WUMH Update

****The May Quarterly Meeting has been CANCELED.****
The next meeting will be in August. We hope that you will be able to attend some of the other activities, press conferences, or conferences that are occurring with our various partners during May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  This newsletter contains information on several events and even more are listed on our web site calendar.

Upcoming *** 2011 WUMH Quarterly Meeting Dates***
The WUMH Advisory Board and the Steering Committee (all partners) meet from 9-11:00 am at the WI Women’s Health Foundation in Madison.  All dates are the second Friday of the month. We hope that you can join us!

• May 13, 2011 CANCELED
• August 12, 2011
• November 11, 2011

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Dear WUMH Partners:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

This year, as many days of April showers are bringing Wisconsin May flowers, they are also bringing Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week May 1-7. In honor of a special week, themed “Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health” for 2011 there is a focus on building resilience in young children dealing with trauma, which underscores the importance of children’s mental health and wellness all year long. Materials (information packet) and resources useful in your community for outreach and education have been compiled. Check out the WI Alliance for Infant Mental Health web site at www.wiimh.org or WUMH’s web site at www.wimentalhealth.org to down load materials. One of the primary goals for observing Children’s Mental Health Awareness week is to promote an understanding that infants, young children, and teens can have mental health issues. Children need support all year so please feel free to use the materials after May. National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is May 3rd and WI Family Ties along with its partners are hosting a press conference at the Madison Children’s Museum to kick off the month.

Mental health impacts persons of all ages, religions, racial/ethnic communities, educational and socioeconomic groups, as well as gender. With increasing economic troubles piled onto the stress of work and family demands, more and more American families are impacted. During Mental Health Awareness Month, a focus is to increase awareness of mental health/mental illness issues specifically impacting adults, women, and older person’s mental health. One of our partners, the WI Women’s Health Foundation (WWHF), is holding its annual Gala on May 7th which will kick off National Women’s Health Week (May 8-14). We would like to congratulate Susan Conlin Opheim, co-founder of HOPES (Helping Others Prevent and Educate about Suicide), who is being honored as a 2011 WWHF Champion for Women’s Mental Health! Also: Women’s Check-up Day is May 9th see the National Women’s Health Information Center at: www.womenshealth.gov/whw/index.cfm.

The National Older Americans Month 2011 theme is “Older Americans: Connecting the Community," which pays homage to the many ways that older adults bring inspiration and continuity to our communities. It features several ways technology is helping older Americans live longer, healthier, and more engaged lives. Visit www.aoa.gov for information and resources.

Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, three quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatments, there are long delays-sometimes decades- between the first onset of symptoms and when people seek and receive treatment. Why? In part due to a lack of awareness and providers, and because of the stigma associated with mental illnesses. Stigma is a barrier. It discourages people from getting treatment and services. The federal HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma web site is at www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov.

The goal of WUMH is the elimination of the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses and the promotion of recovery. Together, we can promote and achieve optimal health and mental wellness for individuals of all ages throughout Wisconsin. Join with us to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Cohen, WUMH Co-chair and
Patty Branton, WUMH Co-chair
www.wimentalhealth.org

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Upcoming Events and Partner Announcements

Children's Mental Health Awareness Press Event  - May 3, 2011
From 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Madison Children's Museum Rooftop (Main Gallery - Rain location) 100 North Hamilton St.
To RSVP contact Wisconsin Family Ties at www.wifamilyties.org or 608-267-6888 or 800-422-7145

Please join the Collaborative Partners for Children’s Mental Health Awareness at a press event in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Statements will be provided by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin; Hugh Davis, Executive Director Wisconsin Family Ties; Lori Krinke, Parent Representative Wisconsin Mental Health Council Children and Youth Committee; Paula Buege, parent; and others. Scott Strong, Executive Director Community Partnerships will be Master of Ceremony.


WI FACETS, along with WI Family Ties and WI United for Mental Health, is proud to announce a Regional Special Education Conference: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues. This Regional Conference will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Madison, at Madison College (formerly MATC), 3550 Anderson Street, Madison, WI.  More details can be found on our web site calendar.

WI FACETS, The Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training and Support, is proud to announce Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues, a free Regional Special Education Conference for parents and professionals. This free full day of ideas, advocacy, and training will provide a multitude of information to all participants.  Co-Sponsored by Wisconsin Family Ties and Wisconsin United for Mental Health, Conference sectionals will include a potpourri of topics related to mental health issues of children and adolescents as listed below:
* What Kids with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities Need
* Eliminating Barriers for Learning: Social & Emotional Factors
* Child and Adolescent Bi-Polar Disorder
* Transition Resources for Adolescents with Mental &/or Emotional Disorders
* Parents and Teachers as Allies
* Accessing Disability Resources in Post Secondary Education
* Serving on Groups That Make Decisions
* Keynote Address by Dr. Michael Witkovsky and additional breakout sessions…

TO REGISTER CONTACT SANDRA McFARLAND:
877-374-0511 or smcfarland@wifacets.org or FAX at 414-374-4655, or on-line at www.wifacets.org


Six to Be Honored for Demonstrating Extraordinary Leadership in Women’s Health
Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation Announces Champion in Women’s Health Award Recipients
[Madison] – The Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation will honor six individuals with Champion in Women’s Health Awards on Saturday evening, May 7 at the Madison Club, 5 East Wilson Street, Madison. Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation founder and president, Sue Ann Thompson, will present the awards at a reception from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.

The Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation created the Champion in Women’s Health Awards to honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in women’s health. “We received more than 23 nominations from all over the state,” says Sue Ann Thompson. “After the difficult task of narrowing them down, we chose six individuals who are instrumental in raising awareness of women’s health issues, expanding the base of knowledge about women’s health through their work, and impacting the quality of health care that Wisconsin women receive.” Champions will also be honored later that evening during the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation’s 12th Annual Spring Gala held at the State Capitol Rotunda from 7:30pm – midnight. www.wwhf.org


Communities in Action to Prevent Suicide Conference: May 4th, 8am-4:30pm, Ramada Inn, Stevens Point. Brought to you by Prevent Suicide Wisconsin, Mental Health America of Wisconsin and HOPES. For program brochure and registration go to: www.preventsuicidewi.org


Funding Opportunities for Suicide Prevention. Mental Health America of Wisconsin has two funding opportunities for Wisconsin organizations to support local suicide prevention efforts. See details at www.mhawisconsin.org


The Second Annual Wisconsin Women’s Health Policy Summit: 
Why? To continue to collectively raise the status of women’s health in Wisconsin
Who? The Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health
When? Wednesday, May 11, during National Women’s Health Week
Where: The Monona Terrace in Madison, WI

Please visit: wihprc.org/resourcecenter/informationclearninghouse/2011wwhps.aspx for more information and registration information.  An agenda is available at: www.supportwomenshealth.org/resourcecenter/informationclearinghouse/2011wwhps.aspx

The Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health (WAWH) is an independent, statewide network of organizations dedicated to advancing comprehensive women’s health in Wisconsin by engaging, educating, empowering and mobilizing individuals and organizations. This is the second annual Summit, which will convene women health advocates, providers, survivors, and policymakers to host a joint conversation on how to raise the status of WI women’s health. Go to their website for more information at www.supportwomenshealth.org