NOVEMBER 2006
The discrimination and stigma associated with mental illnesses largely stems from the link between mental illness and violence in the minds of the general public, according to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (1999). “For instance, 61 percent of Americans think that people with schizophrenia are likely to be dangerous to others,” notes the report of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America.
This link is promoted by the news and entertainment media. For example, the National Mental Health Association reported that, according to a survey for the Screen Actors’ Guild, characters in prime time television portrayed as having a mental illness are depicted as the most dangerous of all demographic groups: 60 percent were shown to be involved in crime or violence (three times the average rate). In addition, “[s]tudies showed that as many as 75 percent of stories dealing with mental illness focus on violence (Shain and Phillips 1991). Although more recent research suggests the prevalence of these kinds of stories is diminishing (Wahl, et al. 2002), at least a third of stories continue to focus on dangerousness. Also, the vast majority of remaining stories on mental illness either focus on other negative characteristics related to people with the disorder (e.g., unpredictability and unsociability) or on medical treatments. Notably absent are positive stories that highlight recovery of many persons with even the most serious of mental illnesses (Wahl, et al. 2002) [Corrigan, P.W., Markowitz, F.E., & Watson, A.C. ‘Structural levels of mental illness stigma and discrimination.’ Schizophrenia Bulletin (in press)].”
The average citizen finds these images persuasive. According to the National Mental Health Association (June 1999) and the MacArthur Mental Health Module (1996), almost half of all Americans (46 percent) believe that people who have mental illnesses are more violent than the general population. In fact, between 1950 and 1996, the number of Americans who describe mental illness in terms consistent with violent or dangerous behavior nearly doubled.
As a result, Americans are hesitant to interact with people who have mental illnesses: 38 percent are unwilling to be friends with someone having mental health difficulties, 64 percent do not want someone who has schizophrenia as a close coworker, and more than 68 percent are unwilling to have someone with depression marry into their family (NMHA 1999, MacArthur Mental Health Module 1996).
But, in truth, people have little reason for such fears. A consensus statement signed by more than three dozen lawyers, advocates, consumers/survivors, and mental health professionals reads in part:
“The results of several recent large-scale research projects conclude that only a weak association between mental disorders and violence exists in the community. Serious violence by people with major mental disorders appears concentrated in a small fraction of the total number, and especially in those who use alcohol and other drugs.” — “Violence By People With Mental Illness: A Consensus Statement By Advocates and Researchers,” by John Monahan and Jean Arnold [Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Spring 1996, vol.19, no.4]
The following facts may help address discrimination and stigma:
The above fact sheet was provide by CMHS.
November 29, 2006—Western Region conference to be held in Rochester, NY.
Wednesday, February 6, 2007—NYS Museum Auditorium. Call Kelly at 518-436-0008 for more details.
Mental Health: It’s Part of Our Lives at Work is an online brochure that offers information about mental health in the workplace. It reviews the potential risks and benefits of telling your employer that you have a mental illness, and offers links to resources that provide information on mental health problems within the context of work. The brochure is available online from The SAMHSA Resource Center to address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (ADS Center) at: http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/action/livesatwork.htm.
It’s Part of Aging is an online brochure that offers information for older adults about how to seek treatment for mental illnesses. It includes tips about communicating effectively with your doctor and links to helpful organizations. The brochure is available online at http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/action/partaging.htm.
The New York State Mental Health Association has a toll-free phone number dedicated to concerns about Medicare Part D (1-888-341-8324).
“Information Partners Can Use on: Medicare Part D 2007 Formulary Changes” explains how Part D plan formularies will change in 2007, what drugs seniors use most, utilization management, and provides help for people affected by formulary changes. Go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/downloads/2007FormularyChanges.pdf.
An online national resource center providing comprehensive information on “psychiatric advance directives.” The web address is: http://www.nrc-pad.org.
Funded by SAMHSA, this resource provides trauma education and technical assistance to publicly-funded systems. Contact the NCTIC at: 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 800 North, Bethesda, MD 20814; http://www.NCTIC@abtassoc.com; 301-634-1785.
The Office of Minority Health Resource Center has available “A Patient-Centered Guide to Implementing Language Access Services in Healthcare Organizations.” The guide is intended to help healthcare organizations implement effective language access services to meet the needs of their limited-English-proficient patients, and increase their access to health care. To read more about this guide, visit: http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?
It can be read without a subscription at http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/25/3/720
Com . ple . men . tum, v.t., Lat.: to make whole
The article below was written for late winter; but, it has equal relevance as we prepare to enter the winter season.
by
Reprinted with permission from HelpHorizons.com, www.helphorizons.com
If you live where winter means snow, ice and mud, you may have avoided exercising, or may have been promising yourself that when spring comes you will exercise regularly. Now is the time to begin. With spring right around the corner, you can't afford to put it off any longer. And if you live where winter is just beginning, exercise will help keep you well through this dark season.
Regular exercise, whatever you can do, holds the promise of increased energy and renewed vitality. For people who experience depression or other troubling mental health symptoms, exercise often helps relieve these symptoms, and leads to increased levels of wellness and stability. People have reported that they sleep better, think more clearly, have less nervousness and anxiety, feel happy and content more often, feel better about themselves, lose weight, develop strength and enjoy a sense of well-being. Many people reported that they feel and look younger when they exercise regularly.
I have heard of doctors who prescribe an exercise routine instead of, or in addition to, medications. For people who can't afford expensive medications, exercise may be even more important. It is sometimes referred to as the cheapest and most available anti-depressant.
Before you begin to exercise, call your physician and arrange for a physical examination if any of the following conditions is true:
Ask the doctor to recommend, based on her/his findings, an exercise program that would be practical, safe and healthy for you. Your doctor may want to refer you to a physical therapist or another specialist for more information before making a final recommendation, or so that they can help you develop an exercise plan.
If you have been doing some exercise and know it is not enough, and do not have age, health or disability issues to address, begin your exercise program or your increase in exercise gradually. Your body adapts more easily to gradual change and you will miss out on all the aches and pains that come with too much exercise before your body is ready for it. A warm bath after you exercise the first few times will help to relieve any aches and pains in case you inadvertently over-exercise.
Assess the exercise you have been getting, whether it is exercise for the sake of exercise or exercise you get as part of your job or daily routine. For instance, if you walk up three flights of stairs each day to get to your office, consider that part of your current exercise. Perhaps you have to walk two blocks from the train station to your apartment. Or you spend some time each day bending and lifting as you stock shelves. Maybe you spend time providing care for one or several active toddlers.
Decide what would fit in your schedule that would provide you with some increase in your daily physical activity - again, not too drastic. You might start by walking for ten more minutes. Or you might build a 20-minute bicycle ride into your day. Perhaps it would be 20 minutes more working outside in your garden.
When setting up an exercise program that is right for you, focus your attention on what you enjoy. If you are the kind of person who enjoys team supports, you may want to sign up with the local softball league for some of your exercise. If solitary exercise feels best to you, think of things you can do by yourself. You may enjoy hiking but not swimming. A brisk ride on a bicycle may be perfect for you. Is it swimming, hiking, dancing, working out on exercise machines while watching videos, skating, outdoor chores like raking the lawn or cutting wood, walking, yoga, etc., etc., etc.? Any kind of exercise is acceptable!
You can do the same kind of exercise every day or vary it according to the weather, what you feel like and the things you need to get done. You may spend part of your exercise time doing one kind of exercise and part of the time doing another. You might work in the garden and then go for a walk. This makes exercise more interesting for some of us.
Health clubs are wonderful for people who enjoy exercising with others in an atmosphere that is pleasant and sociable. Joining a health club is a wonderful, but not a necessary treat if you can afford it. Don't put off exercise until you have enough money to join a health club or until you can purchase expensive exercise clothing or equipment. Most exercise doesn't take special clothing or equipment - just a lot of will power.
It may help you decide what kind of exercise you are going to do if you make a list of exercise options and post it in a convenient place. Then you can look at the list each day and decide how you are going to get your exercise that day. If it is raining you may want to dance to your favorite CD rather than taking your usual walk. If the softball team doesn't have a game, you may want to catch up on outdoor chores.
Like most people, you may have had difficulty beginning or sticking to an exercise program. You may feel that you don't have time, that it interferes with other responsibilities and that you won't enjoy it. Perhaps one or several of the following suggestions would help you solve this problem.
Regular exercise has many benefits. It may help you to stick to your exercise regime if you keep a record of your exercise and how it makes you feel. Each time you exercise, write a few sentences in a notebook that describes what you did, how you felt before you did it, how you felt after you did it, and any short or longer term benefits you are noticing. This helps to keep you on track and is a strong motivator if you review your writings from time to time.
If you don’t like the cold and aren’t interested in winter sports, there are plenty of indoor exercise options available to you in addition to joining a gym:
Happy Thanksgiving from the MHEP staff!!
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