Bi-Monthly Newsletter May/June 2018 A grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of people who have mental illness, their families, partners and friends Free Program and Activities Calendar Support Group for Adults with Mental Illness, their Families, and Partners in Waverly Wednesday: May 2 and June 6 th Grace Baptist Church, 1110 4 St. SW, upper level main entrance, front of the fellowship hall, 4:30-5:30 pm Peer Support Group for Adults with Mental Illness or Intellectual Disabilities Thursday: May 16 NOTE: NO GROUP IN JUNE-AUGUST Cedar Valley Club, 616 Allen Street in Waterloo, 10:30-11:30 am Sharing and Caring Education and Support Group for Family Members, Partners, and all Adults Affected by Mental Illness Tuesday, May 8 Topic: Medication Decisions and Recovery Tuesday, May 22 Topic: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Hawkeye Community College Metro Center, 844 W. 4th Street in Waterloo, Room 228, 6-7:30 pm

**THIS GROUP MEETS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION--THE CHURCH--IN JUNE** Tuesday, June 12 Topic: Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Tuesday, June 26 Topic: Anger Management First Congregational Church, 608 W. 4th Street in Waterloo, First Floor Chapel, 6-7:30 pm Education/Support Group for Adults with Mental Illness, their Families, and Partners Thursday, May 3 Topic: Medication Decisions and Recovery Thursday, May 17 Topic: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Thursday, June 7 Topic: Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Thursday, June 21 Topic: Anger Management Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial Street, entrance with the metal canopy (nearest the highway); use the stairwell to the right after you enter-2nd Floor-Rotary Room, 2-3:30 pm

**THIS GROUP MEETS THE 1st & 3rd THURSDAY of the MONTH in MAY & JUNE** Board Meetings Tuesday, May 1, 5:45-6:45 pm Thursday, June 7, 5:45-6:45 pm First Congregational Church, 608 W. 4th Street in Waterloo, lower level Educational Presentations First Congregational Church, 608 W. 4th Street in Waterloo, lower level parlor-7-8 pm Tuesday, May 1: Olivia Chen is an assistant professor in the counseling department at the University of Northern Iowa. She will present "Relationship Maintenance and Mental Health," discussing how maintaining healthy relationships promotes good mental health. Thursday, June 7: Dr. Ann Rathe, MD, will answer questions during an “Ask the Doctor” session. She is currently a psychiatrist in the Behavioral Health Clinic at Waverly Health Center. Before that, she practiced at Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center.

NATIONAL NEWS & INFORMATION Mental Disorders may Share Molecular Origins About one in six U.S. adults lives with a mental disorder. However, making an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. There is no simple test for common mental disorders. It can also be difficult to know what treatments will work. A deeper understanding of the molecular processes that underlie mental disorders could lead to better diagnosis and treatment. Most mental disorders are thought to arise from a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors. Past studies have found evidence of shared genetic risk factors among different mental disorders. In this UCLA study, scientists examined the transcriptome--the complete set of active genes--in the cerebral cortex of post-mortem brains from people with five disorders: autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and alcoholism. They also compared samples from matched controls, people who had not been diagnosed with any mental health disorder. The researchers found thousands of genes whose activity was elevated or suppressed in at least one of the disorders. Many were altered similarly across disorders. Others were more specific. The team found significant overlap among autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. There was also overlap among schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. However, there was no significant overlap between alcoholism and any of the others. The researchers next analyzed groups of genes involved in known biological processes. Among the findings was that a group of genes associated with nervous system support cells called astrocytes was up-regulated in autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Groups of genes associated with nerve cell mitochondria (the cells’ energy factories) were down-regulated across these three disorders. Genes linked to nervous system immune cells called microglia were up-regulated in autism spectrum disorder. Ones associated with inflammation were up-regulated in depression. The scientists compared the gene expression data with genetic variations that have been previously shown to underlie disease. They found that the overlap in gene expression across the disorders corresponded to their shared genetic risks. This result reinforces the idea that there is a substantial genetic component to these mental disorders. “We show that these molecular changes in the brain are connected to underlying genetic causes, but we don’t yet understand the mechanisms by which these genetic factors would lead to these changes,” a researcher explains. “We now have to understand the mechanisms by which this comes about, so as to develop the ability to change these outcomes.” (NIH (National Institute of Health) Research Matters; 2/27/18)

Experiencing a Psychotic Break Doesn’t Mean You’re Broken Each year, about 100,000 youth and young adults experience psychosis for the first time. They might see or hear things that are not there. They may believe things that are not true. It’s like “having a nightmare while you’re awake,” describes Elyn Saks, a legal scholar and mental health-policy advocate. Unfortunately, when someone starts having these frightening experiences, doctors and medical professionals often tell them that their life won’t ever be the same. That they may never get better. That the best-case scenario is a sub-par existence where every goal they have is limited by their mental state. Saks, for example, was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young woman after multiple visits to a psychiatric hospital. “My doctors gave me a prognosis of ‘grave.’ That is, at best, I was expected to live in a boarding house and work at menial jobs.” This narrative is not only exaggerated, but it is also inaccurate. It is akin to telling someone who recently went into diabetic shock that his or her life is pretty much over. Having diabetes does require proper treatment and lifestyle adjustments. It is not an easy health condition--nor is any illness--but you can still live a productive life. The same goes for psychosis and the mental health conditions it accompanies.

There are two categories of recovery for mental health conditions that involve psychosis: clinical recovery, which refers to decreasing or eliminating symptoms and the time spent in the hospital, and personal recovery, which is “a unique process rather than an end point, with key recovery themes including hope, rebuilding self and rebuilding life.” This form of recovery involves personal goals and values that make life fulfilling. Personal recovery has received more attention in recent research to help combat the myth that you cannot lead a good, fulfilling life with psychosis. Even if a person has not achieved a complete clinical recovery (yet), they can still work towards personal recovery. According to a 2017 study, “We should make efforts to scientifically characterize the conceptual framework of personal recovery.” That way, people with the illness as well as “family members, caregivers, and professionals can understand and contribute to personal recovery and subjective well-being.” Clinical recovery takes time. And during that time, life should not be on hold. While a person is in treatment, they can still work towards theirs goals and do things that make them feel fulfilled. That way, once they leave a treatment program or a hospital stay, they have a foundation to continue building the life they want. Clinical recovery and personal recovery work together and complement each other. According to the National Institute of Mental Health research project, Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE), it is essential for people experiencing psychosis to have personal goals that drive their treatment. For example, getting a degree for the career they want or getting involved with a specific cause. Working towards clinical recovery is incredibly hard, and having aspirations for the future helps individuals stay motivated and engaged in their recovery process. This is why giving someone a “grave prognosis” can be harmful and counter-intuitive: Because people experiencing psychosis have better outcomes when they are focused on achieving future goals. That is hard to do when you are feeling hopeless about your future. “Fortunately, I did not actually enact that grave prognosis” states Saks, who refused to accept that the psychosis associated with schizophrenia would define her life. “Instead, I’m a chair and professor of law, psychology and psychiatry at the USC Gold School of Law; I have many close friends; and I have a beloved husband.” Saks is not an exception to the rule. In fact, many medical experts today believe there is potential for all individuals to recover from psychosis, to some extent. Experiencing psychosis may feel like a nightmare, but being told your life is over after having your first episode is just as scary. Both personal recovery and clinical recovery are possible—that is the message we should be spreading to the thousands of young people experiencing episodes of psychosis. (National Alliance on Mental Illness; 3/12/18)

What the President’s call for "Mental Institutions" could Actually Achieve Some experts hope it could be a springboard to addressing legitimate gaps in the mental-health system, including a lack of treatment options for low-income patients. Addressing the broader failings of the mental-health system could improve millions of people's lives. "Thirty years ago, when you were talking about a state-run mental institution, you were generally talking about a place to warehouse people who we didn’t know what to do with or people we didn’t want to deal with," said Matt Salo of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. "We’re not looking at a return to warehouses to just stick people with mental illness," he added. There are plenty of other ways to ensure that people with a mental illness get the care they need, experts said. One option would be to amend a federal policy that limits Medicaid coverage of inpatient mental-health treatment to facilities with fewer than 16 beds. "Today, the reality is that we probably need more beds--the number of hospital beds we’ve got is inadequate," said Paul Gionfriddo, the CEO of Mental Health America. There is plenty of capacity for "custodial care," Gionfriddo said--we've just moved it out of psychiatric hospitals and into jails and prisons. The shortage, he said, is in actual therapeutic care, most of which would be covered by Medicaid. The link to the complete version for this edited story is-https://www.axios.com/trump-mental-institutions-09225a59da4f-4786-9fe2-63e75b2f7928.html (Axios; Mental Health America, 3/8/18)

Alive & Running-Dunkerton 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention This event will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It will start at 7:30 am on Saturday, June 16, at Gospel Hall, 301 Carroll Boulevard. On Friday, June 15, from 3 to 8 pm, people can pick up their race packets or register for the event at the Dunkerton High School Commons, 509 South Canfield Street. You turn into the driveway before the school and come in the back entrance. There is also a ceremony at dusk that Friday, near the school, to honor people. To register and for more information, access the website at www.aliveandrunningiowa.com. If you have additional questions, contact Ryan Nesbit at 641-990-4957 or [email protected].