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Archive for the ‘News Room’ Category
Saturday, June 8th, 2013
By Rick Charmoli CADILLAC NEWS — Hallucinations, voices in your head, confusion and uncertainty are things a group of people experienced Thursday in Cadillac. While those living with schizophrenia deal with those challenges on a daily basis, a number of caregivers, people who work with them and members of the public were able to experience those same symptoms through virtual reality Thursday.
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, in conjunction with with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, set up a virtual symptom simulator that gave participants a chance to feel what it's like to suffer from schizophrenia.
Craig Saunders works at Michigan Rehabilitation Services and helps both individuals with disabilities and employers with employment services. He attended the simulation because he wanted to have a better understanding of some of the clients he serves.
“Part of the population I deal with have mental health issues, and I wanted to see what they deal with," he said. "I never dealt with it myself, and I thought I would get a good sense of it."
Saunders said he was most surprised at how intense it was in terms of noise, voices and hallucinations. He added that if a person didn't have a support system, he was not sure how someone could function. “There is so much going on that a person could get lost,” Saunders said.
Nathan Belville, a registered nurse with Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, went through the virtual reality experience to get a better understanding of some of his patients. Belville works in Assertive Community Treatment, which provides basic services and support for people with serious mental illness so they can maintain their independence.
“It showed the confusion and disorder people deal with,” Belville said.
Northern Lakes Operations Manager Abbi Mankiewicz said the virtual reality experience was blocked off for 10-minute intervals and was booked solid for the five-hour period it was offered.
Mankiewicz said it provides a genuine feeling of the symptoms of schizophrenia and its devastating impact on both the patients and their families.
Link to Cadillac News article: http://www.cadillacnews.com/news_story/?story_id=1810085&year=2013&issue=20130607
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Wednesday, June 5th, 2013
Club Cadillac has been rehabilitating people with mental illness for many years. MI News 26 Reporter Paula Jasper and Photojournalist Hannah Crouch spoke with a member about her story and how Club Cadillac has helped her. To watch the clip click here: http://www.minews26.com/content/?p=25677
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Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Cadillac News – by Jeff Broddle
http://www.cadillacnews.com/news_story/?story_id=1808818&year=2013&issue=20130502
When a loved one commits suicide, there is pain for survivors and, understandably, a need for privacy.
But suicide also is a public health issue. For Americans between the ages of 25 and 34, suicide is the second-leading cause of death. It's the third-leading cause for those between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
From 2004 to 2012, Wexford County recorded 61 suicides. That averages out to 6.7 per year — about one every two months, according to figures supplied by Medical Examiner Fred Wreford. To put that in comparison with another unexpected, yet not uncommon, cause of death, in the same time period there were 65 people killed in vehicle crashes, whether an automobile crash or some other moving vehicle such as a motorcycle or off-road vehicle.
Similar results were found in Missaukee County, where there were 14 deaths suspected to be suicide. In the same time period, there were 12 vehicle-related deaths.
Although not subjected to statistical analysis, differences could be observed in the type of person who is committing suicide.
In Wexford County, the average age of those committing suicide between 2004 and 2012 was 46.
In Missaukee County, however, according to Missaukee County Medical Examiner Gregory Lambourne, the majority of the suicides were by people in their 30s or even their 20s.
“Rarely are they older people facing the end of life,” Lambourne said.
Statistics kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that for Baby Boomers, the suicide rate has increased almost 30 percent between 2001 and 2010. Boomers are defined as those Americans born between 1946 and 1964.
Traditionally, seniors age 85 and older have been the group most likely to commit suicide. In general, more men than women commit suicide. Use of alcohol and drugs also raise the risk of suicide, and rates also are higher for veterans.
Wexford County recorded nine suicides last year. In comparison, five people were killed in vehicle crashes in the same time frame. Suicide took the lives of six people in the county in 2011, and also the same number lost their lives in crashes. Looking back as far as nine years, the highest number of suicides came in 2004 and 2006, with 11 in each year. In 2007, the fewest were recorded, with two.
Missaukee County, with a population slightly less than half of Wexford County, understandably had fewer numbers of residents taking their own lives. Two suicides were reported last year, half the number seen in 2011. Three were recorded in 2010.
Numbers for Osceola and Lake counties were not immediately available.
But numbers can't be expected to paint a picture of the whole problem, according to Leilani Kitler, prevention coordinator for Northern Lakes Community Mental Health. Kitler also is coordinator and facilitator for the local Suicide Prevention Coalition.
Kitler said that in some cases, deaths may not be accurately reported as suicide out of respect for the family. In some cases, knowing what happened may not be easy.
Take an example of someone who is age 60 or 70, who is fighting a disease or has a chronic condition. Painkillers may be readily available to them. Should they die of an overdose, it may be difficult to say whether or not the overdose was intentional. In some cases, a health care provider such as a nurse who had frequent contact with the patient may strongly suspect that there was more to the death than a mistake with a prescription.
Also keep in mind, Kitler said, that following a death, whether the cause was suicide or not, the focus is on loved ones and the grieving.
“We often take our cues from the family," Kitler said. "We want to be supportive in recovery, and not be contradicting their views."
McClatchy News Service contributed to this report
Signs of suicide: what to watch for
If you have concerns that a loved one, friend or acquaintance is thinking of suicide, the best way to find out if they are at risk is to ask them, according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. All people with suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously.
According to the SPRC, talking about thoughts of suicide with someone will not put the idea in their head, and it doesn't increase your own risk. Individuals with thoughts about about suicide may be doing so for reasons that can be understandable.
Experts on the topic of suicide say that most people with suicidal thoughts want to live, but also want to be free of pain.
A majority of individuals who die of suicide likely suffered from clinical depression, although it may not be until after someone has died that the survivors are able to connect the dots.
It's not unusual for families to say they had no idea, according to Leilani Kitler, prevention coordinator for Northern Lakes Community Mental Health.
Telltale signs may include withdrawing from friends and family, changes in sleep patterns and not taking part in activities an individual had previously enjoyed.
There could be other changes in behavior. Someone considering suicide may suddenly begin giving away valuable possessions.
The acronym "ACT" helps provide guidance, especially for teens:
A — Acknowledge: recognize that these are real concerns.
C — Concern: express concern for the person's situation, show empathy for their problems.
T — Tell: tell a trusted adult.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans also may call a line dedicated to them at 1-800-273-8255 Press 1.
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Saturday, April 27th, 2013
http://www.grbj.com/articles/76708-inmates-not-always-treated-for-addiction-mental-illness
LANSING — Unpredictable behavior, irrationality, confusion, loss of control: all are symptoms of mental illness and signs of drug abuse.
Although the two can be similar, problems of addiction and mental health have long been dealt with separately in county jails, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Terrence Jungel said.
Mentally ill inmates with drug addictions seeking help for their illnesses often are turned away from treatment because of their substance abuse problem and vice versa, Jungel said.
When substance abuse counselors turn away drug addicts because of their mental illnesses or mentally ill patients are turned away because they have substance abuse problems, Jungel said the system is working against itself.
“You’ve got two people pointing fingers at each other,” he said.
Gov. Rick Snyder created a 14-member Mental Health Diversion Council under the Department of Community Health to better manage inmates with mental illnesses and drug addictions. That step, Jungel said, could lead to more jails creating dual diagnosis programs, or at least could better equip them for dealing with mentally ill, drug-dependent inmates.
“The more mental health inmates you have, the more problems you have with your population,” Jungel said. “Nobody should be in jail because they’re mentally ill, but just because you’re mentally ill doesn’t mean you don’t belong in jail.”
About 30 percent of county inmates are mentally ill, Jungel estimates, and many were misusing their prescribed medications or turning to illegal substances to self-medicate prior to their arrests.
Community Health public information officer Angela Minicuci said while it might seem odd to treat mental health and substance abuse separately, part of the reason for Snyder’s directive is because mental health is in the public spotlight.
“It’s easy to say now that they go hand in hand,” she said. “But in the past not a lot was known about mental health, so they would just look at the substance abuse and treat the addiction without considering the mental health aspects.”
The Mental Health Diversion Council has not yet developed a statewide solution for the problem, Minicuci said, but at the local level, some community mental health boards are tackling both issues simultaneously.
Each sheriff’s department is autonomous in how it deals with mental health and substance abuse.
Macomb County, which has one of the state’s largest jails with 1,458 beds, has had a dual diagnosis system for years, jail administrator Michelle Sanborn said.
Of the about 1,200 inmates in the jail, about 82 percent are substance abusers and 34 percent have a mental health problem, Sanborn said. Most mentally ill inmates were self-medicating through drugs and alcohol before being incarcerated, she added.
All incoming inmates are screened for mental illness and substance abuse, Sanborn said, and then may choose — or are forced by court order — to join a treatment program that suits their needs.
“Usually, if you’re treated by two different programs, the two aren’t on board to help the one person,” she said. “Continuity is care. If you have a heart disorder and cancer, a hospital treats you for both.
“It’s always better when you treat the person as whole.”
The county pays for most of these programs. Others are handled by Macomb County Community Corrections, a rehabilitative program aimed at reducing the number of inmates and funded by the Department of Corrections, the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance and the county.
Between 20 and 30 percent of inmates in the Ottawa County Jail have mental health problems, jail administrator Lt. Steve Baar said. About a quarter to a third of those with mental illnesses are categorized as “severe and persistent.”
The 460-bed facility assists mentally ill patients by providing a case manager, and a jail diversion program relocates eligible inmates to a secure mental health facility. However, Baar said few options are available for inmates with substance abuse problems, in part because most stay only a few months.
“Many people look at the correctional facilities just as a place to clean up,” he said. “In many cases they are afraid of leaving because they don’t want to fall back into that lifestyle on the outside.”
Baar said the jail does what it can to work with inmates with mental health problems despite not having formal programs.
“I suspect that we have been dealing with it, but we haven’t been dealing with it under a formal title,” he said.
Crawford County Jail, a 56-bed facility in Grayling, allows some inmates to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings but provides no other assistance to treat other types of substance abusers, jail administrator Lt. Randy Baerlocher said.
Crawford County is part of a six-county public mental health authority, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, which receives state funding. It also includes Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Wexford, Missaukee and Roscommon counties.
Baerlocher said a Northern Lakes mental health worker routinely visits the jail and it has professionals who respond to urgent mental health situations.
“Unlike the bigger counties, we’re able to work with the agency to address our mental health population,” he said. “These bigger counties have been forced to hire their own, budget their own mental health services.”
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2013
 Local entries to the statewide “Creative Minds Changing Minds,” art show will be featured at the AuSable Artisan Village Gallery in Grayling on March 1-3.
The art entries are by people who receive services at Northern Lakes Community Mental Health and who use art as a means to reduce stress and enrich their lives. One entry will be selected to represent the Northern Lakes CMH six-county service area in the statewide show sponsored by Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards (MACMHB). The MACMHB will travel around the state for the next two years, beginning in Grand Rapids in April 2013.
The Northern Lakes CMH piece will be selected by a jury comprised of AuSable Artisan Village artists: Photographer Thomas Dean, Painter and Gallery Director Terry Dickinson, Volunteer Sandra Michalik, and Painter/Fiber Artist Jeannie Pratt.
“We are happy to partner with Northern Lakes CMH in this way,” said Thomas Dean. “Part of our mission is to support art and cultural activities in the greater Grayling area which enrich lives and stimulate creativity. The Creative Minds Changing Minds show is exactly the kind of effort we support.”
Northern Lakes CMH Community/Provider Relations staff Cynthia Petersen added, “The local Creative Minds Changing Minds show contains about 20 beautiful pieces of art and celebrates the rich and interesting diversity of the people in our area. Northern Lakes CMH appreciates the AuSable Artisan Village artists serving as jury for our piece and for hosting the show so the community may have the opportunity to see some of the talent of the people we serve.”
According to MACMHB Executive Director Michael Vizena, the goals of the show are to help destigmatize mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use issues by showcasing the multi-dimensionality of people who use community mental health services and to highlight the recovery potential of the arts.
“We hope the overall effect will be to alleviate stigma and normalize help-seeking behaviors throughout Michigan,” according to Vizena.
The winning entry will be unveiled at the Grayling show and then move to Lansing where it will be professionally matted and framed. There will be over 40 pieces in the statewide show, which is tentatively scheduled to make its northern Michigan debut in April 2014. Each artist in the statewide show will receive a $100 purchase award from MACMHB.
Northern Lakes CMH manages or provides services and supports to over 5,000 residents who are adults and children with developmental disabilities, adults with serious mental illness, and children with serious emotional disturbance living in the six counties of Crawford, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Missaukee, Roscommon, and Wexford.
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Saturday, February 16th, 2013
http://www.crawfordcountyavalanche.com/articles/2013/02/13/news/doc511bb728806dd964758138.txt
by Dan Sanderson-Staff Writer, Crawford County Avalanche
Health officials are poised to step up efforts to help people with mental illness maintain healthier lifestyles as they are on their path to recovery with a new building and renovation project in Grayling.
The Northern Lakes Community Mental Health offices in Grayling, located at 204 Meadows Drive, are undergoing a renovation project and an addition is being added on the building.
The project, which is estimated to cost $740,000, is being funded through a capital improvement fund earmarked for building maintenance and additions. The project completion deadline is June 30.
The project was made possible once the District Health Department #10 moved to its new home at 401 Norway Street in December. The agencies shared space in the building, which was built by Northern Lakes Community Mental Health in the early 1990s. Crawford County officials purchased the office building on Norway Street and made renovations for the Health Department last year.
Greg Paffhouse, the chief executive officer for Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, said having the added space will improve the services that mental health officials provide.
"It's a win-win for us and the community," he said.
An elevator has been added to the building, which will make the basement floor accessible for handicapped clients. The renovation will also provide more offices for staff who travel to Grayling to provide services.
A 2,800 square foot addition is being added to the building. The addition will feature a conference room for large meetings, which will also be available to other groups and organizations in Grayling.
"It will create a real valuable resource for the community," Paffhouse said.
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health covers Crawford, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Missaukee, Roscommon and Wexford Counties.
Once the addition project is complete, personnel will be available to offer expanded and enhanced services in Crawford County.
"We're really going to be proud of this facility and it's going to serve our needs a lot better," Paffhouse said. "We want a welcoming environment. We want a place where people that we serve feel comfortable in and feel at home and it helps build relationships."
Specifically, the addition project will house three clinic spaces, where primary health care providers will meet with clients as the Grayling Community Mental Health office moves toward providing integrated care.
People impacted by mental illness also suffer from preventable chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Steps have been taken by mental health officials to help people they serve connect with primary care and improve their physical health. They have offered classes on wellness, health and the self management of chronic diseases such as Personal Action Toward Health (PATH) and smoking cessation.
"Research shows that people with mental illness die 25 years before they should," Paffhouse said. "We're finding ways to help people lead healthier lives and providing access to primary care is critical."
Having the primary care and mental health care providers located under the same roof will allow them to treat the whole person.
"They coordinate care better and they both know what's going on with the care of a person and all of that is done under a person-centered plan," Paffhouse said.
The building addition will also allow Northern Lakes Community Health to continue its partnership with the University of Michigan through the Michigan Child Collaborative Care Project. The project allows primary heath care providers improved access to child psychiatric care in under-served areas such as Crawford, Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties.
Within two hours a phone or an e-mail consultation can be made with a University of Michigan child psychiatrist to address issues such as Autism or other behavioral issues.
"It's a way for communities like ours to have high quality care that is consistent with the needs of the people," Paffhouse said.
Education modules for the health care providers and discussion groups are also available online and quick access to a care coordinator helps connect children with local resources or child psychiatrists.
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Family Specialist Sara Johnson will also continue to hold office hours in locations like the Mercy Physician Network. Johnson has been working with pediatricians such as Dr. Kristie Koehler and Dr. Valda Byrd to assist with child mental health issues early on. She provides case consultations, mental health assessments and links families, doctors and schools with resources.
"The convenience and timeliness gets people connected who may not otherwise seek out help," Koehler said. "Sara helps people locate and connect to available resources, streamlining the process for families."
Paffhouse said he was encouraged by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's budget proposal to expand Medicaid coverage for more Michigan residents as mental health officials are also preparing for changes with the federal Affordable Care Act.
"These are challenging times yet times for opportunity," Paffhouse said. "Our responsibility is to embrace changes, yet to advocate what we know works and to support changes that we believe will create more opportunities for persons we serve and support and for our communities."
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Sunday, January 27th, 2013
BY GLENN PUIT gpuit@record-eagle.com
Sue Orchard received a paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis nearly 30 years ago, but she doesn't let that stop her from pursuing a normal, productive life.
Almost every day, Orchard, 53, heads to work at The Traverse House Clubhouse at 105 Hall Street in downtown Traverse City. She labors in the kitchen to make meals for others who, like her, choose to confront and conquer mental illness.
"I need the support," Orchard said. "I feel like I need to be here. I have a lot of friends here."
Orchard was diagnosed in 1981 and has attended the Clubhouse for a decade to work, learn and be with others.
Holly Barton, a clerical lead staffer at the Clubhouse, said the facility is a place for area residents with diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression and other conditions.
Members are referred from Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, and membership is voluntary. The membership helps about 70 residents avoid isolation while assisting in their individual game plans for recovery.
Barton said the goal is to help members obtain quality housing, education and jobs that pay the prevailing wage.
"It's a recovery-based program, and that's a big deal," Barton said. "The goal is for our members to get back into the community, working or back to school."
Orchard is one of several success stories found at the Clubhouse. She was in foster care for 14 years and now lives with her boyfriend. She recently completed a months-long job assignment at a downtown Traverse City restaurant, and she's readying for her next job placement in the community so she can earn her own pay.
If she didn't have the Clubhouse, she said, she'd be "living in foster care, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and feeling sorry for myself."
"It gives me the ability to help me improve and recover from mental illness," Orchard said. "We are all recovering."
Members work side by side, often mentoring one another, as they complete tasks to keep the Clubhouse running. Their jobs range from word processing to food service, housekeeping and accounting.
Counselor Lauren Barnard said the Clubhouse also dispels common falsehoods about mental illness, many held by the diagnosed themselves. Those myths include misconceptions that the mentally ill should be institutionalized or that they are violent and unemployable.
"Once they believe that, they tend to isolate themselves," Barnard said. "Our goal is to get people back to work, socializing, and help them in their journey."
Interviews with Clubhouse regulars indicate the gathering place's importance in their lives. Pete Wenzel, 69, lives in an adult foster care and cherishes his time at the Clubhouse.
"It's instrumental in my recovery," Wenzel said. "This is my opportunity to get out, meet people and do the things the Clubhouse offers. I'm with people who face similar issues."
Douglas Sieffert, 47, of Traverse City, agrees. He recently met at the Clubhouse with Lorie Moon, 42, and Leerae Fineout, 55, of Traverse City, to discuss membership, and Sieffert said he enjoys the opportunity to work with and help others.
"It feels good," Sieffert said. "It feels great."
Record Eagle Link
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
By Rick Charmoli, Cadillac News
Chances are, you know someone with a mental health problem.
According to Northern Lake Community Mental Health, one in four Americans are dealing with some sort of mental health issue.
That means it could be you, a family member, friend or co-worker. With budgets at the state and national level being slashed, help is becoming harder to get.
While the shootings in Newtown, Conn., last month have sparked a lot of discussion about certain topics like gun control, as well as care for the mentally ill, the question remains, would you know what to do in the event of a mental health crisis or if you knew a person was having trouble and needed help?
“The lack of knowledge creates a sense of fear and stigma,” said Joanie Blamer, chief operations officer at Northern Lakes Community Mental Health. “Many people are unsure of what to do and how to help.”
Later this month, Northern Lakes will host a two-day workshop called Mental Health First Aid, which will help people learn the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, how to provide initial assistance and strategies to guide a person toward professional help.
The program is based on the same principles as a standard first aid course, Blamer said, so participants will be learning practical, hands-on skills. The program won’t train anyone to be a professional therapist but it will provide them with the tools they need to help someone in crisis until professional help can be arranged, much like treating a wound until an ambulance arrives.
USING IT IN EVERYDAY LIFE
In 2012, the Cadillac Wexford Transit Authority transported 130,000 passengers. CWTA Director Vance Edwards said for every 10 passengers served, roughly seven had some sort of disability. Of that 10, Edwards said three or four were dealing with some sort of mental impairment. Part of the reason that number is high — the CWTA has a transportation contract with Northern Lakes.
With that in mind, he said it is important that staff, and especially drivers, understand some of the issues people who ride the CWTA buses are dealing with when it comes to mental health. While the CWTA has its own training for drivers, Edwards also said they have utilized the Mental Health First Aid training.
“We don’t treat (passengers with mental disabilities) differently than anyone else, but it is good for us to recognize a disability so we can respond appropriately,” he said.
Cindy Fales is the project coordinator for CWTA, and she took the first aid training through Northern Lakes last fall. She said the training helps people keep a mental health crisis from escalating until help can arrive. Fales said part of the training the drivers receive is a visit to Club Cadillac. There they get to interact with some of the people who they will be driving and getting to know them before they ever set foot on a bus.
She added that there are a lot of misconceptions out there when it comes to mental illness, and this training is a great way to dispel them.
“There is a stigma out there that people with mental illness should be feared,” she said. “That is just not true. They are like everyone else with the same interests and sense of humor.”
FIRST AID TRAINING
During the workshop, Northern Lakes will train up to 30 people to improve mental health literacy. Anyone can take the Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, law enforcement personnel and anyone else who may be interested, regardless of profession.
Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training certification course that teaches a five-step action plan to assess a situation, select and implement interventions and secure appropriate care for the individual. The program introduces people to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and covers common treatments.
The training helps participants identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness such as depression, suicide, panic attacks, paranoia and psychotic episodes. Research has proved the program effective in improving trainees’ knowledge of mental disorders, increasing the amount of help provided to affected individuals and reducing stigma.
Mental Health First Aid was originally created in Australia in 2001 under the guidance of the University of Melbourne and is now taught internationally, with programs in countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Canada, Finland and Singapore.
For more information or to participate in the Mental Health First Aid training, visit www.northernlakescmh.org or call Beth Burke at 876-3249.
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Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013
Northern Lakes CMH offers deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, and the entire community of Newtown, Connecticut. Such unthinkable tragedies — especially those involving our children —take an immeasurable emotional toll. Our thoughts and prayers are with the parents and citizens of Newtown as they cope and respond.
Tragic events like these have a reverberating effect on citizens far and wide. In addition to help which may be available at Northern Lakes CMH, there is a national Disaster Distress Helpline you can call at 800.985.5990, or text ‘talkwithus’ (English) or ‘hablanos’ (Spanish) to 66746 at any time.
The Children’s Mental Health Network has assembled some good information for talking with children about the shooting that took place in Connecticut on Friday:
What parents should talk about with children…
- Recognize the sudden, unexpected, tragic event. Be clear that children and teachers were hurt, don’t be vague. If the child asks if anyone died, tell the truth as they will certainly hear it via media.
- Confirm that a lot of people are scared and sad. Confirm that some people will be worried for a while
- Let the children know the schools, law enforcement, and government workers have been making safety plans for all of the schools in our area and that their safety and security is the most important thing in their mind.
- Provide emotional support- it may take a few minutes or hours (even days) for the emotional impact to reach the children. When it does, provide nurturance (hugs, empathy, kindness, calm support) and ask about their thoughts and feelings. Be prepared for children to need this several times.
- Do not have the TV news about the event on for an extended period of time – the news stations wish to inform people about progress of the investigation and other aspects of the case – this is not helpful for children as multiple exposures to this information can exaggerate the event in their minds.
- Make sure to spend family time together doing “normalizing” activities – regular meal times, bedtimes, play times. For some children there may be mild disruptions in sleep, appetite, and social interest. If these problems go on for more than a few days, contact your family doctor, Northern Lakes CMH, or your local Access and Crisis Line.
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Tuesday, November 20th, 2012
Traverse City Record Eagle. November 16, 2012 by Marta Hepler Drahos.
Kory Stevens loved to draw and paint before the accident that changed his life. Now he's using art to help in his recovery. "If you can't express what you feel (in words) you can do it through art," said Stevens, of Thompsonville, one of scores of northern Michigan residents with works in the Northern Lakes Community Mental Health exhibit, "Art of Recovery: The Human Journey."
The show opened Nov. 7 in the Outre Lounge at InsideOut Gallery and continues through the month. It features about 100 works in a variety of genres and styles, from "Plantation Road," a painting of an azalea-and oak-lined drive by an anonymous mental health social worker who suffers from depression, to "My Revival," a collage of words, sentences, phrases and lyrics by a woman who struggled with anorexia and drugs.
Together the works tell the story of recovery, from accident and alcoholism to cancer and chronic pain. Read the full article.
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