Newsletter
August2017
MessagefromSARDAA,CEO
DearFriends,
Summerisdefinitelyhereandmorethantheweatherhasheatedup.SARDAAisfocusingonwhatwilltrulymakeadifferenceinthetreatmentforpeopleaffectedbyseriousneuro-psychiatricillnesses.AlGuidaisguidingoureffortstomoveschizophreniaintotheappropriateclassificationasaneurological
disorder.ThismovewillinformeveryonethatschizophreniaspectrumdisordersarenotelectedanymorethanAlzheimer'sorParkinson'sdiseases,thereforepeoplerequiretreatmentnotincarcerationorhomelessness.
Weareplanninga2018scientificconferenceinHoustonthatwillfocusonthescientificevidenceofschizophreniaspectrumdisordersandtreatmentsavailableaswellasaSchizophreniaAllianceand
FamilyandFriendsSupportGroupsworkshop.
Thereissomuchtodoandinordertoaccomplishwhatisimportanttoyouandyourlovedone(s),weneedyourhelp.Fundingisrequiredforexpertstoresearchandguideus,traveltothelegislatorstorallysponsorsforwhatweneedtodoanddedicatedvolunteersareneededtoorganizeoureffortsandsupportourgroups.
WewelcomeFloraDavis,M.A,CFREtotheSARDAAteam.FloraisourDirectorofExternalAffairsandwillhelpmoveusforwardinoureffortstoimprovelivesaffectedbyschizophreniarelatedbraindisorders.Floraisanagentofchangedevelopmentexecutivewithmorethan20yearsofexperienceinplanning,directingandimplementingcomprehensivedevelopmentprogramsbasedonindustrybestpracticestandards.Knownforencouragingotherstoreachhigherandremainmotivatedtoachievegoals.Seenasacollaborativeservantleaderwiththeabilitytoworkwithdiversegroupsofpeople,remaincalmunderstressfulsituations,problemsolvechallengingsituations,monitoranddriveforresultsbaseduponstrategicperformancemeasures.
HopeyouhavevisitedthenewSARDAAwebsite.Whileitisamazing,wecontinuetomakechangestoupdateandimprovethecontent.Adithascreatedournewwebsiteandwearegratefulforthemanyvolunteerhourstheyhavecontributedtomakethisboldchange.
PleaseknowthatSARDAAisTHEnationalorganizationthatisfullyfocusedonimprovinglivesaffectedbythemostseriousneuro-psychiatricillnesses.
Warmestregards,LindaStalters,MSNCEOSchizophreniaAndRelatedDisordersAllianceofAmerica
Wewelcomeourtwonewestboardmembers
JDGarnierandDr.RaymondCho
JDGarnier,isaPrivateClientAdvisorforUSTrust,BankofAmericaPrivateWealthManagement,whereheleadsateamofadvisorsinmanagingassetsforfamilies.Hehasover17yearsofexperienceinthefinancialserviceindustryandhasafocusonestate
planning,taxplanningandinvestmentmanagementforbusinessowners.J.D.attendedLoyolaUniversityandreceivedaBachelorsinBusinessAdministration.HereceivedalawdegreefromSouthTexas
CollegeofLawandislicensedwiththeTexasBarAssociation.J.D.isalsoCertifiedFinancialPlanner(CFP®).J.D.isacommittedvolunteerinmultiplecommunityorganizations.
RaymondYoung-JinChoMD,isanAssociateProfessorofPsychiatryattheUTHealthScienceCenteratTheHoustonDepartmentofPsychiatryandBehavioralSciencesinHouston,Texas.Dr.Choembodythespiritofthecommunityandbringstalentandexpertiseandenergytothetable.Weareveryfortunatetohavehim
byoursideaswecontinuetopromoteimprovementinlivesaffectedbyschizophrenia-relatedbrainillnesses(mentalillnessesinvolvingpsychosis).
Dr.ChocurrentlyisactivelyinvolvedwiththeSocietyforNeuroscience,OrganizationforHumanBrainMapping,CognitiveNeuroscienceSociety,SocietyofBiologicalPsychiatryandtheAmericanCollegeofNeuropsychopharmacology.
SAVETHEDATE!
ShatterStigmaThursday,October,2017
6:30–10:30PMNewYorkCity
WatchfordetailsLydianeInterdonato,Chair
Helpimprovelivesaffectedbyschizophrenia-relatedbraindisorders
MessagefromFFS,FamilyandFriends,Coordinator
Havingjustattendedaperformancebysinger/songwriter'Celia',Iwishtorevisitthefollowing2015messagewhichhighlights
'caregiving'.Celiacreatedthisfromherheart,knowingoftheadversityinourspeciallives.
So,hereweare,SARDAAFamilyandFriends,withalotinlifewehardlyanticipated;alotthatbringschallenges,butlessthanthatfacedbyourlovedoneswithadiagnosis.Verylikelytheyhaveawarenessofhowtheirillnessimpactsourlives,butnotalwaysexpressed.Thisexpression
maybefoundinthelyricsof'TheCaregiver'sSong'bysingerandsongwriterCeliaFarran.Celia'sheart'forallthingsright'isheardinhersong,withwhichyoumayidentify.Ido.
TheCaregiver'sSong:Iwouldn’twishitonanyone.Therollercoasteryou’vebeenonwithme.AndforthetimesI’mnoteasy.Iamsorry.There’sablessinginheartache.Thereislovebeyondpain.Itakenothingforgranted.AndI’llneverbethesame.ThankYou.Chorus:ForCaringforme.Youaremyfamily.It’snoteasyfeelingbroken.ButIwanttheworldtosee.Howyouhavecaredforme.READMORELYRICSANDHEARITHEREThemelodyisasstirring.
Withheart,MaryRoss
FromtheDeskofJohnP.“HappinessSeries”
PersonalControlandHappiness.AnABC-Newsspecialconsidersasoneofthefivekeyfactorsleadingtomorehappinessthelevelof"personalcontrol"apersonhasoverhisorherlife.ThisresemblessomethingcalledControlTheory,whichdistinguishesbetweenaninternallocusofcontrolandanexternallocusofcontrol.An"internallocusofcontrol"isaperson'sbeliefthatlifeoutcomesarelargelytheresultofone'sownattributesandbehaviors.Ontheotherhand,an"externallocusofcontrol"isthebeliefthatoutcomesarelargelydeterminedbyfactorsandforcesoutsideofone'scontrol.Someresearchshowsthatpeoplewithanexternallocusofcontrolaremoresusceptibletodepression,learnedhelplessness,asenseofvictimization,andnegativeresponsestoaversivestimuli.Ontheotherhand,peoplewithaninternallocusofcontrolappeartobehappier.
READMORE
60TipstoCopewithSeriousNeuro-PsychiatricIllnessintheFamilybyRexDickens,SubmittedbyDJJaffeIfyouhaveafamilymemberwithaseriousneuro-psychiatricillness,rememberthesepoints:1.Youcannotcureaneuro-psychiatricdisorderforafamilymember.2.Despiteyourefforts,symptomsmaygetworse,ormayimprove.3.Ifyoufeelmuchresentment,youaregivingtoomuch.4.Itisashardfortheindividualtoacceptthedisorderasitisforotherfamilymembers.5.Acceptanceofthedisorderbyallconcernedmaybehelpful,butnotnecessary.6.Adelusionwillnotgoawaybyreasoningandthereforeneedsnodiscussion.7.Youmaylearnsomethingaboutyourselfasyoulearnaboutafamilymember’sneuro-psychiatricdisorder.READMORE
Wewelcomeyourmessage/artfromSAMembersforinclusioninthe
newsletter.Pleasesubmityourmessageto:[email protected],Houston,TX77094-8222for
considerationfornextmonth'snewsletter.
YourstorymightbeincludedinaSARDAAnewsletterandmightbepublishedinafutureeditionoftheSABlueBook.
PhoneSupportGroups
SAConferenceCallGroupsOnlyforindividualsdiagnosed
Sundays-7pmEasternTimeMondays-4pmEasternTimeThursdays-7pmEasternTimeFridays-7pmEasternTime
SpiritofSAConferenceCallForSALeadersandPotentialLeaders
FirstWednesdayofEachMonth-7pmEasternTime
FamilyandFriendsSupportGroupNotforindividualsdiagnosedEveryTuesday-7pmEasternTime
Toll-freeCallsCall-ininformation(855)640-8271
EntryCode88286491#InternationalNumber(720)362-6499
FacebookSupportGroupOnlyforindividualsdiagnosedJOINTheFacebookGroupHere
ThisisaClosedgroup,asktobeadded.
***HOWTOSTARTANDGROWASAGROUP***
ByMargeryWakefieldWelcometoSA(SchizophrenicsAlliance)!IunderstandthatyouwanttostartanSAgroup,andthatisgreat!READMORE
HelpforpeoplewithSchizophreniaandRelated
Disorders.
Nowitiseasytorecorddetailsandspecificsaboutsymptoms,medication,moods,andmore.Choosewhatyouwanttotrack,andseealltheinformationyouneedtohelpyouoryourlovedonewhoislivingwithschizophreniaandrelateddisorders.
GettheSchizophreniaHealthStorylines™MobileAppToday!ThemobileappisFREEforallusersoniOSandAndroiddevices.Thereisalsoawebversionavailable,accessiblethroughthebrowserofanydesktopcomputerormobiledevice.
SARDAAandSelfCareCatalystshadtheopportunitytoworkwith
KristySpeaks,anindividual,likeyou,livingwithschizophrenia.Kristyisamotherof3,whoaftergraduatingfromnursingschool,wasdiagnosedwithschizophrenia.
Shesaidthatoutofalltheappsinthemarket,SchizophreniaHealthStorylinesself-careappwasthemostsupportiveasitallowshertotrackhersymptoms,moodsandjournalherthoughts.Inaddition,KristydesignedaPositiveAffirmationtoolthatlaunchedattheendofMarch!
ToshowyoursupportforKristy,wearereachingouttoyoutodownloadtheapptoday!Wehopethatyoubenefitthesamewayshedoes!
DownloadSchizophreniaHealthStorylinestoday!
1.Doyouwanttocontributetoashortstoryanthology?
2.WiththehelpofstaffatJohnsHopkinsUniversity,Iamcompilingashortstoryanthologythatwillexclusivelyfeatureshortstorieswrittenbypeoplewithdisabilities.Allofthestorieswillfeaturedisabledmaincharacters.3.FINDOUTMORE4.EmilyDorffer,[email protected],281-734-7370
Submittedby:LarryAckerman/SparrowSangBluesAuthor,Singer-songwriter,...the"ArtistwhoPlaysGuitar..."
"...Therefallsintoeachlife,agivenamountofsuffering,suchthat,
ifwearetruetoit,itdeepensuswherewestand."[from:CanticlesofDesperation,anovel]
ParityComplaintRegistryformentalhealthandaddictioncoverageTheParityComplaintRegistryhasbeenlaunchedtocreateanationalregistrywhichwillbeusedtotrack,studyandreportonhowinsurancecompaniesaremakingadversedeterminations.Thisinformationwillhelpusworkforbettermentalhealthandaddictioncoverage.https://parityquest.org/
*Pleasenote:thisregistrydoesnotautomatetheappealsprocess.TheComplaintRegistryrecordsanddocumentsyourcomplaintwhichwillhelpprovidetheneededinformationtohelpshapepublicpolicyandinfluencelegislation.Youmusttakefollow-upactionwithyourhealthplanorregulatoryagency.TheResourcesPagecanprovideyouwithhelpfulinformation.Clickhereforsomeparityviolationexamples.ClickheretoRegisteracomplaint
NICHDscientistsuncoverroleofproteinsinneuronactivityandneurologicaldiseaseJune23,2017Brainproteinsknownasneuregulinsareimportantforestablishingnormalbrainactivity,accordingtorecentstudiesledbyresearchersattheNationalInstitutesofHealth.Geneticchangesinneuregulinsarethoughttoincreasetheriskofschizophrenia,butitisnotunderstoodhowsuchchangesmightincreasetheriskforthedisorder.READMORE
HowphysicalexercisepreventsdementiaJuly21,2017
Numerousstudieshaveshownthatphysicalexerciseseemsbeneficialinthepreventionofcognitiveimpairmentanddementiainoldage.NowresearchersatGoetheUniversityFrankfurthaveexploredinoneofthefirststudiesworldwidehowexerciseaffectsbrainmetabolism.READMORE
ElectricalStimulationofBrainMayHelpPeoplewithSchizophreniaLearntoCommunicateBetterJuly16,2017UCLAresearchershavefoundthatpeoplewithschizophreniawereabletomoreaccuratelydeterminewhethertwoauditorytonesmatchedordiffered,afterreceivingatypeofelectricalbrainstimulation.Beingabletodistinguishtonesisessentialforverbalcommunication.READMORE
AnoninvasivedeepbrainstimulationtechniqueJune13,2017Brainstimulationtherapiescanplayaroleintreatingcertainneuro-psychiatricdisorders.Theapproachesinvolveactivatingorinhibitingbrainactivityusingelectricity.DeepbrainstimulationwasfirstdevelopedasatreatmentforParkinson’sdiseaseandsubsequentlyusedtotreatepilepsy.READMORE
Formtorequestdocumentationfromanemployer-sponsoredhealthplanoraninsurerconcerningtreatmentlimitationsThisisatooltohelpyourequestinformationfromyouremployer-sponsoredhealthplanoryourinsurerregardinglimitationsthatmayaffectyourneuro-psychiatrichealthorsubstanceusedisorderbenefits.READMORE
FAQsaboutneuro-psychiatricandsubstanceusedisorderparityimplementationandthe21stCenturyCuresActpart38June16,2017Setoutbelowisanadditionalfrequentlyaskedquestion(FAQ)regardingtheimplementationofthePaulWellstoneandPeteDomeniciMentalHealthParityandAddictionEquityActof2008(MHPAEA),asamendedbytheAffordableCareActandthe21stCenturyCuresAct(CuresAct).READMORE
Webinar:TheRoleofCommunityandFamilySupportsinHelpingPeopleImproveTheirComplexHealthConditionsAugust2,2017,1:00-2:00PMETThisSAMHSARecoverytoPracticewebinarwilldrawfromthe
practicalexperienceofthepresenterstoexploretheimportanceoftheintentionalfamily-thosewhosupportourwellness;discusshowcommunitymembershipandnaturalsupportsimpacthealthoutcomesandtheprocessofrecovery;identifyinnovativewaystointegratesocial,family,andcommunityresourcestosupporttheneedsofboththepersonandthefamily;anddiscussthewholefamilyapproachtoservicesandsupports.REGISTERHERE
Webinar:TheRoleofFamilyCaregivinginChronicIllness:ThreeStudiesAugust9,2017,3:00-4:00PMETThisVAwebinarwillsummarizefindingsfromthreestudies,includingtheroles,motivations,andbarrierstoengagingfamilycaregiversinthechronicillnessself-managementfromtheperspectivesofpatients,familycaregivers,andclinicalproviders.Thepresentationwillalsoreviewapilotinterventionstudyintendedtoimprovecollaborationandcommunicationbetweenpatientsandfamilycaregiverstoenhanceself-management.REGISTERHERE
SAMHSA's2017VoiceAwardsAugust16,2017,7:30PMPT,LosAngeles,CASAMHSA's2017VoiceAwardshonorpeopleinrecoveryandtheirfamilymemberswhoarecommunitychampionsseekingtoimprovethelivesofpeoplewithmentalillnessesandaddictions.TheVoiceAwardsalsorecognizestelevisionandfilmproductionsthateducatethepublicaboutbehavioralhealthandshowcasethatrecoveryisrealandpossible.Thisyear,theVoiceAwardsisputtingthespotlightonindividualsandentertainmentproductionsthatprovidehopeandsupporttothosepastandpresentservicememberswhohavefacedmentalhealthandaddictionchallenges.Reserveyourseat(whetherinpersonoronline)nolaterthanFriday,August4.READMORE
Webinar:MentalHealthEconomics:AnalyzingValueAugust22,2017,9:00-10:30AMETThisNIMHGlobalMentalHealthwebinarisaimedprimarilyatresearchersandhealthcarepractitionersinterestedinaddressingorbetterunderstandingissuesofcost,cost-effectivenessandvalueintheirwork.Thereisanincreasingexpectationandneedtodemonstratenotonlythehealthandotherimpactsofinterventionsandinnovationsinhealth,butalsoassesswhatittakesintermsofresourcestodevelop,maintainorscale-upanintervention,andbeabletolinkresourcesandcoststoprimaryoutcomesofinterest.Accordingly,thewebinarwillstartwithanoverviewofkeyprinciplesofhealtheconomicanalysis,beforemovingintoapresentationofanalyticalsteps,methodsanddata
requirements.Participantsshouldcomeawaywithabettergraspofwhyeconomicanalysisisneeded,whatisrequiredtodoitandhowtogoaboutit.REGISTERHERE
VirtualEvent:AnnualSummit:AdvancesintheStateoftheScienceandBestPracticeSeptember19-21,2017The2017DefenseCentersofExcellenceforPsychologicalHealthandTraumaticBrainInjuryAnnualSummitwillconnecthealthcareprofessionals,researchers,andacademiciansinvolvedinallaspectsofpsychologicalhealthandtraumaticbraininjurycareforthemilitarycommunity.Thisyear'seventwillofferreal-timeaccesstoupto28hoursofstate-of-the-scienceprogramming.Joinothersfromaroundtheglobetoparticipateinpaneldiscussionsandquestionandanswersessions,networkwithprofessionalsandpeers,visitthevirtualexhibithallforresources,andearnupto14CECsduringthevirtualevent.REGISTERHERE
DonatetoSARDAA
BrainCampaign:TakethePledge
IwillchangemylanguagefromBehavioralorMentaldisordertoBraindisorder.
Iwilleducateotherstochangetheirlanguagefrommentalillnessestobrainillness.Iwillnotusestigmatizing,discriminatoryorderogatorylanguagerelatedtobraindisorders.Iwillencouragemypeers,familymembers,andcolleaguestoadvocatewhentheyseediscriminatorylanguageorpracticesinthemediaorinpublic.Iwilladvocatethatpeoplewithbraindisordershaveequalandcomprehensivehealthcare.Iwilltreatallpeoplewithbraindisorderswithrespectandcompassion.
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Thankyoutothosewhoalreadymadeadonation-Everycontributionmakesadifference.
Sincerely,AngelWhite,EditorJordanHelwig,CreativeDesigner