Our speaker for the April 16th meeting was Dr. Dallas Auvil, psychiatrist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. Dr. Auvil talked about the availability now of two new research programs for people with medication-resistant depression. The Center soon will offer ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).
Dr. Auvil explained that the ECT is not the ECT depicted in movie "One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest) that instilled fear and stigma into this form of treatment. He explained it is easily tolerated by elderly, even fragile patients, in controlled dosages. It can be very effective for people who are depression-resistant to typical medications. It can even be successfully used for people with bipolar illness in some cases to control the depression part of their illness.
TMC is also another research-based treatment for drug-resistant patients. This non-invasive method places powerful magnets over the surface of the brain which then offers relief to an estimated 35% of patients. ECT has a much higher success rate than TMS but both offer new approaches to depression treatment at the Lindner Center of HOPE. Memory loss in ECT is usually temporary and involves memory of recent events.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Rhonda Benson named Associate Director
Rhonda Benson is the new Associate Director of NAMI Butler County. Rhonda’s education and past mental health work experience perfectly suits her for this position. Rhonda graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Sociology, and earned an MSW from the University of Michigan. She has worked for the past 10 years as a case manager for Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services with an intensive caseload, and prior to that worked in the field of substance abuse. Her past professional experience gives her a sensitive perspective on both families and consumers.
Rhonda is also a certified Life Coach, a discipline that assists people in identifying and moving forward with their life goals. In addition to her professional experience, Rhonda has demonstrated excellent organizational skills and is already managing our financial database, doing community outreach, program development and teaching Family to Family classes at the Lindner Center of Hope.
In the near future, Rhonda plans to start a support group for graduates of NAMI’s Family to Family program and is putting together a curriculum for a Boundaries class for families.
Rhonda’s enthusiasm, expertise and personal commitment to NAMI are why we are so excited about having her on our staff!
Rhonda is also a certified Life Coach, a discipline that assists people in identifying and moving forward with their life goals. In addition to her professional experience, Rhonda has demonstrated excellent organizational skills and is already managing our financial database, doing community outreach, program development and teaching Family to Family classes at the Lindner Center of Hope.
In the near future, Rhonda plans to start a support group for graduates of NAMI’s Family to Family program and is putting together a curriculum for a Boundaries class for families.
Rhonda’s enthusiasm, expertise and personal commitment to NAMI are why we are so excited about having her on our staff!
Monday, April 13, 2009
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES, OTHERS MAKE STATE FUNDING CASE TO FULL BUDGET PANEL
Download NAMI Ohio's budget message at this link.
Advocates for mental health and other government-funded services made their case for additional funds or no cuts March 31 before the House Finance & Appropriations Committee.
Mental health stakeholders are among groups becoming increasingly vocal with their concerns over the impacts of proposed cuts in the budget.
Representatives of local ADAMH boards raised concerns about a $31 million reduction to their line item within the Department of Mental Health and other issues.
Rod Hollingsworth, executive director of the Muskingum Area ADAMH Board, said the financial squeeze is compounded by a proposed change in how local boards pay when a resident needs care in a state psychiatric hospital. The "significant increase" in costs under a revised formula "would be devastating to our consumers and their family members," he said.
Hubert Wirtz, CEO of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, said: "The community behavioral health system in Ohio is dangerously close to not being able to sustain itself. Service payment rates have not been increased in 12 years, and the payment structure disincentivises efficiency and uncompensated care. Some provider Medicaid services are now being paid at 80-85% of cost."
Jim Mauro, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio, said funding for the 320,000 Ohioans who receive services through ODMH "has been deteriorating for years."
"There is no question that we are in serious financial difficulty in Ohio and that the state's budget reflects that circumstance," he said. "However, there is a short- and long-term economic advantage to prioritizing and adequately serving the seriously mentally ill. Our failure to meet their needs in the community mental health system will almost immediately shift greater costs to other parts of state and local budgets."
Terry Russell, representing the Ohio Adult Care Facilities Association, spoke in support of the Residential State Supplemental funding in the Department of Aging budget for housing for the mentally ill. The administration has proposed a 20%, or $2 million, cut to RSS, he said.
"Although the agency has assured us that no current participant will lose their supplement, as individuals on the program leave a home, it will be almost impossible to replace that individual with another RSS recipient," Mr. Russell said. "We estimate that more than 200 adult family homes or adult care facilities will close and as many as 2,000 of Ohio's most severely mentally disabled will end up on the streets homeless, in our prisons, jails, or in cemeteries."
Advocates for mental health and other government-funded services made their case for additional funds or no cuts March 31 before the House Finance & Appropriations Committee.
Mental health stakeholders are among groups becoming increasingly vocal with their concerns over the impacts of proposed cuts in the budget.
Representatives of local ADAMH boards raised concerns about a $31 million reduction to their line item within the Department of Mental Health and other issues.
Rod Hollingsworth, executive director of the Muskingum Area ADAMH Board, said the financial squeeze is compounded by a proposed change in how local boards pay when a resident needs care in a state psychiatric hospital. The "significant increase" in costs under a revised formula "would be devastating to our consumers and their family members," he said.
Hubert Wirtz, CEO of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, said: "The community behavioral health system in Ohio is dangerously close to not being able to sustain itself. Service payment rates have not been increased in 12 years, and the payment structure disincentivises efficiency and uncompensated care. Some provider Medicaid services are now being paid at 80-85% of cost."
Jim Mauro, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio, said funding for the 320,000 Ohioans who receive services through ODMH "has been deteriorating for years."
"There is no question that we are in serious financial difficulty in Ohio and that the state's budget reflects that circumstance," he said. "However, there is a short- and long-term economic advantage to prioritizing and adequately serving the seriously mentally ill. Our failure to meet their needs in the community mental health system will almost immediately shift greater costs to other parts of state and local budgets."
Terry Russell, representing the Ohio Adult Care Facilities Association, spoke in support of the Residential State Supplemental funding in the Department of Aging budget for housing for the mentally ill. The administration has proposed a 20%, or $2 million, cut to RSS, he said.
"Although the agency has assured us that no current participant will lose their supplement, as individuals on the program leave a home, it will be almost impossible to replace that individual with another RSS recipient," Mr. Russell said. "We estimate that more than 200 adult family homes or adult care facilities will close and as many as 2,000 of Ohio's most severely mentally disabled will end up on the streets homeless, in our prisons, jails, or in cemeteries."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
