Category Archives: Recovery Support

NAMI SMC Seeking Peer PALS Participants

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peer palsThe National Alliance on Mental Illness San Mateo County (NAMI SMC) program, Peer PALS, is off to a great start. The free program pairs PALS, who are doing well on their own recovery journey with peers, who are also seeking recovery and could benefit from the friendship and support of a PAL who’s been there.

After holding the first PAL training in November, the program is gaining momentum and seeking more Peer and PAL applicants. NAMI SMC is also partnering with CATS, a free ticket program that will allow Peer PALS to attend exciting events and venues in the Bay Area.

For more information about PeerPALS, check out this Wellness Matters article, or email Rocio, the Peer PALS coordinator at PeerPals@namisanmateo.org.

Overcoming Violence against Trans Community

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Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender activist and columnist for the Bay Area Reporter, to recognize the murder of transgender woman Rita Hester on November 28, 1998 in Allston, Massachusetts. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, Rita’s murder exposed the lack of media coverage and particularly, culturally sensitive and respectful media coverage that takes place when transgender members of our community lose their lives to violent hate crimes. The communal anger and grief that was experienced led to a candlelight vigil that was attended by 250 participants.  Eighteen years later, Transgender Day of Remembrance events occur on a national and international basis on November 20th each year, and often include a candlelight procession or vigil within the program.

On November 16th, 2017, San Mateo County Pride Center held San Mateo County’s second annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event. Transgender Day of Remembrance serves multiple purposes– this is a day for folks to come together and publicly mourn the lives of transgender siblings whose lives have been taken from us in brutal acts of violence and hatred, and a day for us to find strength within each other to mobilize and combat the violence our transgender community disproportionally faces. Transgender Day of Remembrance in San Mateo County included community speakers Alyss Swanson, Lexi Shimmers and Dr. Jei Africa, along with altars commemorating the lives of transgender siblings lost in 2016 and 2017, followed by a silent candlelight procession down El Camino Real to Central Park in San Mateo. During the procession, 25 participants traded their candles for signs that were each hand-painted by community members the afternoon prior with the names and ages of the lives we’ve lost in 2017. You can view the memorial we created for 2017 in the slideshow on this blog.

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In the News: Federal Dollars Sent to Local Rehabs

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Last week several local nonprofits providing substance use services received a boost when county supervisors approved millions of dollars in reimbursements available due to the affordable care act. San Mateo County is one of the first in California to pull federal funds for local providers. The county approved funds from the Drug Medi-Cal Orgranized Delivery System for programs like StarVista, Our Common Ground and Project 90.

Check out this article The San Mateo Daily Journal published on November 3 for more, including thoughtful insight from health services manager, Clara Boyden.

 

 

Amplifying Consumer Voices

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In raising awareness around suicide prevention and celebrating recovery, our community sent a strong message this September: suicide is preventable and recovery is possible.

One of the most important things we did this September – and will continue to do all year long – is amplify the voices of those who have worked hard to overcome their behavioral health challenges. In sharing these stories, we embolden others to seek recovery as well. Read more

NAMI SMC Offers new Peer Support Program, Peer Pals

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NAMI SMC is introducing a new peer support program called Peer Pals. A Peer PAL is someone who is doing well in his or her recovery, and wants to share their friendship and support with a peer who is also experiencing mental illness.peer pals Peer PALS receive monthly training in recovery and mentorship and are compensated for their time.

The program is free to clients who wish to be paired with a Peer PAL who can help them on their own journey to recovery. For more information on the program and how to apply, see the Peer PALS brochure.

Recovery is a Community Effort

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Recovery Month is every September, but here in San Mateo County, we celebrate recovery all year round. Learn more about how you can support recovery in our community every day.

Substance Use – Treatment is Effective

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Check out the stats below on substance use and substance use treatment in the U.S. and be sure to share with your friends and family. Spreading this kind of information can help end stigma in our community.

Annual Recovery Month Picnic

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Another great year of sun, food and fun celebrating recovery at the BBQ and resource fair at San Mateo Central Park!

Busting Myths About Mental Illness

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It is very possible to survive and thrive after being diagnosed with a mental illness. Nearly 20 percent of American adults will suffer from a mental illness at some point in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The condition can range from a mild, short-lived bout of depression to severe schizophrenia that may require hospitalization or lifelong medication.

As common as mental illness is though, certain myths are surprisingly persistent and prejudice continues to be widespread.  “Busting Myths About Mental Illness” on CaliforniaHealthline.org, provides insight into some of the common beliefs shown below:

  1. You can “snap out of” mental health problems. You can’t just magically think your way out of a mental illness, whether it’s mild or severe.
  2.  If you have a mental illness, you can’t hold down a job . While it’s true that those with a serious mental illness are less likely to be working, many people are able to successfully manage their conditions and find success at work.
  3. Mental health problems breed violence. The vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent.  Although people with severe mental illness are up to three times more likely to be violent than those who are mentally healthy, they contribute to just a small part of violence in society.   And only about 3 to 5 percent of violent acts can be attributed to mental illness. In fact, researchers have found that people with mental illness are about 10 times more likely to be victimized by violence than the general population.
  4. You can’t recover from mental illness.  Many people do make it through mild or moderate episodes of mental illness and never experience them again. Others with more serious conditions are able to successfully control them and live the life they want, just like people with such chronic diseases as diabetes.

Read the full story to debunk these myths and learn this must know information.

 

 

Bridging Spirituality within Clinical Practice

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On February 23rd, members of the Spirituality Initiative presented at a training entitled “Bridging Spirituality within Clinical Practice” at the SMC Ground Rounds.

Dr. Paul Yang, Dr. Farah Zaidi, Dr. Barbara Weissman, Renee Prior-Johnson, and Eduardo Tirado presented how spirituality assists clients in their recovery.   Dr. Zaidi and Dr. Yang shared two vignettes on how their clients used spirituality and the meaning it had for each of them. Both psychiatrists had encouraged them to explore the impact of spirituality in their lives. Dr. Yang urged those in attendance to be open their own personal spirituality as he believes that it assists providers in being more caring and loving, thus enables them to be more present with each client they encounter.

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Ms. Prior-Johnson, who is a part of Adult Resource Management, shared two vignettes of AOD clients who she had assisted with exploring their spirituality.  This is something that she had done for years and has found it to be an effective way of encouraging and supporting a strength in each person.

Mr. Tirado shared his personal story of his continuing recovery from his addictions.  One of the comments made by an attendee was that he/she “learned more about hope” from Mr. Tirado.

Several of the attendees when asked in the evaluation what they learned said that they needed to listen more carefully to their clients and allow spirituality to be a part of the recovery process.  When asked what changes they might make in their practice several said they now felt more comfortable in talking with their clients about spirituality.

For more information about the Spirituality Initiative, visit their website.

 

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