Episode #27: Joining Debra Sloss this month are licensed psychotherapist and mental health crisis response expert James Russell, LMFT, and volunteer mental health advocates Jennifer Wentworth and Cathy Pereyra, both of whom have first-hand experience using mental health crisis services. James describes the current mental health response systems, when and how to use them, and how to have a smooth experience when doing so. Jennifer shares her courageous story of more than 150 psychiatric hospitalizations and offers wisdom she gained as she found her way from repeated cycles of crisis to mental health recovery. She discusses how she’s reduced her need for crisis services and greatly improved her experiences when she does use them. Cathy explores what she has learned from supporting her adult son who suffers from schizophrenia and has required several emergency hospitalizations. She discusses the shock and shame her family members initially experienced and how they have moved through the crisis phase and into recovery. They have found support, learned about mental illness and become more skillful at using crisis services. Jennifer and Cathy demonstrate that mental health recovery is possible and give specific suggestions to help others get started in that direction! Essential locally oriented resources are posted with this show.
Broadcast: 2/7/21
Special thanks to Jeanne Baldzikowski for audio production, and to Jennifer Young, who assists with research and outreach. And finally, thanks to acoustic guitarist Adrian Legg for composing, performing, and donating the use of our theme music.
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RESOURCES
Local Support
ACCESS Team: Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health team that provides non-emergency evaluation for services and referrals. 800-952- 2335
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Santa Cruz: local chapter that provides support and education for families and individuals experiencing mental health issues. All services are free to access.
Direct Links to:
Local Crisis Information (Santa Cruz County)
Guidelines for Calling 911 Brochure
Offering Online Support Groups:
– Peer Connections
– Family Members of Adults (18+) in English
– Family Members – Grupo de Apoyo para Familiares in Spanish
– Parents and Caregivers of Youth (11-17)
– HOPE Biopolar/Depression Support Group
MHCAN (Mental Health Community Action Network): peer run agency provided resources and support for those experiencing mental health issues to anyone in community.
Community Connections – empowering adults with psychiatric disabilities and their families with the tools and resources they desire to build stronger community bonds and improve their lives. They provide resources and tools for individuals managing mental health issues and help with new educational opportunities, building job skills or connecting with positive influences. Primarily for those with Medical Insurance, or served by Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health.
Crisis Prevention and Preparedness
Suicide Prevention Service: Crisis line for individuals experiencing stressors or having active thoughts of suicide.
24-Hour Toll Free Suicide Crisis Line: 1-877-663-5433 (ONE LIFE)
Serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
Free 24/7 support at your fingertips. US and Canada: text 741741
NAMI- SCC Warmline – Help Line: (831) 427-8020 x7 – A trained volunteer will get back to you within a 24 hrs. to offer support, information and resources.
WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) – a self-designed prevention and wellness tool that you can use to get well and stay well. Many versions of this and templates to fill out can also be found by searching online for WRAP Plan templates.
Mental Health Power of Attorney is also often called a Psychiatric Advanced Directive. For more information go to National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advanced Directives. They offer information and sample form by state. Click here for California
Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency: (Crisis Guide) provides important, potentially life-saving information for people experiencing mental health crises and their loved ones. This guide outlines what can contribute to a crisis, warning signs that a crisis is emerging, strategies to help de-escalate a crisis, available resources and more.
Second Story Respite House – a six-bed house which serves as a respite and a voluntary opportunity for individuals to learn to use relationships to move out of old roles and patterns. Staffed by “peers,” (people with lived experience of mood swings, consuming fears, voices, visions, . . .) who have learned to be with some discomfort, the household provides an opportunity to experience what change feels like, and to learn new responses through relationships with each other. Referrals to this service are made through Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health.
Education & Training
Mental Health First Aid: is a national program to teach the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Santa Cruz: local chapter that provides support and education for families and individuals experiencing mental health issues. All services are free to access.
Classes:
– Family-to-Family (in English & Spanish)
– NAMI BASICS (for parents/caregivers of youth) – New Class starting 3/9/20!
– Peer to Peer Recovery Support (for adults with mental health conditions)
– Provider Education (for mental health professionals)
Books
I Am Not Sick I Do Not Need Help: How to Help Someone Accept Treatment, by Xavier Amador (2007) – a guide for providers and family members whose loved ones are battling mental illness and addictions. Learn to LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Partner) and help your patients and loved ones accept the treatment they need.
Jennifer’s Blog
A Day in The Life of Being Bipolar – Jennifer Wentworth’s Blog and Facebook Page: includes helpful and encouraging information about the experience of having a serious mental illness, managing it and maintaining wellness. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bipolargirl
Cathy’s Self-Care Tools
A Life Coach – She see a coach twice a month or more if needed.
Journaling – very helpful when dealing with a lot of different emotions no matter how much gets written. She finds it helpful to sit down and write daily during a crisis.
Meditation – Many different types and apps available to learn how and be supported to do it. She has been meditating daily for over 24 years. She finds it easy and gives her grounding and peace most days.
Exercise – She belong to Aptos Curves and do it online via Facebook, Zoom, YouTube . Needs very little room at home and a resistant band ($15.00 also sold by them). Right now, online live and prerecorded is $25.00/ month 831-688-2348
Dear Debra Sloss, Episode 27 was terrific. You ask all of the right questions and beyond. While allowing your guests to each tell their story, you jumped in, just at the right time, and for a brief moment, to ask what options and or tools could they provide, for those effected by someone who has mental illness.
All 3 guests, Cathy Pereyra, Jennifer Wentworth, and James Russell were amazing and so well spoken. I learned so much more about my sister Cathy’s experience with her son Brent (my nephew) and what traumatic episodes she and her husband endured, until finally receiving the tools they needed, for his ongoing recovery.
Listening to Jennifer Wentworth’s story, of her journey, was amazing. I just cant imagine the emotional pain she must have one through, and enduring over 150 hospital stays.? She is now, a stronger woman, because of it, and like you, helping others get the help they need. ❤️
James Russell offered assurance, that policemen and woman, are trained to deal with mental illness as a mental illness, and not as convicts or trouble makers. I found that admirable.
A friend of mine James Dyvad is a staff member in Zuckerberg Hospital, here in San Francisco. Better known as SF General, James works in the mental health unit, and deals with one crisis after another on a daily basis.
I will be sure to introduce James to your wonderfully informative podcast. I am now a subscriber. 🙂
Best,
Liz Corsick
Dear Liz,
We love hearing from listeners and appreciate hearing how much you got out of listening to this show. I agree with you that your sister and the other guests were all remarkable and shared courageous stories of recovery and important information to help others. If you want to be notified about future State of Mind shows, you can either sign up for our email list (https://mailchi.mp/2c5f87b45baa/debraslosslmft) and/or subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts.
Thank you again for letting us know how you felt about this show!
Warmly,
Debra