A Question For the Federal Center of Mental Health Services Director

The following is the question I submitted for the June 1 Webcast with SAMHSA and NAMI, as stated in my previous post:

In today's world of media infiltration, what is SAMHSA planning to do to counteract the negligence and social irresponsibility of strong media and Hollywood figures suggesting that medication for mental illness is not only not necessary, but in fact harmful?

"Ask the Experts" Webcast June 1: Submit Your Question to SAMHSA or NAMI

Kaiser Family Foundation is sponsoring this "Ask the Experts" event Thursday, June 1.

Ask YOUR question to KATHRYN POWER, the Director of the Federal Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA). Or direct your question to the Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

You may send in your question ahead of time or call during the program.


For more information and details on submitting your question,
read the email sent to NAMI members below:


NAMI executive director Michael J. Fitzpatrick will participate in a live, interactive "Ask the Experts" Webcast from Washington, D.C., on mental health care, Thursday, June 1, 2006 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (ET), sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Additional guests will be Kathryn Power, director of the federal Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Professor Richard G. Frank , Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard University Medical School, with Jill Braden Balderas, kaisernetwork.org's managing editor and former Reuters correspondent, as moderator.

An online video link will be available on kaisernetwork.org's Healthcast page starting at approximately 1:30 PM.

Questions can be submitted by calling 1-800-KAISER8 (524-7378) during the broadcast or by emailing ask@kaisernetwork.org. beforehand. Expected topics include Medicaid, insurance coverage, stigma, and other issues.

NAMI also recently released a "Grading the States" report, the first comprehensive, state-by-state survey of the nation's mental health care system in 15 years. See www.nami.org/grades.

To view the Healthcast, Windows Media Player is needed. Detailed instructions are available on kaisernetwork.org, along with answers to FAQs.Additional help is available through the Healthcast Help Desk at help@kaisernetwork.org or 202/347-5270.

Bipolar Mania Monitors

A good friend stops by that you have not spoken to in a while, you have so much to say, you enjoy your time so much together, your friend really makes you feel good about yourself and fantastic about life.

It is hard to kick that friend out the door. Sometimes it is even more difficult to recognize the familiar visitor was Bipolar Mania.

Mania is a problem for some more than others, and even stable on medication it is important to keep a watchful eye on moods. Some people keep a mood journal, not a favorite to anyone I know. Others are fortunate to have a loved one who helps to monitor their daily moods. While this help must be difficult to always be received with grace, it is a blessing. Then there are those who maintain such a close relationship with their doctor or therapist, this is what helps their mood maintenance.

It is important to recognize manic symptoms. Some mania can be extreme, or for others it is leading to a different mood shift such as rage or depression.

Manic symptoms may be noticed in changes in speech, sleep patterns, eating patterns, increased energy, increased self-confidence, increased irritability and more.
For more information visit Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Information and Resources on Mood Disorders

NAMI News Alert for Mike Wallace's Last 60 Minutes Appearance

NAMI NEWS ALERT
Become a member of NAMI and subscribe to their email news alert service to receive similar emails.

NEWS ALERT: 60 Minutes on Sunday, May 21


On Sunday, May 21, 2006, CBS correspondent Mike Wallace will make his last scheduled appearance on the news television show 60 Minutes, broadcast on CBS television stations at 7:00 ET/PT (Check local listings).

The show will highlight many parts of Wallace's career, but particularly poignant will be a frank discussion with his colleague Morley Safer about his struggle with depression -- including for the very first time, his attempted suicide.

Wallace has devoted himself to ending the stigma of mental illness and encouraging people to get help when they need it. This broadcast will continue to advance that public education. NAMI thanks him.

For more information, please visit the CBS Web site

NAMI ~ 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300 ~ Arlington, VA 22201 ~ www.nami.org

Emotions and Waiting for the Bell Jar to Clear

Acting on emotions or feelings is a tricky territory. Are the emotions being felt rational and healthy? Am I sure that they are not being seen and felt through the proverbial bell jar? Are they distorted and manipulated by the glass?

Rationality and emotional intelligence are difficult to grasp at times. I must not always act on feelings alone, yet I also must be sure to appropriately process them.

Bipolar Guilt, Motherhood, and Integrity

Some say guilt goes hand in hand with motherhood. I say it also goes hand in hand with Bipolar Disorder. If you are a mother with Bipolar Disorder than this is a double whammy.

I think there is a way to minimize this guilt, uch of this has to do with integrity. There is a certain level of integrity involved in maintaining your health, your medication, your moods, your surroundings. This requires much responsibility and discipline.

Another way integrity is involved in minimizing this guilt is when it comes to apologizing for our actions or words. Sometimes, outside situations can surprise us and we may not always be able to use all of our resources and tools for preventing events from triggering us in to an episode of rage, depression, or mania. It is important to be accountable for behavior during this time. This includes speaking to our children.

As a mother it is important that I feel I have maintained integrity throughout the good times and the bad. This way I do not feel such a huge burden of guilt, which can easily become permissiveness and over-indulgence with the children. If I feel good about the way I have handled my illness, then I feel better about being a Mom.