HUGS Orange County - Help. Uplift. Give Support.

No, you don’t have to paint, sing or dance…but it can’t hurt.

The Orange County Mental Health Board has formed an Arts Committee and is looking for participation from the mental health community and those interested and involved in the Arts who also have an interest in working with the mental health community.

The Committee will be focusing its attention to the needs and use of all Arts including visual (fine arts, crafts, digital arts, and photography), plus music, dance, and theater arts.

Discussion at the Oct 22 meeting will revolve around [Read more →]

The California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s ‘Client and Family Leadership Committee’ is looking for new members and NAMI-OC hopes OC clients and family members will apply.

The Committee ensures that their decisions and recommendations are made with “the perspective and participation of those affected by mental illnesses and their family members,” with a focus on traditionally underserved communities. Besides client and family members, others encouraged to apply include educators; those with disabilities in addition to mental illness; those of diverse ethnic, racial, cultural and sexual minorities, and transitional age youth (ages 16-25). [Read more →]

NAMI is conducting a survey of individuals living with serious mental illnesses and their family members. They are seeking the real world experiences of individuals, and their families, who need public mental health services.

NAMI partnered with TeleSage, a leading independent survey technology company, to conduct an online study to learn about how well states are providing publicly funded mental health services.

The survey is available online through September 30 and takes only about 10-15 minutes to complete. [Read more →]

From Mental Health America:

Both the Senate and House passed mental health parity legislation on Tuesday by strong margins! Your involvement and support were keys to these actions.

Because the bills are not identical and include different ways to fund the legislation, the two bodies will have to reach an agreement on a final version before it can become law.

The Senate vote was 84 -11.

The 2008 Orange County Summit on Hoarding will be held this Friday and Saturday (Sept 26-27) at the Huntington Beach Library and Cultural Center. (map)
 
Saturday’s event, which is open to the public, features the Orange County premiere of “My Mother’s Garden.”  This is Cynthia Lester’s documentary style film concerning her family’s struggles with compulsive hoarding. After the film, the director will join a panel of community service providers discussing the issue of compulsive hoarding and the resources available. The premiere begins at 9:00 am and there is a $5 admission fee.

Friday is for service providers and will feature Dr. Sanjaya Saxena, MD, of the University of San Diego Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Clinic, and Dr. Cristina Sorrentino, MSW, PhD, formerly of the Boston University School of Social Work, Compulsive Hoarding Project. Advance registration is required.

A sell-out crowd is expected for both events presented by the Orange County Task Force on Hoarding in conjunction with the County of Orange Health Care Agency, the Mental Health Association of Orange County, and the Huntington Beach Public Library.

Click here for the 2008 Orange County Summit on Hoarding brochure.

The State of California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) is developing an e-mail list to allow them to communicate more effectively online. You can sign up for periodic announcements and updates from the Commission.

Send an e-mail to: MHSOAC@dmh.ca.gov. In the subject line put “Subscribe” and in the body of your request put your name, e-mail address, organizational affiliation (if any), and the county in which you reside.

If you need more information, you may contact them at the e-mail address above or write/call the Communication Team, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, 1300 17th St., Ste. 1000, Sacramento, CA 95811. Their phone numbers are 916.445.8731 and 916.445.8696

There will be a Stigma Reduction Picnic this Friday at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, hosted by the OCVMAS and featuring delicious Vietnamese food.  Go to the park entrance at Edinger and Ward and look for the balloons.  For more info, call 714.973.6600

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The OC Mental Health Board is developing an Arts subcommittee, and is seeking clients and family members interested in visual, written, or performing arts as members.  (Artists, musicians, poets, authors, etc.)  There will be a brainstorming meeting this Thursday at 10:00 am, and the first general meeting will be October 22 at 11:00 am.  Space is limited at the first meeting, so please let me know ASAP if you are interested in participating so I can add you to my RSVP.  Contact me for more info: Shannon Peterson jacksonaisle@yahoo.com