An upcoming conference is aimed at helping those with mental illness on Hawaii Island move beyond their diagnoses.
An upcoming conference is aimed at helping those with mental illness on Hawaii Island move beyond their diagnoses.
Occurring May 31 at the West Hawaii Civic Center, the “Got Mental Health? The Transformation Continues” conference will carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to people experiencing mental health issues, trauma and extreme states. It offers educational workshops on topics, such as the Copeland Center Wellness Recovery Action Plan, suicide prevention, behavioral health services in Medicaid and addressing social determinants through trauma-informed care training by University of Hawaii’s Steve Onken, said Carol Medina, a consumer, family and culture specialist for the state Adult Mental Health Division.
By combining knowledge and skills with other supports, the conference will help people with mental illness build self worth and self esteem, as well as show others that they can join society in productive, meaningful and fulfilling ways, said Betty Burlile, a member of the conference planning committee.
“We want to educate consumers, families, professionals and others in our community by giving them the right tools and right information to support themselves or others who are struggling. We want people to be able to recognize a mental health problem and have a better understanding of what someone else is dealing with. We want treatment and recovery to start early on before things escalate into a crisis,” she said. “Most of all, we want to help the mentally ill live independent, self-determined lives and give them the assistance they need to continue striving to achieve their full potential.”
People with mental illness are often stigmatized and segregated from the rest of society, Burlile said. The resulting loneliness, hurt and hopelessness can contribute to depression, other manifestations of their medical conditions and crisis situations.
“About 100 Hawaii residents commit suicide every year,” she said. “Suicide is almost always the result of untreated or under-treated mental illness.”
Mental illnesses are conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder, Medina said.
Of Hawaii’s approximately 1.3 million residents, close to 32,000 adults and about 12,000 children live with serious mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Support can make all the difference, Medina said. She hopes conference attendees will find solace with or befriend other participants, who may give further support and encouragement.
The conference is organized by Consumer, Family and Youth Alliance, an organization of adult and youth consumers, their families, communities and programs that share information on mental health issues, concerns and policies to create a unified voice.
Funding was provided by the Olmstead Grant, the State Council on Mental Health Block Grant and the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Administered by the state Department of Health, the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant supports the development and implementation of the Consumer, Family and Youth Alliance meetings, conferences and trainings to assure collaboration, share educational opportunities, as well as improve communication and coordinator of activities for people living with mental illness.
Besides Kailua-Kona, the “Got Mental Health? The Transformation Continues” conference is also being held May 23 at Kulana Oiwi on Molokai, May 24 at Kauai Community College, May 25 at Maui Community College, May 29 at McKinley High School in Honolulu and May 30 at Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School in Hilo.
All conferences take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration, due Tuesday, is required and can be done by calling 453-6618 or emailing CFYAlliance@gmail.com. The $5 fee covers lunch and materials.
For more information, contact Medina at 453-6618 or carol.medina@doh.hawaii.com.