Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Farewell to Board Members
Two of our Board members have left our Board of Directors: Winnie and Lars Schilling. Winnie has served as Vice President of our Board and was instrumental in starting our Art Reach program, providing tickets for cultural opportunities and events to consumers. Lars served as our Treasurer and managed our account for all three of our Greater Philadelphia NAMIWalks. We appreciate their years of service and wish them well in the future.
We are moving!
After 16 years of being headquartered in Glenside (and before that, having our first AMI of Eastern PA office in Oreland), in early 2011 we will be moving our major operations to 100 W. Main Street in Lansdale. We will take over the lease as of January 1st although we may still operate out of the Glenside office until mid or late January. The reason for the re-location is to situate ourselves geographically to better serve Montgomery County’s families and individuals affected by mental illness. This move will consolidate our Norristown and Glenside offices, al-though we will continue to maintain a presence in Norristown (and maintain our bilingual staff there). We will keep our Potts-town office in addition to the office in Lansdale.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Local police officers attend mental illness seminar
NORRISTOWN — The two middle-aged men leading a recent class on a had a brittle, staccato style of telling their life stories.
The individual stories of Michael Solomon and Jack Klein, both of Philadelphia, ended with their eventual acceptance of needing to live with mental illness. But the details of their very different illnesses and the way they keep themselves on an even mental keel helped the “students” in the three-day class understand some of the complexities of mental illness, depression and psychosis.
Two of the eight “students” in the class declined to be identified because their work involved undercover police assignments. The other students included a Bucks County Correctional Facility worker, a state parole agent from Philadelphia, two patrolmen from the Lower Merion police department and one patrolman from the Cheltenham police department.
The Crisis Intervention School for law enforcement and criminal justice personnel trained 473 law enforcement personnel in 2009 at the Montgomery County Emergency Service (MCES) in Norristown. The MCES, located in Building 50 at Norristown State Hospital, operates a 73-bed, in-patient facility for involuntary and voluntary commitments and prisoners with mental health issues. The average length of stay is 8 to 11 days.
Solomon and Klein, under the auspices of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), give a one-hour tutorial to CIS classes several times a month, said Donald Kline, the criminal justice director of MCES. The organization also runs several other classes of varying lengths on mental health systems, psychiatric medication, substance abuse and suicide awareness.
The CIS classes are aimed at teaching law enforcement workers to “stay calm, recognize agitation, not expect rational discussion, initiate relevant conversation and stay positive.”
Solomon, a cordial man who talks in short bursts, worked during the one-hour session to make the law enforcement workers laugh. He was diagnosed with depression after his freshman year at Boston University and put on Stelazine, an anti-psychotic drug, 36 years ago. After taking an overdose of the drug, his mother found him and he was hospitalized at Haverford State Hospital. He recovered from his “MD” - manic depression, long enough to work for his late father’s company for several years.
While living in Philadelphia, Solomon went into “a manic high” that he described as “like driving a car without brakes.” He ended up gambling at Resorts International in Atlantic City.
“I went down there and thought I was the Messiah,” Solomon told the adult students. Solomon’s uncle came to the gambling hall and took him to a 30-day stay at a private psychiatric hospital. With a Lithium treatment he was able to transition into a half-way house from 1986 to 1987.
He has gone through a divorce and a remarriage, the death of his father and several emotional crises while coping with his mental illness. Solomon, the successful sales manager of a food distributor, is proud that he is the senior presenter in Montgomery County for the Crisis Intervention Specialist program at MCES. He takes Klonopin and Clozaril, does a lab test once a month to monitor chemical levels and sees a psychiatrist regularly.
“I love making people laugh. I’m at my cousin’s office because I can cope that way,” he said. “Being married for me is another coping skill.”
Klein said he started sniffing airplane glue at 13, got involved in juvenile crime and eventually was “diverted” from a jail term by “volunteering” for the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam and described himself as the “prototype for Corporal Klinger,” a television character in “M*A*S*H*” who faked mental illnesses. His military job was processing soldiers’ remains.
“I’ve gone through most of the (mental illness) diagnosis in the book,” Klein said. “I’ve been at Haverford State Hospital, in the Veteran’s Administration psychiatry system and other hospitals.”
“It took me a while to accept that I had a drug problem,” Klein said. “I was in and out of hospitals and finally got sober in 1980.”
Klein has not had an alcoholic drink or taken an illegal drug since 1980, he said. His successful treatment involves going to counselors, nearly constant exercise and a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Jack’s coping skill starts with lap swimming. He goes to a senior center and does 2.5 miles of lap swimming on most mornings, he said.
“It gets me awake and helps me de-stress by getting my day started a little better,” Klein said. “I need my calendar to be full with a lot of different things.”
“Keep up the good work. Share what you learned today with your co-workers,” Solomon said. “My hope is that when you go back to your jobs and you cross paths with someone who is stressed and showing symptoms you can help them.”
“The media tells us how awful mental illness is. Its our job to allay those fears and teach people how to relate in a calm professional manner,” said Michelle Monzo, the Forensic Division & Education Specialist at MCES. “We are all individuals.”
The individual stories of Michael Solomon and Jack Klein, both of Philadelphia, ended with their eventual acceptance of needing to live with mental illness. But the details of their very different illnesses and the way they keep themselves on an even mental keel helped the “students” in the three-day class understand some of the complexities of mental illness, depression and psychosis.
Two of the eight “students” in the class declined to be identified because their work involved undercover police assignments. The other students included a Bucks County Correctional Facility worker, a state parole agent from Philadelphia, two patrolmen from the Lower Merion police department and one patrolman from the Cheltenham police department.
The Crisis Intervention School for law enforcement and criminal justice personnel trained 473 law enforcement personnel in 2009 at the Montgomery County Emergency Service (MCES) in Norristown. The MCES, located in Building 50 at Norristown State Hospital, operates a 73-bed, in-patient facility for involuntary and voluntary commitments and prisoners with mental health issues. The average length of stay is 8 to 11 days.
Solomon and Klein, under the auspices of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), give a one-hour tutorial to CIS classes several times a month, said Donald Kline, the criminal justice director of MCES. The organization also runs several other classes of varying lengths on mental health systems, psychiatric medication, substance abuse and suicide awareness.
The CIS classes are aimed at teaching law enforcement workers to “stay calm, recognize agitation, not expect rational discussion, initiate relevant conversation and stay positive.”
Solomon, a cordial man who talks in short bursts, worked during the one-hour session to make the law enforcement workers laugh. He was diagnosed with depression after his freshman year at Boston University and put on Stelazine, an anti-psychotic drug, 36 years ago. After taking an overdose of the drug, his mother found him and he was hospitalized at Haverford State Hospital. He recovered from his “MD” - manic depression, long enough to work for his late father’s company for several years.
While living in Philadelphia, Solomon went into “a manic high” that he described as “like driving a car without brakes.” He ended up gambling at Resorts International in Atlantic City.
“I went down there and thought I was the Messiah,” Solomon told the adult students. Solomon’s uncle came to the gambling hall and took him to a 30-day stay at a private psychiatric hospital. With a Lithium treatment he was able to transition into a half-way house from 1986 to 1987.
He has gone through a divorce and a remarriage, the death of his father and several emotional crises while coping with his mental illness. Solomon, the successful sales manager of a food distributor, is proud that he is the senior presenter in Montgomery County for the Crisis Intervention Specialist program at MCES. He takes Klonopin and Clozaril, does a lab test once a month to monitor chemical levels and sees a psychiatrist regularly.
“I love making people laugh. I’m at my cousin’s office because I can cope that way,” he said. “Being married for me is another coping skill.”
Klein said he started sniffing airplane glue at 13, got involved in juvenile crime and eventually was “diverted” from a jail term by “volunteering” for the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam and described himself as the “prototype for Corporal Klinger,” a television character in “M*A*S*H*” who faked mental illnesses. His military job was processing soldiers’ remains.
“I’ve gone through most of the (mental illness) diagnosis in the book,” Klein said. “I’ve been at Haverford State Hospital, in the Veteran’s Administration psychiatry system and other hospitals.”
“It took me a while to accept that I had a drug problem,” Klein said. “I was in and out of hospitals and finally got sober in 1980.”
Klein has not had an alcoholic drink or taken an illegal drug since 1980, he said. His successful treatment involves going to counselors, nearly constant exercise and a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Jack’s coping skill starts with lap swimming. He goes to a senior center and does 2.5 miles of lap swimming on most mornings, he said.
“It gets me awake and helps me de-stress by getting my day started a little better,” Klein said. “I need my calendar to be full with a lot of different things.”
“Keep up the good work. Share what you learned today with your co-workers,” Solomon said. “My hope is that when you go back to your jobs and you cross paths with someone who is stressed and showing symptoms you can help them.”
“The media tells us how awful mental illness is. Its our job to allay those fears and teach people how to relate in a calm professional manner,” said Michelle Monzo, the Forensic Division & Education Specialist at MCES. “We are all individuals.”
Monday, November 1, 2010
Midterm Elections Looming
As we are now only one day out from the mid-term elections it is crucial to keep in mind that the issues relevant to our mental health community ought to be bi-partisan issues as mental illness knows no party affiliation.
Not only is it critical that you vote but I ask that each of us ensure that we assist others in our mental health and broader disabilities community to have the opportunity to cast their vote as well.
The results of the election will determine the leadership and agenda-setting party within both chambers of Congress and, on the state level, usher in a new administration and potential waft of new freshman members of the general assembly. These times are ripe with opportunities for coalition building amongst NAMI affiliates and potential partnering organizations throughout the state.
· Make an informed decision before you cast your vote. Learn where the candidates stand on issues of relevance to our community. Go to www.namiswpa.org and click on the ‘Voter’s Guide” icon on the homepage.
· Go to www.votespa.com the Pa Department of State’s online voting information and resource center to locate polling places, contact county election officials and for other useful information and Election Day tips.
Look for a complete wrap-up of the results of the mid-term elections and the potential impact on our mental health community (including next steps for legislative advocacy) in subsequent "Call to Action" alerts and within the winter 2011 edition of the ‘Voice”.
Link to NAMI Southwestern PA Voter's Guide:
http://www.namiswpa.org/documents/uploadeddocs/VotersGuideSWPA1.pdf
(Much thanks to our friends at NAMI PA MainLine for the template of the voter's guide. Go to their website to access guides for districts throughout the state) www.nami.org/sites/NAMIPAMainLine
As always sincere thanks to each of you for your ongoing efforts to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illnesses and let's get out and vote next Tuesday!
Not only is it critical that you vote but I ask that each of us ensure that we assist others in our mental health and broader disabilities community to have the opportunity to cast their vote as well.
The results of the election will determine the leadership and agenda-setting party within both chambers of Congress and, on the state level, usher in a new administration and potential waft of new freshman members of the general assembly. These times are ripe with opportunities for coalition building amongst NAMI affiliates and potential partnering organizations throughout the state.
· Make an informed decision before you cast your vote. Learn where the candidates stand on issues of relevance to our community. Go to www.namiswpa.org and click on the ‘Voter’s Guide” icon on the homepage.
· Go to www.votespa.com the Pa Department of State’s online voting information and resource center to locate polling places, contact county election officials and for other useful information and Election Day tips.
Look for a complete wrap-up of the results of the mid-term elections and the potential impact on our mental health community (including next steps for legislative advocacy) in subsequent "Call to Action" alerts and within the winter 2011 edition of the ‘Voice”.
Link to NAMI Southwestern PA Voter's Guide:
http://www.namiswpa.org/documents/uploadeddocs/VotersGuideSWPA1.pdf
(Much thanks to our friends at NAMI PA MainLine for the template of the voter's guide. Go to their website to access guides for districts throughout the state) www.nami.org/sites/NAMIPAMainLine
As always sincere thanks to each of you for your ongoing efforts to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illnesses and let's get out and vote next Tuesday!
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