Vol11 | December | View Archive

The Kim Foundation, in collaboration with individuals, organizations, and healthcare providers throughout Nebraska, is pleased to bring you a monthly e-newsletter addressing mental health care.

We will provide you with access to valuable resources, connections to individuals and agencies working toward behavioral health reform, insight into successful programs offered in Nebraska, and updates on the latest news and events.

If you have comments, questions, or information you would like to share through the electronic newsletter, please email us at info@thekimfoundation.org.

For more information on mental health issues in Nebraska please visit www.thekimfoundation.org.

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The Connection between Physical and Mental Health

New Services Available as a Result of LB 603

2009 Kim Foundation Grants Awarded

Not Alone Radio Program January Schedule

Tammy Fiala, Consumer Specialist with Region 3 Behavioral Health Services shares her insight and knowledge of the connection between physical and mental health:

It is not uncommon to hear media report on the declining health of Americans, but the alarming statistics surrounding premature death in persons with mental illness goes largely unnoticed in society and despite the dangers, the mental health community has been slow to respond. Persons living with severe mental illness die an average of 25 years earlier than the general public.

Research indicates that cardiovascular, pulmonary, and infectious diseases are the primary illnesses leading to early mortality. By the time many people are diagnosed, they are often living with more than one of these diseases; making the odds of recovery slim. What is so disheartening is that these diseases are preventable.

Obesity and smoking are the two major factors that lead to the declining health in consumers. Losing weight and giving up cigarettes can be a challenge for anyone but there is a misconception that many consumers just don't have the motivation to change their poor lifestyles. The truth is that people living with mental illness face enormous barriers to health. Consumers have a higher vulnerability to illness due to trauma, unemployment, poverty, incarceration, and congregate care. Many are not screened early for illness such as diabetes. Preventative care is not covered by Medicaid in many situations and many medications necessary to manage psychiatric symptoms contribute to weight gain and the early onset of diabetes.

There is also an emotional side to these barriers. Studies indicate that people with schizophrenia may smoke as a way to self-medicate themselves. That may explain why smoking rates among people with the illness are among the highest in any group, more than double that of the general population. It may also explain why so many consumers have difficulty just quitting "cold turkey".

How are we addressing this urgent problem in the mental health community? The perception of wellness and recovery is changing. Efforts are underway to integrate primary health care with mental health care. A full spectrum of services that focus on wellness are being developed that connect the mind, body, and spirit and deliver care in a way that puts the consumer in the driver seat. New relationships are being forged with public health agencies, and education and prevention are also a part of the equation. Consumers with high health literacy are in a better position of identifying goals and making changes. Health literacy can occur in the emergency room, IP, OT, peer-run programs, coffee shops, by phone, e-mail, and on the Web. There is much to be done.

People with mental illness experience an unacceptable, high burden of disease, disability, and premature death. We need to understand what the underlying cause of this health disparity is and then support effective policies that build self-determined health. People are de-valued by allowing premature death and excessive illness to occur.

To learn more about this important topic please contact Tammy Fiala, Consumer Specialist, at tfiala@region3.net.

The Department of Health and Human Services announces the start up new services that can help hundreds of Nebraska families. These new options are available as a result of LB 603, passed in 2009, which focused on improving access to behavioral health and other services for children and teens.

Two of the new services included in LB 603 will be available for parents, guardians, and caregivers through Boys Town:

• The Nebraska Family Helpline at (888) 866-8660 provides a single point of contact available 24/7 that’s operated by trained personnel and supervised by licensed behavioral health professionals. Helpline operators will screen calls for immediate safety needs, identify the potential level of the behavioral health crisis, make recommendations or referrals to appropriate resources, and help the caller connect to emergency resources or providers as necessary.
• Family Helpline operators will connect eligible families to Family Navigator Services. These services, available within 24 to 72 hours after the Helpline referral, will help the family identify existing community-based services and provide family peer support by people with personal experience with children and teens with a severe emotional disorder.

The Right Turn program provides support after adoptions or guardianships involving children who were state wards. Right Turn will be operated jointly by Lutheran Family Services, Inc. and the Nebraska Children’s Home Society.

Families who’ve adopted or are guardians for youth who were state wards can contact the Right Turn program 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (888) 667-2399. Families can be connected to respite care, mentoring, counseling, classes, support groups, and more.

A family is eligible for Right Turn services on a voluntary basis if the child is 18 or younger, the child was in the custody of DHHS prior to finalization of the adoption or guardianship, and if the parents have a valid adoption subsidy agreement with DHHS.

The Kim Foundation has awarded its 2009 grants to local and statewide organizations serving individuals and families touched by mental illness. The Kim Foundation congratulates each of the organizations as well as the countless others who strive to provide innovative, quality mental health care to Nebraskans.

Grants were awarded to:

• Alegent Health Behavioral Health Services
• Catholic Charities
• Center for Holistic Development
• Children’s Respite Care Center
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Omaha Chapter
• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska
• Mental Health Association of Nebraska
• NAMI-Nebraska
• R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Relationship Empowerment for Students, Parents, Educators and the Community through Theatre)
• Stephen Center
• Uta Halee Girls Village and Cooper Village

The majority of The Kim Foundation’s 2009 funding was designated for programs that address issues related to children’s mental health care.

Remember to join The Kim Foundation and KCRO channel 660 AM for Not Alone, a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery.

Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Not Alone hosts guests from throughout Nebraska addressing a variety of topics. The schedule for August includes:

• January 5 – A Family’s Perspective
  Parents and caregivers of children with behavioral health needs speak on a personal level about mental health issues affecting Nebraska's children.
• January 12 – WRAP for Veterans
  Guests will discuss Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and their benefit to active and returning members of our armed forces.
• January 19 – Psychiatric Service Dogs
  The use of psychiatric service dogs will be explored and listeners will learn more about the variety of services such trained dogs can provide.
• January 26 – WrapAround Oregon
  Representatives with WrapAround Oregon will discuss their approach to facilitating a team process that focuses on the strengths and needs of children with emotional challenges while providing necessary services.

Listeners outside of the broadcast area can access the radio program through KCRO’s website at www.kcro.com.

For more information on Not Alone or the Mental Health Minutes, please visit www.thekimfoundation.org.