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The Iris
Support, Education, Advocacy
Vol 33 No 4 April 2015
Editor, Ann Akland
NAMI Wake Contact Information:
www.nami-wake.org (919) 848-4490
aakland@nami-wake.org
From the President's Desk
by Gerry Akland
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN NORTH CAROLINA
Underfunded, Fragmented, Without Leadership
The Governor’s proposed budget for the upcoming
biennium continues to ignore the mental health crisis that
is occurring in North Carolina. With all good intentions,
mental health reform released mentally ill patients from
state hospitals to the community, but it did not provide
mental health resources to keep them safe, healthy, and
functioning at a level that would insure their well-being.
Lack of adequate funding
over the years has resulted in
additional pain and suffering
for those who have mental
illness. In my opinion, it is
not coincidental that suicide
rates have continued to rise in
North Carolina since the reform
began.
local medical hospitals—WakeMed, Rex Healthcare,
and Duke Raleigh do not have inpatient units, so all
patients needing admission must wait for a bed to become
available in other hospitals. The truth is that there is a
state-wide bed shortage, so patients are waiting in EDs
without treatment an average of 3.5 days.
NC leaders need to push back
the rhetoric of “getting more for
less”, and start providing more
services with new money before
something tragic happens.
Just last month WakeMed had
to close its doors because 65 beds in the emergency room
(ER) were occupied by behavioral health patients. Must
people in cardiac arrest or traumatic injury die due to
lack of available ER beds before our state leaders make
resources for additional help available?
If you have a medical emergency, you expect emergency
treatment in the Emergency Department (ED) followed by
admission to a hospital bed relatively quickly if needed.
This is not the case for people in a mental health crisis.
ED staff are generally not trained to treat people with
mental illness so treatment for those in a mental health
crisis is delayed until they can be admitted to an inpatient
psychiatric unit or hospital someplace in the state. Our
to bring about change.
The state has been making
a limited amount of funds
available to pay for more
psychiatric beds in community
hospitals but this does not
go far enough to solve the
problem. Maybe it will take
a violent behavioral health
patient waiting for an inpatient
bed in an ED to endanger the
lives of other patients and staff
When mental health reform started in NC, initial funds to
help the system set up new community based services
were diverted to the state general fund. This was followed
by additional cuts to service funds because, without
proper oversight, unscrupulous providers wasted millions
of dollars. The outcome of these failures and resulting
cuts combined with tremendous population growth is that
people cannot get the help they need—even when they
are in crisis and even when they have private insurance.
The services simply are not available.
Continued on page 2
NAMI Wake County
The Iris
Continued from page 1
The problem extends well beyond hospitals to the criminal
justice system. The lack of inpatient psychiatric beds and
community treatment services has directly resulted in an
increase in the number of mentally ill people in our jails
and prisons. Over 10 times the number of people with
mental illness are incarcerated than are being treated
in hospitals. Approximately 20% of the people who are
incarcerated have a serious mental illness. And in Wake
County, approximately 3000 people are incarcerated each
month and up to 60% of those screened are identified as
having a mental illness and/or substance abuse problem.
Based on the numbers, North Carolina has traded
treatment for mental illness to punishment for mental
illness.
Page 2
to address the care and treatment of all the prisoners
is necessary. But, I do not accept that this is the best
environment for our mentally ill residents. If incarceration
continues to be the only way the citizens of North Carolina
want to address the mental health crisis, this will mean
additional money for the Department of Public Safety for
new “correctional” facilities and staff in the future.
If, on the other hand, one believes that treatment for those
with mental illness is provided better in the community
than by correctional officers, then a major addition
in funding is required for these services than what is
proposed in the current Governor’s budget. NC leaders
need to push back the rhetoric of “getting more for less”,
and start providing more services with new money before
something tragic happens. This means knocking down
the roadblocks to community service – there needs to be
An argument can be made that the Governor is attempting adequate pay for the providers, and additional services to
to provide better treatment for those with mental illness
keep people out of the hospitals and jails, such as more
by staffing more mental health beds at Central Prison
supported housing for those with mental illness, supported
and adding mental health staffing throughout the state’s
employment, and a public school system that is educated
prisons. His proposed budget adds almost $7 million to
in mental health and early intervention techniques. The
the Division of Public Safety in 2015-16, and another $18 legislature needs to address the funding needs of group
million in 2016-17. In addition, he is proposing another
homes that meet quality standards for caring for those
$2 million each year for additional case management of
with severe mental illness who cannot function safely in
criminal offenders once they are released back into the
the community without that level of care.
community. On top of that, he is proposing increasing
salaries for the correction officers, supposedly in
The good people of North Carolina deserve a different
recognition of their increased risk, for another $21 million, funding priority than that proposed in the Governor’s
starting in 2016-17.
budget. I would like to think that they want to give
everyone a chance for a good quality of life, including an
It seems reasonable to me that since we are not
opportunity that provides hope for recovery for those with
capable of providing services in the community, then
brain disease.
the approximately $50 million additional money spent
Odyssey By Ash Shawwa
We all live a life on a journey
Cycles within an odyssey
And living with bipolar we know this all to well
From the moments in our past where we fell
To those other moments that caused us to yell
We all know this journey all too well
But we must recognize
And in our minds synthesize
Our internal struggles do not control our mind
You are in control
There may be moments where emotions may take over
But I speak to you my sisters in humanity and my
brothers
For every challenge comes its reward
And for every pause in life is an opportunity to step
forward
Surely those who make the biggest mistakes
Carry within them the greatest of lessons
So think not of every challenge as a step moving
backwards
But rather an opportunity to be addressing
NAMI Wake County
The Iris
Page 3
Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment
More than 60 people attended our March Education
meeting to find out more about opportunities for
supported employment in Wake County.
County. They have contracted with several providers to
provide this service--Easter Seals UCP, Monarch, and
Community Partnerships.
We heard from four providers for a service called
Individual Placement and Support (IPS). This is an
evidence-based practice that was developed to help
promote the recovery of people who have serious mental
illness through work. The program is defined by eight
principles:
If you are interested in finding out more about
employment support for someone with mental illness,
you are encouraged to contact one of these providers
directly & ask for the IPS Employment Coordinator:
1.
Every person with severe mental illness who
wants to work is eligible for IPS supported employment.
2.
Employment services are integrated with mental
health treatment services.
3.
Competitive employment is the goal.
4.
Personalized benefits counseling is provided.
5.
The job search starts soon after a person
expresses interest in working.
6.
Employment specialists systematically develop
relationships with employers based upon their client’s
work preferences.
7.
Job supports are continuous.
8.
Client preferences are honored.
Alliance Behavioral Healthcare is the Local Management
Entity-Managed Care Organization (MCO) serving Wake
Easter Seals UCP NC & VA, 800-662-7119, www.
eastersealsucp.com
http://www.easterseals.com/NCVA/our-programs/adultservices/intellectual-and.html
Monarch-Wake County Programs, 855-986-1763,
Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.
www.monarchnc.org, http://monarchnc.org/services/
supported-employment
Community Partnerships – Raleigh Office
919-781-3616 (phone),919-782-1485 (fax)
3522 Haworth Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609
www.communitypartnerships.org
http://www.communitypartnerships.org/supportedemployment
Pictured above: March Monthly Education Meeting with panel members from Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, Easter Seals UCP, Community
Partnerships and Monarch.
NAMI Wake County
The Iris
Page 4
Wake County Commissioners Meet with Dr. William Roper
and Wakebrook Clinical Staff
On March 11, 2015, Wake County Commissioners
had an opportunity to learn about the psychiatric and
medical services provided by UNC Health Care on the
Wakebrook Campus at 107 Sunnybrook Rd in Raleigh,
NC. Ann and Gerry Akland were invited to the meeting to
represent NAMI Wake County.
Dr. Roper acknowledged the vision Wake County
officials had in creating the Wakebrook facility. He
believes it could become a model facility for the state and
even the nation.
Dr. William Roper, dean of the School of Medicine
and vice chancellor for Medical Affairs at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and CEO of the UNC
Health Care System took time from his busy schedule to
lead the discussion. He also is professor of health policy
and management in the School of Public Health, and is
professor of pediatrics and social medicine in the School
of Medicine at UNC.
Wakebrook is home to several different mental
health services which are provided in two buildings.
• One building houses a 16 bed psychiatric hospital
which is fully staffed and managed by the UNC
Department of Psychiatry. Twelve additional beds will
be built as an add on to the existing building.
The other building houses four separate programs:
Drs. Roper, Sheitman, & Naftel
• 24 hour mental health crisis and assessment clinic People in need of emergency mental health care can
walk in to be evaluated. In addition, Wake County
law enforcement agencies can bring people for
evaluation.
• Medical clinic - This clinic sees patients who have
severe and persistent mental illness as well as
significant physical health conditions. Clinical staff are
also available to care for patients in the psychiatric
hospital and other units.
• Residential Crisis Unit with 16 beds for overnight
stays. This unit is for those patients who do not need
the intensive care of an inpatient hospital. It is a lower
level of care.
• Residential Medical Detoxification Unit with 16
beds. This unit is for patients who need help during
withdrawing from drugs and alcohol.
Com. Calabria, Dr. Roper, Com. Sullivan
The Iris
NAMI Wake County
Page 5
Other Community Opportunities
NAMI Wake County’s 9th Annual Celebration of Courage Event:
•
•
Irises representative of Van Gogh’s painting will go up at Rex Healthcare’s main campus, corner of Lake Boone Trail and Blue
Ridge Rd, in Raleigh on April 12 at 1:00 pm. Come & enjoy the fun! They will be up until April 19.
Celebration of Courage Luncheon, Join us on April 16, 12:15-1:45 at Highland United Methodist Church, Bradley Hall,
1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC. Mistress of Ceremonies, Lynda Loveland, WRAL-TV, Come and be inspired by our
speakers-General William “Buck” Kernan and his wife, Marianne, Oh! And delicious food, too! Advance registraton
required. aakland@nc.rr.com or 919 848 4490.
NAMIWalks is Saturday, May 2, 2015
Come Walk with TEAM AWAKE!
Team AWAKE, needs YOU!
Our official team,
Help us change minds one step at a time!
Location: Dorothea Dix Campus, Raleigh, NC
Check In at 9:00 am
Walk at 10:00 am
Walking with our team and encouraging your friends and
family members to join helps to support the work NAMI
Wake County does right here in our community. This dog
friendly walk is 3.2 miles long with shorter route options
available. Bring the whole family to STOMP out stigma,
RAISE awareness & funds, and CELEBRATE recovery!
Register for NAMI Wake County’s TEAM AWAKE Today!
Use this link (you may have to copy and paste into your
browser):
https://securewalks.nami.org/registrant/
TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?TeamID=599778#&panel1-1
For questions about Team AWAKE, please contact
Heather Scott, Team Captain at hscott919@gmail.com.
If you are interested in forming your own team and
walking in support of NAMI Wake County, please contact
Virginia Hamlet Rodillas at vrodillas@nami-wake.org. o
Next to Normal production by the North Carolina Theatre
North Carolina Theatre (NCT), the region’s premier producer of professional Broadway shows, is excited to announce a unique
partnership with a diverse network of non-profits organizations, including NAMI Wake County & NAMI NC, during National Mental
Health Awareness Month in May. NC Theatre’s original production of Next to Normal will run May 1-10, 2015, at the A.J. Fletcher
Opera Theater in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and will feature Raleigh native and Broadway star Lauren
Kennedy alongside Ravenscroft and NCT Conservatory alum, English Bernhardt. Both Kennedy and Bernhardt appeared on stage
together in last year’s production of Les Misérables. For tickets to NC Theatre’s production of NEXT TO NORMAL, visit NCTheatre.
com or call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, call 919-831-6941 x5204.
UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health 22nd Annual STEP Symposium
The Paul J. Rizzo conference Center at Meadowmont, 150 DuBose Home Lane, Chapel Hill, NC
Save the Date: Saturday, April 18, 2015, “Beyond Dopamine: New Approaches to Recovery from Early Psychosis.
http://www.unccmh.org
Faith Connections on Mental Illness 5th Annual Conference
Friday, April 10, 8 am - 4:30 pm, “Embracing Troubled Minds: The Role of Faith Communities,” One-Day Conference,, Multiple
Presentations by Mental Health Experts, ♦ Registration remains open until filled, $25 Registration fee by March 20, 2015; $35 after
deadline, Professional Credits offered for additional $20 via Wake AHEC Register Online: www.wakeahec.org or Fax: 919-3500467 or Mail: Wake AHEC, 3261 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 212, Raleigh, NC 27604-1657, Call: 919-967-5403 for a paper form or more
information, www.faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org
NAMI Wake County
The Iris
NAMI Wake Support Groups & Classes •
PEOPLE LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS
Wake County Affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI Wake) is offering free peer support groups where people
facing difficulties have a safe place to voice their concerns and
explore options for making positive changes in their lives with
others who have similar experiences. No matter what your
diagnosis or issues, join one of our Free Groups. No need to
call. Just come by and participate when you can. Try different
groups to find one you like best.
Connections Support Groups:
1) Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh,
NC, Rm 206, 7 -8:30, First 3 Mondays of each month.
2) Garner United Methodist Church, Senior Center, 201
Methodist Drive, Garner, NC., NOTE: This group is on
vacation.” We will be making an announcement when the
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS
Family & friends of indivudals living with any mental illnesses:
Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh,
NC., Rooms 202 & 204, 7-8:30 p.m. on the first three Mondays
of each month.
Page 6
www.nami-wake.org
sessions continue. In the meantime, contact Heather Scott for
information. hscott919@gmail.com
NEW Connections Group in Knightdale
1) Northside Community Church, 621 N. First Avenue,
Knightdale, NC, First meeting Thursday, April 16 , 7 -8:30, For
more information contact Lisa Piratzky, lhpiratzky@gmail.com.
Stress & Depression Support Groups:
1) St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 1005 Wilbon Road, Fuquay
Varina, NC. Meetings every Monday, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Contact Arline O’Hara arlineohara@gmail.com for more
information.
2) Wake County Human Services, 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh,
NC, Every Friday: 2 - 3 pm, Rm 1151,
-Call Gerry Akland, (919) 848-4490 for more information.
Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 S. Main St., Wake
Forest, NC, 7 - 8:30 pm, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.
For more information contact Gordon Gogola (gogolags@
hotmail.com), phone (919) 601-3996.
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Rm 101, 600 Walnut Street,
Cary, NC 27511, 2nd & 4th Thurs., 7-8:30 pm Contact Judy
Dehavilland for more information: judydehavi@msn.com.
BASICS is an education program for parents and other
for 2 ½ hours. Classes are scheduled once 15 people sign
up for the waiting list. All instruction materials are FREE to
participants. Please contact Shea Cleveland at shea.cleveland@
frcofraleigh.org, or 919-470-6343 to register and for more
information.
Family Connections for Borderline
Personality Disorder
information and research on BPD, to teach coping skills based
on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and to develop a
support network.
caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental
illnesses. The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained
teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals
who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age
of 13 years. The course consists of six classes, each lasting
Families Connections for Borderline Personality Disorder
(BPD) is a course for family members with a relative with
borderline personality disorder (BPD) or symptoms of the
disorder. The program seeks to provide the most current
Family to Family
NEXT CLASS: Now accepting names for waiting list.
Program Details: Free to family members, partners
and significant others of individuals living with
A series of 12 sessions is structured to help caregivers
understand and support individuals with serious mental
Next class is scheduled for Saturday mornings from 9:30 till
12:30, April 11-May 16, 201. To register, email Ann Akland,
aakland@nami-wake.org.
illness while maintaining their own well-being. The course
is taught by a team of trained NAMI family member
volunteers who know what it is like to have a loved one
struggling with one of these brain disorders. We invite you
to email for more information: Andrea Whitehouse Chase NAMIWakeF2F@gmail.com
The Iris
NAMI Wake County
Name: __________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________
City: _______________________Zip: _________________
Home Phone: ______________Work:_________________
Page 7
NAMI ID__________________ ID No.________________
Regular Membership (all household members):
Open Door (What you can afford -$3.00 or more):
$____
$____
Donation:
Tote Bag: No.______@ $5.00 each = Total $____
Shipping: Flat fee for USPS Priority Mail $5.00
(Shipping fee is for 1 to 4 bags)
Mobile: __________________________________________
email1: _________________________________________
$35.00
$____
Total: $____
How many members are in the household?
_____
You may pay by mail using check or money order, or by credit
card by completing the information below or pay online by
email2:__________________________________________
going to www.nami-wake.org/Members.html.
Preference for receipt of Iris Newsletter:
Credit Card Type: Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card
Email notification: _______ USPS Mail:________________
Number:_________________________________________
(Check all that apply)
NAME on Card:____________________________________
I am a mental health professional___ Family member___
Individual Living with Mental Illness___ Friend__________
Security NO. on Reverse: _____ expiration:______________
Signature:________________________________________
NAMI Wake County is a 501(c)(3) organization
and donations and dues are tax deductible to the full
extent of the law.
Make checks out to NAMI Wake County and mail with the form to
NAMI Wake County, PO Box 12562, Raleigh, NC 27605-2562.
May we share your email with NAMl NC? _____
Are you interested in volunteering?_____
NAMI is a three level organization. When you join
NAMI Wake County WE PAY your dues to NAMI North
Carolina and NAMI (national).
Les Girls Social Group - Dutch Treat Luncheon
Saturday, April 25, 12:00 Noon, Golden Corral, 6129 Glenwood Ave. This is a social opportunity for people living with mental
illness and family members. Everyone is invited--not just girls--guys are welcome! Lunch is Dutch-treat.
NAMI Wake Board of Directors 2015
Gerry Akland
President
Amanda Johanson
At Large
Ann Akland
Advocacy
Louise Jordan
At Large
Andrea Chase
President, Elect
Mary O’Neal
At Large
Ellen Betts Clemmer
Secretary
Paul Robitaille
Treasurer
Dorothy Clift
At Large
William Stanley
At Large
Judith DeHavilland
At Large
Christine Taylor
At Large
Crystal Farrow
ex officio
Anju Verma
At Large
Tom Hadley
Membership Secretary
Sarah Weathersby
At Large
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Raleigh, NC
NAMI Wake County
NAMI Wake County
P.O. Box 12562
Raleigh, NC 27605-2562
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
April 2015
No April Monthly Education Meeting
Join us for the 2015 Celebration of Courage
Join us on April 16, 12:15-1:45
at Highland United Methodist Church,
Bradley Hall, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC.
Come and be inspired by our speakers--
General William “Buck” Kernan and his wife, Marianne.
Oh! And delicious food, too!
Prior Registration is Required by emailing vrodillas@nami-wake.org or calling 919 848 4490
NAMI Wake Irises representative of Van Gogh’s painting will go up at Rex Healthcare’s main
campus, corner of Lake Boone Trail and Blue Ridge Rd, in Raleigh on April 12 at 1:00 pm.
Come & enjoy the fun! They will be up until April 19.
Presented by