DMH eNEWS July 10, 2009

ABOUT US

HOPE AND RECOVERY CONFERENCE-SPANISH SPEAKING
By Kathleen Piché, L.C.S.W., Public Information Officer

Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) and organized by the Department’s Office of Empowerment and Advocacy, the Seventh Annual Hope and Recovery Conference, “Improving Our Lives,” was held at the California Endowment Center for Healthy Communities on July 10, 2009. Just under 400 people attended, including consumers, peer advocates, clinicians and community advocates who celebrated and learned about recovery-in Spanish.

Agencies providing outreach and educational materials included: Office of Patients’ Rights, Office of Empowerment and Advocacy, the Los Angeles County Client Coalition, LACDMH Service Areas 6 & 7, Center for Health Care Rights (CHCR), Recovery, Inc., Project Return: Peer Support Network, the Social Security Administration, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “Our Way” Client Run Center, Dr. Rafael Bolio, the Latino Client Coalition, and Grupo de Arte.

Ron Schraiber and Aurora Baldizon from the Office of Empowerment and Advocacy welcomed the crowd and introduced Leticia Flores, Assistant Director, Empowerment and Advocacy who hosted “Ask the Director,” followed by keynote speakers Maria Ostheimer, CNMH, and Martha Montelongo, President of the Latina Client Coalition. Then, Luz Gomez, Ricardo Lugo and Yovette Roldan shared their personal and inspirational stories of recovery.

A delicious lunch of fajitas, rice and beans was included as Mariachi’s provided entertainment. Five informational breakout sessions filled out the afternoon, including: The Family Role in Recovery, The Road to Recovery: Asserting Your Rights While Receiving Mental Health Services, the PACE Model: Guide to Recovery for Life, Improving Your Skills to Gain Employment, and Nutrition and Recovery.

Ballet Fokolorico entertained at the closing ceremony, inspiring all in the audience to dance. All participants received certificates and a raffle was held giving away several donated items.

KATHY HESTER LA COUNTY STAR
By Kathleen Piché, L.C.S.W., Public Information Officer

Kathy Hester Flanagan, Mental Health Service Coordinator, DMH Juvenile Justice Program Central Juvenile Hall, is the proud recipient of the Los Angeles County STARS (Special Talents for Achieving Remarkable Service) Program Award. Kathy was presented with a scroll by Michael Antonovich, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, Fifth District, on July 7, 2009 at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting.

LACDMH Director Marvin Southard was on hand to congratulate Kathy, as well as her supervisor Shirley Flournoy, PhD., DMH Program Head for Central Juvenile Hall, Sandra Thomas, L.C.S.W., Deputy Director, Specialized Children and Youth Services Bureau, and Keren Goldberg, Employee Recognition Program Manager.

STARS is a program administered through Los Angeles County Human Relations Office. Each County department is invited to submit a person or program to receive a STAR.

Kathy was the original administrator of the Arts CARE Program at MacClaren Hall when Mental Health Commissioner Ilean Rabens brought the program to DMH. Currently Kathy works at the Central Jail with the Art SMART Program. She was nominated for the award due to her ability and commitment to bringing artists of all types into the lives of detained youth in an effective way.

The goal of the Art SMART Program is to bring outstanding artists in various disciplines to Juvenile Hall so they can experience the joy of creativity, to learn how to cooperate with others, discovering talents in themselves and build self esteem by accomplishing something in a difficult time in their lives.

SERVICES

LACDMH WELLNESS PROGRAM UPDATE
by Farhad Akbari

It is a busy July for the DMH Wellness Program. The Department of Human Resources is putting on two events.

On July 22nd, head down to the Music Center for a Summer Wellness Fair. Taking place all day, from 9am until 4pm, receive free health screenings.

On July 23rd at the Hall of Administration, the Healthy Connections program is bringing you a noontime wellness event on Dental Wellness.

PacifiCare has their ongoing wellness program – Health Topic of the Month. The Health Topic of the Month is a fun way for you to educate yourself on key health issues. Get involved monthly and take the quizzes at Healthy At COLA to qualify for monthly prize drawings. It’s your opportunity to win a $25, $50 or $125 Visa gift card! The Health Topic of the Month is a 12 month program scheduled from June 2009 – June 2010, and the current topic is Sun Safety. Visit Healthy At COLA to read the article and take the quiz.

AND REMEMBER – All County employees are eligible to participate in the PacifiCare program. You don’t need to be a PacifiCare enrollee.

Do you have a wellness activity that you’re involved in, either at work or at home? Share your story with our Wellness Coordinator. Stay tuned for future reports on the LACDMH Wellness Program and get healthy!

LOS ANGELES COURT SERVICES AFFECTED BY STAFF FURLOUGHS
Beginning July 15, 2009

Responding to the deepening statewide financial crisis, the Los Angeles Superior Court will substantially reduce its operations and furlough employees the third Wednesday of each month, beginning July 15, 2009. However, all courthouses will be open, providing essential services for the public.

You are urged to visit the Court’s Web site, www.lasuperiorcourt.org, to handle traffic tickets, make inquiries regarding jury service, and perform various other transactions or to obtain court information.
This is a court day, not a holiday.
A limited number of courtrooms will handle statutorily mandated hearings and felony bench warrants.
The court will also handle requests for domestic violence, elder abuse or civil harassment restraining orders involving stalking and/or threats of violence.
Clerks’ offices will be open with limited services. Papers may be filed in the Clerk’s Office by leaving them in a secure drop box. Any filed papers left in a drop box by 4:30 p.m. on July 15 will be considered filed on July 15th. No review of filings will be conducted. No copies will be made by the clerk’s office staff. Payments of fines and fees will be accepted through secured drop boxes only. No receipts will be given on July 15 for payment of fines or fees.

For More info:
www.lasuperiorcourt.org
Contact: Public Information Office 213-974-5227
Public Information Officer:Allan Parachini

Whatever Works
By Lorraine Viade, PsyD.

Whatever works is the latest offering from Woody Allen. When Allen stays focused on man-woman relationships and the absurdity of them he usually hits the mark. His aim was good this time. Mainly due to the expert sardonic wit and neurotic negativity of the great Larry David, Whatever works again gives us some of Allen’s personal observations on the human condition—and it is really funny. If you liked Allen’s earlier movies, Everyone Says I Love You and Radio Days check this one out. In Larry David as Boris the maddening intellectual, Allen’s angry voice shines through and the result is a sharp erudite observation that rings true because of the characters and the actors who portray them. Evan Rachel Wood sparkles as a runaway who crashes into the lonely genius, a man who is so arrogant that his narcissism enters the room 5 seconds before he does. The limitations and the pitfalls of falling for the wrong person at the right time are clearly illuminated here. Allen makes no apologies for his opinions, he never has and say what you want, sometimes his work has moments of genius in terms of the glaring honesty that have made him a success as a director.

This is the sort of film you want to see in a group because there is plenty to talk about afterwards. There is a lot revealed about how people who are mismatched at first appearances have things to learn from and about each other during the course of their time together, no matter how it all works out in the end.

I give Whatever Works 4 couches

LACDMH employee sick leave buy back information

NEWS AND RESOURCES

DRUMMING FOR YOUR LIFE WITH BRANDON JENNINGS
By Kathleen Piché, L.C.S.W., Public Information Officer

Brandon Jennings, selected tenth overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, visited Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Detention Facility on July 2, 2009, to observe youth offenders participate in Drumming for Your Life, a group that uses drum rhythms to help cope with emotions, improve self-esteem, and ultimately maintain control over anger and impulsive behavior to better connect and communicate with others.

Brandon watched instructor, Xavier Marshall, lead twelve teens through the group, practicing various drum rhythms and discussing the purpose of each. Participants in the group created a “power” rhythm, intended to create a sense of individualism.

Xavier urged participants to remember how good it feels to have your own “beat,” and effectively make your own decisions instead of succumbing to peer pressure or becoming overwhelmed with others’ expectations.

“With the group experience, mind and body work together,” Drumming for Your Life founder Steven Angel said. “When the rhythm speeds up, it can be overwhelming, and the group falls into playing the same rhythm.”

The group processed how individual rhythms are lost in life circumstances; if the group rhythm or outside forces take over, an individual’s true purpose becomes uprooted and judgment is lost. If this happens, even for a minute, mistakes can be made that negatively effect a lifetime.

“Drumming for Your Life aims to take out all negative voices that control behavior; the participants are allowed to recreate themselves,” Steven said.
After a discussion about independence, Xavier had the group play their “power,” rhythms a second time, and all participants were able to maintain their own rhythm, a start at making stronger individual life decisions.

A Q & A session with Brandon followed the group. Youth offenders saw Brandon as someone who broke through the negative circumstances of life. A few had grown up in the same neighborhood, in or around Compton. One asked Brandon if he was afraid to play games in the NBA. Brandon admitted he experienced a little fear before every game. Later, the same youth asked for clarification: “Is it anxiety or fear?”

“Good question,” Brandon said, wondering if it could be both.

Another youth offender asked, “How do you keep your focus (and stay out of trouble)?"

Brandon said he always focused on basketball, and had a close knit group of friends and family to rely on. “Stay focused on who you are,” he said.

Brandon began playing basketball at Dominguez High School in Compton, and transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, in his junior year. He was recently featured on HBO’s “Real Sports” for skipping college and playing pro ball in Rome to prepare for the NBA.

The goal of Drumming for Your Life, under the leadership of founder Steven Angel, is to bring the benefits of drumming to schools, juvenile justice facilities, cancer and addiction rehabilitation centers.
For more information about Drumming For Your Life Institute, email or call: Steven Angel (310) 453-2348

PSYCHO DONUT TELEVISED DEBATE

After several months of protests, media coverage and online uproar, Oscar Wright, the chief executive officer of United Advocates for Children and Families (UACF) Institute for Family and Youth Leadership, a leading statewide mental health organization, and Kipp Berdiansky, co-owner of the controversial shop Psycho Donuts, will meet face to face to discuss mental illness, the associated stigma and the shop's questionable business practices.

Owners Kipp Berdiansky and Jordan Zweigoron opened Psycho Donuts in March 2009 in Campbell, California. Inside the shop, customers experience a mock padded cell, a straitjacket, employees dressed as nurses and eclectic donuts with names such as "bipolar," "massive head trauma" and "manic malt." The "bipolar" donuts are topped with half nuts and half coconut shavings, while the "massive head trauma" features a frightened face with red jelly oozing from its side.

"Making fun of individuals with mental illness is not funny -- it's hurtful," said Oscar Wright, CEO of United Advocates for Children and Families (UACF), who seeks to end mental illness stigma and build bridges between families with mental illness and the community at large. "Psycho Donuts' use of mental health terms and concepts for commercialization sake continues to keep the stigma of mental illness alive and prevents individuals from seeking treatment."

Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older - about one in four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.

Watch the controversy continue when UACF CEO Oscar Wright and Psycho Donuts' co-owner Kipp Berdiansky appear live in the San Francisco Area on Channel 2, KTVU's Bay Area People on Saturday, July 25 at 6:30 a.m. and Sunday, July 26 at 9 a.m. on KCIU TV36. The show also will be available on Comcast on Demand the week after July 26.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION EXPERTS CALL FOR ELIMINATION OF
VICODIN AND PERCOCET AS PART OF SWEEPING SAFETY RESTRICTIONS

The Food and Drug Administration assembled 37 experts to recommend ways to reduce deadly overdoses with acetaminophen, which is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. and sends 56,000 people to the emergency room annually. About 200 die each year.

"We're here because there are inadvertent overdoses with this drug that are fatal and this is the one opportunity we have to do something that will have a big impact," said Dr. Judith Kramer of Duke University Medical Center.

In a series of votes Tuesday, the panel recommended 21-16 to lower the current maximum daily dose of over-the-counter acetaminophen from 4 grams, or eight pills of a medication such as Extra Strength Tylenol. They did not specify how much it should be lowered.

But some on the panel opposed a sweeping withdraw of products that are widely used to control severe, chronic pain. Prescription acetaminophen combination drugs were prescribed 200 million times last year, according to the FDA.
If the drugs stay on the market, they should carry a black box warning, the most serious safety label available, the panel decided.

Percocet and similar treatments combine acetaminophen with more powerful pain relieving narcotics, such as oxycodone. If the combination products are eliminated, the acetaminophen and the other ingredients could be prescribed separately. In effect, patients would take two pills instead of one, and be more aware of the acetaminophen they are consuming.

Drug companies avoided the most damaging potential outcome with the defeat of proposal to pull NyQuil and other over-the-counter cold and cough medicines that combine acetaminophen with other drugs.

These drugs can be dangerous when taken with Tylenol or other drugs containing acetaminophen, according to the FDA, but cause only 10 percent of acetaminophen-related deaths.

A recall of combination cold medicines would have cost manufacturers hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Total sales of all acetaminophen drugs reached $2.6 billion last year, with 80 percent of the market comprised of over-the-counter products, according to IMS Health, a health care analysis firm.

PROVIDER TOOLS

Training and Workforce Development

AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ) ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Register Now for AHRQ's 2009 Annual Conference: Research to Reform—
Achieving Health System Change, on September 13-16, 2009

Register now for AHRQ's third annual conference, scheduled for September 13-16, at the Bethesda North Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, MD. Leading authorities in health care research and policy will hold sessions on health care infrastructure, delivery of services, quality and safety, improving Americans' health status, provider performance and payment reform, and patient engagement.

Select to register and for more information regarding the conference.