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Educating Southwest Florida on Mental Wellness since 1957
55 Years of
providing Services May 2012
throughout
SWFL Join us in Celebrating 55 Years
of Service to Southwest Florida
Coming Events:
♦ May 12, 2012
Putting Children First Become a Member Today!
♦May 26, 2012
Putting Children First
The odds are that someone you
♦ June 9, 2012 know—a family member, one of your
Putting Children First friends, or one of your colleagues
♦ June 23, 2012 is affected by a mental health or
Putting Children First substance use condition. And that's
why The Mental Health Association
♦June 23, 2012 - An Evening
was formed over 55 years ago.
with Wambui Bahati
♦August 4, 2012
shooting for the stars For over half a century, Mental Health Association has been instrumental in reducing barriers to
Basketball Clinic treatment and services and educating the community about mental illness and recovery. As a result of
our efforts, many individuals with mental disorders have sought care and are now enjoy fulfilling,
productive lives in their communities.
Whether you or someone you know has a mental health condition, or simply care about the issue of
mental health and living a mentally healthier life, We Can Help, But Only With Your Support!
Support Groups:
As a member of our movement, you will help us build on our half century of service and strengthen
• Here for Life our voice as we continue our ground-breaking steps to achieve victory over mental illness:
1st Tuesday every Month • Our Advocacy is a powerful voice for change!
7:00 PM • Education: a primary goal of the MHASWFL is to educate the general public about the
realities of mental health and mental illness.
• Veterans
Wednesday
7:00 - 8:30PM
There is No Health Without Mental Health
• Depression
Thursday The Mental Health Association
10:30AM - Noon of Southwest Florida
2335 Tamiami Trail N. Ste 404
Naples Fl 34103
239.261.5405 www.mhaswfl.org
4. Page 4 Mental Health Matters
Gollee’s Tip
A Child’s Physical and Mental Health
Are Both Important!!!!!!!
Basics for a child’s good physical
health:
• Nutritious food
• Adequate shelter and sleep
• Exercise
• Immunizations
Healthy living environment
Basics for a child’s good mental
health:
• Unconditional love from family
• Self-confidence and high self-esteem
• The opportunity to play with other
children
• Encouraging teachers and supportive
caretakers
Children need • Safe and secure surroundings
to know that Appropriate guidance and discipline
your love does Seek help when necessary!
not depend on
his or her ac- If you are worried about a child’s reaction or have ongo-
complishments.
ing concerns about his/her behavior or emotions,
contact a mental health professional at school, your com-
munity mental health center, or MHASWFL at
261-5405/www.mhaswfl.org.
6. Page 6 Mental Health Matters
FREE SUMMER SPIRITUALITY SERIES
MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION
STARTING JUNE 7, 2012
ENDING AUGUST 30, 2012
EVERY THURSDAY
7PM TO 8:30 PM
Each Class Ends with a 30-Minute Meditation
LOCATION: THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SW FLORIDA
2335 9TH ST. N, SUITE 404 (NEXT TO RED LOBSTER
What is Spirituality? How do we define our spiritual selves? These are questions that we will address in this weekly
summer book discussion series, They are some of the most popular “spiritual” books published over the past 4 decades.
These books coincide with the proliferation of “12-Step” programs over the past 40 years, all of which are rooted in
the book “Alcoholics Anonymous”, published in 1939.
I have been a psychotherapist in Naples since 1984 and have extensive post-graduate training in addiction and
meditation studies. Over the years I have given local and national workshops on “Healing your Inner Child through
Laughter & Play” and “Recovering from Co-Dependency with Humor”. I have published articles on addictions, guided
meditations and the healing benefits of laughter.
Some of the books we will be discussing include: Love is Letting Go of Fear; Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff; The Art of
Happiness, The Miracle of Mindfulness, Jesus Calling, The Alchemist, The Shack; Heaven is for Real. Participants will
benefit from reading some or all of these books prior to our meetings.
Each session will close with a meditation. Participants may leave after the book discussion or stay for the mediations.
We will be practicing Mindful Meditation and Centering Prayer. This program will not focus on any specific religion,
but
view paths for all of us to deepen our spiritual lives. This path leads not only to physical wellness but also to greater
peace, joy and a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives.
Please Call Margot for questions and
Reservations at:
(239) 434-6558
7. May 2012 Page 7
Giving Support to Someone
Close to You………..
If you have a family member or friend
friend who has been diagnosed with a
serious mental illness, you are probably
wond wondering what you can do to help.
• Educate yourself about the symptoms/medications
• Recognize that the person may be scared and confused
• Listen carefully and express understanding
• Encourage them to be active in their treatment plan
• Recognize it will take time
• Offer to accompany the person to appointments
• Encourage the person to speak up about problems related to medications
• Always respect the individuals need for and right to privacy
A person with mental illness has the same right to be treated with dignity and respect
as any other person.
8. Page 8 Mental Health Matters
Naples Alliance of Divorce Professionals
9. May 2012 Page 9
Coping with Separation and Divorce
Going through a separation or divorce can be very difficult, no matter the reason for it. It can turn your world
upside down and make it hard to get through the work day and stay productive. But there are things you can do
to get through this difficult adjustment.
Recognize that it’s OK to have different feelings. It’s normal to feel sad, angry, exhausted, frustrated and
confused—and these feelings can be intense. You also may feel anxious about the future. Accept that reactions
like these will lessen over time. Even if the marriage was unhealthy, venturing into the unknown is frightening.
Give yourself a break. Give yourself permission to feel and to function at a less than optimal level for a
period of time. You may not be able to be quite as productive on the job or care for others in exactly the way
you’re accustomed to for a little while. No one is superman or superwoman; take time to heal, regroup and
re-energize.
Don’t go through this alone. Sharing your feelings with friends and family can help you get through this
period. Consider joining a support group where you can talk to others in similar situations. Isolating yourself
can raise your stress levels, reduce your concentration, and get in the way of your work, relationships and
overall health. Don’t be afraid to get outside help if you need it.
Take care of yourself emotionally and physically. Be good to yourself and to your body. Take time out to
exercise, eat well and relax. Keep to your normal routines as much as possible. Try to avoid making major
decisions or changes in life plans. Don’t use alcohol, drugs or cigarettes as a way to cope; they only lead to
more problems.
Avoid power struggles and arguments with your spouse or former spouse. If a discussion begins to turn
into a fight, calmly suggest that you both try talking again later and either walk away or hang up the phone.
Take time to explore your interests. Reconnect with things you enjoy doing apart from your spouse. Have
you always wanted to take up painting or play on an intramural softball team? Sign up for a class, invest time
in your hobbies, volunteer, and take time to enjoy life and make new friends.
Think positively. Easier said than done, right? Things may not be the same, but finding new activities and
friends, and moving forward with reasonable expectations will make this transition easier. Be flexible. If you
have children, family traditions will still be important but some of them may need to be adjusted. Help create
new family activities.
Life will get back to normal, although “normal” may be different from what you had originally hoped.
10. Page 10 Mental Health Matters
Panic Disorders
Panic disorder is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical
symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
These sensations often mimic symptoms of a heart attack or other life-threatening medical conditions. As a
result, the diagnosis of panic disorder is frequently not made until extensive and costly medical procedures fail
to provide a correct diagnosis or relief.
Many people with panic disorder develop intense anxiety between episodes, worrying when and where the
next one will strike. Fortunately, effective treatments have been developed to help people with panic disorder.
Causes
Heredity, other biological factors, stressful life events, and thinking in a way that exaggerates relatively normal
bodily reactions are all believed to play a role in the onset of panic disorder. Some research suggests panic at-
tacks occur when a “suffocation alarm mechanism” in the brain is activated, falsely reporting that death is im-
minent. The exact cause or causes of panic disorder are unknown and are the subject of intense scientific in-
vestigation.
Treatments
Treatment for panic disorder includes medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. Cognitive-
behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy, teaches people how to view panic attacks differently and demon-
strates ways to reduce anxiety. Appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can reduce or prevent
panic attacks in 70 to 90% of people with panic disorder. Most patients show significant progress after a few
weeks of therapy. Relapses may occur, but they can often be effectively treated just like the initial episode.
11. May 2012 Page 11
Co-occurring Disorders
Depression: About half of panic disorder patients will have an episode of clinical depression sometime
during their lives. Major depression is marked by persistent sadness or feelings of emptiness, a sense of
hopelessness and other symptoms. What is more, approximately 20% of people with panic disorder attempt
suicide.
Substance Abuse: About 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% abuse drugs, such as
cocaine and marijuana, in unsuccessful attempts to alleviate the distress caused by their condition.
Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of other disorders, such as substance abuse or depression, are important
to successfully treat panic disorder.
Simple Phobias and Agoraphobia: People with panic disorder often develop irrational fears of specific
events or situations that they associate with the possibility of having a panic attack. Fear of heights and fear of
crossing bridges are examples of simple phobias. As the frequency of panic attacks increases, the person often
begins to avoid situations in which they fear another attack can occur or places where help would not be
immediately available. This avoidance may eventually develop into agoraphobia, an inability to go beyond
known and safe surroundings because of intense fear and anxiety. Generally, these fears can be resolved
through repeated exposure to the dreaded situations, while practicing specific techniques to become less
sensitive to them.
Social Phobia: Social phobia is a persistent dread of situations in which the person is exposed to possible
scrutiny by others, and fears acting in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating. Social phobia can be
treated effectively with therapy or medications, or both.
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD): In OCD, a person becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive
thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. Such rituals as
counting, prolonged handwashing, and repeatedly checking for danger may occupy much of the person’s time
and interfere with other activities. Like panic disorder, OCD can be treated effectively with medication and/or
psychotherapy.
Physical Symptoms: People with panic disorder may also have irritable bowel syndrome, characterized by
intermittent bouts of gastrointestinal cramps and diarrhea or constipation, or a relatively minor heart problem
called mitral valve prolapse, which can trigger panic attacks in some people. In fact, panic disorder often
coexists with unexplained medical problems, such as chest pain not associated with a heart attack or chronic
fatigue.
12. Page 12 Mental Health Matters
S a ve t h e D a t e
“Shooting for the stars”
Basketball Clinic
August 4, 2012
DESCRIPTION: Wali Jones will conduct the clinic
which will feature human development training
emphasizing academic excellence,
problem-solving, refusal skills, increasing
self-concept and self-esteem and promoting
teamwork. Kids will also work on fun and exciting
fundamental athletic skills through a variety of
basketball drills, viewing of films, foul shooting
contests and more! The clinic will accommodate
up to 100 kids between the ages of 8-17.
www.mhaswfl.org
(239-5405-5405
13. May 2012 Page 13
The Mental Health
Association of Southwest
Florida
(239) 261-5405
www.mhaswfl.org
AN EVENING WITH
WAMBUI BAHATI
SAVE THE DATE
Join us in Celebrating our 55th Anniversary
with Entertainer, Author ,Humorist
Wambui Bahati
on the Naples Princess for a Sunset Cruise on Saturday June, 23, 2012.
Ticket Price
$50
includes: Complementary glass of
champagne, hors d’oeuvres and
live entertainment !!!!!
Cash Bar available
Boards at 6:30 7-9pm
14. May 2012 Mental Health Matters Page 14
To Advocate for Mental Wellness through Education,
Prevention, and Support
The Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida identifies unmet needs and
develops culturally sensitive services and programs to improve the lives of those
facing the many challenges of today’s world in our community.
If you are interested in becoming a member, e-mail us at info@mhaswfl.org Or Simply fill out the application and mail a check
payable to MHASWFL or donate online using a credit card. Your contribution is tax-deductible and crucial to helping us continue
our work. If you have any questions about Membership please contact our office by phone at (239) 261-5405
or mail The Mental Association of Southwest Florida 2335 Tamaimi Trail N, Ste 404, Naples FL 34103.
