Spirit of Schizophrenics Anonymous
Quarterly Toll-free Conference Call
A chance to discuss ideas and issues related to SA
Meetings with other SA Leaders.
First Wednesday of each quarter at 7:00PM Eastern
July 7, and October 6, 2010
The call in information: (888)617-3400; Pass code: 1086548#International Number: (760) 569-4400
Note: This is a toll free number for anyone calling in.
Spirit of SA calls (to provide training and technical assistance to SA group leaders) may need to be moved from daytime to evening in the future because more and more leaders are working during the day.
Why is this important? Because less than a generation ago most were in a hospital or on disability, so they had no daytime conflict. It is a testament to SA's power to help people recover that they now have jobs as a part of their full lives in the community. From an email to SARDAA board of directors members.
Opportunity to Raise Funds
Raise funds for your local SA Group or for SARDAA to support education, awareness, and advocacy.
You may designate your proceeds. 50% profit to your group or SARDAA.
PartyLite offers:
Please contact Linda Schoenberg for personal service to either order for yourself or arrange for group sales.
Linda Schoenberg
(248) 787-1061
Linda_schoenberg@yahoo.com
www.partylite.biz/highlitehouse
Suicide Prevention: A new website for 16-24 year olds focused on suicide prevention.
SAMHSA the AD Council and Inspire USA launched a national media campaign for suicide prevention that features Inspire's website, reachout.com -- a mental health information and support service for 16-24 year olds. This is first teen suicide prevention effort from SAMHSA to utilize a national mass media strategy, as well as a robust digital outreach program.
The PSA campaign, We Can Help US, was developed from the insight that many young people encounter the same tough times, but many also develop positive solutions to help overcome them. Whatever problem they face, the campaign empowers teens by reminding them that there are ways to get through it and directs them to visit reachout.com to hear stories from others who successfully conquered their tough times. If you log onto reachout.com, be sure to click on the "wecanhelpus" navigation button to view the multimedia wall which contains video, audio and animated stories from teens and young adults.
The campaign itself includes TV, radio and print advertising, as well as mall and in-school posters and viral videos. As mentioned, reachout.com, features powerful stories of how young people have gotten through tough times, as well as tips to help cope with tough issues and links to resources including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for those that need immediate help. The PSAs will be distributed widely in the national media this week.
I thought the materials would be of interest to you. Please feel free to share with anyone or any community or group you feel might have an interest in their use - and let us know if your organization would like to feature the campaign in any of their publications.
To view the PSAs, the press release, and more details on the campaign, please click here: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/43256/.
Social Security Announces Redesigned Adult Disability Report
As of January 23, 2010, all new disability applications will be made through an enhanced version of the Internet Adult Disability Report. This will replace the Adult Disability Report–PRO for new applications only.
The transition to the enhanced application should not be difficult for those who have previously used the PRO.
Please note that you can continue to use the existing Adult Disability Report-PRO version for any disability report you have already started but not yet completed. Anyone attempting to access the Adult Disability Report-PRO to begin a new application after January 23 will be automatically redirected to the enhanced version at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport.
NIMH: Childhood Schizophrenia
If you know a child who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, please consider having him/her participate in an NIMH research study.
Purpose: To find out how the brain works in children with schizophrenia who are treated with antipsychotic drugs.
Participants must:
- Be 6-18 years old
- Have met criteria for schizophrenia before age 13
- Be free of serious medical conditions
- Clinical assessments
- Brain imaging
- Neuropsychological tests
- Genetic assessments
- 3 weeks for diagnostic evaluation portion of the study
- Additional 16 weeks for the remainder of study
Participation includes travel reimbursement and housing for families.
For more information and/or to refer a child, please call: 1-888-254-3823 | 301-496-7962 (TTY: 1-866-411-1010)
Email: mrachel@mail.nih.gov
Listen to the Columbus Public Radio spot on schizophrenia.
The guests on the program were Todd Wessel (author of the book "The One And Only" about his great uncle and legendary football player Chic Harley who suffered from Schizophrenia), Kathryn Burns M.D. the medical director for ADAMH of Franklin County, and Darrell H. Click on the link above and scroll down to find the program. It lasts about one hour.
Chic Harley is credited with being the superstar that caused OSU to build their football stadium known as The Shoe. Harley played football in the World War I era and after playing at OSU played on the team that became the Chicago Bears. Harley suffered from schizophrenia and spent a large part of his life hospitalized in a VA Hospital in Danville, Illinois. In addition to Todd Wessell the program will feature Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County Medical Director Dr. Kathryn Burns, M.D. Darrell H (SA Leader) will also be part of the panel.
The program is called All Sides and can be listened to on WOSU radio 820 on the AM radio or over their web site. The web site features live streaming of the show and podcasts are available after the show.
This is a fantastic program representing the various perspectives and extraordinary and unique challenges facing all impacted by severe mental illness. SARDAA has contacted the campaign in a request to join their quest to educate. We have requested authorization to link with their website, as well. If anyone would like to use the program to show others and open a discussion, they will help you. MINDS ON THE EDGE: Facing Mental illness explores the stories of two fictional characters, Olivia and James. Their stories are hypothetical, but the dilemmas are real as American families struggle with mental illness.
Watch it online here
Webcasts on Schizophrenia
The Psychiatry Academy is pleased to present two new webcasts on the detection and management of schizophrenia and strategies for treatment-resistant patients. The webcast panels feature expert faculty from Mass General including Dr. Donald Goff, Director, Schizophrenia Clinical and Research Program; Dr. David C. Henderson, Director of the Schizophrenia Diabetes and Weight Reduction Research Program; and Dr. Oliver Freudenreich, Director of the First Episode and Early Psychosis Program.
Approaches to the Treatment Resistant Patient & Managing Medical Comorbidity
First Episode and Early Schizophrenia: Detection and Management
Attend these live, CME-accredited webcasts and have the opportunity to ask questions to Drs. Goff, Henderson and Freudenreich and the rest of the expert panels.
Linda Stalters Interviewed on Internet Radio Program
On June 18, 2009 Linda Stalters was the guest on the MyTechnologyLawyer radio show “Crossroads”. She and Jim Pyles joined Co-Hosts Scott Draughon and Anyck Turgeon to discuss internet security for health records.
You can listen to the program over the Internet via the following link: Listen to the Show on the Internet.
If you would like to download the show click on the following link: Download the Show.
NIMH Inpatient Research Program
The National Institute of Mental Health conducts an inpatient research program that specializes in the study of schizophrenia. The program is located on the NIH campus at the Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The research protocols vary as do the related risks and benefits to the participants.
Current studies focus on the neurobiological, cognitive, and genetic basis of schizophrenia. Qualifying adults who suffer from this disorder are invited to stay at NIMH without charge while they voluntarily participate in protocols. Every inpatient protocol requires that volunteers complete an initial thorough neurological, medical, psychiatric and neurocognitive evaluation. Volunteers may participate in different studies. A current 6 month evaluation study involves a (carefully monitored) 4-6 week period without medication. Other protocols involve the addition of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications to the volunteers’ own medications. These clinical trials evaluate whether memory and other cognitive abilities can be improved by medications that regulate the activity of the frontal cortex.
All studies give participants access to the NIMH diagnostic expertise, careful medication management, and a variety of therapeutic and educational programs and comprehensive discharge recommendations. Research participation is compensated and travel and lodging assistance is available.
If you are interested in learning about the current studies and whether they may or may not be suitable for you or your family member, please call the schizophrenia referral line at 1-888-674-6464 (TTY: 1-866-411-1010) or email us at schizophrenia@mail.nih.gov.
Find Clinical Trials by State
Minds Unleashed – A collection of poetry by people with a Mental Illness
I am compiling a collection of poetry for distribution in pdf format. So if you have always wanted to share your talent, now is the time to do so.
If you previously submitted poems by email and none of them appear in this edition, it is because my computer crashed and I lost a lot of data. Please submit them again.
Like Glimpses, Minds Unleashed is distributed for free to Carers, Consumers, Educators and Clinicians, in hope of increasing awareness and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness and it would benefit greatly from your poetry.
A free updated version is distributed electronically bi-monthly (if new poems have been received). Several Uni’s/training organizations use this manuscript as a course resource. Minds Unleashed reaches people all over Australia and some other countries. So only submit you poetry if you are happy for it to be distributed and forwarded freely.
Download the current copy here
Email or post your story to:
Nicci Wall
Mental Health Advocate
c/o 43 Browallia Drive
Rose Park
Corio Vic 3214
forwalls@xi.com.au
