SEPTEMBER 2015
BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION SEPTEMBER 2015
Xfactor’s Demi Lovato Opens Up About The Mental Illness She Didn't Know She Had To read her story, go to http://features.aol.com/vid eo/demi-lovato-opensabout-living-bipolardisorder.
How Do I Make a Difference for My Friends? http://www.iamthedifferencedc.org/Friend.html 12 Tips to Reduce Your Child's Stress and Anxiety 1) Encourage your child to face his/her fears, not run away from them. 2) Tell your child that it is okay to be imperfect. 3) Focus on the positives. 4) Schedule relaxing activities. 5) Model approach behavior, self-care, and positive thinking. 6) Reward your child's brave behaviors. 7) Encourage good sleep hygiene. 8) Encourage your child to express his/her anxiety. 9) Help your child to problem solve. 10) Stay calm. 11) Practice relaxation exercises with your child. 12) Never give up! https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-worry-mom/201302/12-tips-reduce-your-childs-stressand-anxiety
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RESOURCES TO ENHANCE FAMILY TIME
Motherlode: Five signs that it’s time to get help for a struggling child Been-there parents share their experiences with turning to professional support for depressed and anxious children. I recently heard some of the most helpful advice I’ve ever seen from a “crowdsource.” I asked, “How do you know when it’s time to get professional help for a child who is anxious, depressed or angry beyond her years?” Behind the scenes, …parents worry about the age of the child, the scope of problems, concerns what others might say, the ways that help failed, or why they considered and rejected the idea. These may not be the markers a counselor, psychologist or therapist would suggest. But parents who have watched their child wrestle with anxiety, depression and other challenges name these as the signs that it’s time to seek help: 1. When your child is endangering himself or threatening to harm himself. 2. When your other children are unhappy, frightened or upset by a sibling’s behavior, or a parent’s response to that behavior. 3. When the child’s behavior is interfering with his daily life, or the family’s functioning. 4. When disagreements about how to handle a child’s problems put a strain on your marriage or partnership. 5. When you, as a parent, don’t know what to do. To read the entire story go to http://www.pressherald.com/2013/11/10/motherlode __five_signs_that_it_s_time_to_get_help_for_a_str uggling_child_/
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Back-to-School Checklist for Kids with Mental Health Issues
If your child has a mental health condition, are you both ready for school? Providing support and guidance for a child with a mental health condition is a critical part of recovery. As a parent/caregiver, it is important that you work towards providing your child with the best school environment possible. To learn more about positive social interactions, comfortable, non-scary ways of supporting your child, go to http://checklistables.com/back-schoolchecklist-kids-mental-health-issues/
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10 Tips for Discovering Your Child's Strengths Strengths are the activities, relationships and ways ………that make us feel most alive and…..the places where we have the potential to make our most meaningful contributions to life. When strengths and interests combine, parents can help children develop passions. Below are some simple guidelines to get you on the way to helping your children discover their strengths.
1. Use play and cultivate the imagination. During imaginative play, children are free to unleash and exercise their strengths as they learn about what they prefer, how to socialize, and the unique ways they view themselves. Play encourages cognitive enrichment and emotional growth. 2. Seek out what makes your child unique. Little quirks can be clues to strengths. Something as simple as a child's tendency to demand that his mother use a certain purse over another may signal a strength in something as seemingly unrelated as design.. Sometimes the most unusual things signal the areas of deepest strength. 3. Keep a Strengths Journal. Take note of the things your child does -anything that strikes you about his/her behavior such as how your child expresses joy and happiness; what keeps his attention the longest; sounds or words he reacts to more than others; his generosity; and sense of humor. 4. Create family traditions. Creating family traditions helps children discover their relationship strengths while allowing them to reflect on their interactions with others
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Birthdays. Faith-based Holidays. Graduations……The more traditions you develop where children have an active role in creating meaning for others….. 5. Listen to children. They know their strengths better than anyone. In order to listen effectively, you must ask a lot of questions…that help identify and explore their perspective. 6. Resist the urge to evaluate everything and overstate expectations. ……..Children need to feel like they can experiment with many things and that failing is OK and sometimes part of the journey toward discovering what they love to do most. Resist the urge to have unreasonably high expectations which can pressure children to perform and conform within strictly prescribed guidelines….as this can deter experimentation, exploration, and innovation. 7. Strengths are more than interests. Help children discover both. …….When you help children discover both their strengths and their interests, they have a good chance to develop a true passion. 8. Let them tell their own stories. Kids want to discover their strengths….they want to know you care about what their unique experiences in the world…. Sometimes kids forgo their own passions to please you. 9. Don't compare them to their older siblings. Celebrate the unique differences that make them feel good enough. The more you celebrate this, the better. 10. Give them as many choices about what to do as possible. Encourage them to choose between a variety of things to do, support their choices even if they aren't what you would pick.
To read the entire article, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeniferfox/10-tips-for-discovering-y_b_288460.html
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Helping a Sensitive Child By Alison Bell
Family Vacations: 12 Tips for Travelling with a Child or Teen With a Mental Health Disorder
When Alexander Stratton, 7, recently got a bad grade, his mom, Lisa, of Schenectady, NY, tried to cheer him up by suggesting they study together next time. Instead, he broke into tears, crying, "I'm no good!" Some children are just naturally more prone to getting their feelings hurt and becoming frustrated. To support your tenderhearted child: Correct carefully. Sandwich criticisms between two positives to lessen the sting. For example: "I'm proud of how hard you're working. But I don't think you got the assignment quite right -- let's go over it together. I know you can fix it." Go easy on teasing. Many children love it when you give 'em a little good-natured grief. But sensitive kids can take even the silliest joke literally. Help him rethink hurt feelings. Point out that he might have misread what he saw as a dis: "Maybe Sam didn't talk to you at recess because he was busy playing ball." Don't be too over-protective. Sensitive kids, like all others, need to go through painful situations so they can learn how to handle them. http://www.parenting.com/article/helping-asensitive-child
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Vacations are supposed to be a time for rest and relaxation in the company of those we love. So why does “vacation” appear as a stress-inducing event on the Life Change Index Scale, otherwise known as “The Stress Test?” As much as we cherish the memories of family vacations past, the actual experience of going on vacation ranks higher on the index than shopping at Walmart on Black Friday and only slightly lower than trouble with your boss. Scientists Peter Felka and Tamas Kurimay report in the journal World Psychiatry that people with mental illness make the most vulnerable travelers. Older teens and young adults may experience their first psychiatric episode while traveling, and travel-induced psychosis can occur in travelers without schizophrenia or a previous history of psychosis. Panic attacks, phobias, OCD and anxiety are even more common among travelers young and old. To learn more about the 12 tips, go to http://www.rtor.org/2015/07/16/familyvacations/
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NAMI DC WELCOMES DR. TANYA ROYSTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Dr. Royster,
Dr. Tanya A. Royster is the Acting Director for the DC Department of Behavioral Health appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Dr. Royster is a Board certified general, child and adolescent psychiatrist who prior to her appointment served as the Director of Behavioral Health at the Franciscan Physicians Network in Illinois. Previously, Dr. Royster served as the Chief of Clinical Services System with the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health. She is a seasoned clinician, teacher, researcher and innovator. Dr. Royster earned tenure at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she taught in the departments of medicine, nursing, social work and Honors College. She also has served as medical consultant to an Illinois care coordination entity that provides care coordination services for the Illinois Medicaid agency. Dr. Royster is well published and was selected as a Child and Family Fellow at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She is a graduate of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed her general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry residencies at New York University/Bellevue Hospital Medical Center. http://dbh.dc.gov/biography/Tanya -A-Royster-MD
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On behalf of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Washington, DC State Chapter ("NAMI DC") congratulates you on your commitment to promoting mental health. Education, awareness, sensitivity and support are daily essentials highlighted during Mental Health Awareness Month, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and Disability Awareness Month Health Awareness. The announcement of your appointment as Acting Director of the Department of Behavioral Health during the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act was especially remarkable. NAMI DC looks forward to sharing many updates with you including (but not limited to) NAMI and AKA partnership to raise awareness in the African-American community, community service projects to meet DC Public School graduation requirements, summer internships, Family-to-Family classes and more. And NAMI DC participated in an extraordinary day of education and awareness during the AKA Mental Health Impact Day on April 11, 2015 at St. Elizabeths Hospital. As you know, the Olmstead decision is the legal mandate of the 20th century for empowering independent living and communitybased resources for individuals living with a mental health diagnosis. Under Title II of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, said Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, delivering the opinion of the court, "states are required to place persons with mental disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions when the State's treatment professionals have determined that community placement is appropriate, the transfer from institutional care to a less restrictive setting is not opposed by the affected individual, and the placement can be reasonably accommodated, taking into account the resources available to the State and the needs of others with mental disabilities. " https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/98-536.ZS.html Lastly, each day is a great opportunity to spend time encouraging and thanking clinicians, faculty, students and young adults that are interested/working to improve the range of services in th emental health field. More importantly, NAMI DC sregularly meets students who share their motivation to seek new and/or renewed mental health services as they pursue career development opportunities in the field. As NAMI DC works closely with many partners to expand the impact on education, awareness and support, we eagerly look forward to learning how we can support your objectives for healthy and thriving communities.
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UPCOMING EVENTS Sep. 24-25, 2015 Juvenile Justice Summit "Working Together, Unlocking D.O.O.R.S. (Dialogue, Opportunities, Options, Results, Stability)." http://www.ojjdp.gov/events/EventDetail.asp?ei=24869&p =list Sep. 30, 2015 •B21-0315, School Food and Nutrition Services Contract Requirement Act of 2015 http://dccouncil.us/calendar Oct. 1, 2015 •B21-0271, Early Learning Quality Improvement Network Amendment Act of 2015 •B21-0295, Higher Education Licensure Commission Amendment Act of 2015 http://dccouncil.us/calendar Oct. 2, 2015 Hispanic Heritage Family Fun Day Rita Bright Family and Youth Center (2500 14th St. NW, D.C. 20009) – 4 to 7 pm
The National Council’s Hill Day is the largest behavioral health advocacy event of the year. Each year the National Council, along with its national partners, gathers hundreds of behavioral health providers, administrators, board members, consumers and community stakeholders in D.C. for a day of sessions and workshops on federal behavioral health policy. After these sessions, Hill Day attendees take to Capitol Hill to advocate for better resources for mental health and addictions treatment in their communities.
JOIN NAMI DC FOR HILL DAY OCTOBER 5, 2015
Oct. 3, 2015 "Asado" (means grill in Spanish) a family potluck celebration EL Stokes http://www.ewstokes.org/#!news-and-events/c16s4 Oct. 14, 2015 •B21-0115 , Public Charter School Fiscal Transparency Amendment Act of 2015 http://dccouncil.us/calendar Oct. 17-20, 2015 National Black Child Development Institute http://www.nbcdi.org/events
For more information, go to National Council website http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/eventsand-training/hill-day/hill-day/
Oct. 21, 2015 Roundtable: Issues Facing District of Columbia Youth http://dccouncil.us/calendar Dec. 15-18, 2015 Juvenile Diversion Certificate Program http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/certificateprograms/diversion/
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Oct. 16, 2015 Changing the Narrative: Pathways to Success for Boys and Young Men of Color http://evidencebasedassociates.com/news_insights/dcsum mit.html Oct. 16, 2015 JSSA 2015 Fall Symposium - When Children Fear School (6.0 CEUs)
An Evidence-Based Comprehensive Model for the Treatment of Anxiety-Based School Refusal and Related Disorders Featuring: Dr. Jonathan Dalton, Ph.D. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/jssa-2015-fall-symposiumwhen-children-fear-school-tickets-16184266577?aff=es2 Oct. 23, 2015 Children's Cabinet Policy Briefing: Impact of Incarceration http://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-cabinet-policybriefing-impact-of-incarceration-tickets18135990235?aff=es2 Oct. 23, 2015 Families in Transition: Issues Solutions & Policies http://www.eventbrite.com/e/families-in-transition-issuessolutions-policies-tickets-17726503449?aff=es2 Nov. 19-22, 2015 National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health 26th Annual Conference http://www.eventbrite.com/e/26th-annual-conferenceregistration-18061421197?aff=es2
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND MEMBERS!
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NAMI DC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. James C. Jones President Jean Harris, RN, MSN, CAN Vice President Mary H. Beckett, BBM Secretary Karen Devalera, MA, CAC2, LGPC, JD Mary Jean DiPietro Phillip Lartigue, JD Dr. Fred Munford Kristal Wortham Executive Director
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Resources for children and youth www.Reachout.com ReachOut is written by youth for youth. Teencentral.com Information about topics with which teens struggle Yourlifeyourvoice.org Boys Town, 24 hour hotline for youth. (1-800-448-3000) www.lifeline-gallery.org The Lifeline Gallery: Stories of Hope and Recovery. Create an avatar and tell your story. Read the stories of others and learn that you are not alone in your thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Hotline Links Do you need help now?
D.C. Department of Mental Health Access Helpline Call 1-888-7WE-HELP 24 hours a day/7 days a week. A mobile crisis team can be dispatched to your home or other site in the community. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Lifeline is a free, confidential, 24 hour hotline for anyone who is going through emotional distress or is in a suicidal crisis. Poison Control Call 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control is a free, 24-hour hotline for anyone in need of medical information and resources for poisoning, including alcohol and household cleaners. Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online at http://www.rainn.org. RAINN is a free, confidential and secure crisis hotline 24/7 for victims of sexual assault or violence as well as their friends and families. DC Rape Crisis Center Call 202-333-7273. They run a 24-hotline for sexual assault victims, as well as individual and group therapy. They also offer education and will accompany a rape survivor to the hospital. National Runaway Switchboard Call 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). 1-800-RUNAWAY is an anonymous and free 24-hour crisis line for anyone who might want to run away from home or who finds themselves homeless. This hotline can also help if you want to come home if you are on the run or have a friend who is looking for help and is thinking about running away or is already on the run. The Trevor Project Call 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386) or online at http://www.thetrevorproject.org. The Trevor Project is a national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The Trevor Project operates a 24-hour crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. The Preparatory School of DC The Preparatory School of DC partnered with Still Eye Rise and Yasmin Shiraz, an award-winning filmmaker, WebTV producer and author. Still Eye Rise produced a documentary highlighting youth making the difference for themselves and for friends. Watch the documentary at www.TheDifferenceFilm.com
Links to support groups for survivors of suicide (those who have lost someone to suicide) NOPCAS Wendt Center
Links to Suicide Prevention Organizations
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) The American Association of Suicidology The Jed Foundation National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mental Health America National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide (NOPCAS) Suicide Awareness/ Voices of Education Suicide Prevention Resource Center The Trevor Project
Other Concerns
A.R.E.'s mission is to provide therapeutic services based on research and best practices (including wide range of therapeutic, rehabilitative, and educational services) that will assist the child with autism in reaching maximum potential in an effective treatment environment. A.R.E. offers music therapy, fitness, ABA services, sensory integration, assistive technology, short stories, structured play, social stories, yoga, and community-based experiences. To learn more, contact us at (202) 939-3557 and view our website is www.areinc.org.
Cyberbullying Bullying LGBTQ Issues Alcohol and Drugs Call D.C. Department of Health/Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration for a referral: 202-727-8473 Teen Substance Abuse DMH School Mental Health Program Relationship Violence
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NAMI DC MEMBERSHIP FORM 2015 Join NAMI (minimum age: 13) When you join now, you become a member of your NAMI DC and the national NAMI organization for one year. Mail to: NAMI DC, 422 8th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 OR pay online at www.nami.org Title: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. Primary Member Last Name: Yes, I want to:(please check one) □ join NAMI DC □ renew membership for one year Dues _____ $35 Regular Membership _____ $3 Open Door (Pay what you can)
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Member benefits include NAMI’s flagship magazine, the Advocate, as well as NAMI’s monthly e-newsletter, NAMI Now, if you subscribe at:www.nami.org/subscribe. All members receive the same benefits. NAMI membership is valid for one year.
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WISHING ALL OF OUR SUMMER INTERNS A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR! Michael Sam Kamaria
Summer
Interns at Howard University Department of Psychiatry Summer School: Dr. Fred Frese (left); Dr. Beverlyn SettlesReaves upper right) Dr. Shannon Gopaul (lower left); Author Terry Williams (lower right)
Tural
Christopher
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