Faith Leaders: How Can You Help Your Congregants?

Did you know that, according to Mental Health Ministries,

"Surveys show that sixty percent of Americans seeking help with mental health issues turn first to ministers, priests and rabbis. This is twice as many as those who went first to a psychiatrist, psychologist or family physician."

Dream and Reality: Happy Thanksgiving

I had that dream again.

Ben is missing. No one has heard from him since yesterday - or is it a couple of days? He isn't answering his cell phone.

Emergency Room again - but different this time

9 PM. The cell phone rings on my way home from teaching a class.

"Randye? It's Desmond from Harrison House."

Ben's group home. My heart skips a beat, a conditioned response. What has Ben done? Did he stop taking meds? But he's been doing so well!

Desmond senses my approaching panic. "Don't worry, it's nothing major. It's just that we're taking Ben to the Emergency Room. He cut his hand cleaning up the kitchen and he may need stiches."

It's ridiculous but true: I am relieved that Ben needs stitches. Oh, is that all? I think.

Gentle Reality Check - and LEAP with Xavier Amador, Ph.D.

Sometimes Ben’s behavior is so wonderfully ordinary that I almost let myself imagine that none of this ever happened: the hospitalizations, the calls to the police, the fear and chaos.  I can forget, for a while, that Ben has a serious mental illness.

Right Words, Right Time, can offer Hope

I was the keynote speaker this week for the newly-renamed Child and Family Guidance Center, in Connecticut, celebrating 85 years of support and guidance in the area.

Speaking about the importance of early detection, and also of the lasting effect of the "right words at the right time" from providers who are aware of the effect of mental illness on the entire family, I saw a number of heads nodding in agreement. There are so many, still suffering in silence, embarrassed to talk about an medical illness that happens to affect the brain of someone they love.

yes, things can get better

If you're stuck in the middle of the crisis/chaos stage of acceptance, you've no doubt got your hands full just trying to cope with immediate needs. Been there, don't want the t-shirt, hopefully not going back again - but, as you probably know, chaos is only a short trip away without medication compliance. Right now, as always, grateful for every good day.

Joey Pants and No Kidding Me Too

Among the celebs brave enough to "come out" re their mental illness: the wonderful Joey Pantoliano. Here he appears on STAR 99.9 Morning Show (where I used to work, now it's Tad and Marit - with Tommy Edison) talking about his documentary. http://star999.com/Player/100683761/

If you haven't seen the documentary, go here for info: www.nkm2.org

and, as always, www.nami.org