AUTUMN 2015

November Information MeetingStrengthening the Safety Netfor Mental Health in Santa Fe

November 9, 6 pm @ The Life LinkPresented by Andres Mercado

Mobile Integrated Health Office, Santa Fe Fire Dept.

Andres Mercado has been a firefighter/EMT in theSanta Fe community since 1997. He is leading theSanta Fe Fire Department’s (SFFD) Mobile Inte-

grated Health Office whose mission is a 911 and mobilehealth system responsive to the needs of the Santa Fecommunity where patients receive the right care, at theright time, and at the right place. Andres has an associate’sdegree from the Santa Fe Community College, a bache-lor’s degree from the University of New Mexico, and amaster’s degree from St. John’s College and is passionateabout the evolution of the SFFD as a key safety netprovider.

Letter from NAMI-SF PresidentHello Fellow NAMI Supporters:

The NAMI-Santa Fe board presidency changed hands thissummer. In August, I was honored to become the new

president of our affiliate. I would like to start off by introduc-ing the rest of the Executive Team: Vice-President Betty Sis-neros Shover, Treasurer Barry Wilson, and Secretary Anne Al-brink. We have a dedicated Board of Directors who recognizethat NAMI-Santa Fe has a unique role to play in our commu-nity. It seems that the more we are doing, the more it becomesclear that we should be doing more.

If you were born and raised in Santa Fe, NM, you knowthat mental illness was not something that you spoke openlyabout to anyone. It was joked about, or we pretended it didn’texist, and if we ran across someone suffering from mental ill-ness, we hid them from view. Families didn’t want to be labeledas the family with a relative who’s crazy. Statements such as queverguenza (“how embarrassing”) or está loco/loca (“he/she iscrazy”) were often used but can no longer fit into my worldand in today’s society.

I became an advocate for mental health for two reasons,the first being that my precious son lives with a diagnosis ofschizophrenia. The second has to do with the stigma that goesalong with mental illness—the illness that sweeps over ourlives and takes us and our loved ones on a journey that fewpeople can imagine or are prepared for.

My journey with NAMI began in 2007 while seeking an-swers, advice, information, and support. I had no idea whatNAMI was. Before 2007 I didn’t need to know, I didn’t have togive back, I didn’t need to reach out, and I didn’t need to raiseawareness.

In eight years I have navigated from tragedy to advocacy.I’m raising awareness. I’m reaching out. I’m trying to make adifference. It’s difficult, sometimes because without warning,this illness can spin our lives out of control once again.

I have helped families navigate through their own tragedyby answering their questions, connecting them with resourcesand support, and facilitating some of NAMI’s signature pro-grams (Family-to-Family and Family Support Group).

Eight years later, people in the community say “ThankYou” for the work NAMI does in our city. Eight years later, I sitat tables with law enforcement, city and county leaders, andsome of the decision makers in Santa Fe committed to im-proving the lives of individuals and families challenged bymental illness, through education and advocacy.

I look forward to continuing the momentum establishedby my predecessor, Betty Sisneros Shover, and the previous Ex-ecutive Team during their outstanding service to NAMI-SantaFe. I can’t wait to see what new ideas our board of directorsbrings with them and how our involvement will help shape thefuture of NAMI-SF.

Mary Lou Ortega-ShawPresident, NAMI Santa Fe

Every year for many years in the past, NAMI Santa Fe hashosted a holiday party for its members and friends—a time

to celebrate and give thanks in the holiday season. This year wefind outselves hard pressed to put on this event for lack of will-ing volunteers. We need people to help find a venue, obtain

food donations, put out announcements, help prepare the hallfor the guests, serve food, and clean up afterward.

If you would like to ensure our ability to hold a party thisNovember, we need you to volunteer! Please call us at 466-1668and leave a message, or email us at info@namisantafe.org.

Holiday Party Planning Volunteers Needed!

Join us on November 9 at 6 pm at Life Link!

Family-to-Family: Our Family-to-Family program in SantaFe is in session with 19 attendees. Thank you to our dedicatedfacilitators, Louise Drisdale and Mary Lou Ortega-Shaw, aswell as all our committed participants. If you are interested inthe Spring 2016 class, please call and leave a message at 505-466-1668 or email info@namisantafe.org.

Peer-to-Peer: We are now taking names for the next class.If you are interested in attending, please call and leave a mes-sage for Russell on our NAMI phone line 505-466-1668 oremail info@ namisantafe.com.

NAMI Education Programs

NEW Peer-to-Peer WarmlineBy Betty Sisneros Shover

The New Mexico Crisis and Access Line (NMCAL), alongwith the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division

(BHSD), implemented a statewide Peer-to-Peer Warmline onAugust 24, 2015. Like the crisis line, the Warmline will offer livesupport, seven days a week, to those who are in need of assis-tance or an understanding ear.

The Warmline is staffed with Certified Peer Support Spe-cialists with lived experience; they will be available be-tween 3:30 and 11:30 pm seven days a week, 365 days a year.During hours when peer support specialists are not standingby, callers to the Warmline will have the option of immediatelyconnecting with one of NMCAL’s professional master-levelclinical counselors for support.

NMCAL offers an alternative approach to handling crisis.They work to teach people that there are healthier optionsavailable to increase recovery and resiliency skills, while sup-porting individuals to reduce, or even eliminate, susceptibilitiesto the pressures that can cause overwhelming emotional dis-tress.Peer-to-Peer Warmline 1-855-4NM-7100 or 1-855-466-7100

NAMI SANTA FE NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2015

NAMI Connection

Connection is a recovery support group program that offers respect, understanding, encouragement and hope to individualswho live with mental illness

• Free and confidential • Held weekly for 90 minutes• Designed to connect, encourage, and support participants using a structured support group model• Led by trained facilitators living in recovery and who have a diagnosis of mental illness• Not for family members who do not have a diagnosisConnection Recovery Support Groups have trained facilitators who learn and use: strategies, structures, and process. We are ca-pable facilitators, not therapists!

Every Tuesday evening 6:45 to 8:15 pm, Atrium Conference Rm #1911, First floor Christus St. Vincent Regional MedicalCenter, 455 St Michaels Dr. in Santa Fe: Call 505-466-1668 or email info@namisantafe.org www.namisantafe.org.

NAMI Santa Fe Needs YOU!

If you are well organized, believe that the detail in allwork is essential, are passionate about helping peopleand fighting stigma, join the NAMI volunteers in our mis-sion.

Administrative Assistant This is a part-time contracted position; $15 per hour, 15-20 hour per week. Additional hours may be required dur-ing special events and projects.

The Administrative Assistant reports to the executivecommittee of NAMI Santa Fe’s Board of Directors. Thisexciting position is diverse and requires a candidate who isself-directed and enjoys a challenge. NAMI Santa Fe islooking for someone who is enthusiastic about mentalhealth awareness, education, and advocacy. We are a grow-ing and expanding grassroots organization affiliated witha national non-profit.

To apply, please email info@namisantafe.org withyour resume and a statement of interest. Duties include:u Managing communications (i.e., email marketing,

newsletters, press releases)u Attending board meetingsu Grant writingu Working closely with the executive committee to

pursue project specific tasksu Assisting with programmingu Maintain website (through user-friendly interface)Minimum qualificationsu Proficient with Microsoft Office, Google Calendar,

Excel, and PowerPointu Excellent written and verbal communication skillsu 3+ years of relevant work experienceu Enthusiasm for mental health awareness and educa-

tionDeadline for applications: October 16, 2015

Help Fight Stigma & Raise Awareness

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS WALK

Starting Place: NM State Capitol Building at the corner of the Old Santa Fe Trail & Paseo de Peralta

Ending Place: Santa Fe Plaza-Gazebo

DID YOU KNOW?? 1 in 6 Adults and 1 in 5 Children have a diagnosable Mental Illness Mental Illness doesn’t discriminate, people from all

RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE!

GO GREEN & JOIN THE MOVEMENT:SPEAK OUTGET INVOLVED

2015

Join us and go on the record in support of mental health and a stigma free community!!

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Reflections on Family to Family

No Such Thing as 20-20By Carrie M. Cannella

Iknow that “hindsight is 20-20.” But, I can’t help thinking “ifonly, if only. . . .” If only my parents had taken NAMI’s Fam-

ily-to-Family class when my sister had her first crisis (whichwas not hidden from our family). Of course, I can’t say whatmay have been different, but I know in my heart that every-thing would have been altered for the better.

If my parents had recognized that the knowledge theycould gain from this class would give them the tools that theyneeded to understand and cope with the difficulties that werepresented to them when my sister left her husband and movedback home, then, while nothing could change the fact of mysister’s disease, the environment that she was in would havebeen better for everyone involved. No doubt it would still havebeen a challenging environment, but perhaps it would havebeen more supportive, more loving, more affirming.

Instead, my parents were left with their own very limitedknowledge of the disease, what the doctors would not tellthem, and a constant anger toward my sister, resulting in treat-ing her like a child and with that all-too-familiar attitude of“why can’t you just pull yourself together?” That attitude, ofcourse, led to my sister’s rising stress levels and put furtherpressure on her points of breakdown.

But the negative environment has not only affected mysister, whom I worry about constantly. I have come to thepoint that I am more agonized about the effects on my twobeautiful teenage nieces, who have suffered far too much intheir young lives. But my concern doesn’t stop there. It is alsofor my parents themselves, experiencing serious depressionand getting older, with health conditions that are becomingprogressively worse because of the stress in their lives.

I cannot judge my parents—they have done what theycould with what they had, and they have been the ones con-stantly deep in the throes of all this. They have taken my sisterin without a thought, time and time again. They have donetheir best. I just wish that they had reached out long ago forthe support that they have so desperately needed in the pastsix years.

I still try to encourage them to take the class. I cannotforce them to, but now that I am taking it myself, I can sharewhat I am learning, and perhaps they will see how valuable itwould be for them to not only learn more about my sister’sdisease, but also to understand better how she feels, how tocommunicate with her, and how simply being surrounded bypeople in very similar situations can boost one’s courage 100-fold. Maybe their own spirits can be lifted, and then perhaps,just perhaps, they can pass that hope on to my sister and to herchildren.

By Tom Starke

On Sunday, September 20, NAMI Santa Fe joined other or-ganizations in celebrating people in recovery. Over 350

people passed by the NAMI exhibit, learning about mental ill-ness and the support NAMI offers.

Mayor Javier Gonzales gave a warm welcome and read aProclamation about mental health (see p. 7 for details aboutthis document). Councilwoman Signe Lindell, CouncilmanCarmichael Dominguez, and Michael Duffy, RegionalSAMHSA Administrator, also spoke, along with Chris Wendelof Recovery Santa Fe! They all stressed the importance ofworking together as a community to support recovery and ac-knowledge the courage and accomplishments of people in re-covery. NAMI takes the same approach to celebrating peoplewho are successfully managing their mental health challengesand are also making a contribution to Santa Fe.

Activities of the day included an Artist Show, with over 30artists proudly showing and selling their work; a RecoveryWall, where people wrote down thoughts about what recoveryhas meant to them; a survey asking people about their experi-ence at the celebration; voter registration run by the League ofWomen Voters; and two I-Shuffle giveaways. There was a freecookout, with the leftover food donated to local shelters.

Next year’s Recovery Celebration has been scheduled forSunday, September 25, 2016. Recovery Santa Fe! will be join-

ing NAMI on our October 10th Mental Health Month Walk tothe Plaza.

NAMI Santa Fe has successful exhibit at 2015 Recovery Santa Fe!

STORIES OF LIVES AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS

Presented by

COMPASSIONATE TOUCH NETWORK

Through heartfelt personal stories, seven people from around New Mexico share the pain, confusion, resilience, and humor of living with mental illness.

7:00 PM, Sunday, October 11th, 2015

JAMES A. LITTLE THEATERat New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe

$15 general admission / $50 reserved seatingPurchase tickets at www.mindsinterrupted.com or at the door

For scholarship tickets or for more information, contact Michele at 505.982.0904

W . T C S FA C L' T.

Works created by those living with mental illness. Ar sts receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their work.

[ART EXHIBITION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS]www.insideoutsantafe.org / 505-982-0904

October 8, 5–7 pm / Ticketed opening preview October 9 & 10, 10 am–6 pm / Open to public

October 10, 4–6 pm / Ar st’s recep on

@ James Kelly Contemporary & TAI modernin Santa Fe Railyard District

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Compassionate Touch Network is grateful for the generous support of our sponsors.

NAMI-SF Hospital Committee Meeting Summary, August 2015By John Harnisch

The NAMI-SF Hospital Committee met on Friday, August 7,2015. The Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center

CMO, Dr. John Beeson, attended the meeting. Dr. Dasari pre-sented an overview of Christus St Vincent’s Emergency Depart-ment (CSV/ED) data, highlighting and clarifying capabilitiesand limitations, and provided the committee with a copy of herpresentation slides. The presentation was intended to answer thelist of questions that the committee had sent out to all membersin preparation for the meeting. “Mac” Maclovio from the ED waspresent and added to the meeting by explaining many improve-ments to streamline the intake process. These included addingnursing consults, attempting a more proactive vs. a reactive ap-

proach, and moving toward integrative treatment. He added thathe was working on space in the ED for crisis counselors.

Comparison with other communities shows CSV to benear the national average in percent of admissions from the EDto the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU), considering its limita-tions, but more work is needed to determine how to increaseavailability of services to the mentally ill. The issue of deter-mining the cause for very low BHU utilization is ongoing. Dr.Dasari offered to bring crisis counselors to a future HospitalCommittee meeting. Howard Gershon agreed to request datafrom Erica Campos regarding the disposition of mentally ill pa-tients in the Northern New Mexico area in our continuing ef-fort to better characterize the need.

Jim Ogle, NAMI Albuquerque, Receives National NAMI AwardBy Betty Sisneros Shover

On July 9, 2015, at the NAMI Convention in San Francisco,Jim Ogle received the Richard T. Greer Advocacy Award,

named after NAMI’s first legislative director and lifelong grass-roots advocate. This award recognizes an individual who ex-hibits leadership and vision in advocacy, leading to significantimprovements in the lives of people living with mental illness.

Jim Ogle is a hero to NAMI in New Mexico. He works tire-lessly on city, county, and state task forces, committees, and or-ganizations, including the County Forensic Intervention Con-sortium, New Mexico Legislature, and the mayor’s steeringcommittee to educate, advocate, and support people with men-tal illness and their families. He has been an exceptional leader

for the NAMI Albuquerque Board of Directors and has previ-ously served on the NAMI New Mexico State Board and as co-chair of the NAMI New Mexico Legislative Committee. He ison the steering committee for a University of New Mexico re-search project involving recovery in people living with drug ad-diction and PTSD. Jim has helped pass at least five bills and me-morials in New Mexico’s legislature, including CIT training forNew Mexico police, and is currently working to bring a Com-munity Engagement Team (CET) program to New Mexico. Jimeffectively collaborated with the Albuquerque Police Depart-ment to include NAMI’s In Our Own Voice (IOOV) as part ofthe required CIT training, and has demonstrated his ability tolead, inspire, educate, communicate, and collaborate. He hashelped make NAMI a vital and respected force in policy, infor-mation, credibility, and action in Albuquerque and in NewMexico. Congratulations from NAMI Santa Fe to Jim!

NAMI SANTA FE NEWSLETTER • AUTUMN 2015 7

SF County Commissioners Proclaim Oct 4–10 Mental Illness Awareness Week

The Board of County Commissioner of Santa Fe Countypresented a proclamation to NAMI-Santa Fe recognizing

October 4 to October 10, 2015 Mental Illness Awareness Week.Commissioner Liz Stefanics read the proclamation at the regu-lar meeting on September 29, 2015.

The Board of County Commissioners thanked NAMI-Santa Fe for the work it is doing in the community. Commis-sioners Stefanics and Miguel M. Chavez will be joining NAMI-Santa Fe for our Mental Health Matters Walk on October 10,2015.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Schizophrenia Treatment

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an upcom-ing treatment modality for patients with schizophrenia,

emerging as a safe, rapid and effective treatment for various as-pects of schizophrenia symptoms ranging from auditory hallu-cinations—for which the effect is most marked—to negativesymptoms and cognitive symptoms as well. An article in TheNew Yorker (April 6, 2015) brought this novel method intobroad public view. Interestingly, the primary focus of this arti-cle was the director of UNM’s Psychology Clinical Neuro -science Center, Dr. Vince Clark. According to this article, few of

the claims made about tDCS are without controversy, yet it hasproduced some very amazing and hopeful results.

According to a 2015 article in Current Pharmaceutical De-sign (21[23]:3373-83) by M. Mondino et al., their researchshowed that “tDCS applied over the frontotemporal regions re-duced auditory hallucinations, with a mean 34% reduction ofsymptoms. Moreover, tDCS applied over both prefrontal cor-tices reduced negative symptoms and catatonia.”

The research results can be found online, and Dr. Clark’sMind Research Network at UNM is just 60 miles away.

Santa FeCalendar of Events Autumn 2015

All NAMI-Santa Fe meetings are held at Life Link, 2325 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, unless otherwise noted.Information Program, 6 pm on 2nd Monday in Jan, March, May, July, Sept, Nov

Family Support Group: 2nd Tuesday every month, noon, at Hillside Market: 86 Old Las Vegas Hwy; and on 4th Monday at Life Link, 6 pm

OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS

Depression/Suicide Alliance (DBSA)Thursday evenings 5:30–7 pm, De Vargasmall community room. Suicide Survivors Support Group 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 5–6:30 pm, Uni-tarian Church, 107 West Barcelona Rd(corner of Galisteo and Cordova). CallJanet 690-1698.

NAMI-SANTA FE SUPPORT GROUPS

NAMI-SF EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Family-to-Family: Fall 2015 classes are insession. Now taking sign-ups for the Springclass. For more information, call 466-1668or email info@namisantafe. org.Peer-to-Peer:Call 466-1668 or email info@namisantafe.org for sign-ups.In Our Own Voice:Trained consumers facil-itating public understanding of mental ill-ness. Call Annette Strom, 424-9047, to sched-ule an IOOV Team for your organization tolearn about mental illness and recovery.

Need Help?New NM Crisis Line: 1-855-NMCRISIS, 1-855-662-7474

OptumHealth Consumer Line: 866-660-7185Federal Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

NAMI Family Support Group, for familiesand caregivers:Tuesday, October 13; November 10;Decem ber 8, noon (Hillside Mkt)Monday, October 26, November 23, andDecember 28, 6 pm (Life Link)Connection Recovery Support Group:Tuesday evenings, 6:45–8:15 pmAtrium Conference Room, Room 1911,1st Floor, CHRISTUS/St.Vincent MedicalCenter, 455 St. Michael’s. Call NAMI-Santa Fe @ 505-466-1668 to inquire.

P.O. Box 6423, Santa Fe, NM 87502Board Members:Mary Lou Ortega-Shaw, President, lshaw@outsidemag.comBetty Shover,Vice-President, betty.shover@comcast.netAnne Albrink, Secretary Treasurer, Barry WilsonMartha Cooke, cookemarthaj@gmail.comPeggy HarnischTeri HirsheyMichael MillerRussell MillerMarvin PaulkTom Starke

Newsletter Editor: Carol Leyba, cbsleyba@comcast.netAdministrative Assistant: Alix Dean, alixrenedean@gmail.com

NAMI-Santa Fe: 505-466-1668NAMI New Mexico: 800-953-6745NAMI National 703-524-7600, 800-950-6264

Visit the NAMI-Santa Fe web site: www.namisantafe.orgVisit the NAMI web site: www.nami.org

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Local Collaborative Tri-County Meetingsevery 4th Tuesday of every month: Tuesday October 20 at 1 pm, at Life Link.

Family Support Group in EspañolaMeets on the last Wednesday of the monthat the Valley View Methodist Church, 827Spruce St. For more info, contact Marciaor Paul at 505-570-9108.

Support NAMI. Become aMember Today!

Please go to our website to sign up: www.namisantafe.org

NAMI-SANTA FE MEETINGS

Monday, November 9, 6 pmInformation Meeting: Safety Net for mentalhealth, Andres Mercodo (see p. 1)Tuesday, October 20, November 17, and De-cember 15, 6 pmNAMI SF Board meetings