N E W S L E T T E R Third Quarter, Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.

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1 N E W S L E T T E R Third Quarter, South 900 East #160 Salt Lake City, UT (801) (877) President: Gigi Arrington Executive Director: Sherri Wittwer GRASS ROOTS N E W S L E T T E R Third Quarter 2006 A Message from the Executive Director At NAMI Utah we are grateful for all those who contribute to our success and the advancement of our mission. We have incredible volunteers and community partners who share our vision of hope for consumers, families and all those who are affected by mental illness. Our annual NAMI Utah State Conference provides the opportunity for us to gather and recognize some of the work that is being done in our community with regard to mental illness and recovery. This Conference, entitled Believe in Recovery, focuses on recovery-based initiatives and projects as well as concentrates on the perspectives of consumers, families and providers. In addition to several NAMI programs that will be presented, there are impressive projects and innovations that have been developed and/or supported by various community partners in both the public and private sectors that will be featured as well. This year we are pleased to highlight the work of the University of Utah Department of Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Intermountain Healthcare, Utah Behavioral Healthcare Network, Wasatch Mental Health, Salt Lake County, and the Crisis Intervention Teams from the Salt Lake City Police Department. We appreciate the opportunity to emphasize just a few noteworthy projects, and we also look forward to the chance to publicly recognize some individuals who have made significant contributions through their work for NAMI and for our community. Please join us for this event. We are certain it will be informative and worthwhile, and will give you some reasons to Believe in Recovery. Thanks for all you do, Sherri Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish. Jean de la Fontaine WEEKLY FACTS The State Office sends out WEEKLY FACTS by every week. The contains information, concerns and event announcements as they pertain to NAMI Utah. If you would like to receive them, please contact Liz Felt at or liz@namiut.org Introducing a New Staff Member By Liz Felt MARY GULLY, Director of Development Mary Gully is our new Development Director. In this position, Mary is primarily working on fundraising, writing grants and the management of contracts. Mary is excited about this new opportunity, and we at NAMI are excited to have her on board. Mary has been involved with NAMI for several years. My son Ben is mentally ill, and over the past two years NAMI has been a wonderful support to me during some very trying times. I retired several months ago after 33 years of service with the State of Utah, and so I jumped at the chance to work with the staff at NAMI. I am confident that I have skills to help in the administrative end of the organization. I am pleased to call this my home away from home. Mary draws on her personal experience as well as her educational background. She received a degree in sociology and a certificate in child welfare from the University of Utah. She has four adored children - Jill, Paula, Mark, and Ben. IN THIS ISSUE Executive Director s Message...1 Introducing A New Staff Member...1 Invitation to State Conference...2 Introducing a New Board Member...3 NAMI Walks for the Mind of America...4 A Consumer s Experience...5 Family-To-Family Corner...6 Affiliate/ Meeting Information...7

2 G R A S S ROOT S NAMI Utah State Conference 8:00-9:00 Registration 9:00-9:30 Welcome Gigi Arrington and Sherri Wittwer 9:30-12:15 Voices of Recovery The Vision of Recovery - Mark Payne Director of Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Recovery from the Family Perspective - Clint Hunter Executive Vice President WAXIE Sanitary Supply and NAMI Utah Board Member Recovery from the Consumer Perspective - Kristin Peterson BRIDGES Teacher, NAMI Utah A Nationwide Look at Mental Illness, Recovery and Advocacy Steven Buck of NAMI National 12:15-1:00 Lunch and Awards Ceremony Breakout Sessions Session 1-1:00-1:50 Innovation in Treatment Delivery The Wellness Recovery Clinic at Wasatch Mental Health Presented by Juergen Korbanka, PhD., Director of Adult Services Wasatch Mental Health and Brent Richey, LCSW Identity Reclamation: The Power of Defining Ourselves Presented by Rick Hendy, LCSW, and Joy Maxwell Mental Health Integration Presented by Quincey Atkin and Sherri Wittwer Providers, Consumers and Families Working Together Presented by Alrae Snyder, APRN, State Hospital, Dawn Fox, Christina Heath, Provider Education Teacher, NAMI Utah Session 2-2:00-2:50 Don t Book em Danno - Jail Alternatives Presented by Brian Miller, PhD. Director of Mental Health, Salt Lake County Parents & Teachers as Allies - How Schools & Families Can Partner Presented by Robyn Emery, NAMI Utah Believing is Becoming A Consumer s Experience Presented by Ben Bingham Utah s Network of Care Website for Consumers, Families and Providers Presented by Angela Smart, Utah Behavioral Healthcare Network NAMI Utah State Conference - Friday, October 6 th 2006 Ogden Eccles Convention Center 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah Session 3-3:00-3:50 Art & Healing Presented by Jacque Smithe and the Consumer Artist Group Effective Advocacy Presented by Steve Buck, Director of State Policy, NAMI National BRIDGES for Youth Presented by Jake Short, Missee Emery, and Zach Wittwer, Youth Mentors at NAMI Utah Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Presented by Michelle Moskos, PhD., MPH, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, School of Medicine Session 4 4:00-4:50 CIT - Crisis Intervention Team Presented by Detective Ron Bruno, Salt Lake Police Department Depictions of Recovery: Case Studies from Movies and Television Presented by Jay Fox, PhD., Brigham Young University Families Can Recover Too! Presented by Chandra Fenwick, NAMI Utah In Your Own Voice Presented by Heidi Hamilton For more information call NAMI Utah at or visit NAMI CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 5, 2006 October 6, 2006 November 3, 2006 January 19 21, 2007 NAMI Affiliate Training and Dinner, Ogden NAMI State Conference, Ogden Suicide Prevention Conference (call ) Provo Family-to-Family and BRIDGES Teacher Trainings Grass Roots, Third Quarter 2006, Page 2

3 N E W S L E T T E R Third Quarter, 2006 Introducing A New Board Members Introducing A New Board Member Elder Alexander B. Morrison By Esther Maass Elder Alexander Morrison joined the NAMI Board in the fall of As a family member of someone who has a mental illness, he was very much involved as care giver and dealt with the issues surrounding these illnesses for many years. In his function as a NAMI Board Member he now draws from a wealth of personal experience. He is also a promoter of Clergy Training. Before Vicki Cottrell invited him to become a Board Member, he was heavily involved with training for LDS clergy and other leaders. He is the author of the book Valley of Sorrow a Layman s Guide to Understanding Mental Illness (Deseret Book, 2003). The book was written in tribute to one of his daughters who has been suffering with emotional problems for the past 15 years. Another reason for Elder Morrison s book is his recognition of the need to dispel the stigma and prejudice towards persons with mental illness. As a NAMI Board Member his goals are to continue this fight while he also intends to pursue Clergy Training opportunities. At this point, he is pleased to plan an interfaith training for sometime in September of this year. He was born on December 22, 1930, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and he and his wife, Shirley E. Brooks, are the parents of eight children and 23 grandchildren. As can be discerned from his professional biography, his illustrious career amazes with all the many achievements and awards. It reads as follows: Elder Alexander B. Morrison was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints on April 4, 1987, and became an Emeritus member of that Quorum in October, At the time of his calling as a General Authority, he was a professor and chairman of the Food Science Department, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He was a frequent consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO). Elder Morrison is former assistant deputy minister of the Department of National Health and Welfare of the Government of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. He was honored in 1984 as first recipient of the David M. Kennedy International Service Award from the Kennedy International Center at Brigham Young University; and he has received the Borden Award of the Nutrition Society of Canada; the Queen s Jubilee Award; and is a fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada and of the Royal Society of Medicine. He was honored in 1998 by Catholic Community Services of Utah for community leadership and service, and has received a number of other awards for community service. In 2001, he was named Administrator of the Year by the George W. Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University, and in the same year he received the International Society Distinguished Service Award. In 2002 he received an Honorary Alumnus Award from Brigham Young University. He earned his doctoral degree at Cornell University. Following these distinctions Elder Morrison received the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists Service to Humanity Award in 2004 and in 2005 the Salvation Army honored him with the Outstanding Service Award. NAMI Utah Board of Directors Gigi Arrington, President Jay Fox, Ph.D, President Elect Don Muller, LCSW, Past President Tom Foster, LCSW, Treasurer Ray Freer, Secretary Stephanie Coleman Dr. David Dangerfield Steve Hales L. Rich Humpherys Clint Hunter Karen Hunter Alexander Morrison Teri Stock Grass Roots, Third Quarter 2006, Page

4 G R A S S ROOT S NAMI Walk 2006 NAMI Walks For The Mind Of America By Chandra Fenwick What were you doing on July 24 th at 6:00 a.m.? I, for instance, together with about 400 other persons, was at the Delta Center, preparing for the NAMI 5K Walk. The walkers had signed up prior to the day of the event. There were teams of family members and friends, and there were people who had raised money by asking others to sponsor them. There were balloons, signs, flyers, banners with NAMI information, and even candy to be distributed among our captive audience along the route. The 5K walk started at the Delta Center and ended at Liberty Park. About half-way to the finish line, people were lining the streets, waiting for us. Ok, ok, they were waiting for the Days of 47 Parade which was to come shortly after our procession. Nonetheless, we roused many people from slumber as we marched down the street, wearing our NAMI Walks t-shirts and sharing our message. lives are changed forever by these illnesses. The Walk this year has generated about $40,000 for NAMI Utah. However, without the substantial aid from our sponsors, it wouldn t have been nearly such a success. NAMI Utah thanks the Walk Committee who put in so many volunteer hours. We gratefully acknowledge our sponsors for this year s Walk: Associated Food Stores, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Great Harvest Bread Co., Intermountain Health Care, GlaxoSmithKline, Advanced Window Products, BEVCO2, Waxie Sanitary Supply and Janssen. We also thank the walkers who signed up and who came out at 6:00 a.m. Now we look forward to the next Walk in the fall of Why should we refuse the happiness this hour gives us, because some other hour might take it away? John Oliver Hobbles The NAMI Walk is all about raising awareness for mental health issues, for letting people know that there is hope for recovery, and for getting the NAMI name out there. Our vision for future walks is to be at least as big an event as all those organized on behalf of other diseases or issues. If we manage to show the numbers of all the persons affected by mental illness, it would go a long way in breaking the stereotypes and stigma surrounding those whose Grass Roots, Third Quarter 2006, Page

5 A Consumer s Experience N E W S L E T T E R Third Quarter, 2006 A Consumer s ExperiEnce I am 25 years old, and I still have a lot of years ahead of me. At birth I was stillborn and weight only 4 pounds. My mom and dad were both recovering from drugs and alcohol. My dad was a good man. He suffered from acute arthritis and struggled with severe pain. But he still worked a lot more than he should have had to. The physical pain led to severe depression and then to addiction to pain medications. My mom had severe depressions and other mental health problems, but aside from that, she also suffered from degenerative bone disease. She too abused pain medications. They never fully recovered, and it became a serious problem with both of them. I remember always seeing them asleep. My sister and I grew up not knowing if one day one of them would not wake up from an overdose. Eventually my sister started to run away from home a lot. Later, at the age of 14, she moved out and got pregnant. She is now married and has two children, but she suffers from deep depression herself. It is not surprising that I had my first visit with a judge at the age of six. Little did I know it wouldn t be my last one, but I think the judge must have known. By the time I was twelve, the visits became more frequent. I ended up seeing him twenty-five times, mostly for theft, trespassing and vandalism. While growing up, I did almost anything I wanted without supervision. When I turned thirteen, I started experimenting with marijuana and drinking and got into trouble with the DCFS. Because I was severely neglected, the State put me into a Proctor Home. I began seeing a counselor and different caseworkers. I also went to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADD and put me on medication. It seemed to help for a little while. I did very well in school, and I felt like I had started to change. But then my parents got worse. It was very hard for them not having me at home, especially for mom. I still feel guilty for not having been there to help them. After being in a Proctor Home for a while, I started to improve. I was able to have home visits and eventually to return to my parents. However, after a few months went by, I started back into smoking pot and using prescription drugs which I easily managed to get. Then I got tangled up with the law again. I was court ordered to take a drug program for six months. Around that time I was diagnosed with depression. I attended that program for two months, when both my parents died either from an overdose or foul play. I remember feeling lost, hopeless and very numb. That is when I started having thoughts of suicide. At one time I nearly succeeded by overdosing on some pills that stopped my heart from beating for at least two minutes. Somehow, for some reason, I survived. After all that happened, everything seemed fine for a while and I managed to graduate from high school, got out of the Proctor Home Program and worked numerous jobs. I even had a few girlfriends, but I still felt a lot of intense pain inside. Once again, I started to experiment with marijuana, alcohol or whatever would make me high. My life continued to be in this disruptive pattern until just a couple of years ago. I was living with my friend until my grandmother got sick with diabetes and asked me to live with her to help. I agreed and moved in with her. It was a good experience. I hadn t been close to my grandmother and living with her helped. After only two years with her, she also passed away. Once again I was left on my own until I met Rondi Sorensen who later became my wife. My life changed dramatically when I decided to marry her. Rondi s parents, who happen to be strong Family Advocates with NAMI Utah, invited me to attend a BRIDGES support group. At first I was in real denial and didn t feel I needed anything like that. But Rondi convinced me that there was something wrong with my behaviour and my thought process. She said she had learned about these things from BRIDGES and that the program helped her solve her own problems. Now I have someone in my life who knows my pain and can relate to me. Grass Roots, Third Quarter 2006, Page

6 G R A S S ROOT S Family-To-Family Corner Family-To-Family Corner By Jane Reiser We are so fortunate to have so many dedicated Family-to-Family teachers across the State. Every evaluation that comes into the NAMI office is replete with positive comments about them. We know, and the participants know, of the time, dedication, and emotional support it takes to teach a Family-to-Family class. Their specific training makes them well qualified to present the class material, but what makes them such great teachers is the fact that they apply their own personal experience and pain in caring and loving a mentally ill family member. Here are some of the many comments we have received about our teachers: - so understanding and knowledgeable. It helps to talk to someone who has been there. - They were excellent. They were leaders who were able to share their life experiences, enabling us to see successful people coping with loved one s serious mental health problems. - Our family received excellent support during a very stressful time. - They are both very caring people who have been through a lot. I know they do this out of love and wanting to help others. Kudos for their efforts. - I really enjoyed our teachers. Very personable. Their personal experiences allow them to relate well with us as a class. - Great people with great hearts. I appreciate what they ve been through & their willingness to volunteer their time to assist others. This is what our teachers report about teaching: - I love teaching, sharing, and interacting with others. I feel that by helping others, I m helping myself. - It is very rewarding to bring educational material and personal experience and perspective to others. - We felt rewarded for each class we taught and it helped us remember things we need to do to help our family. To see and hear how grateful they were was very rewarding. As you can see from these comments, it is very satisfying to be a Family-to-Family teacher and we are always looking for more. Join the ranks and see your life broaden and expand! Love doesn t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Franklin P. Jones Donations and Memorials NAMI Utah gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the following donors who graciously gave during the period of May 16 though August 31, 2006: General Donations: J. Stanley, J. Skibine, K. Smith, A. Wells, T. Foster, A. Lange, A. Kaelberer, S. Hamilton, R. Tonin, E. Blattner Corporate, Government, Non-Profit Sponsors: Astra Zeneca, National Institute of Mental Health, Clark L. Tanner Foundation, Utah Behavioral Health, Nals Region 8 In Memory of Charles Patterson: D. Muller In Memory of Jim Bever: C. Carter In Memory of Kathy Reams: S. Frampton In Memory of Sara Greenwell: K. Swan NAMI Walk Sponsors: Associated Food Stores, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Great Harvest Bread Co., Intermountain Health Care, GlaxoSmithKline, Advanced Window Products, BEVCO2, Waxie Sanitary Supply, Janssen, and the Charles and Randi Wax Foundation. Also, thanks to the hundreds of walkers and voluteers who helped with the NAMI Walk this year. Special thanks to: Alliance House, S & M Maxfield, T. Stock, A. Egbert, S. Heaton, The Walk for Ben Team and many others. Grass Roots, Third Quarter 2006, Page 6

7 NAMI Utah Affiliate and Information For More Information contact us at: or toll free ; County Program Contact Location CACHE VALLEY BOX ELDER WEBER/ OGDEN DAVIS SALT LAKE SUMMIT, Park City, WASATCH, Heber, Midway N NE EW WS SL LE ET T TE ER R Third Forth Quarter, Affiliate Contact Gale & Joyce Larson, Susan Gibson, Area Contact Carol Redelings, Carol Redelings, Affiliate Contact Roy Castelli F-Julie Belnap C-Marsha Castelli Affiliate Contact Rob Morrow, Affiliate Contact North Families South Central Families Rob & Juliana Morrow, Brenda Munk, Brenda Munk, Rose Carbine, Ardis Jacobson Area Contact Cathy Martone, glarson56@comcast.net, 3 rd 7:00 p.m. North Logan Library, 475 E N. credelings@yahoo.com F2F 1 st 7:00p.m. Brigham City Club House, 625 S. 3 rd E. rlcastelli@msn.com Every 7:00p.m. South Ogden Senior Citizens Center, th Street rob.morrow@brooks.com 1 st & 3 rd 7:00 p.m. Bountiful IHC Building, 390 N. Main Street brendamunk@msn.com 2 nd 7:00 p.m. Alliance House, 1724 So. Main Street 1 st 7:00 p.m. Sandy Senior Citizens Center, 9310 S E. 2 th 7:00 p.m. Granite Education Bidg., 2500 S. Main St. joeandcathy@exollo.com Bridges UTAH COUNTY UINTAH Vernal CARBON Price GRAND Moab Green River SANPETE Ephraim Gunnison SEVIER Richfield Salina MILLARD Delta IRON Cedar City WASHINGTON St. George Affiliate Contact Nedra Bell Affiliate Contact UVSC UVSC Affiliate Contact Consumers Bruce Smith, Aaron Wood, Aaron Wood, Ken Hall, Area Contact Zena Robinson zenapca@yahoo.com Area Contact Vonna McDougall, vmdoug@sisna.com Affiliate Contact Joni Pace, jonipace@hotmail.com Joni Pace, Area Contact Phyllis Calton, nedsturkeycoop@earthlink.net 2 nd & 4 th 7:00 p.m. Utah State Hospital, Heninger Bldg E. State Street, Provo TBA TBA TBA Every 6:00 p.m. Community Center, 160 S. Broadway pcec@att.net Affiliate Contact Phyllis Calton, pcec@att.net Elaine King, Affiliate Contact Linda Lundberg, Linda Lundberg, Affiliate Contact Families Rosie Fletcher or Phyllis Mendenhall home Affiliate Contact Ruth Pace, Ruth Pace, nd 6:00 p.m. EMS Building, 950 N. 55 W. Lindalundberg@utah.gov 2 nd 5:30 p.m. Alternative Learning Center, 44 So. 350 E., Delta swc-po.rfletcher@ .state.ut.us 4 th 7:00-9:00 p.m. Cedar City Library, Cedar City ruthpace@redrock.net 1 st 7:00 p.m. at Dixie Regional Center 1380 E. Medical Center Dr., Zions Canyon Room KANE Kanab Affiliate Contact Ruth Pace, Terra Sue Robinson, or ruthpace@redrock.net Grass Roots, Third Quarter 2006, Page 7

8 Your Membership is Important! To continue receiving our Grass Roots Newsletter and NAMI National s Advocate, please renew your membership and update your address. To those of who have already done so, many thanks. Your membership will help provide manuals and training materials for Family-to-Family, BRIDGES, Hope for Tomorrow and Clergy Training. Membership entitles you to receive our Grass Roots Newsletter and the Advocate quarterly. Type: Individual/Family Membership $35 per year Consumer Membership Open Fee Professional Membership $40 Corporate Membership $100 Donation In Memory/Honor of: THANKS! YOUR MEMBERSHIP MEANS EVERYTHING Please provide us with the following information: First Name Last Name Title Organization s Name (if applicable) Affiliate: Address: City, State, Zip: Home Phone Number: ( ) or NAMI State Office Please make your checks payable to NAMI Utah and mail it to: NAMI Utah 450 South 900 East, Suite 160 Salt Lake City, UT Call or toll free in Utah NAMI(6264) for more information 450 South 900 East #160 Salt Lake City, UT (801) (877) Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage Paid Permit No Salt Lake City, Utah