Trouble Cafe is a Haven for Recovery

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As National Recovery Month comes to a close we bring you a story about $4 toast. Nuzzled in the foggy depths of San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood lies Trouble, a tiny little coffee shop known for its quirky menu of limited length and not a lot of flexibility. Two of Trouble’s most famous items–coconut water straight from a coconut and a slice of $4 cinnamon toast–might be easy to write off as an artisan food craze out to get our money, but look behind the price tag and one will find an epic story of the owner, Giulletta Carrelli, using these items to find (and own) her path to recovery after many years of living with undiagnosed schizoaffective disorder.

“At bottom, Carrelli says, Trouble is a tool for keeping her alive. ‘I’m trying to stay connected to the self,’ she says. Like one of her old notebooks, the shop has become an externalized set of reference points, an index of Carrelli’s identity. It is her greatest source of dependable routine and her most powerful means of expanding her network of friends and acquaintances, which extends now to the shop’s entire clientele.”

If you have any stories of recovery you want to share with us, please email Lindsay Harte at lharte@telecarecorp.com.

National Recovery Month: Mark Joyella

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Many of us start the day being greeted by our local news anchors to catch up on the happenings of our community and beyond. We see their faces daily, but often know nothing about the personalities behind them. Well, this week’s story of recovery comes from a former news anchor in Florida, Mark Joyella, as he “comes out” with his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder diagnosis in hopes to address the stigma he feared as a public figure for many years.

“Admitting that I was not well–and was getting treatment–transformed my life, which I realize now, looking back, was headed down a very lonely and scary path,” said Mark. “I kept waiting and waiting for my real life to begin, without making any progress to getting the things that I wanted.”

This is a fantastic, thoughtful, and well-researched article Mark wrote about his mental health and how the media addresses, and often contributes, to the stigma. We want to thank Mark for his courage and hope that you enjoy this article as well.

If you have any stories of recovery you want to share with us, please email Lindsay Harte at lharte@telecarecorp.com.

September is National Recovery Month

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During September, Telecare joins SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) in celebrating National Recovery Month.

Recovery is a unique process of change for individuals and can truly only be defined by each person themselves. Recovery for one person may be just a piece of the process for someone else. This year, the theme of National Recovery Month is Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out — encouraging people to speak openly and frankly about mental health and substance use disorders, as well as the reality of recovery, and also raising awareness for the many ways that individuals can use to recognize behavioral health issues and reach out for help.

Telecare was founded on the belief that rehabilitation and recovery from serious mental illness are possible, and that people can recover their hopes, dreams, and life roles.

We encourage you to explore the National Recovery Month website, where you can share your voice and tell your story. Through the sharing of stories, people are able to see that recovery is possible.

Your stories are important to us and we’d love to hear them. To submit your story in writing or on video, to be shared internally at Telecare, please send an email to Daphne Phillips at dphillips@telecarecorp.com. We look forward to featuring your stories on this blog and in our newsletter in the weeks to come!

September is National Recovery Month

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During September, Telecare joins SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) in celebrating National Recovery Month.

Recovery is a unique process of change for individuals and can truly only be defined by each person themselves. Recovery for one person may be just a piece of the process for someone else. This year, the theme of National Recovery Month is Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out — encouraging people to speak openly and frankly about mental health and substance use disorders, as well as the reality of recovery, and also raising awareness for the many ways that individuals can use to recognize behavioral health issues and reach out for help.

Telecare was founded on the belief that rehabilitation and recovery from serious mental illness are possible, and that people can recover their hopes, dreams, and life roles.

We encourage you to explore the National Recovery Month website, where you can share your voice and tell your story. Through the sharing of stories, people are able to see that recovery is possible.

Your stories are important to us and we’d love to hear them. To submit your story in writing or on video, to be shared internally at Telecare, please send an email to Daphne Phillips at dphillips@telecarecorp.com. We look forward to featuring your stories on this blog and in our newsletter in the weeks to come!

Trouble Cafe is a Haven for Recovery

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As National Recovery Month comes to a close we bring you a story about $4 toast. Nuzzled in the foggy depths of San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood lies Trouble, a tiny little coffee shop known for its quirky menu of limited length and not a lot of flexibility. Two of Trouble's most famous items-coconut water straight from a coconut and a slice of $4 cinnamon toast-might be easy to write off as an artisanal food craze out to get our money, but look behind the price tag and one will find an epic story of the owner, Giulletta Carrelli, using these items to find (and own) her path to recovery after many years of living with undiagnosed schizoaffective disorder.

"At bottom, Carrelli says, Trouble is a tool for keeping her alive. 'I'm trying to stay connected to the self,' she says. Like one of her old notebooks, the shop has become an externalized set of reference points, an index of Carrelli's identity. It is her greatest source of dependable routine and her most powerful means of expanding her network of friends and acquaintances, which extends now to the shop's entire clientele."

La Paz: Garden of Hope

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This year at La Paz, you can see watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, and herbs flourishing in the garden.  Under the supervision of Lenivie Harris, George Cherry, and Dacharee Briggs, dedicated residents have been tending to their plot with extra care.

The residents describe this project as “fun, interesting, relaxing, and good exercise.” Gloria expresses, “There’s nothing better than seeing everything grow, because it gives you joy and pleasure.” Jerry says, “It makes you work up a sweat, but I don’t mind because it makes you feel good.” Lamarre believes gardening is “excellent exercise to soften up the stiff body.” Linda likes “spending time outdoors because it reminds me of being a nursery girl.”

Year after year, the gardening project continues to bring hope, pleasure, and fulfillment to the lives of our residents.

Oregon Program Joins in Pole, Peddle, Paddle Race

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Deschutes Recovery Center (DRC) in Bend, Oregon recently formed two teams of six individuals each — some from DRC and others from their Residential Treatment Homes (including a resident and an administrator), to participate in Bend’s famous Pole, Pedal, Paddle Race. The relay race begins at the top of Mt. Bachelor with an alpine downhill ski, followed by a cross country ski, a bike ride from the mountain into town, then a five-mile run, and a canoe route in the river, ending with a sprint to the finish line!

Each participant completed one leg of the race and handed off to their teammate at the next event. This race is a staple in the community and exemplifies the active lifestyle and community-oriented attitude of the region.

Everyone had such a great time, DRC is already planning to participate again next year and every year after!

VIPS Program Participates in Schizophrenia Series

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PBS affiliate, KQED in Northern California, recently aired part 1 of a 3-part series on Schizophrenia. Telecare’s VIPS Prevention & Early Intervention program contributed to part one.

The KQED story focuses on the concept of intervening early to help stop schizophrenia before it starts. Telecare is deeply proud to be working with young people in a way that helps them retain and regain their health, hopes and dreams.

You can listen to the KQED story here.

And, though part two already aired, if you’re interested, part three will air on KQED on Monday, August 11th. That’s 88.5 FM at 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. Additionally, different (longer and nationally-focused) versions of these stories are scheduled to air on NPR’s Morning Edition in September on the 8th and 15th.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Behavioral Health Forum

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May, 9, 2014 Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Indian Treaty Room

NAAPIEN, The National Asian American Pacific Islander Empowerment Network, was well represented by Telecare’s Jonathan Griggs (Chairman) and Mariko Okumoto (Peer Advocate).

The critical issues for AAPI Behavioral Health were broken down to four areas and included discussions and presentations on Data, Integrated Care, Workforce Development, and Community Engagement.

Following the presentations, were breakout sessions on improving AAPI Behavioral Health. We reconvened to hear brief reports from representatives from each breakout session, and discussed suggested actions.

The day before the event included an invitation to CAPAC, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, 2014, Congressional Symposium for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Afterwards, NAAPIMHA, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, set up a roundtable discussion with members of The Congress and Senate staff and other federal partners.

Responding To The Tragedy At Isla Vista

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On Friday, May 23rd, 2014, another horrifying and tragic mass shooting took place, this time in the community of Isla Vista, California, near the University of California, Santa Barbara. Six people were killed and many others injured. Our state and nation continue to grieve for the victims and their families. Elliot Rodger, who has been identified as the shooter, took his own life.

At Telecare, we are heartbroken to hear of these events. Our prayers go out to all of the families and the community as we mourn these incredible losses.

As care-givers and community-members, this tragedy is a reminder that we have important work still to do.

One way we can help is to advocate for positive change. We can write to our community leaders and government representatives and let them know that how important it is to build and expand effective practices in crisis and preventative mental health care. We know this kind of advocacy can work because earlier this year, the federal government passed the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which will increase access to vital mental health services in the community. Our voices and participation helped make this happen.

In Isla Vista, we can also take steps to offer more immediate help and support, and hopefully, make this terrible time a little easier for those who are coping. If you would like to take action or learn more, you may wish to contact NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (click here). Also, the University of California, Santa Barbara, has set up a support fund in honor of the families and victims.

For local Santa Barbara area support, continued counseling is being provided by many partners including County Alcohol Drug Mental Health Services, UCSB and the Santa Barbara Resource Network. Telecare, as a provider in Santa Barbara, is also reaching out to the Agency to offer its help. Members of the broader Santa Barbara community seeking emotional support, can access a call center at 805-699-5608. If you need emotional support during this difficult time, a call center has been set up for UCSB students and families which may have questions at (805) 893-3901. These telephone lines are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with English and Spanish language support. (from the County of Santa Barbara website).

Thank-you for joining with us at this time of crises to offer solace to those who are suffering from this terrible tragedy.

CHANGES Supports Mental Health Awareness Month

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On May 16, 2014, as part of the We Move for Health Walk, Telecare CHANGES staff, interns, and clients joined the Alameda County 10×10 Wellness Campaign at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in support of those with mental health challenges.

Move for Health Day is a national movement, creating awareness around the benefits of physical activity in the promotion of whole health. Moving for Health refers to individuals participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity — of any kind, that can be performed anywhere to work towards improving one’s health.

Mental Health Matters Day is May 13th

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On May 13, on the South Lawn of California’s Capitol Building in Sacramento, thousands of people from various backgrounds will gather to show that mental health is important to everyone.

Telecare is proud to be a sponsor of Mental Health Matters Day. Learn more about the event and register for events at Each Mind Matters. The event will feature a keynote address from Senate pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, as well as inspiring words from pioneers of the mental health movement, and new perspectives on eliminating stigma from youth leaders. Mental Health Matters Day attendees will also enjoy interactive exhibits, live entertainment, and food. You don’t want to miss it!

May Is Mental Health Month

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For 65 years, Mental Health America has led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings. The 2014 May is Mental Health Month theme is “Mind Your Health“.

Telecare encourages programs to celebrate May is Mental Health Month and we want to hear all about it! If you would like to share your stories and photos on T-Net, please email the information to Daphne Phillips at dphillips@telecarecorp.com.

For more information and materials to support your May is Mental Health Month activities, visit the Mental Health America website.

CORE/PROPS San Diego: Lisa's Success Story

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Lisa began her journey with Telecare after being referred by her probation officer who felt it was in Lisa’s best interest to provide not only law enforcement supervision, but also to assist her with her psychiatric symptoms and empower her to achieve her recovery goals. Her story involved both a mental challenge and the social stigma attached to having a criminal record, due to her drug use. As Lisa expressed, “Drugs make you feel good for a bit, but then the effects go away, you find yourself in a deeper hole”.

Lisa’s childhood included sexual and physical abuse, lack of support system, continuous trauma, and depression and anxiety disorders. She found in alcohol and drugs a way to cope with these issues; nonetheless, her criminal record and increased psychiatric symptoms became a reality check for Lisa and the decisions she made.

As a member of Telecare, Lisa acknowledged her past and set goals for her future. She envisioned herself being independent, having a job, a car, a steady income and more importantly, to continue with her psychiatric treatment.

Currently, Lisa works full-time at a sober living house and is saving money to transition and live in her own studio close to work — and she is about to buy her own “smart” car. Lisa believes recovery is alive and is up to us to allow it to live in us. As such, Lisa’s recovery includes constant participation in therapy and use of coping, communication, and social skills learned, compliance with her probation, and constant participation with Telecare. Lisa also has eliminated use of illegal substances and is confident in reaching her goal to become a productive citizen, and as she said “maybe a co-worker” at Telecare.

Sweet Surprises at Clark County E&T

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Team Telecare of Clark County Evaluation and Treatment Center in Vancouver, Washington wanted to remind staff that they are important and a strong contributing factor in the recovery of our clients. For the first two weeks of February, Team Telecare hung brightly colored Valentine’s bags in the staff hallway. Supervisors placed hand written notes of appreciation in each staff member’s bag and staff was invited to join in the fun with written notes of encouragement, Valentine cards, and candy for co-workers. On Valentine’s Day, everyone enjoyed the notes and treats given to them and gathered for a delicious potluck. This event is a sweet way for everyone to show each other that we appreciate the work they do all year!

Meet Anita Barnas, Senior Vice President, Operations

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Anita Barnas is replacing Stacey Calhoun as Senior Vice President of Operations. (Stacey is taking on a new role here at Telecare). She started in September and has been visiting programs as she can. She’s hoping to make it out to all the remaining programs this year.

If you have any operations questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Anita at abarnas@telecarecorp.com. She’s looking forward to meeting everyone!