Summer 2013
The Newsletter for Consumers & Supporters
Providing a psychological lifeline: Mental health volunteers on the ground for tornado victims by Brian Brus The first step in helping others deal with the emotional trauma of surviving a tornado is simple: Provide shelter, food and safety first, said Jeff Dismukes at the Departments of Mental health and Substance Abuse. Talking through the experience –or crying or yelling–will come later, sometimes much services and other support might be
ery efforts in Moore after the May 20 disaster in much the same manner as other organizations. They’re moving through the community, connecting victims to public services and providing a helping hand. And the mental health volunteers are easy to identify by their bright lime-colored t-shirts. “People are actually looking for our green shirts to talk to us,” volunteer coordinator Tania RubioRosas said. Those shirts may well be a lifeline to other mental health services. Volunteers with counseling backgrounds are working out a temporary office donated by the Cleveland County Health Department. Dozens check in each morning for new assignments as needed, often to work other organizations in areas such as transportation, school counseling or even uniting residents with lost pets through the Humane Society. They’re covering not only Moore, but also smaller communities like Carney and Little Axe. The volunteers include licensed mental health counselors and case managers who maintain nearly constant contact with the temporary
operations center. Dismukes said jokingly that
the office sometimes smells like a locker room for all the activity and the lack of time for cleanup after themselves. The service that the department volunteers are providing might not appear at first to be directly related to mental health. But according to psychologist John Tassey, until basic safety and security needs are met, it’s difficult to address other problems.
.Important Message Regarding Emergency Refill Too Soon Procedures – Oklahoma The governor of Oklahoma has issued a Disaster Declaration for the Counties of Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie due to recent severe storms and tornadoes. As a result of this declaration, Express Scripts has implemented Emergency Refill Too Soon Procedures for those counties. This State of Emergency remains in effect through June 17, 2013. Affected Areas Express Scripts is implementing Emergency Refill Too Soon Procedures in the following Oklahoma counties: Cleveland Lincoln McClain
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
Oklahoma Pottawatomie During emergencies, TRICARE may authorize early refills for prescriptions, meaning a prescription can be refilled before the current supply is exhausted. If your medication is lost or damaged as a result of the storm, you may obtain an emergency supply at a local network pharmacy.
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
necessary. Until then however, the department’s more than 600 trained volunteers are helping recov-
c o n s u m e r a l e rt
later, he said. When that happens, professional counseling
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
Free meal listings in the city *Bethany Church of Christ 3301 N. Rockwell 789-2923 Tues - Thurs 9-12 *St. James Baptist 459 Scott St. Del City 672-5740 Call 1st M- F 9am - 4:30 pm *St.Luke Baptist Church 10001 NE 50th St, Spencer 769-5123 M-F 9:30 -3:00 *Downtown Baptist Church 629 W. Main 232-6977 M/Tue/W/F 1- 2pm *Good Shepherd Ministries 222 NW 12th 232-8631 M-Th (73103 Only) 9-11:30 & 1-3pm *Guild of St. George 117 NW 7th St OKC 232-2266 M/W/F 9-12 *Center City Ministries 515 N. Western OKC 232-7700 Tu-Th 1-3 *St.Francis of Assisi Catholic Charity Community Cupboard on NW 8th Call 1st 528-0485 *New Hope Community Church 3340 NW 16 St 943-4425 Tues/Thurs/Fri 10- 5pm *West Lawn Baptist Church 2461 NW 1st Ter 235-7297 M - F Call first *Baptist Mission Center 2125 Exchange Ave. 235-6162 Call 1st Tues - Thurs 1- 3pm *Baptist Believers 316 SW 22 OKC 632- 5911 Thurs 5- 8pm Call first *Grace Lutheran church 5500 S. Western Ave Call 1st 634-3637 M-W 9-1 *Neighbor for Neighbor 300 SW 13th St 236-0473 Mon - Fri 9- 2:30 *Oakcrest Christian Service Center115 SW 24th 236-5956 M-F 9am-2pm *Salvation Army501 S Harvey 270-7844 M-F 9-12 & 1 to 3 pm *South Walker Church of Christ 5217 S Walker 632-1777M-Th 9-12 Call first
Cool Deal Save at City golf courses with special Cool Deal rates on golf. Get your green fee and half cart rental for just $30.50 + tax. Cool Deal rates are available from 1-4 Monday –Thursday. June 1—September 30. Offer excludes holidays. You can schedule your tee time up to 7 days in advance.
For more information, call; Lake Hefner Golf Course 843-1565 Earlywine Golf Course 691-1727 Lincoln Park Golf Course 424-1421 Trosper Golf Course 677-8874 www.okcgolf.com
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety's new online scheduling system. Thanks to the new online scheduling system called , visiting one of Oklahoma's Driver License offices is about to get easier. With this new system, drivers can make appointments online for services such as a driving skills test, written learner permit test, CDL renewal and ID cards at field offices across the state. This service offers the opportunity to make appointments online or from their mobile device, while avoiding the inconvenience of standing in line. The online system uses industry-leading security, and only requires drivers to choose an appointment time at their location of choice and provide basic information, such as name, phone number, driver license number, email address. For even greater flexibility, individuals will be able to choose a location, date and time when they would like to schedule an appointment. Another option is to search for the next available time for a road test. Appointments can be made from 1 to 14 days in advance.
is scheduled to be re-
Free Fare Fridays Starting May 17th, METRO Transit is launching its annual Free Fare Fridays, offering free rides on the third Friday of each month during ozone alert season, May through September. Anytime on May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16 and September 20, on any route in Oklahoma City, METRO Transit bus rides will be free to everyone.
Get Up, Get Out & Go See The World!!!
Free Genealogy Search The Family History Library holds over 2 million rolls of microfilmed records, 400,000 microfiche, and 300,000 books. It also houses an extensive collection of written manuscripts including family histories, local histories, indexes, periodicals, and aids to help in genealogical research. This immense collection of genealogical material covers most of the world, allowing researchers to search original records from countries as far as the Netherlands, Hungary, Chile, and China, although the emphasis is on Great Britain, Canada, Europe, and America. The Library's United States holdings include records from thousands of county courthouses and state and regional archives, plus all of the U.S. Census records from 1790-1920. Known for their extensive knowledge and excellent assistance, the staff at the Family History Library will help answer questions and guide you through the Library. Other key resources include the computerized Family Search system and the inter-library loan program that the Library maintains with its more than 2,000 branch Family History Centers around the world (books do not circulate in this inter-library loan program). The International Genealogical Index (IGI) is an index which documents births and marriages of deceased persons from around the world. Beginning with submissions from individuals, both church members and non-members, the IGI was started in 1969 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition, extractions were made from pre-1970 temple records. To get records from places other than just church archives, the Extraction Program was developed. The Extraction Program involves hundreds of volunteers, some of whom travel around the world to filming records. Other volunteers then transcribe the records on the films. The Parish and Vital Records List, which is published by the Library, shows which records have been extracted and listed in the IGI for each geographical area and time period. It also shows which records are currently being extracted. The volunteers copy birth, christening, and marriage information about deceased individuals listed in various church and civil vital records. These records are not limited to LDS Church members or their ancestors. The IGI contains over 250 million names. Most of the names come from records dating from the early 16th century to the late 19th century. The index does not include every person from any given country, nor the names of all persons from the records indexed. However, the names listed in the IGI are not limited to individuals who are relatives of LDS members. The IGI is accessible through the Family History Library and also through its Family History Centers around the country. It may also be available at some major genealogical societies and libraries. It can be accessed on microfiche and CD-ROM. It should be noted that the extracts from the original records that are recorded in the IGI are not always accurate. Many agree that there is wide variation in the reliability of the records found in the IGI. In addition, it is possible that you will find incomplete records in the IGI. That is, you may come across a record that contains the name and the date, but not the place of the event. This is a result of the submitter not including this information. (All records recorded before 1992 are complete.) For these reasons, the IGI is recommended as an excellent source of information, provided that you verify your information against original documents. In short, use the IGI as a tool to direct you to the original record. The Ancestral File can best be described as the world's genealogy database. Primarily, it links individuals into families, so that eventually we may be able to see all of mankind linked into one great big family tree! The heart of the Ancestral File comes from contributors, just like you, who submit their family trees to the Library. The Library then adds your tree to the Ancestral File or attaches it to another part of your family that has already been submitted. All in all, the File contains about 20 million names. The Church encourages everyone to submit what they have to the File, although they do not verify the information that others submit to them. By searching the File, others can find out what research has already been done on their family. In addition, your submission may finally link those long lost branches of your family. For more information about Ancestral File submissions, contact the Family History Library. The Social Security Death Index, is an index that consists of 39 million records of deaths reported by the Social Security Administration. These deaths occurred between the years 1962 and 1988. With this index, you can get information regarding a person's birth date, death date, Social Security number, state/county code of residence, last residence zip, and the lump sum payment zip. From this initial information, you can then write to your local Social Security office for more information from the form SS-5, the application for a Social Security card. You can access the Social Security Death Index through the Family Search computer system at the Family History Library and at each of the Family History Centers. However, before you make a trip to the Family History Library, you can do a free search of the Social Security Death Index right here. All you need to do is type in your ancestors' names right at your own computer! The Military Index is a listing of individuals who served and were killed in the Korean or Vietnam War. The Military Index is also available through the Family Search computer. The Family History Library also has many other U.S. and foreign military records. The Family Registry in a microfiche index that is separate from the Family Search computer. This index lists organizations and individuals who are interested in sharing their genealogical information. It covers about 300,000 individual parties. One of the best ways to grow your family tree is to contact others who have already researched part of your tree for you. Even if no one has specific information regarding your family, they may have some helpful tips for you. This resource is a great place to go when you need a little assistance from the rest of the genealogy world. Research outlines give detailed advice about how to do genealogical research in a specific country, emphasizing what information may be available through the Family History Library. The Family History Library has research outlines for the United States and dozens of foreign countries. Research outlines can be downloaded from electronic bulletin boards, or you can send a written request to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Australia Happiest Place to live for 3rd year in a row Australia is the world's happiest country this year, according to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The land down under edged out Sweden, Canada, Norway and Switzerland for top honors, according to OECD, which analyzed its 34 member states (plus Brazil and Russia) across 11 categories for its "Better Life Index." The United States ranked sixth on the list. While the OECD system emphasizes comparison over competition, if all the OECD's categories of well-being are weighted equally, Australia emerges atop the ranked list. This year's "happiest country" owes its general joviality to a combination of factors, including above average household net-adjusted disposable income, employment, civic engagement and life expectancy, according to the website: Australia performs exceptionally well in measures of well-being, as shown by the fact that it ranks among the top countries in a large number of topics in the Better Life Index. Of course, what makes a nation "happy" is a matter of debate. The OECD's list, for example, conflicts with the results of the environmentally conscious Happy Planet Index (HPI), which ranks Costa Rica as the happiest country. Last year, the United Nations also released its own "happy" list based on Gallup polls taken from 20052011, with Denmark taking the No. 1 spot in the U.N.'s metric. And the lesson that popularity isn't everything holds true here, as Germany, the world's most popular country by a recent ranking, barely cracked the top 20 in terms of happiness, according to OECD.
“We’re off to see the Wizard. The Wonderful Wizard of OZ”
Plan a Stay-cation in Oklahoma this Summer by Danita Gaut A stay-cation is the name for a vacation that is either taken at home or within a days drive or “tankful” of ones home. It can consists of anywhere from a day of movie watching on your sofa or a day at Turner Falls in Davis, OK. It’s a great way to save money and not deal with lengthy travel details. Most staycations can very easily be put together at the last minute. If you plan a little ahead then it will allow you to check websites for discounts on admission and other expenses. Don’t forget your camera, phone and chargers. Another way to add whimsy and fun to your trip is to go to unique local eateries. Stay away from the same places that you can easily eat down from your home on any given day. It’s a staycation...explore and enjoy. Here are some of my picks for a fun filled Oklahoma stay-cation. Oklahoma City Zoo. We get a family pass every year. Sometimes it’s just for us to have a picnic lunch but it’s so worth it. And not to mention being able to exercise with awesome scenery. Bricktown. Walk the canal, grab a bite to eat and see a movie. On certain nights enjoy live music. Myriad Botanical Gardens & Crystal Bridge Conservatory. Another one of our favorite picnic spots. Beautiful flowers, walking trails, sculptures. The gardens are always free. The small fee is worth it to take a imaginary walk inside a rainforest without leaving Oklahoma. They have one of the best gift shops around as well. The Oklahoma Museum of Art. The Museum has all it takes to have a perfect time one of a kind art pieces, yummy café and great “artsy” movies. Arbuckle Wilderness. This place has been a love of mine since childhood. Where else can you drive along a route and have an animal eat out of your moon roof? Turner Falls. If you have another day in the area of Davis, OK be sure to see the falls and maybe even stay in the falls’ campsite. The Aquarium in Jenks, Ok– Don’t miss the underwater tunnel. The Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, OK. Tour the 1,000s of figurines on display. Find out how you can get one of made of yourself. Another favorite is the Museum of Osteology in OKC. Very fascinating tour into the world of bones. The Sam Noble Museum in Norman always has the goods for an entertaining day. They also have free Mondays. The Fred Jones Museum of Art in Norman offers a lot of interesting pieces that make this place a must see. Especially since it now has free admission daily thanks to the OU Women’s Basketball team donation. Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, OK. Where else can you pay respects to beloved circus performers and their faithful animals. Tips for cheaper road trips by the Associated Press Finances are weighing heavily on the minds of Americans as they consider whether to take a road trip this summer. An AP-Gfk poll found that 56 percent of Americans don't plan to take a leisure trip this summer. A majority of those people said they cancelled a trip for financial reasons. Still, 42 percent of Americans do plan a leisure trip. For those hopping in the car, here are six tips on how you can save money as you set out this summer. Keep an eye out for welcome centers near state lines. They're an excellent source of coupons for nearby motels and tourist attractions. Check the Internet for deals before you leave. A lot of hotels are offering discounts this summer. Super 8 Motels will take 15 percent off its nightly rate if you book eight days in advance. Bring a cooler. Food is one of the biggest expenses on any road trip. The more you get from the grocery store, the better. Travel site RoadTrip America lists dozens of “road food” recipes from Blackberry Rice Krispies treats to the hardcore road tripper's omelet in a bag. Haggle. No room rate is fixed — especially when the hotel parking lot is empty. If a place seems largely vacant, feel free to inquire about a special discount. Mark Sedenquist, publisher of the roadtripamerica.com Web site and a frequent rate haggler, boasts a 70 percent success rate. “Motel owners are much more interested in having full occupancy than getting their standard rate,” he said. If you're visiting national parks and federal recreational lands, consider an annual pass. At $80 for the general public and $10 for seniors, it may be a cheaper way to get around. Look around for hidden discounts. Soccer clubs, church groups, professional organizations and other groups have prearranged travel discounts at various hotels and tourist spots. See if you qualify.
10 Unusual Places in Oklahoma by Andrew Knittle Gravity Hill, Bartlesville-Gravity Hill, located south of Bartlesville on Gap Road at the Matoaka Switch, has been a source of local lore and mystique for decades now. According to the locals, the hill in question is unique because it defies the laws of gravity. If you park your car facing downhill and put it in neutral, you’ll be surprised as your car starts rolling backward, which is uphill. Similar experiments, like spilling soda on the ground to see which direction it flows, have produced the same unusual results as the fluid runs back uphill. A popular place for first dates or just a sight to see if you’re in the area, Gravity Hill – one of dozens of “Gravity Hills” across the country – is more readily explained by science than the supernatural. The only way to be truly sure, however, is go there and check it out for yourself. The hill’s location is available on Google Maps and other online mapping tools. Or, you can just ask a local if you’re in town. Mount Olivet Cemetery, Hugo-In what was once called Circus City, USA, due to the more than 15 shows that wintered in the small southeast Oklahoma town, Hugo’s Mount Olivet Cemetery features a section called Showman’s Rest, a place for circus performers to rest in peace after a life spent wandering the country. Headstones can be found in all shapes and sizes, including an elephant, a mini circus big top and a Ferris wheel. Bull Rider’s Reprieve, dedicated to former rodeo stars and a handful of notable bulls, can also be found be found at Mount Olivet. Hugo also houses the second largest elephant herd in the U.S. during the winter off-season. The Woods of Southeastern Oklahoma, near Honobia-This part of Oklahoma, rich in streams, creeks and vast tracts of dense, uninhabited forest, is prime Bigfoot territory. Numerous expeditions have been conducted in the area, and the town of Honobia, situated in the Kiamichi Mountains, even holds an annual Bigfoot convention/conference every year, complete with keynote speakers from the scientific community. Local residents have been having encounters with Bigfoot for decades, perhaps centuries if Indian accounts are factored in. Reports of people smelling the beast, finding footprints and eyewitnesses who claim to have seen the creature with their own eyes are widespread throughout the region. Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City-The legend of Effie, her crying baby and the woman’s nude apparition have been associated with the Skirvin Hotel for decades now. According to legend, William Balser Skirvin, the owner of the original Skirvin Hotel, had a mistress, named Effie, who became pregnant with his illegitimate child some time in the early 1930s during Prohibition. To avoid public detection, Skirvin kept Effie, who had worked as a maid in the hotel, on the top floor of the building as her pregnancy advanced. After the birth of the child, Skirvin continued to imprison Effie and the infant on the top floor, never allowing them to leave. According to local lore, Effie became so stir crazy that she leapt – with the baby in her arms – from the hotel’s highest point, killing them both. Legend has it that Effie’s baby could be heard crying throughout the hotel, so much so that many guests complained about losing sleep due to the constant sobbing. Some male guests also reported hearing a woman’s voice propositioning them, as Effie was known for her loose morals and promiscuity. Other men reported seeing the image of a naked woman while in their rooms. World War II bombing site, Boise City-Located in the far west of the Oklahoma Panhandle, Boise City still bears the scars of the bombing it endured during World War II. In fact, Boise City is the only city in the continental U.S. to get bombed during WWII, and it wasn't even by an enemy. On a training mission in the early hours of July 5, 1943, a B-17 based out of the Dalhart (Texas) Army Air Field mistakenly took Boise City for Conlen, Texas – 30 miles due south. Thankfully for the residents, the bombs were mostly sand and nobody was injured during the 30-minute air raid. Some of the areas hit have been preserved and a memorial stands outside the town’s chamber of commerce, just across from the courthouse in downtown Boise City. The Old Masonic Home for Boys, Guthrie-Although the Old Masonic Home for Boys in Guthrie was recently renovated and transformed into a posh events center called the Dominion House, the location is still as haunted as any place in Oklahoma. Today, lavish weddings, corporate gatherings and other special events are held on the sprawling property, but when the manor was built in 1923, it served as an orphanage for abandoned children. After a change in state law, the house closed in 1978 and was left abandoned for about 20 years. A haunting was inevitable. One of the most common stories associated with the old orphanage revolves around an evil nurse who abused and killed some of the boys in her care. Some researchers, who trespassed on the property to conduct their investigation before the property was purchased in 2000, reported finding the boys’ graves on the grounds. Another ghost is said to haunt the bell tower, where a suicide supposedly occurred. According to reports, a dark shadow hangs in the tower and will follow intruders around if they enter. The new owner of the building is known to prosecute any trespassers, so ghost hunters may have to rent the place if they want to conduct their own investigation. Overholser Mansion, Oklahoma City-Built in 1903 by prominent Oklahoma City businessman Henry Overholser, the French Chateau-style mansion is one of the largest, creepiest homes in the city’s Heritage Hills Historical Preservation District. The home is decorated with many of the Overholsers’ original furnishings and is owned by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Although no specific event seemed to occur to warrant a haunting, many guests, volunteers and former residents reported a feeling of uneasiness while in certain areas of the mansion, particularly on the third floor. Workers have also reported impressions left on beds that hadn’t been used in ages and strange noises are often heard in parts of the house that should be empty. Tours of the Overholser Mansion are available Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fort Washita, Durant-Constructed in the 1841 to keep the peace between new settlers and Indians who’d been living in the area for hundreds of years, Fort Washita was eventually taken over by the Confederates during the Civil War, at which time it was used as hospital and supply post. After the war, the haunting began in earnest. According to reports, the two families who attempted to settle into Fort Washita, which was renovated after the Civil War left it burned in the late 1800s were driven out by strange occurrences. Nobody else even tried after that. But it is the legend of Aunt Jane, who was apparently decapitated for the $20 in gold she was rumored to always keep on her, that defines the haunting at Fort Washita. Although several stories exist to explain reports of witnesses seeing a beheaded woman’s ghost lurking about the old fort, Aunt Jane – rumored to be either an officer’s wife or freed black woman – is the star in each tale. The Stone Lion Inn, Guthrie-This four-story, 8,000-square-foot mansion, which is now a bed and breakfast, was once the most expensive home ever built in Guthrie and was the home to F.F. Houghton and his large family. Houghton and his wife had 12 children packed into the house, and it is the ghost of the couple’s young daughter, Augusta, who is said to haunt the location. Reports state that Augusta, who came down with a serious case of the whooping cough, died when the nurse charged with her care accidentally doled out the wrong medicine. According to sources, Augusta made her presence known when a family later bought the house and proceeded to renovate the estate. The new owner’s son, who was around the same age of Augusta at the time of her death, reportedly cleaned his room each night, making sure to put all of his toys in his bedroom closet. Every morning, however, all the toys were back out in the room as child ghosts are notoriously absent-minded and rarely clean up after themselves. That occurrence continues today. The Spooksville Lights, Miami-Forming a triangle and connecting Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, the “Spooksville Triangle” is the location of a mysterious light that comes out on foggy nights. Reportedly, the lights can be seen in Joplin, Mo.; Columbus, Kan.; and Miami, OK, forming the triangle. As the story goes, the light is the spirit of woman who sent her daughter out in the 1800s to round up cows that had wandered off the family’s property. When her daughter failed to return from her task, the mother is said to have gone mad in her search for the child. The light, which has been seen for more than 100 years in this region, is supposedly that of the mother’s lantern as she continues to search for her daughter, usually on foggy nights.
Not All Who Wander Are Lost; Some May Have Forgotten Their Keys
HEAT STROKE DANGER: Don't Forget People With Mental Illnesses "Families, neighbors, friends and communities need to look out for each other," Fitzpatrick said. "That means encouraging people to take care of themselves and checking on their living situations. It means helping people when help is needed." Psychiatric medications—particularly antipsychotics, — affect the body's ability to stay cool by causing a decrease in sweating, promoting fluid loss and dehydration, or changing how people experience heat; i.e., they may not even feel heat. There is also a high risk of severe sunburn caused by photosensitivity to psychiatric medications. Other risk factors include: Age, obesity, inadequate physical exertion, excessive physical exertion drinking caffeinated beverages, breathing/respiratory problems, alcohol/ drug use, cardiac problems, anti-cholinergic treatment (cogentin, artane, benadryl), wearing clothing too heavy for the season (because heat is not being felt). Prevention measures are of course preferred to emergency responses: Drink plenty of water; don't wait until you are thirsty Avoid alcohol, sugar-sweetened, or caffeinated drinks, which worsen dehydration Eat cold food rich in water, such as fruit and salad Stay out of the sun or use sunblock Rest frequently in shaded areas Limit physical exertion Dress lightly in light-colored, loose-fitting clothes Take cool showers or baths Go to air-conditioned places; don't depend on electric fans when temperatures hit the high 90s. Don't stay in parked vehicles Be on the alert —for yourself, friends, neighbors and others—to: changes in level of consciousness red, hot skin that can be either dry or moist cool, moist, pale, flushed or ashen/gray skin headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion rapid or shallow breathing weakness, exhaustion high body temperature above 102 degrees
More Heat Smart Tips… Remember that babies & older adults are more susceptible to over heating. Both due to their clothing. The car seats & carriers for babies add extra heat to their bodies. Let The Sun Shine In by Danita Gaut SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) can be combated easier this time of year by getting out into the sun. Summer SAD generally only affects 10% of the population. Taking precautions by wearing sun screen & appropriate clothing for the weather. As little as 30 a day can make a huge difference in elevating your mood. Some Summer SAD triggers include: Negative body image that often gets compounded by the ultra skinny models & starlets that blanket the advertisements. Counter your own bad self image feelings by wearing clothes that are comfortable for your body type and realizing that you are perfect the way that you are. Financially the summer can be draining if you have school age children that are begging daily for things to do. Plan ahead for the summer by researching camps that can be free or low cost to keep them entertained. Summers can also be the time for children to become better acquainted to their family. Send kids on a weekend or weeklong visit to their family on the farm or in the bigger city. Any travel can be an adventure that they’ll remember their entire life. That was usually how most families did it years ago. I myself used to attend several every summer. Now I know why. The Oklahoma heat can become unbearable at times. Doing something as simple as dressing for the weather and staying hydrated can alleviate most of the discomfort. If you don’t wear shorts then search for loose fitting, breathable fabrics to wear in pants or long dresses and skirts. Adjusting your meds for the hot months may also help to minimize the frequency of overheating due to most psych meds causing reactions heat. Finally or firstly digging for the root of the problem that creates your Summer SAD. Hopefully one or a combination of these tips will help cure your Summer SAD. 7 Cardinal Rules In Life 1) Make peace with your past so it doesn’t spoil your present. Your past does not define your future “your actions and beliefs do.” 2) What others think of you is none of your business. It’s how much you value yourself and how important you think you are. 3) Time heals almost everything, give time, time. Pain will be less hurting. Scars make us who we are; they explain our life and why we are the way we are. They challenge us and force us to be strong. 4)No one is the reason for your own happiness, except for yourself. Waste no time and effort searching for peace & contentment & joy in the outside world. 5) Don’t compare your life with others’, you have no idea what their journey is all about. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we would grab ours back as fast as we could. 6) Stop thinking too much, it’s alright not to know all the answer. Sometimes there is no answer, not going to be any answer, never has been an answer. That’s the answer! Just accept it, move on, Next!
Getting Over It Already! Bouncing Back From Your Past By LINDA SAPADIN, PH.D You’re upset about something that happened to you. It’s not easy for you to get beyond it. It could have happened today or decades ago. It could be what others consider a big thing (a death) or a small thing (a slight). No matter. What happened to you still triggers emotional pain. Others are sympathetic at first, offering empathy and support. But it’s not long in our fast-paced society until people begin to lose patience with you. “Get over it already!” is their new message. Not a bad idea, you think. But how do you do this? If you could get over it already, wouldn’t you have done it? You’re right. Lots of people don’t know how to create closure after a hurtful blow. They don’t know how to move on. They don’t know how to let go. They don’t know how to bounce back from a psychic injury. If this describes you, see if these guidelines might be helpful: 1) Wounds take time to heal. So, be gentle with yourself. If you find yourself being judgmental for what you did or didn’t do, take a deep breath. Let go of your judgments. Let yourself be. 2) You may want nothing more than to be left alone with your hurt and anger. Do that. But not for too long. Take a nap. But do not spend the day in bed. Summon up the courage to start the day anew.Get out of bed. Let go of the anger. Be open to what a new day might bring. 3) Talk to someone who understands, not just what happened, but what the event means to you. If someone starts “Yes, Butting” your experience, that’s not the right person. 4) Life often is a harsh teacher. Be aware of what you’ve learned from the hurtful experience — about yourself, about the other person, and about life itself. 5) If what you learned seems to be all negative (you can’t trust anyone, life stinks), think outside the box to find something positive. It may take time to realize what this might be. 6) Focus on what’s important to you now. What do you truly appreciate now? Despite the loss, despite the hurt, despite the disappointment, what’s still good about life? 7) Reflect on what you can do now. You can’t undo the past. But possibly, you can make this very next day a better day for you. Creating closure doesn’t mean repressing your feelings. It doesn’t mean forgetting about what happened. It simply means that you put less emphasis on the past in order to create a future. You let today in. And tomorrow in. And next week in. And next year in. Then one day, you recognize that you have indeed “gotten over it.”
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, PRESS 1 to be connected with a mental health counselor. Our Vets can also TEXT: 83-8255 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 & friends. Includes all military eras, Guard, Reserve, etc. Both allow veterans to connect with other veterans with similar experiences. maketheconnection.net vetsprevail.org Thanks to Juanita Celie w/ the VA for providing this info
“The World According to Mr. Rogers” How many times have you noticed that it’s the little quiet moments in the midst of life that seem to give the rest extra-special meaning?
OK Police Chiefs Endorse Mental Health Checks Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) A federal database that tracks people prohibited from buying a firearm may soon include the names of Oklahomans with certain mental health issues. A bill that would require the state's county court clerks to submit to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System the names of those adjudicated mentally incompetent has passed the House and is awaiting Senate approval. Monday, the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police announced it also would support the inclusion of the state's mental health records in the federal background check database system. "In many of the instances that have occurred around the country where there have been mass shootings (the shooter) has at some point or another been diagnosed as mentally ill," said Norman McNickle, association president and director of public safety for Stillwater. "We just think those records are important to keep guns out of the hands of people who aren't supposed to have them." Federal and state law prohibits the sale of firearms to people who have been adjudicated mentally incompetent, but Oklahoma is among several states that does not currently submit its mental health records to the database. Adjudicated mentally defective means a court has determined a person is dangerous to himself or others, lacks the mental capacity to manage his affairs, has been found incompetent to stand trial or has been found insane by a court in a criminal case. Federally licensed firearms dealers are required by law to run the names of gun purchasers against the national database at the point of sale. The database also keeps the names of other prohibited persons, such as felons. But Oklahoma has only sent three mental health records to the federal database since 2009, according to the national gun safety group Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Texas, by comparison, has sent nearly 200,000. Because of strict privacy laws, mental health conditions are currently only self-reported by prospective gun purchasers in Oklahoma, Martin said. House Bill 1240 would work around those privacy laws by requiring court clerks, and not the state's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, to track and submit those records. "And there is a procedure in the bill to apply for reinstatement," he said. "I have not had a cross word from anybody. Now, I haven't had people jump on it, it's not something that the (National Rifle Association) has been down here working on, but I'm sure they're aware of the bill, and if they had a problem with it, they would." The push in Oklahoma for better mental health record-keeping reflects legislation being pushed nationwide in the wake of the school shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead in December at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. Among the list of gun-control proposals outlined by President Barack Obama in the wake of that shooting was a pledge to address barriers to mental health reporting to the federal database. According to the Government Accountability Office, the database currently hosts 1.2 million records despite an estimated 3 million people nationwide who would not qualify to own a firearm because of their mental health history. Delynn Fudge, federal grants division director for the state's District Attorney's Council, said Oklahoma meets federal record-sharing standards in nine of the 10 categories of people prohibited from owning a firearm. Compliance with the mental health records category, she said, would help further secure a federal grant that brought the state $2.6 million last year alone. "We've been working on this a couple years now, and it's kind of finally coming to the place we want it to be," Fudge said. "When you introduce a new concept, it doesn't always happen the first year, so you keep at it, you talk to enough people that your concept takes hold."
“HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY”
Get Off Your Duff! Sitting Is The New Smoking By Lorie Johnson Could too much time in your chair be killing you? Studies show sitting more than six hours a day puts you on a potentially deadly track, even if you exercise! That's pretty bad when you consider Americans sit about nine hours a day on average. When we sit, especially for long periods of time, our bodies tend to shut down, which can lead to an early death. Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, is a leading researcher on the health hazards of sitting too much. The 'New Smoking' "The trick, the trick, the trick," he said, is to have it firmly fixed in our minds, "that sitting is the new smoking. That sitting is literally bad for you." For 15 years, Dr. Levine has studied the grim consequences of spending too much time on our duff. For starters, obese people sit on average two-and-a-half hours more every day than thinner people. Sitting for long periods of time could actually make bottoms bigger because sitting down puts a large amount of force on the body tissues that make fat cells. It causes them to produce up to 50 percent more. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. "People who sit for a prolonged period of time throughout the day are predisposed to developing diabetes, and those people who have diabetes, their diabetes gets worse," Levine warned. Add to that increased blood pressure and more, including emotional problems. "People who sit more are more prone to cancers, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon, I mean, multiple cancers," Levine explained. "In addition, they're more prone to depression, to feeling blue," he said. "Even people who have mental illness, their illness is actually worse." As a potential solution, Dr. Levine worked with companies to improve employee health. He also teamed-up with Steelcase, the office furniture company, to develop the Walkstation, a desk with a treadmill built right into it. The Walkstation allows users to stroll at a very slow pace all day for optimum health. In fact, the Walkstation doesn't even go any faster than two miles per hour. Corporations nationwide have been clamoring to jump on the Walkstation bandwagon. But at about $3,500 each, although they are considered the gold standard of treadmill desks, not everyone can afford one. Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives. Jill Weisenberger, a nutritionist and author who has a home office, spent less than $500 for something similar. "I was sitting for hours and hours and hours, sometimes for 10 or so hours," she recalled. "And I just know all that sitting is bad for you." Weisenberger realized she had a problem when she began writing her nutrition book, Diabetes Weight Loss: Week by Week: A Safe, Effective Method for Losing Weight and Improving Your Health. As a health expert herself, she became concerned about the repercussions of sitting all day even though she exercised every morning. Weisenberger purchased the TrekDesk online for about $479. The TrekDesk is a wide, tall, adjustable desk that fits virtually any existing treadmill. She simply put it over the treadmill she already owned. "Ever since I got the desk I don't complain about back pain and I'm much more comfortable" she smiled. Weisenberger keeps her pace at just 1.4 miles an hour so she can concentrate on her work. The slow pace means she doesn't ever get sweaty or out-of-breath. "I could be on it for three to seven hours, and so I almost always walk about 30-some miles a week," she said. Although a treadmill desk is the preferred method of beating the "sitting all day blues," it's not always practical. The next best thing is a standing desk. It's also cheaper than a treadmill desk. CBN's Dorothy Schulte produces promotions for "The 700 Club." She figured out an inexpensive way to avoid sitting down all day by designing her own standup desk. As a result, she said she feels so much better. "I noticed a lot of the back pain went away," she said. "I was a lot less tired at the end of the day." For just $35, she simply attached two wooden blocks to the bottom of her regular desk, raising it about 10 inches. She also replaced her chair with a bar stool. "I don't stand the whole day, constantly," she explained. "I'll probably go back and forth 30, 45 minutes at a time." If you can't walk or stand at your desk, don't worry. There are still lots of things you can do to minimize the health hazards of a desk job. For example, offset the effects of sitting by taking the stairs at your work place, instead of the elevator. Levine recommends using a portable stair-stepper periodically throughout the day. "Slide it under the desk," he advised. "When the phone goes, you pull it out, and start stepping away." Another idea to break up the long hours sitting is to set an alarm as a reminder to take a lap or two around your work area. It's a practice that might not seem like much, but Levine said short, sporadic movement really adds up. "People get as much or potentially more benefit from being up and walking a little bit every hour than going to the gym three times a week," he said. Instead of emailing a co-worker, walk over to them. Choose the printer that's far from your desk, and park far away from your building. "I'd say the number one item, and we've deployed this in over 60 corporations in the United States, is walk-and-talk meetings," Levine said. Also, walk at lunchtime. A good way to measure how you're doing is to wear a pedometer, which keeps track of how many steps you're taking. A good goal is 10,000 a day. The office isn't the only danger zone. When you get home, avoid being a couch potato. Studies show each hour sitting in front of the television means an 11 percent higher death risk. So the bottom line is, there are lots of ways to get off your bottom! That way you can keep your desk job and your good health.
Have You Been Through the Key Leadership Academy Yet? This free leadership empowerment training has taught individuals how to develop self determination, leadership, civic and the ways to improve services for those living with psychiatric disorders. The Key Leadership Academy has helped many individuals across the state to reach out and advocate for themselves and others. 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 to have the right to hold a fundraiser, different ways to teach their community, including advocating for mental health issues and ways to reduce the stigma that is associated with mental illness. OMHCC has successfully trained over 120 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 at 405.604.6975 or toll free 1.888.424.1305.
Senior Law Resource Center can provide 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 and grandparents raising grandchildren. They also can make home visits. 600 NW 23rd St, Ste 106 OKC, OK 73103 405.528.0858 www.senior-law.org
Family Life Learning Center * Academic Coaches * Sports & fitness coaches * Music & Fine Art Coaches * Counselors * Health Care Professionals * Mentors * Career Development Professionals 3200 NW 48th St, Ste 201 OKC 563-0706 or 921-7520 Family-Life-Learning-Centers.org
Free HIV Counseling & Testing RAIN Oklahoma (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network) offers free counseling & testing Mon - Fri 93:30pm. Test results are available in 20 minutes or less and are painless and bloodless.
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 tax-deductible. 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.
FATE (Fighting Addiction Through Education) Fate.org If you or someone you know has beat the fight with addiction, help them share their story to help others. Symptoms of Diabetes. diabetes.org Diabetes often goes undiagnosed due to many of the symptoms being seemingly harmless. Early detection decreases the chances of having complications. Type 1 symptoms: · Frequent urination · Unusual thirst
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Extreme hunger
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Blurred vision Slow healing cuts/bruises
Unusual weight loss Extreme fatigue & irritability Type 2 symptoms: · Any of type 1 symptoms · Frequent infections
Tingling in hands/feet Go see your doctor immediately if you have one or more of these symptoms.
The Animal Resource Center located off of I-35 provides free advice on anything pet related. Free pet bathing facility also. ARC offers temperature controlled training & exercise facilities along with a
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 Food Bank at 405.316.3663 or email petfoodbank@okc.gov.
The Nicoma Park UMC Thrift Store All proceeds go back into the community. Wednesday 9-3 & Saturday 9-1 (Most clothes only 25¢)
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Supporter, family member or person simply interested in mental health issues: $30.00
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