Group lends helping hand
By Tom Mitchell
LEADER TIMES
Friday, September 22, 2006
KITTANNING -- Mental illness is
often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, unrecognized, denied
and even feared.
These issues, however, affect more
than 5,000 in Armstrong County, said Bylinda Brown, director of the
Mental Health Association in Armstrong County.
In 1994, Brown and a volunteer
group of 10 board members decided it was time to open a facility
that offered free help to anyone suffering from mental illness or
family members of mentally ill people. Their planning became reality
earlier this year when the Mental Health Association in Armstrong
County opened its doors at 150 South Jefferson St., leasing office
space formerly occupied by Family Counseling Services.
Brown said the association is
unique because it does not rely on government support, and its
services are free to anyone suffering from mental illness or their
family members. The association operates under the umbrella of the
Mental Health Association in Allegheny County.
"It takes a lot of paperwork and
time to form a corporation eligible for 501-3C for a nonprofit tax
exemption," Brown said, "So we contacted the Allegheny County
Association to see if we could operate under their umbrella, and
they agreed. We opened our doors this year."
Brown said the association does not
offer treatment to mentally ill people but rather focuses on
educating the public about various forms of mental illness and
depression and offers a number of free referral and advocacy
services to mental health consumers and their familes.
"We formed as an educational
organization because we understand that few people know much about
mental illness, the symptoms, who may contract it and treatment
programs," Brown said. "People with serious mental health issues
maybe ruining their own lives and the lives of their friends or
families, yet many people deny that the illness affects them because
of the stigma it carries. We want people to know that recovery from
mental illness is more than possible, but recovery depends on
understaning the problems that cause mental illness."
Bonnie Gallaher, president of the
association's board of directors, said one of the most common forms
of mental illness is depression.
"Everyone goes through depression,"
Gallaher said. "Episodes of depression may happen to a person for a
variety of reasons, death of a family members, friend or loved one,
job loss, illness, or economic troubles. Most people come out of
depression, but some don't.
"Because depression is so
prevalent, especially here in Armstrong County, we have started a
depression support group. It meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Friday.
Like most of our support groups, it is peer-led, rather than being
led by a professional counselor. A lot of people won't come to a
professionally led group because they feel more comfortable dealing
with people who can empathize with their problems because they have
the same problems, they can relate better. One idea of the group is
to help build self esteem among its members."
Brown said when the organization
cites 5,000 as the number affected by mental illness, it is not
counting people who seek treatment outside the county, those treated
by the Veterans Administration or those who need treatment but don't
seek help.
"So the actual figures are much
higher," she said.
Brown and Gallaher said that the
association is planning to launch a number of new programs to help
people recognize and understand mental health issues.
"We want to start a 'Warm Line,'"
she said. "It would be similar to a 'Hot Line' except that it would
be for non-emergency calls. People could call simply when they need
a sympathetic ear or need support or resource information. Many
suicides are prevented simply because people have someone to talk to
before they may contemplate suicide. We also have a 'representative
payee' in our office. This is person designated to handle the
finances of people who are not able to do so themselves. The payee
makes sure that rent, house payments or things like utility bills
are paid, say from a person's disability check, and all their
financial needs are met. We also have an advocacy program to work
with mental health consumers and their families to help resolve
complaints and concerns regarding mental health services."
Gallaher said the association will
also host a Consumer Family Satisfaction Team at the association's
open house slated for 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 3.
"We live in somewhat of an
economically depressed area, one where the average wage isn't high,"
she said. "Quite often, finances can lead to depression. The
satisfaction team will be on hand to interview people about their
buying habits and suggest ways to trim the family budget, yet allow
for comfortable living. Additionally, we will have information about
various types of mental illness and depression. Everyone is welcome
to our open house."
Brown said she is available to
speak to church and civic groups about the association's programs.
"One project we'd like to start
this year is to obtain a grant for law enforcement training. We need
to train everyone involved in law enforcement or corrections in how
to deal with mentally ill people. Sometimes, mentally ill people end
up in jail when they should be hospitalized. Police are trained how
to handle domestic abuse situations, and we feel that training in
handling mentally ill people is equally important."
The association is self-supporting,
Brown said.
"We obtain our money through
grants, various fundraising activities and donations," she said. "We
do not receive any money from the county or state governments;
therefore we are not a burden on the taxpayers."
More information is available by
contacting the Mental Health Association of Armstrong County at
724-548-5054 or by e-mail: mha.ac@windstream.net.
Tom Mitchell can be
reached at tmitchell@tribweb.com or (724) 543-1303 ext 220.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_471755.html
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