WCSEA Fall Conference�Mary Mason, NAMI Brown County Board
Tracy Schiesser, President NAMI Brown County
Presentation created by:
Mary Kay Battaglia, Executive Director
Stacey Mohr-Johannsen, Associate Director
Understanding and Responding to people with Mental Illness
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
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Who is NAMI?
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NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)
Nation’s largest grassroots nonprofit organization founded in 1979
Over 600 local affiliates and 48 state affiliates across the United States
Find your Local NAMI or State Chapter
The mission of NAMI Wisconsin is to improve the quality of life of people affected by mental illnesses and to promote recovery.
WHO WE ARE...�NAMI WISCONSIN
NAMI HISTORY & STATE AFFILIATES
Our education programs ensure individuals get the support and information they need.
Education
We provide no-cost, peer-led support groups offered by trained volunteers.
Support
We advocate at all levels of government to improve mental health care in Wisconsin.
Advocacy
We work hard to promote public education and understanding of mental illnesses.
Awareness
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)
Local NAMI Affiliate serving Brown County
Family Support Group & Peer Support Group
8- week, Peer to Peer Education Classes
Presentations
Educational Events, including CIT & CIP Training
Mental Health Chat - Elementary Program
Lead by BODs, all volunteers in the community
Office located 1234 Main Street in Green Bay
Annual Picnic at Bay Beach
Educational Classes
Support Groups
SUPPORT & EDUCATION FROM LOCAL �NAMI AFFILIATES
Exercise:�Write down any words that come to mind when you hear and think of the term:
MENTAL ILLNESS
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HOW DOES STIGMA EFFECT MENTAL ILLNESS?
When someone has a heart attack, breaks their leg, or is diagnosed with a physical illness they are usually showered with support, messages of kindness, and food from friends and family.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case when someone is diagnosed with a mental illness.
Join the ‘casserole club’
Avoid stigmatizing language�
Person-first Language
Be aware of how your language affects those living with a mental illness. Decreasing stigma through language helps to increase support and awareness for people living with a mental illness. “Mental Health Language” matters
�Seeing the person first and not defining someone by their illness.
CHECK YOUR LANGUAGE
Mental Health
&
Mental Illness 101
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Mental health can be defined as the way we think, feel, and how we relate to others.
Each day your mental health can be good or bad. We all have bad mental health days but that does not mean we have a mental illness.
Everyone has mental health, but not everyone has a mental illness.
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
WHEN DOES MENTAL HEALTH BECOME MENTAL ILLNESS?
A person may be diagnosed with a mental illness when their symptoms are
It’s helpful to think of mental health and mental illness as separate entities working independently.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS
Mental illnesses are NOT caused by personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing.
Mental illnesses ARE medical conditions.
Mental illness should be viewed and treated the same as a physical illness.
MENTAL ILLNESS
1 in 5 people live with a mental illness (1 in 25 lives with a serious mental illness). The other 4 out of 5 people will know someone living with a mental illness.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS COMMON
6.9% Depression
2.6% Bipolar Disorder
1.1% Schizophrenia
18.1% Anxiety Conditions
There are many tools that can improve the experience on the journey of recovery: medication, counseling (therapy), coping skills, social support and education.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS TREATABLE
MENTAL ILLNESS & OUR FAMILIES
& the workplace
Caregivers may live with a mental illness.
The people we serve may have friends or family members who live with a mental illness.
Family members may live with a mental illness.
We want to be able to respond appropriately
MENTAL ILLNESS & THE FAMILIES WE SERVE
IMPACT OF UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS
ON THE FAMILY
Untreated mental illness costs the US economy $200 billion in lost earnings each year.
THE COST OF
STAYING SILENT
WHY HAVE A“MENTAL WELLNESS” FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT?
LET’S START THE MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION
Active Listening
�Verbal De-escalation
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ACTIVE LISTENING
Validation that what they are experiencing is difficult and there is someone on the other end that understands.
The most important thing you can do is listen!
They should feel that you tried to help them.
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON THING PEOPLE ARE SEEKING?
Steps to Active Listening
Stop : Listen : Respond : Ask
ACTIVE LISTENING
1. Stop whatever you are doing physically and mentally and focus on the person in front of you. Turn off your phone, stand sit still, remove thoughts from your brain and direct all attention to them.
2. Listen mentally and physically to what they are saying. Listen with your eyes, uncross your arms, lean in, be engaged.
3. Respond physically and verbally. Nod your head, keep eye contact, make VALIDATING statements.
4. Ask open ended, who, what, where, and how. How can I help you, who should we contact to help, what would help you, where would you like to go?
ACTIVE LISTENING
What Active Listening is NOT
Influencing Behavioral Change
Active listening is the foundation for each step.
BUILDING TRUST
“Yes" or "uh-huh"
“I hear you.” "That is a lot to deal with"
PARAPHRASING
“So, what I hear you saying is that the uncertainty about your living situation is creating stress for you.”
BRIEF VERBAL AFFIRMATION
“You’re completely valid in feeling that way.” “Thanks for being such a great advocate for your son.”
“You’re doing the best you can…hang in there, Sara.”
DEMONSTRATING CONCERN
“I know you are going through some tough challenges.”
"That must be really hard"
“This must be really difficult”
ACTIVE LISTENING EXAMPLES
DE-ESCALATION
De-escalation is a process that uses your active listening skills and body language for a result-based approach to safely de-escalate someone experiencing crisis.
If you feel unsafe, skip de-escalation and call 911.
Goals when verbally de-escalating:
DE-ESCALATION TIPS
*Always call 911 if the situation escalates physically or you feel that you are in danger.
Result Based Approach
Slow down
Be patient
Remain calm
Be empathetic
Everyone has a story. They just want to be heard.
Result Based Approach
Resources
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MENTAL ILLNESS EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS
988 SUICIDE &
CRISIS LIFELINE
988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIELINE IN WI
As we communicate about 988, it is important that we establish trust for this new resource but also push people to continue to advocate for increased funding and commitment to a standard of care for crisis response. An ideal crisis system includes mobile crisis teams responding when in-person care is needed, rather than relying on law enforcement. It also means crisis stabilization options to provide an effective, appropriate place for people in crisis to go. These additional services will vary community-by-community, but if we work together, it is possible for us to reimagine crisis response.
NAMI Youth Support
https://namibrowncounty.org/advocacy/
https://namiwisconsin.org/lets-talk-about-mental-illness/
Fishing Sponsorships
https://namibrowncounty.org/sponsorship/
NAMI RESOURCES
Find your local NAMI
https://www.nami.org/findsupport
NAMI National’s Navigating a Mental Health Crisis:
https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/Guides/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis
NAMI National Resource Directory
StigmaFree Information- NAMI National �https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Pledge-to-Be-StigmaFree
NAMI RESOURCES
LOCAL RESOURCES
Thank you!