The Missouri Mental Health Foundation is proud each year to celebrate the Directors Creativity Showcase. The showcase, which dates back to 1979, has succeeded in acquainting the public with the talents of the people served by the Department of Mental health.
The people who participate in the Showcase are individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities or addictions disorders. The artwork is created not only for the Showcase, but is sometimes used as a means of therapy. This therapy provides an outlet for the artist to express their feelings - feelings he or she may not be able to verbally communicate.
To learn more about the 2012 Directors Creativity Showcase Award Winners, click here.
JobWatch: A disabled worker's unusual tenureSt. Louis Post Dispatch writer Steve Giegerich shares the story of a disabled employee who has been with the Washington University School of Medicine for more than 30 years. Examining death of Denver Broncos Kenny McKinleySports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim takes a deeper look into professional athletes and mental illness. Two Women Changed by RecoveryTwo mid-Missouri women recount the changes in their lives as Recovery Fest 2010 nears. WHO IS TEMPLE GRANDIN?The HBO docudrama "Temple Grandin" starring Claire Danes was nominated for a total of 15 Emmy Awards and took home 7 wins. Mental Health First AidIt is called Mental Health First Aid. And while the classes are not yet nearly as common as traditional first aid courses — the kind you take to learn how to help a choking victim or cardiac arrest victim — they are catching on.
Select the link from the USA Today for the entire story!
Dealing with Depression Difficult in WorkplaceDealing with depression difficult in workplace Ryan Lefebvre shared the story of his chronic, severe depression with a group of about 200 Kansas City area human resource practitioners. One year after Joplin tornado disaster - Weather School eases minds of youngest survivors– A year after Joplin was hit by one of the deadliest tornados in history, the tattered town is showing signs of healing.
Select this link to read the full story.
Heroin Threatens MissouriIn recent years, heroin has re-emerged as a scourge to our communities, particularly threatening our youth.
Read more about this story as shared in the NAMI St. Louis April Advocacy Newsletter
Mental Illness is a Health IssueMental illness is a health issue People with mental illnesses are parents, coworkers, neighbors, students and friends. They are children and adults living with a diagnosis, but it doesn’t have to dominate their life; recovery is possible. Successful and SchizophrenicTHIRTY years ago, I was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. My prognosis was grave. I would never live independently, hold a job, find a loving partner, get married. Read more ....... A new place for Places for People, a new haven for the homelessA new project in St. Louis will provide more housing for the homeless, led by the organization Places for People. Area officers are honored for treatment of mentally illTracking down a suicidal mother or calming a mentally ill MetroLink rider yelling about demons aren't exactly common images of police work that often revolve around traffic stops, drug busts and shooting investigations. Area officers are honored for treatment of mentally ill Nurturing people by nurturing plantsThe new greenhouse at Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center in Farmington allows the horticultural group to raise plants year-round. Plant sales help keep the horticultural program going at the hospital. - Paula Barr / Daily Journal Missouri pioneers community-based mental and medical health servicesFor years, poor people suffering from a combination of mental and physical health conditions have had few options beyond walking through the door at an emergency room or finding a bed in a nursing home until the crisis eases.
President Obama Calls for Mental Health First Aid in Gun Control ProposalPress Releases: President Obama Calls for Mental Health First Aid in Gun Control Proposal Jan 16, 2013 Statement by Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health For media inquiries, contact Meena Dayak, MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org or 301.602.8474 As part of his recommendations to protect our communities from gun violence, President Obama today rightly called for Mental Health First Aid training to help teachers and staff recognize the signs of mental health disorders in young people and find them appropriate care. Read more.... First Aid Vital for Mental Health, Experts sayMost first aid classes teach the Heimlich maneuver, CPR and other basic medical techniques. But what if someone feels suicidal, is struggling with an addiction or having a panic attack? Mental Health First Aid classes can teach people how to help someone experiencing a psychological crisis brought on by a traumatic event or chronic mental illness. Read more..... Missouri Department of Mental Health Statement - Tragic Event in Newtown, ConnecticutAll of us at the Missouri Department of Mental Health are deeply saddened by the tragic event that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut and we join the rest of this country in mourning the loss of so many precious lives and the suffering that continues in that community. Select this link to read the full statement. Taking ChargeFor the past several years, I resided in an ISL setting and shared a home with three roommates that I had very little in common with. I never really felt like that was my home, as there were frequent staff and roommate changes and when my mom and friends came to visit me, my roommates and staff were always around so no one really felt comfortable to visit. There were also many rules that made me angry. For instance, it was a big deal for me to eat in the living room while I was watching TV at night. I also had to have someone with me all the time, which made me feel like no one trusted me or thought I was capable of doing some things by myself. Lots of meetings were held over the years with the provider agency and my mom to discuss my behaviors. At one of the meetings, my mom was informed about a program called Self Directed Services. After hearing about this program, I thought I could finally have more control and be more independent. I just wanted and needed more freedom. That decision changed my Redeeming the Tragedy in Aurora
Are we prepared to take action to improve our mental health response to this tragedy? Read more of the story by Ron Manderscheid, PhD.
Economy takes toll on program that helps mentally ill get jobsLike millions of other Americans, Barb is looking for a job, and after a four-month search, she's got a promising lead on a part-time position. Not too long ago, Barb, 52, of St. Peters didn't have much optimism. And even though she's feeling more hopeful these days. Mental Health First Aid MissouriMental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a 12-hour course designed to teach the general public how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health problems, how to offer and provide initial help to the individuals they encounter, and how to guide those persons toward appropriate treatments and other supportive help. Research shows that participants in MHFA courses were more confident in providing initial help, more likely to provide that help and helped to reduce the stigma regarding mental health disorders.
Follow this link to You Tube for \"Mental Health First Aid Missouri: Providing Help and Hope\".
Did you knowStigma is one of the most pervasive barriers to understanding the gravity of mental illnesses and the importance of mental health. Learning to Cope With a Minds Taunting Voices
A Missouri man diagnosed with schizophrenia shares his life-long struggles with his mental illness and how family and treatment help him get through each and every day.
Youth2Youth - Stories of Help and Hope videoMeet Claire. Listen to her story about overcoming her insecurities about being gay and why she is still alive today.
Follow this link to the YouTube video:
St. Charles County Agency Helps People Find Their WayThe Crider Health Center in St. Charles County is making a difference and helping many get back on their feet and stay on the right track. Psychiatrist - Many experiencing emotional injuries in storms wakeOzark Center in Joplin, Missouri, is at the heart of helping people with the emotional injuries left behind by the storm. Program Aims to Improve Life For People with SchizophreniaA new pilot program focuses on improving the daily lives of people with schizophrenia. Stigma Stands as a Hurdle For TeensBy Zachary Culler, NAMI Media Relations Intern
In a recent article, researchers at Case Western Reserve University called for more exhaustive measures to gauge mental illness stigma in adolescents.
Click here to read more of this story.