April 2016 The Official Newsletter of NAMI Gulf Coast Sat, 4/2, 4/9 & 4/16/2016 NAMIBasics Counseling Connections for Change, Pearland Thurs, 4/21/2016 Conference Call (641)715-3570 Code: 453534 Wed, 4/27/2016 Newsletter Folding NAMI GC Office, Alvin Tues, 5/17/2016 Joint Chapter Meeting St. Michael’s, La Marque Inside this issue: Calendar: CONTACT US! 281-585-3100 888-554-2264 409-944-4328 [email protected]www.namigulfcoast.org Mail: PO Box 4096, Alvin, TX 77512 Locations: 2206 N. Gordon, Alvin, TX 6th Fl. Shearn Moody Plaza Galveston, TX Support & Donors 2 Updates 3 Education 4 NAMIFest 5 Save the Date 6 Volunteers 7 Advocacy 8 The Inside Look 9 Resources 10 Thrift Shop 11 The Voice for Mental Illness in Galveston and Brazoria Counties! Pearland Texas/Brazoria County Mayoral Proclamation on Mental Health Awareness Monday, April 25, 2016 Pearland City Hall on Independence Join Us @ 6:00pm-7:00pm Lady & Gentleman Advocates and Community Voices, please consider joining us again this year as we approach the City of Pearland with a request for another Mayoral Proclamation on Mental Health Awareness. I am very excited to be doing this with all of you and all partnering up with us to make a difference in 2016!!! Dawn A. Lawless, LCSW, LSOTP Co-Founder and Executive Director Counseling Connections for Change, Inc. Bringing Clarity to the Puzzle of Life! 2225 CR 90, Suite 119 Pearland, TX 77584 Office: 281.485.9280 Fax: 281.485.9070 Websites: www.counselingconnections.org www.familymattersfunrun.org 3919 Liberty Dr. & John Lizer Road Pearland, Texas 77581
Transcript
April 2016 The Official Newsletter of NAMI Gulf Coast
Thursday, April 21, 2016 Second Chance Thrift Shop - Late Evening
NAMI GC Office 2206 N Gordon St. Alvin, TX 77511
Wednesday, April 30, 2016 Newsletter Folding
NAMI GC Office 2206 N Gordon St. Alvin, TX 77511
Contact the NAMI GC Office & ask for Allyn to get involved! 281-585-3100 or [email protected]
Tuesdays - Fridays 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, the Second Chance Thrift Shop LOVES volunteers to help with sorting, tagging, and hanging clothing, organizing the store and assisting with customers. We provide lunch and a happy, fun atmosphere! Mondays - Fridays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, the NAMI Gulf Coast Office needs help with Data Entry and other Office Assistance. You will receive all the training you need for each position.
April 18th-22nd is VOLUNTEER WEEK Each Day this week we will be thanking our volunteers in special ways for all of their help at NAMI Gulf Coast and
the Second Chance Thrift Shop! THANK YOU!
Page 7
National Alliance on Mental Illness
A D V O C A C Y
Page 8
JOIN THE MOVEMENT. ADD YOUR VOICE.
3 in 4 Texans have a friend
or family member that has
experienced a mental
health issue.
The goal of Okay to Say is to
get Texans talking openly
about Mental Illness.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Sign up to show your support for
Okay to Say and help change the
perception of Mental Illness in
Texas. Join Us!
We are excited to announce the launch of Okay to Say™
Join us and be among the first to add your voice to a new
grassroots movement created to engage Texans to speak up about
mental illness.
Okay to Say is a community-based initiative by the Meadows
Mental Health Policy Institute and statewide partners to increase
public awareness about mental health issues and services in
Texas, and eliminate discrimination and stereotypes surrounding
this treatable disease.
It's simple to get involved - go to okaytosay.org and show your
support by signing up, sharing a story or uploading a
picture/video. Then from there, help spread the word and share it
with your friends and family on your favorite social media
channels.
Changing public perception of mental illness will not be easy, but
we have to start somewhere. So why not start with the people of
Texas?
National Alliance on Mental Illness
T H E I N S I D E
L O O K
Page 9
Why I Am More Than My Diagnosis
Melanie Luxenberg
There are a lot of scary statistics out there. Mortality rates. Higher risk for diabetes, metabolic conditions, earlier deaths. Adverse medication side effects. What exactly does this cocktail of medications do to my body on a daily basis? I try not to think about the negative, and focus on other things instead. Earlier this year, I decided, it would be the year of “it is what it is,” because I can’t waste my time overanalyzing everything.
I am sorry to disappoint people,
I never want to be a burden, but
as Dr. Seuss said, “Those who
mind don’t matter, and those
who matter don’t mind.”
This year, the theme for World Bipolar Day is “More Than A Diagnosis”, which is so encouraging, and I hope that people with bipolar disorder, friends, family members and the public appreciate the significance of this message. Because of World Bipolar Day, I decided to become a blogger for Healthy Minds Canada, I decided to be more open about my diagnosis, became a volunteer for International Bipolar Foundation and want people to know my story and know about people, like me, who live with bipolar disorder but function very well. There is hope, when you invest in yourself, and are willing to take the time to take care of your mental health, to try and be diligent with your medication and attend regular doctor’s appointments. It is a worthwhile investment. Having a World Bipolar Day makes me feel included, reminds me there is a whole world out there of people who share similar feelings to me and who understand some of my thoughts. It makes me feel less alone. I was talking to my husband last night and I said, “Listen, if people want to know why I feel the way I feel, or to understand me, just tell them to read my blogs. That’s how they can understand what I go through. What I am thinking. What I am feeling.” I happen to be in the midst of a mixed episode and I do not want to socialize, and it was a situation where he did not want to have to explain to his family why I would not attend a family dinner. The truth is, if I know I can’t handle an event, I can’t go. I want to make it clear that 1) I do not use my bipolar disorder as an excuse to get out of events and 2) forcing myself to go somewhere will set off my anxiety and I know that.
1. You are kind, you are smart, you are important. 2. You are doing yourself a great disservice by not believing in yourself, so start believing in
yourself! 3. Be the change you wish to see in the world (Ghandi)
4. Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right now. Don’t miss it. (Leo Buscaglia)
5. You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you. ( Mary Tyler Moore) 6. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
7. Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. (Margaret Lee Runbeck) 8. I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It is
there all the time. (Anna Freud) 9. Sometimes all that needs to change is your perception.
10. You are seen, you are known, you are loved.
Read more from Melanie at https://psimbipolar.wordpress.com/
National Alliance on Mental Illness
R E S O U R C E S
Page 10
After public figures signed a letter
demanding parity of esteem for Mental
Health Care, 10 things that need to
change to end the CRISIS. So often we
hear that Mental Illness must be
recognized as being as important as
Physical Illness. Despite pledges by the
UK Government to increase funds, we
actually witness time and time again
Mental Health bearing the brunt of cuts. The reality is
that people are dying. Health professionals are out on the
street because they cannot carry on. George Osborne’s
precious economy is weakened to the tune of 100bn per
annum because of lack of sufficient Mental Health
Services. Follow the publication of a letter in support of
Mental Health Equality and launch of cross-party
campaign, 10 things the government needs to focus on if
it is truly serious in its ambitions.
Hannah Jane Parkinson
1) Stop cutting beds, beds and more beds 2) Train more Psychiatrists
3) Revise work capability assessments 4) Provide proper targets and oversight
5) Support Mental Health trusts 6) Increase funding for Mental Health Research
7) Increase access to talking Therapies 8) Improve integration between Psychiatric and
Emergency Services 9) Decrease Stigma and Raise Awareness
10) Tailor services better
#equalityformentalhealth
National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 11
T H R I F T
S H O P
2206 N. Gordon (Bus. 35)
Alvin, Texas 77511
281-585-3100
Store Hours:
Tues—Fri 10:00 am-3:00 pm
APRIL SPECIALS! Tuesdays-
Boutique Clothing 1/2
OFF!
Wednesdays-
$5.00 Fil-A-Bag
Thursdays-
50% Off Jeans, Purses,
Shoes
A Huge
“THANK YOU”
to all of our
Second Chance
Volunteers!!
National Volunteer Week
April 18-22
Open Late: Thursday, April 21 until 7:00pm
2015 Board of Directors President: Irene Stone Vice President: Tom Moran Treasurer: Dean Price Secretary: Mary Ferree Board Members: Andrea Hazlitt Louis Sanchez Eddie Karbowski Carla Sanchez Reathea Alexander Nancy Meadows Shawn Lewis Elizabeth Lawhorn Cryder Tricia Garza Executive Director: Jeanette Taylor Emeritus: Carolyn Karbowski Staff: Jeanette Taylor Executive Director [email protected] Jan Melis Director of Education & Support [email protected] Allyn Nault Director of Admin. & Volunteers [email protected] Amber Torres Director of Finance & Development [email protected] Alicia Karbowski Second Chance Thrift Shop Manager [email protected]
National Alliance on Mental Illness
It is the mission of NAMI Gulf Coast to provide support, education, and service ad-
vocacy for families and individuals affected by mental illness. Eliminating the stig-
ma of mental illness is the primary goal for NAMI Gulf Coast. The hope is that one
day mental illness will be treated with the same compassion and understanding as
