A Forum for Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault and Abuse

 

This educational support group runs for 10 weeks and is offered four times per year.

 

The group is for women who have experienced sexual assault and/or abuse. The group is closed—meaning that new members will not be accepted after the third group session.

 

The group offers emotional support and skill building. Topics include assertiveness, setting boundaries, developing support systems, finding new coping skills, dealing with flashbacks, establishing intimacy, and much more.

 

The group is a confidential place where women can deal with these issues, perhaps for the first time.

According to the National Institute on Mental Health, an estimated 26% of adults 18 and older, or 1 in 4 Americans, experience a mental illness in a given year. Just like everyone else, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) people also experience mental illnesses.

First and foremost, however, we must remember that being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender is NOT a mental illness in and of itself. Just because someone is LGBTQ doesn’t automatically mean that they will experience a mental illness.

According to the American Psychological Association:

“Homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social and vocational capabilities. Further, the American Psychological Association urges all mental health professionals to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with homosexual orientations.”

However, LGBTQ people may face unique risks to their mental health and well-being, which mental health providers should be aware of. Most research suggests that LGBTQ people are likely to be at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. One study found that LGBTQ groups are about two-and-one-half times more likely than heterosexual men and women to have had a mental health disorder, such as those related to mood, anxiety, or substance use, in their lifetime.

Click here to read the whole NAMI fact sheet.

The goal of Operation Street Smart is to provide current and up-to-date narcotics information on trends, terminology, paraphernalia, and physiological effects to those individuals who deal with today's youth on a daily basis.

The program is presented by Sgt. Mike Powell, a retired police officer who continues to work with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit.  

 · This event is free and open to the public. All are encouraged to attend.

• A lunch will be provided free of charge to all in attendance.
• 6 Continuing Education Units (CEU's) will be available for attending the summit.

Young people can have mental, emotional, and behavioral problems that are real, painful, and costly. These problems, often called "disorders," are sources of stress for children and their families, schools, and communities.

The number of young people and their families who are affected by mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders is significant. It is estimated that as many as one in five children and adolescents may have a mental health disorder that can be identified and require treatment.

Mental health disorders in children and adolescents are caused by biology, environment, or a combination of the two. Examples of biological factors are genetics, chemical imbalances in the body, and damage to the central nervous system, such as a head injury. Many environmental factors also can affect mental health, including exposure to violence, extreme stress, and the loss of an important person.

Read the whole article here.

The most recent national survey on drug use and health shows prescription medicines to be the most abused drugs by Americans, other than marijuana, and found that 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives.

In Allen County:

As the population ages, the use of medications increases, creating a situation in which the misuse of medications will continue to grow.

Sharing of medications among family members and friends is also not uncommon and can be hazardous.

Residents should take medicines exactly as prescribed; inventory prescription and over-the-counter medicines; lock the medicine chest; dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medicine in the home or at a designated disposal site; and talk to children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

1. Learn More – Check out our frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) and get the facts about mental illness and addiction.

2. Sign Up – Join our mailing list to receive frequent updates. We will be sending out weekly Action Updates every Monday with easy to do advocacy activities that send a positive message about alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services and supports across Ohio.

3. Share our informational One-Pager with a friend, family member, or neighbor.

4. Tell someone about OF-1-MIND & that Treatment Works…People Recover.

5. Help us with our online Ohio education and advocacy calendar by adding upcoming events in your area.

Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you're like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.

Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own — you may have seasonal affective disorder. Treatment for seasonal affective disorder includes light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications. Addressing the problem can help you keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE!

Four easy positive psychology exercises can help you improve your relationship and be happier. Each of these exercises, resulting from psychology studies, offer the benefits of greater happiness, contentment, and life satisfaction.

Autonomy—Express your individuality

The more autonomy and freedom of choice in your life, the happier you are. Look for opportunities in your daily life, at work and home, to express your free choice and independence.

• Organize your space.
  
• Devote some time to activities you enjoy
  

Bad Feelings Fade

Positive psychology researcher Dan Gilbert finds that people systematically over-estimate the duration of their feelings about both positive and negative future events. People adapt to new situations very quickly. Therefore, the negative event you fear, if it occurs, won't trouble you for as long as you now think it will. Conversely, the glow from a positive event won't last forever either.

• The future isn't as bright as you hope nor as dim as you fear.
  
• Adjust your expectations accordingly.
  

Fun and Philanthropy

Psychology studies show that an orientation to the welfare of others is, in the long run, more satisfying than an orientation to one's own pleasure. To experience this for yourself:

• In the next week, undertake one pleasurable activity for yourself and one philanthropic activity that will benefit another person.
  
• Spend about the same amount of time on each activity during the week and at the end of the week jot down your reactions and feelings as a result of each activity.
  

Gratitude Letter

Gratitude is a wonderful feeling of thanks that, when expressed, brings positive emotions to both initiator and recipient. To experience this for yourself, pick someone who has been kind and helpful to you, but has not heard your personal expression of thanks.

Read more at Suite101: Positive Psychology Exercises for Life Happiness: Psychology Studies to Improve Relationships and Bring Happiness http://personaldevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/5_positive_psychology_exercises#ixzz0bwzFrOVw

Dedicate yourself to whom ever you can think of and you can be rest assured that they would be more valued and prized than an expensive gift. There are certain things that money can't buy and giving is by far one such thing.
Albert Schweitzer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced $138,514 in competitive grants to invest in the Allen County Juvenile Court to create jobs and expand support services. The federal funds, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are allocated through the Department of Justice (DOJ) Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Expansion.

“The costs of this project are far outweighed by its benefits. It simply makes sense to reduce costly recidivism at a young age and ensure that young Ohioans can lead productive and crime-free lives,” Brown said. “It’s an investment in our youth as well as fiscal prudence.”

These funds will be used to expand the Court Assessment Services Team (CAST) Program. CAST is a team of mental health, diversion, probation and education professionals working in conjunction to serve court-involved youth. Grant funds will allow CAST to provide 250 eligible youth with more intensive services and all youth with initial problem identification screening.

Children who are nervous about the new school year can relax by practicing "mindfulness" during anxious moments, researchers say. Experts at Duke University, in Durham, N.C., recommend mindfulness, which is a technique borrowed from meditation, to help children transition into the new school year and deal with many academic and social pressures.

"Making a transition, whether it's to a new school, a new teacher or a new grade, signals change," said Dr. Michelle Bailey, a pediatrician at Duke Integrative Medicine, in a news release from the university. "When adults are stressed, they often turn to smoking or alcohol or food to pacify emotions. We need to teach kids how to handle stress in a healthy way."

Mindfulness encourages children to live in the moment and not fret as much about future events, Bailey said. In addition, practicing meditative techniques can help children sleep better, reduce anxiety and stay more focused.

·         Mindful walking: After dinner, take a walk and pay attention to all the sights, sounds and colors. Encourage the child to use this technique on the playground and at school.

·         Mindful breathing: Ask the child to take time in the morning and evening to pay attention to his or her breathing for 20 inhales and exhales. Steady breathing has a calming effect on the body.

·         Mindful listening: At the dinner table, ring a bell or play a note on a musical instrument to capture the family's attention, then give each person a turn to speak about their day while the rest of the family gives their full attention, to encourage active listening.

To get the best results, Bailey suggests that families go to an accredited, mindfulness-based, stress-reduction program offered at many clinics and hospitals.

"Mindfulness helps kids recognize their thoughts, reconnect with their emotions and understand how that impacts their behavior," Bailey said in the news release. "Ultimately, if we can heighten awareness of our thoughts, we can modify our emotions and that changes behavior."

For the full text of this article visit www.mentalhelp.net

NOTE: This release was submitted to local media and legislators.

On Wednesday (8/5/2009), the Planning Committee of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties learned that it had received the most severe cuts in its history. The recently passed state budget leaves Allen, Auglaize and Hardin County residents with $1.69 million less, about 34%, in state funding for services than last year and about 44% less state funding since July 2008.

"It is hard to imagine that our Governor, State Representatives and State Senators truly understand the devastating impact that this level of service cuts means to our residents who in this time of economic crisis need our services most," Michael Schoenhofer, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board told the committee. "Without these vital services people will die, they will end up in the emergency rooms, they will be in jail, and they will be homeless."

More than 6000 children and adults ranging in age from 3 years old to 70 years old receive Board services in the three counties of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin each year. Prevention programs alone serve an estimated 5000 people annually. All of the Board's programs and services were affected. The largest cuts were reductions in counseling, inpatient care, early-childhood, housing, and employment services.

"At this time the Board is struggling to maintain core services for persons with mental illness and addictions.  We are not equipped to help the increasing number of people seeking services for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, Schoenhofer said. "Our priority has been to work with adults, families and children earlier to keep people in the community, families together, and children at home. Some of our most effective services in the three counties are in jeopardy."

In recent years the Board has developed a 24 hour crisis service with Lutheran Social Services, outreach programs in schools for children and families through Family Resource Centers, housing for women in recovery through Lima UMADAOP, and many other programs that enable people to lead fulfilling and productive lives.  

"These budget cuts passed by our state lawmakers and the Governor will impact our families, our neighbors and our communities in ways that will likely shock everyone in the months ahead," Schoenhofer said.