MHA Home Page

Court Ordered
Divorce Class
Drop-In-Centers
Suicide Prevention
Support Groups

Project Cheer
Advocacy
Speakers Bureau
Disaster Response-CCP
Referral

Our Programs
Membership
MHA Newsletter
Monthly Calendars:
   ¬Daytona
   ¬Deland
   ¬Flagler
Special Events
Board Members
Contact Us

Name Change

The Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Volusia County, Inc. has voted to change the name to The Mental Health Association of East Central Florida, Inc. “The name change was necessary to accurately reflect the area we serve,” says Bob Decker, President/CEO. “As we continue to grow the name change will more accurately reflect the community we represent.”

“It provides the community with a fresh new outlook of the organization,” says Ron Cahen, Board Chair. “The new name reflects the forward thinking of our board as we present a more positive representation of the communities that we serve.”

The organization continues to be an affiliate of Mental Health America, formerly the National Mental Health Association and the Florida Chapter of Mental Health America.

Volunteerism: You Really Can Make A Difference

Volunteerism is the willingness of people to work on behalf of others without the expectation of pay or rewards. Volunteerism is done for many reasons. For some it may be to gain experience and for others it may be for a sense of being of assistance to others in need.

However, there are benefits directly related to volunteer work to society as a whole. The economic benefits to the community are immense, especially during this time of budget cuts as the burden on government spending is reduced.

The social values of volunteerism cannot be overlooked either. According to Wikipedia, “volunteering helps to build more cohesive communities, fosters greater trust between citizens, and develops norms of solidarity and reciprocity which are essential to stable communities.”

Volunteerism is important, in particular, to students and senior citizens for different reasons.

For students who are just beginning their careers, volunteering may be an integral way for them to gain experience within their field. In the field of psychology it can be especially challenging for students to get hands-on experience in working with persons with mental illnesses. Or, volunteering for extra credit is also utilized by some progressive classes as an experiential exercise in integrating the students into real life situations that are difficult to simulate in the classroom.

For senior citizens, the benefits of volunteerism is threefold. First, it provides a vehicle for them to remain active in the community and to share the gained experiences throughout their lifetime.

Some citizens view volunteerism as a way to stay connected and active. Research shows that remaining active has a direct impact on our overall emotional and physical health.

Also, as seniors become less active, their needs for assistance increases. Meeting those needs often requires the work of many agencies and volunteers.

The Mental Health Association believes that, “together, through action and by commitment, we can make a difference.” And, through our programs and services, that difference is realized by, not only individuals, but by families and the communities we serve.

Programs such as our Guardian Advocates rely entirely on trained volunteers to provide informed consent for individuals that are being held involuntarily and are unable to make medical decisions for themselves. A four-hour training course is provided for our volunteers who wish to become Guardian Advocates.

Our drop-in centers often utilize volunteers to provide activities for our clients. These activities range from organizing an ice-cream social to providing art classes.

The administrative offices are always in need to technical and clerical support. If your expertise ranges from answering phones to marketing, your assistance is valued and needed.

If you would like to learn more about how you can contribute in making a difference in someone’s life, call the Mental Health Association today at 386-252-5785. Opportunity may be closer than you think. 

Bullying: Emotional and Physical Pain

An openly gay youth from Polk County was murdered last year and the two persons involved have been charged with a hate crime. This is just one of many incidents that has driven state advocacy groups to join together to sponsor a bill that would directly address bullying in schools.

The alarming fact is that one out of every five hate crimes in the state of Florida are based on sexual orientation or gender identification, according to Equality Florida, an organization that advocates for the rights of gay youth.

Schools should offer a safe and respectful learning environment for everyone. When bullying is allowed to take place, it affects everyone.

Bullying does not always mean physical violence. A new University of Florida (UF) study shows that spreading rumors and gossiping may not cause bruises or black eyes, but the psychological consequences of this social type of bullying could linger into adulthood.

In a study of 210 college students, UF researchers discovered a link between what psychologists call relational victimization in adolescence and depression and anxiety in early adulthood. Rather than threatening a child with physical violence, these bullies target a child's social status and relationships by shunning them, excluding them from social activities or spreading rumors.

There are some positive steps that parents can take to prevent bullying. Start early. Parent/child talks are critical. Teach kids to respect others before they start school and continue to talk about this topic on an ongoing basis. Even small acts of teasing should be stopped in their tracks. Don’t fail to correct this kind of behavior due to a child’s young age. This is exactly when to stop it.

Teach your child to be assertive. Encourage your children to express their feelings clearly, say no when they feel uncomfortable or pressured, stand up for themselves without fighting, and walk away in dangerous situations. Bullies are less likely to intimidate children who are confident and resourceful.

Stop bullying when you see it. Adults who remain silent when children are bullying others give permission to the behavior and thereby encourage it.

Tell your children to take action when they see bullying behavior. Tell them to speak out against the bully and inform a teacher if the behavior doesn’t stop.

Communicate clear policies and consequences. Bullying is less likely in schools where adults are involved and firm about stopping bullying behaviors. Send out a clear message at your school that bullying will have negative consequences.

Team up. Work with your PTA or local mental health association to make sure that schools treat bullying as violence. Help them develop programs to prevent bullying and promote safe school environments.

Most importantly, do encourage anyone who’s being bullied to tell a teacher, counselor, coach, nurse, or his or her parents or guardians. If the bullying continues, report it yourself.

Bullying affects everyone including the person doing the bullying. One study indicates that 60 percent of males who bully will be arrested by the age of 24. And amazingly enough, several surveys indicate that teachers ignore harassment 97 percent of the time.

Bullying is a form of violence that should not be tolerated against anyone regardless of their differences and the scars often last long into adulthood.

MHA Welcomes New Staff

The Mental Health Association is pleased to welcome Marilyn Juengst to our staff.  Marilyn has a long history with  the Mental Health Association as a volunteer and avid supporter.  She has served as a resource for special projects including the formation of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Volusia and Flagler Counties, as well as provided support for several grants.

Marilyn’s background is in Mental Health Services and she has worked at the Federal, State and local levels in both the states of Florida and New York.

She was recently deployed as a State Project Manager for the FEMA Crisis Counseling Grant for the Department of Children and Families in response to eight (8) natural disasters occurring from 2004 through 2007.

The natural disasters included Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, Jean, Ivan, Dennis, Katrina and Wilma.  Marilyn also worked the tornadoes in Volusia County as well.

Juengst position at the Mental Health Association will be as Program Development Coordinator. She will assist in growing current programs as well as looking for new and innovative ways to deliver services to the community. 
Marilyn and her husband currently live in Ormond Beach.

Membership Benefits

The Mental Health Association would like to invite you to become a member today.  Not only will your contribution help support programs and services to the community, you will also receive some valuable benefits such as:

• Quarterly Newsletter informing you of news within the organization and current information on mental health issues.
• Option to receive e-mail updates on special events and information on mental health topics that affects you and your community. 
• Certificate suitable for framing and displaying in your home or office.
• Wallet Membership Card identifying you as a current member eligible for discounts and other benefits.
• Discount on events and merchandise promoted by the organization.
• Free or reduced prices on educational events including Continuing Education for Professionals (subject to availability)
• Contribution letter for your tax records for your donation to a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

And now you can charge your membership to Master Card, VISA, American Express or Discover.  Call 386-252-5785  today to activate your membership and to start enjoying your benefits.

Care Tips For Survivors of Traumatic Events: What to Expect

Not much communicating is done during a crisis situation.  That is rule number one for understanding what happens after a traumatic event such as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and yes, even wildfires can have devastating results.  However, there are some things you should remember that will help you to understand the emotional toll of traumatic events.

No one who sees a disaster is left untouched by it.  And , everyone experiences it in a different way and will develop their own story.  It is important to allow the story to develop and more importantly, to listen non-judgmentally.

It is normal to feel anxious about you and your family’s safety when going through a disaster.   Anxiety is a normal process and will usually subside with time.  However, anxiety that does not subside or posttraumatic stress that can develop months later may require assistance.

Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event.  It is not uncommon for us to be angry when someone we love or care about is injured or taken away.  We may be left with guilt feeling that we survived.  This is called survivors guilt.  Even the loss of property can be a profound loss and cause for feelings of loss and grief.

Acknowledging our feelings helps us to recover.  Sharing our feeling in support groups or with other family members or friends often helps us to discover that others are feeling the same way we are and that we are not alone.

Focusing on our strengths and abilities will help you to heal.  Often after a disaster, the stress is insurmountable, however, choosing a task that we are likely to be successful at will give us courage and strength.  Remember the old saying about how do you eat an elephant? … one bite at a time.  Do not try to do everything at once and allow for successes.

Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.  After a disaster is a time for healing and rebuilding and accepting help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength.  The sooner we recover, the sooner we will be able to assist others.

We each have different needs and different ways of coping.  Some may feel like crying and other may feel like laughing.  There is no acceptable protocol that can be universally applied to everyone.  Allow for feelings to be versatile and emotions to run the gamut.  Healing takes time and everyone has their own coping skills.

It is not uncommon to want to strike back at people or things that have caused us great pain.  However, nothing good is accomplished through hateful language or actions.

It is also not uncommon for individuals to question their spirituality and to project anger toward their spirituality source.  Others find strength and healing in their belief system.  In time, you will sort out your feelings. In the meantime, realize that you are going through a normal phase.

It is important after a disaster to return life to normalcy as soon as possible.  Also, taking care of your body will help in the emotional and physical healing processes.

Some things you can do include:

Postpartum Depression: When Joy Turns to Blues

Postpartum blues are very common, occurring in up to 80 percent of new mothers. Characterized by mood swings, postpartum blues or “baby blues” are normal reactions that many mothers experience following childbirth. The onset of postpartum blues usually occurs three to five days after delivery, and should subside as hormone levels begin to stabilize. Symptoms generally do not last for more than a few weeks. If a person continues to experience moods swings or feelings of depression for more than two weeks after childbirth, the problem may be more serious.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major form of depression and is less common than postpartum blues. PPD includes all the symptoms of depression but occurs only following childbirth. It can begin any time after delivery and can last up to a year. PPD is estimated to occur in approximately 10 to 20 percent of new mothers.

Symptoms of PPD are the same as those for clinical depression and may include specific fears such as excessive preoccupation with the child’s health or intrusive thoughts of harming the baby. Given the stressful circumstances of caring for a new baby, it is understandable that new mothers may be more tired, irritable and anxious. But when a new mother is experiencing drastic changes in motivation, appetite or mood she should seek the help of a mental health professional. For a clinical diagnosis of postpartum depression to be made, symptoms of PPD generally must be present for more than two weeks following childbirth to distinguish them from postpartum blues.

New Support for Survivors of Suicide

The Mental Health Association of East Central Florida and the Suicide Prevention Coalition would like to invite anyone who has lost a family member, relative, or friend to suicide to join our peer support group meetings beginning September 2, 2008.

The meetings will be the first and third Tuesday of each month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The meetings will be at:
Moody Wick Line Cultural Center
800 S. Daytona Avenue
Flagler Beach

2008 Annual Meeting Pictures

The Board of Directors donated the centerpieces for the tables at the Annual Meeting.  The most creative centerpiece competition was judged by clients from the Drop-In Centers.  At the end of the luncheon, lucky tickets holders got to take home the centerpieces.  Our thanks to the board members for their creativity and support.  Thanks for all who attended and supported us throughout the year.

Winner of the most creative table centerpiece by a  Board Member was a cake donated by Kathy Rogan.  The cake featured a picture of outgoing President/CEO, Gail Gregory and incoming President/CEO, Bob Decker.  Their faces were yummy.

Mental Health Association Staff.  From left to right: Gail Gregory, outgoing President/CEO, Carolyn Boswell, Justin Ellicott, Julie Roberts, Michelle    Weber, Debby Squires, and Judy Brown.

The honorable mention centerpiece was donated by Board Member Mike Ladwig.  The artwork titled “Nest” was especially created by Helen   Gibson.  Virginia Foster was the winner of this centerpiece.

Our special thanks to the Keynote Speaker,  Hon. James S. Purdy, Public Defender for the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.

Gail Gregory presenting Larry Reynolds the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work as a Guardian Advocate.

New Symrna Happy Place Drop In Center
311 N. Orange Street
New Symrna Beach

Open: Mon, Wed & Fri
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

----------------------------------------------------------

DeLand Open Door Drop In Center
1700 Patterson Ave.
DeLand

Open: Mon through Fri
12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM