratches on the surfaces, discard if found. Never put them in the dishwasher.
Mail service on Saturday will be ending in August of this year due to the budget cuts.
Bill proposed to increase unclaimed prize money from $500,000 to $1.5 million that will go towards mental health and substance abuse.
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9 Excerpt from The World According to Mr. Rogers. The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away.
10 Most Depressing States in the U.S. On its own, where you live isn't enough to make you depressed. Personal circumstances and genes also play an important role in mental health, so an area that feels like a downer to one person may be home sweet home to another. That said, mental distress is unusually and persistently common in some states, whether due to economic troubles, lack of access to health care, or other factors. Using data from federal health agencies, Health.com has identified the 10 states with the highest rates of depression, psychological distress, and other indicators of poor mental health. Here they are, in alphabetical order. Arkansas: Like the many other rural southern states on this list, Arkansas consistently ranks among the worst in the nation on several measures of mental health, especially among young adults. Young Arkansans have a dedicated advocate in their corner, however. The state’s first lady, Ginger Beebe, has taken up mental health care for young people as a cause. In 2007, Beebe—who lost a son-in-law and a friend to suicide—went on a “listening tour,” in which she talked with families who have been affected by mental illness. “They have such courage and they go through so many struggles,” Beebe told the Associated Press. Indiana: Like many of its neighbors, this Rust Belt state has struggled with a sluggish economy, high unemployment, and massive budget shortfalls. And the financial trouble seems to be having a direct impact on mental health care for Hoosiers. Due to budget pressures, many community mental-health centers have closed or downsized in recent years, and the state is facing a shortage of psychiatrists. “This is happening all over the country,” Indiana University psychiatrist Alan Schmetzer, MD, told the South Bend Tribune in 2010. “(But) the Midwest in particular is very short of psychiatrists.” Kentucky: Rates of depression and other mental-health problems are higher than the national average throughout the mountainous and sparsely settled region known as Appalachia. They are higher still in the coal-mining areas of central Appalachia, which includes most of eastern Kentucky. Poor mental health in Kentucky is part of a constellation of social problems that includes high joblessness and drug abuse. “When people don’t have good jobs to support families, I think that leads to depression and anxiety, which in turn leads to substance abuse,” Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear told the AP in 2008. Michigan: Few states have been as battered by the economic downturn as Michigan. With unemployment as high as 20% in some counties, it’s not surprising that residents might be feeling distressed. The most recent government data, from 2009, may not even do justice to the true psychological fallout from the state’s misfortunes. “When people are under those kinds of stresses, the need for mental health care escalates,” the director of a state social-work organization told the Holland Sentinel in 2009. "What we’re seeing, anecdotally, is an increase in the need for substance abuse services and depression." Mississippi: The poorest state in the U.S., Mississippi ranks at or near the bottom on many health measures, from obesity to heart disease. Mental health is no exception. The state has the highest rate of depression in the nation (14.8%), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it has the third-highest rate of frequent mental distress (13.5%). Indeed, the state’s many health problems may feed one another. "Depression can both precipitate and exacerbate the symptoms of a chronic disease," Lela McKnight-Eily, PhD, a clinical psychologist and epidemiologist at the CDC, told Health.com in 2010. Missouri: Missouri isn’t at the bottom of the barrel in any one measure of mental health, but it gets very low marks in several areas, including the rate of serious psychological distress (13%). Fortunately for residents, the Show-Me State has had a proactive approach to preventing and treating mental-health problems. In 2008 it began a pilot program to integrate primary care and mental health care, and it was the first state in the U.S. to implement Mental Health First Aid, a program that trains teachers, policemen, and other nonspecialists to recognize the symptoms of mental illness and offer help. Nevada: For out-of-state visitors, Nevada often evokes images of gambling, partying, skiing, and other carefree diversions. For those who live there, the reality is often quite different. Nevada has high rates of mental distress, and, at last count, about 1 in 11 residents had experienced at least one episode of major depression in the previous year. These problems may get worse before they get better. Nevada has been especially hard hit by the financial crisis, and thanks to the poor economy and declining tax revenues, the state department that oversees mental-health services is facing budget cuts in the tens of millions of dollars. Oklahoma: Maybe it’s the flat, barren landscape and threat of severe weather; maybe it’s the high poverty rate (16%) and low rates of health -insurance coverage. For whatever reason, the Sooner State ranks in the bottom five of every category we considered. Even the official state rock song is depressing. In 2009, the Oklahoma legislature bestowed that honor on "Do You Realize?" by the Flaming Lips; it's a dirge-like tune featuring lyrics such as "Do you realize that happiness makes you cry? Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?" Tennessee: It may not be a coincidence that Memphis and Nashville are famous, respectively, for their blues and heartsick country music. By one measure, Tennessee is the unhappiest state in the union: Nearly 10% of residents have experienced an episode of major depression in the previous year. Like Mississippi, Tennessee also has high rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, the stress of which can worsen depression. As many as 70% of Tennesseans who see a primary care physician for obesity, diabetes, or hypertension meet the criteria for depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders, the state’s mental health commissioner has estimated. West Virginia: The Mountain State is ranked last or next-to-last in every mental-health category on our list, including the average number of "mentally unhealthy" days residents have per month and the percentage of people who experience frequent mental distress (15%). One reason may be that roughly two-thirds of West Virginians live in rural areas, where both steady jobs and access to mental health care can be hard to come by. A 2000 study found that while nearly 1 in 3 residents living in rural areas had "a high level" of depression symptoms, almost half had never been treated for the condition by any doctor, let alone a psychiatrist or mental-health specialist.
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10 First-of-its-kind report finds that street forms of “synthetic marijuana” products linked to thousands of hospital emergency departments visits each year from SAMSHA Street forms of synthetic cannabinoids – so-called “synthetic marijuana” – were linked to 11,406 of the 4.9 million drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2010, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Commonly known by such street names as “K2” or “Spice,” synthetic cannabinoids are substances that are not derived from the marijuana plant but purport to have the same effect as the drug. Though an increasing number of states have passed laws against the sale of synthetic cannabinoids, they have been marketed as a “legal” alternative to marijuana during the past few years. In July 2012, a comprehensive, national ban was enacted against the sale of synthetic cannabinoids under Title XI of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. Today’s report points out that the use of synthetic cannabinoids is tied to a variety of reported symptoms including agitation, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), elevated blood pressure, tremor, seizures, hallucinations, paranoid behavior and non-responsiveness. The report found that youths between the ages of 12 to 29 constituted 75 percent of all hospital ED visits involving synthetic cannabinoids, with males accounted for 78 percent of the ED admissions among this age group. The average age for people involved in synthetic cannabinoid-related ED admissions was younger than for marijuana-related ED visits (24 years old versus 30 years old). “Health care professionals should be alerted to the potential dangers of synthetic cannabinoids, and they should be aware that their patients may be using these substances,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “Parents, teachers, coaches and other concerned adults can make a huge impact by talking to young people, especially older adolescents and young adults, about the potential risks associated with using synthetic marijuana.” “This report confirms that synthetic drugs cause substantial damage to public health and safety in America,” said Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Gil Kerlikowske. “Make no mistake – the use of synthetic cannabinoids can cause serious, lasting damage, particularly in young people. Parents have a responsibility to learn what these drugs can do and to educate their families about the negative impact they cause.” Several grantees funded under SAMHSA’s various programs are working to prevent the use of synthetic marijuana. Many states are providing prevention education to local communities, including webinars and fact sheets for parents on the signs and symptoms of the use of synthetic marijuana. Questions also are being added to school surveys to determine the incidence and prevalence of the use of synthetic marijuana by youth. Grantees funded by the ONDCP’s Drug-Free Communities Support Program have provided tremendous insight to local synthetic marijuana issues and are using environmental policies aimed at limiting access to these dangerous substances in local retail stores. In addition, SAMHSA’s Division of Workplace Programs maintains a list of Department of Health and Human Services-certified laboratories that test regulated specimens for “K2” or “Spice.” The report, “Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Involving Synthetic Cannabinoids,” is based on data drawn from SAMHSA’s Drug Abuse Warning Network, a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related morbidity and mortality. The full report can be viewed at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/DAWN105/SR105-synthetic-marijuana.pdf. To learn more about synthetic cannabinoids, visit the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s website: ww.whitehouse.gov/ondcp.
In the U.S. dial 911, not 112 Though 911 remains the only universally recognized emergency number in the United States, mobile calls to 112 (the standard emergency number throughout the European Union and some other countries) may - I repeat, may - be redirected to local emergency services inside the U.S. depending on the type of device (e.g., phones using GSM technology) and service provider. But don't depend on it. Dialing 911 is still your safest bet in an emergency anywhere in the United States, whether you're using a mobile phone or a landline. Don't play Russian Roulette with your life.
True Happiness Comes From Within
I Love Nuts... Almonds are Awesome
SENATOR SEEKS RELAXED POT LAWS Michael Mcnutt A legislator who couldn't get an interim study last fall on the benefits of medical marijuana has filed two measures to ease the state's tough marijuana laws. Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Forest Park, has filed separate bills to establish a medical marijuana program in Oklahoma and to reduce the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Senate Bill 902 would direct the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision to develop and adopt rules that allow people with debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana with approval from their physicians and to establish fees for the "licensing, production, distribution and consumption" of marijuana for medical purposes. SB 914 would reduce the maximum penalty for possessing up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana from a maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine to a maximum of 10 days in jail and a $200 fine. It's uncertain if the bills will get a committee hearing in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Here are a few helpful tips for when you should contact your state legislators: To express your views for or against a particular House or Senate bill/legislative issue To get information regarding pending legislation or state laws To seek assistance in dealing with a state agency or program To suggest an idea for legislation To obtain information on the status of state highway construction or improvement projects To invite your legislator to speak at a local meeting (ex: Chamber of Commerce events, high school government classes, civic group meetings like Rotary, Kiwanis, or Lions Club, etc.) To request a letter of congratulations for a friend, loved one, or local business celebrating a milestone achievement If you don’t know whether your question or concern is local, state, or federal in nature, that’s ok! Feel free to contact any of your elected officials and they can direct you to the right place.
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Use your voice & share your thoughts Join OMHCC Now!! (Mail information in to join) Name ________________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________ State _______________ Zip _______________ E-Mail Address _________________________________________________________________________ Phone __________________________________________________ Date _________________________ Annual Membership Categories: Consumer: $15.00
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Supporter, family member or person simply interested in mental health issues: $30.00 I would like to make a one-time donation of: $____________________________ OMHCC is a 501(C)3 and your donation is tax deductible. Your personal information will NEVER be shared without your express permission.
405.604.6975 or toll free 1.888.424.1305
3200 NW 48th St Ste, 102 OKC, OK 73112
WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS? How has OMHCC helped you? Inquiring minds want to know (If there’s a meeting, conference, complaint or any information that you feel is important) Let us know!!! OMHCC wants to know how we can be of service. Name ______________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________State ___________ Zip _____________ E-Mail Address _______________________________________________________________________ Phone _________________________________________ Date of Event _________________________ Information you want to share: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ (Please mail this page or respond via mail or email)
405.604.6975 or toll free 1.888.424.1305
3200 NW 48th St Ste, 102 OKC, OK 73112
shaeleggett.omhcc@coxinet.net
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Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council 3200 NW 48th St , Ste 102 Oklahoma City, OK 73112
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