Mental Health Advocacy Day 2016 March 15th was Kansas Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Capitol, sponsored by the Kansas Mental Health Coalition. Over 200 citizen advocates, including people with mental health issues, family members, and people who work in Mental Health Care, gathered to learn about and discuss mental health issues facing the Kansas Legislature in the 2016 Legislative Session, and to meet with our own Legislators, to discuss our concerns. We heard from state Senators and Representatives from around Kansas. We learned about 5 major issues facing the Legislature, including the shortage of inpatient mental health facilities at Osawatomie and Larned State Hospitals, the funding cut from Community Mental Health Centers (including Johnson County Mental Health and Wyandot, Inc), the Jason Flatt Act for Suicide Prevention Education (which requires that teachers and principals receive suicide prevention training), Medicaid expansion (currently KanCare is available only to families who earn less than one third of the poverty level, and the state has refused to participate in the federal Medicaid expansion program), and Medicaid Step Therapy (a bill that has passed the state Senate, and gone to a conference committee, so that Step Therapy can be considered by the state House, which would require that Medicaid patients try the cheapest medications and “fail” on them before they can be put on more effective medication). The Kansas Mental Health Coalition has put together a state wide group of Grassroots Mental Health Advocates to maintain contact with their own state Senators and Representatives throughout the legislative sessions. For more information about becoming a Grassroots Advocate, go to Kansas Mental Health Coalition.com.
Author Archive for Austin Bailey – Page 6
Kelly Brogan’s new book A Mind of Your Own
“Depression is not a disease. It’s a symptom.
Recent years have seen a shocking increase in antidepressant use the world over, with 1 in 4 women starting their day with medication. But the truth is, what women really need can’t be found at a pharmacy.
According to Dr. Kelly Brogan, antidepressants not only overpromise and underdeliver, but their use may permanently disable the body’s self-healing potential.
We need a new paradigm: The best way to heal the mind is to heal the whole body.
In this groundbreaking, science-based and holistic approach, Dr. Brogan shatters the mythology conventional medicine has built around the causes and treatment of depression. Based on her expert interpretation of published studies, combined with years of clinical experience, Dr. Brogan illuminates the true cause of depression—and inflammation is at the root.
A Mind of Your Own offers a realistic action plan that women can use to heal their bodies, alleviate inflammation, and feel like themselves again without a single prescription.
Bold, brave, and revolutionary, A Mind of Your Own takes readers on a journey of self-empowerment for radical transformation that goes far beyond symptom relief – into true healing.” Taken from Kelly Brogan’s Website .
Navigating any romantic relationship — whether it’s dating or marriage — can be a tricky endeavor. Add bipolar disorder with its roller-coaster ride of emotions into the mix, and relationships become even more challenging.
When Jim McNulty, 58, of Burrillville, Rhode Island, got married in the 1970s, everything seemed fine at first. “It was an absolutely normal courtship,” he recalls. “We got along well.”
Sunday Gathering: Dr. Steven Arkin “Transforming the Stigma of Mental Illness”
February 28 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Tony Aguirre Community Center
2050 W Pennway St
Kansas City, MO 64108
Doors open at 10:30 am for coffee and conversation.
Sunday Gathering begins at 11 am.
Childcare is provided. Everyone is welcome!
Featured Speaker: Dr. Steven Arkin- “Transforming the Stigma of Mental Illness”
Community Moment: TBD
Musical Guest: TBD
“Transforming the Stigma of Mental Illness”
Steven Arkin is a staff neurologist with Saint Luke’s Health System. He was born in Chicago, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He completed his internship at Northwestern University, and his residency and fellowship at the University of Iowa. His areas of interest include neuromuscular disorders, stroke, migraines and concussion.
Steve has lived in the Kansas City area since 1994. He is married to Karen, also a neurologist at Saint Luke’s. They have a 20-year-old daughter, Jennifer.
Steve and Karen lost their son, Jason, to suicide in May 2015. Jason was a junior at Northwestern University, majoring in electrical engineering. Steve will speak to the effects of mental illness from the viewpoint of both a parent and a medical professional. He will address some of the facts regarding the prevalence of mental illness and ways to counteract the stigma, with the ultimate goal of raising awareness and reducing the potential endpoint of fatality.
A new study suggests there’s some science behind the claims made for mindfulness meditation.
Touched with Fire, a movie starring Katie Holmes about bipolar based on the book by Kay Redfield Jamison will be out in theaters Feb 19th!
Synopsis: Two bipolar patients meet in a psychiatric hospital and begin a romance that brings out all of the beauty and horror of their condition.
My name is Michelle Anspaugh and I’m a therapist in private practice in Prairie Village. At my seminar we will be covering a lot of changes folks can make that aren’t routine anti-depressant treatment. This seminar is appropriate for anyone with “the blues” or depression, regardless of whether they’re taking meds or not.
People may register by calling our front desk at 913-381-4200 (through Thursday – the office is closed on Friday) or they can just show up and register at the seminar. Please fee free to contact me at the number listed below with any questions. The fee is $20.00
Michelle Anspaugh, LCMFT, LPC
Adult, Child, and Family Therapist
816-810-1266
www.michelleanspaugh.com
7301 Mission Road, Ste 111
Prairie Village, KS 66214
Big News! New and Improved Online Support Groups: Click on DBSAlliance.org/OSG to join a young adult or adult peer-led support group for individuals with depression or bipolar.
DBSA has revamped their online support group offerings! These free, peer-run virtual meetings follow the same format as support groups run by DBSA chapters to provide people with mood disorders the opportunity to share experiences, discuss wellness skills, and offer hope to one another.
Online meetings are a great resource for participants who are looking for support in between your chapter’s support groups, as well as those who do not have a local group or prefer to attend meetings from the comfort and privacy of their homes.
In contrast to chat rooms and forums, our new platform uses web-conferencing so that participants can talk to real people in real time. Participants use their computer and either the computer’s audio system or a telephone to access meetings. Tablets and smart phones can also be used for connecting to a meeting.
Participants are able to talk with each other, see meeting materials on their screen, interact with others, and more. Participants can see their facilitator and they choose whether they want to use their webcam so other participants can see them.