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It’s been a scary year. Our theme: “Making Lemonade,” acknowledges that times are tough. Some are calling it “the Great Recession,” a phrase that acknowledges hardship, yet offers hope, like making lemonade out of the lemons life gives us. It was a near miss, but we are not in a depression. Yet even the Great Depression was not all bad. My grandparents and great uncle told stories about how people pulled together and felt a greater sense of community. So this morning, I will identify some lemons that life is handing us now, and point to some of the opportunities within these hardships.
Lemon: The state economy is still in trouble. Nationally, the economy shows signs of stabilization, yet with unemployment at over 10% and consumer spending down, state sales tax revenues are also down. That means severe threats to the mental health system loom in the months ahead. As Commissioner Betts mentioned yesterday, the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities has been asked to show how they can take another $9.4 million from their budget, beginning next July.
Lemonade: When the going gets tough, NAMI gets going. Last spring, with the behavioral health safety net, crisis services, and community mental health contracts, including NAMI, on the chopping block….you did us proud. Hundreds of you wrote to the governor and your legislators, telling how important it is to have mental health services for the uninsured, and how essential it is that crisis services be available to all who need them. You told how NAMI and peer support centers have helped you and those you care about. Governor Bredesen heard us and restored $10 million recurring funds to the Behavioral Health Safety Net. Legislators heard us and restored $5 million in community contracts for ONE YEAR.
Lemon: Tennessee’s 49 Peer Support Centers are slated for cuts July 1, 2010. That may seem like a long time from now, but the state budget is being formulated as we speak. The legislature plans to convene early this year, so we need to get our bills in early.
Tennessee’s Peer Support Centers are repeatedly identified as one of the strengths of the Tennessee mental health system, most recently in NAMI’s national report card, “Grading the States.” Over 200 people with mental illness are employed in Peer Support Centers, providing recovery support and education to more than 3000 people every month. Where would those people go if we allowed the peer support centers to close? Would they isolate at home? Would they go to the taverns? Hospitals? The Streets? Jail?
Lemonade: NAMI and TMHCA are stepping up to offer peer support. With TennCare reimbursement for Certified Peer Specialists, a funding stream is available. We don’t know what will happen in the coming year, but we do know that TMHCA hopes to offer peer support centers wherever the opportunity arises. NAMI’s In Our Own Voice program brought the recovery message to 3653 people last year. During presentations to consumer audiences, many realize that recovery is possible. In the coming months, watch for the launch of PRIME, Peers Restoring Identity through Mentoring and Empowerment, our new peer mentoring program under the directorship of Lisa Corbin. We are proud to collaborate with the University of Illinois at Chicago for a study of BRIDGES, now in the final round of data collection. Stay tuned for an outcome report in next spring. BRIDGES is in the process of becoming a federally recognized evidence-based practice. With our colleagues in TMHCA we strive to make the program available to all consumers who want it.
Research: Lemon: The federal economy went through a crisis. Lemonade: The federal stimulus package includes more funding for mental health research than we have had in many years. I hope you enjoyed presentations on new horizons in mental health research and treatment from internationally renown Vanderbilt faculty. Dr. Herbert Meltzer led us through the latest thinking about schizophrenia and psychosis. Dr. Richard Shelton discussed new treatments for mood disorders, and Dr. Stephan Heckers told us about advances in the psychiatric diagnostic process. Rebecca Townsend from SAFE: Soldiers and Families Embraced will tell us about the latest treatments of PTSD and combat-related disorders.
Uninsured Lemon: Health care coverage is not easy to get, keep or use. In the last year, 119,000 Tennesseans lost jobs – and health care. 15,000 people with SPMI lost TennCare as the Daniels Lawsuit ended and now only have Medicare, which does not pay for case management and other essential services.
Lemonade: There are options for the uninsured and for those who lost TennCare under the Daniels lawsuit. Ben Harrington and Tony Garr gave a compelling presentation on the uninsured and under-insured, and helped us realize that care is available. Remember that the Wellstone Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act passed Congress a year ago. Beginning in January, all Tennessee employers with more than 25 employees must offer parity with other medical coverage. TennCare is increasing substance abuse benefits to comply.
At the workshop on Estate Planning with King Self and Suzanne Horne we learned how to plan your estate so as not to jeopardize health care coverage or mental health services for your heirs.
Criminal Justice Lemon: The Tennessee mental health system is dangerously eroding due to budget cuts. Over the next year, 330 state jobs will be lost from Regional Mental Health Institutes. Some RMHI’s have already closed units.
Lemonade: The legal and criminal justice systems are stepping up to the plate to respond to crises in the community and divert from hospital to Crisis Stabilization Units and community services.
Sam Cochran and Brad Cobb updated us on CIT: Crisis Intervention Teams, now spreading across Tennessee. We congratulate Chattanooga on their new CIT program that graduated the first class of officers this week. Fred Coats and other members of NAMI Chattanooga were on hand to recognize and thank the officers. We are delighted to announce that the CIT planning process has started in Jackson with more cities to come on board in the coming year.
Dixie Gamble and Lori Rash showcased our new criminal justice training film: SAFE: Safe & Aware First Responder Education. Later this fall we have been invited to give a workshop to law enforcement training officers from across the state. The SAFE film and manuals will be delivered to every police precinct in Tennessee.
Last year, NAMI served on a legislatively appointed committee to study the death penalty. A bill was formulated to restrict the death penalty for capital defendants with severe and persistent mental illness. I want to point out that this bill would actually SAVE money for the state, but reducing the need for extremely costly capital trials.
NAMI will file the bill in the coming legislative session, supported by our colleagues from the Sheriff’s Association. It may interest you to know that many sheriffs oppose the death penalty for defendants with SPMI, just as they do for youth and people with intellectual disabilities. I want to make it clear that this is not a matter of getting out of jail free. Those who are convicted will serve life without parole, arguably a harsher sentence than death.
Children and their Families Lemon: Children with mental illness and emotional disorders have a very hard time in school, at home and in their neighborhoods. Their families often get blame and shame rather than compassion and skill-building education. Lemonade: In a little while, Dr. Zaf Khan will present, “Positive Behavioral Supports for the Home,” news you can use to make life better for the whole family. Dr. Catherine Fuchs, nationally respected child and adolescent psychiatrist from Vanderbilt University, helped us distinguish mental illness in teens from typical ups and downs of adolescence.
Thanks to Monica Causey from Tennessee Voices for Children for informing us of changes in laws that affect our children in school. Thanks also to Teressa Gregory and Sara Helm from UT Knoxville and Dorothy Gager from Vanderbilt for helping us understand the range of help available on college campuses, making it possible for more students with disabilities to attend college than ever before. Our children & youth topic tables met to discuss what NAMI is doing to help children’s families. If you want to know and want to help, join the children’s committee conference calls, to be announced soon.
Veterans Lemon: There are over 500,000 Veterans in Tennessee. Over 10,000 Tennessee veterans have sought care upon returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many more need care and are not getting it. Military suicide rates at Ft. Campbell are among the highest in the nation. Our soldiers are living through attacks that would have been fatal in the past, only to be slain by hidden wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, the signature injuries of these wars.
Lemonade: This is the moment to learn from previous wars. Early intervention in PTSD can prevent suicide or long term disability. If you think someone ought to do something, take action to help prevent the next wave of psychiatric fallout. The Department of Defense is beginning to do its’ part by requiring mental health screening with every physical exam for every active duty soldier. NAMI has an opportunity to join with the VA, AMVETs and other veterans’ service organizations to extend a neighborly hand to National Guard, Reservists, Veterans and military families in our communities. AMVETs members know about the stresses of military service and return to civilian life. NAMI members know mental illness and the difference made by support, education and advocacy. NAMI, seize this day. Partner with your local AMVETS chapter to become Battle Buddies for those who have sacrificed their peace of mind for our country. Faith: Lemon: In many communities, NAMI meets in houses of worship, clergy, lay leaders and congregations are unaware that we are a resource for those in their midst who live with mental illness. Lemonade: Much more can be done to work with faith communities such as churches and synagogues. We have printed materials, including worship service bulletin inserts to that you can use to educate congregations and invite them to NAMI meetings and classes.
In preparation for Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 4 – 10, I challenge you: Ask your pastor to preach on mental illness and recovery. Ask your congregation to use out church bulletin inserts during worship services. Ask your church to host In Our Own Voice or a NAMI presentation to the congregation. Invite them to With Hope in Mind, NAMI Basics, Breaking the Silence, and all of our wonderful programs. To find out more, talk to Maya Smith or Rev. John Lewis. Join the Faith Committee conference calls.
Multicultural: Lemon: Marked disparities still exist in access to mental health care. Culturally competent services are yet to become the norm. Stigma is rampant in diverse cultures. Lemonade: NAMI is on it. For the past 5 years we have been actively inviting participation by African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanic Americans. Increasingly diverse callers contact our help line. Last year 35 helpline calls were conducted in Spanish. Diversity among family education classes and In Our Own Voice has increased. We are recognized by NAMI National for our African American Mental Health Summit to be held in Nashville on November 19th, and our Native American Mental Health Summit held in Nashville on July 24th. NAMI National has asked us to pilot two outreach programs: Sharing Hope: A presentation on mental illness for African American Churches In Living Color: NAMI Davidson County will be training primary care providers to help them recognize depression in patients from diverse backgrounds.
Volunteers Lemon: Mental Illness is painful and confusing. It often take years to get an accurate diagnosis and even longer to get effective treatment. Lemonade: We are blessed with over 400 volunteers across the state who transform their own suffering into help for others. Our staff and board of directors care deeply. Because we know the pain and confusion of mental illness, and the relief of recovery, resiliency and family adaptation, we give heart and soul to improve opportunities for all who live with mental illness. We know that people with mental illness enrich our lives and that every family has strength, sometimes waiting to be discovered by a listening ear and a caring heart. We know that the “been there” help we offer heals the giver and the receiver.
Finally, a few greetings and words of thanks: Welcome to Kelly Dorsey, our new West TN Regional Coordinator, accepting the baton from Carol Roy who retired this month. Welcome to Logan Black and Jimi Kelly, who have joined our VISTA team. Welcome to Bonita Molbert from Jackson, who has just accepted the West Tennessee VISTA position. Bonita has been a driving force behind bringing CIT to Jackson. Thanks to Cindy Dunn and Lloyd Smith who completed their VISTA service this year. Many thanks to Teresa Godsey for her years of service on the NAMI National Consumer Council and in the VISTA program.
So, keep the faith, NAMI. These are hard times. Like our ancestors in the Great Depression, we must pull together to move forward, making a cool tall glass of lemonade out of every hardship.
Thank you for being NAMI. Sita Diehl Executive Director
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