THE EFFECTS OF SUMMER HEAT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

MYTH: During the dog days of summer, everyone is affected equally by the blistering heat.

FACT: Certain groups of people are more likely to develop dangerous responses to high temperatures, including heat stroke or certain medical conditions. Children and older adults fall into this category, but people of any age who are living with mental illness also need to be very careful during extremely hot weather.

Stay Safe

Educate yourself about the symptoms of heat stroke, such as:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)

• Rapid, strong pulse

• Throbbing headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Confusion

 

 

Stay Informed

The National Weather Service is the hub of information about heat alerts. The Weather Channel offers a free service that will send updates about heat advisories to your phone.

Stay Inside

On extremely hot days, limit your exposure to the heat and sun, especially during the hottest part of the day. Don't walk long distances if you don't have to. Some public transportation systems offer free bus service on days with a dangerous heat index.

Stay Cool

If you do have an air conditioner, change the filter and perform other maintenance that will keep the unit working at peak capacity. If you don't have an air conditioner, try to spend a few hours a day in an air-conditioned public place like a library or mall. Look into area programs that may provide air conditioners for people with disabilities for free or at a reduced cost. In the past, some local United Way chapters have collected donated units and redistributed them to people with the most need.

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Dual Diagnosis Crisis Services Update

Dual Diagnosis update the program below is continuing to serve individuals in Central Indiana who have a dual diagnosis. Those who are also medicaid eligible will be able to receive most of the services available under the previous state crisis contract. Please share this information with others as needed.

Connxxions – via Meridian Services
240 North Tillotson Avenue
Muncie, IN 47304-3988
(765) 288-1928

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Parent Research Study: Problem Solving for Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Problems

 Who Can Participate?
Primary caregivers (parents—biological, adoptive, foster parents, relatives or guardians) of a child with a mental health problem who:

 (a)           has received mental health services in the community within the past year (at home, in-patient, school-based, etc.);

 (b)          has lived at home for at least 20 of the past 24 months; and

 (c)           is between the ages of 11 and 16 years when beginning the study.

 
You will receive gift cards for participation in the study

If interested, contact:

 Janis Gerkensmeyer, PhD, RN
Phone: 317-278-4896
FAX: 317-274-2411
Or email me at:

Mental Health Centers and Department of Child Services Partnership Focuses on Children

ndiana's Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) are developing a partnership to maximize the availability of Medicaid-funded mental health services. Through this opportunity, the State of Indiana will be able to maximize state funds under the Federal Medicaid Program while maintaining current service packages.

Network services are available in every Indiana County making this new initiative easily accessible in all communities. The initiative focuses on increasing the availability of intensive community-based treatment for children and families, including; therapy, case management, and enhancement in daily living skills all in either an in-home or facility based setting.

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What's Your Attitude Toward Mental Illness

What would you say to a survey that asked two questions:

1) Can treatment help people with mental illness lead normal lives?

2) Are people generally caring and sympathetic to people with mental illness? And would your answers differ if you suffered from a mental illness?

Those were the questions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked over 200,000 adults in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The answers, which are the first state-specific reports of attitudes toward mental illness, appeared in the CDC Weekly Report of May 28, 2010 and were reported in collaboration with The Carter Center and the Federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as other mental health advocates.

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Suicide Prevention: R U OK?

R U OK? (are you ok?) is an Australian national suicide prevention effort developed by an organization that seeks to reduce the rate of suicide by breaking the isolation and helplessness that characterizes people at risk to take their lives. This organization had its genesis from the death of Barry Larkin, a businessman and consultant who took his life in 1995; his three sons decided to introduce a conversation they never had the opportunity to have with their dad. Australians at work, home and among friends are now prompted to break the silence and ask 'are you ok'?

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Beware of Medicare Part D Fraud

Crisis Assistance Services

Family Voices Indiana has learned that contracts with Meridian Services, a Mental Health Provider, and Anthony Wayne Services, a Developmental Disabilities services provider –AWS, to provide supports in a timely and intensive manner for individuals with developmental disabilities experiencing extreme behavioral or psychiatric issues have been discontinued effective June 30th.  Members of FV are currently reporting that "most of the entities have stopped taking new clients effective immediately because they cannot do follow-through on complex cases that might go beyond the June 30th cut-off date.  We contacted the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) of Indiana to get an official announcement on this to share with you.  We have not yet received that announcement.  Because of the critical impact of Crisis Assistance Services including:

■24/7/365 Telephone Crisis Support
■In-Home technical assistance 
■Out-of-Home short term residential 
■Follow-along post crisis intervention  

and the multiple contacts we have received from family and professional partners about this issue, we felt it was important to share the information about the change in available  services as we know it at this time, with our members.  If we receive additional information from DDRS or BDDS we will share that.  It is our current understanding that state staff with responsibility for the Crisis System will remain in place; details about how services may be delivered in the future are unclear.  

Several of our members have asked how they might share their perspective on the importance of a Crisis Assistance System. You might also want to share where you typically find effective crisis assistance if that help has been outside of this service. FV Indiana encourages you to share your thoughts with both The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services:
Director 
Julia Holloway
Julia.Holloway@fssa.IN.gov

And with your State Representative and Senator:
http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/