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Hope, services available for mentally ill

Daily Star, The (Oneonta, NY) - 9/29/2014

Sept. 29--Dressed in matching black T-shirts with bright pink lettering, Tammy Burrows and Kate Hewlett sit in front of a small audience Wednesday in a meeting room at the County Satellite Building on Main Street in Oneonta. The two women are laughing, smiling and giving each other high-fives.

Minutes later, they recall some of the darkest moments in their lives.

Burrows can still vividly remember a time when she was curled up in bed, trying to stop her own heart, she said. And Hewlett recalls being told by a physician that she would never attend college, hold a steady job or be in a relationship.

In observation of Recovery Awareness Month, Burrows and Hewlett were stationed downtown last week to share their experiences with mental illness and convey two important messages: First, that there is no shame in having a mental illness, and second, that recovery is possible, they said.

"We want to bring a message of hope," Burrows told listeners Wednesday. "And let people know that having a mental illness doesn't mean there's something wrong with you."

FIGHTING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS

More than 25 percent of Americans have a mental illness and 78 percent have symptoms of one, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Even though mental illness is quite common, a social stigma still exists, Burrows said. Mental illness is sometimes wrongfully associated with violent or criminal behavior.

"You see all these people in the news who go on shooting sprees, but, the majority of the time, most people with mental illness only want to hurt themselves," Burrows explained.

"Mental illness" is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, general anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder -- all of which Burrows said she has personally experienced.

For Hewlett, mental illness cropped up in high school, when she spent the majority of her time alone in her dark room, she said. She became suicidal and was kicked out of school.

According to the CDC, 57 percent of Americans without mental health symptoms feel that people with mental illness are treated well, with care and empathy. Only 25 percent of adults with mental illnesses agree.

If you have cancer, diabetes or a heart condition, people sympathize with you, Burrows and Hewlett said. But the two noted that this is not always the case with mental illness. Instead, they said people question its legitimacy and throw out insensitive words such as "crazy," "insane" and "psycho."

In college, Hewlett said, she had her first panic attack, complete with sweaty palms, blurry vision and a feeling of pressure on her chest.

"I fell through the cracks," Hewlett said.

Since then, she has struggled with depression, hallucinations, insomnia and paranoia.

"My friends distanced themselves from me," she described, "even though it was still the same old me. I felt like I didn't fit in to society."

LEARNING HOW TO COPE

Burrows said there were a number of things that helped her deal with mental illnesses, including a mixture of mindfulness (learning to stay in the moment, take deep breaths and realize that the world is not ending), goal-making, writing in a journal, cognitive behavioral therapy and volunteering at her church.

"Looking outside the world that's inside your own head can really help," Burrows said.

Hewlett said following a specific sleep schedule and nutrition plan helped her cope. And going for long walks is "the best anti-anxiety and anti-depression medicine there is," she said.

However, prescription medicine is sometimes necessary, both women agreed, but noted that starting medication doesn't mean a person will need it for the rest of her life.

Hewlett said she used to take 12 different medications, but has weaned herself down to one, thanks to other coping skills. And Burrows, who once took 17 medicines a day, is now medicine-free, she said.

"Recovery looks different to everyone at different times," Burrows said. "And healing is a journey, not a destination. It's about reaching small goals."

"It's a life-long journey," Hewlett added.

'A FRIEND TO THE FRIENDLESS'

One of the biggest keys to recovery is accepting one's condition and realizing that it's not anyone's fault or something to be ashamed of, Hewlett said. But people without a friend or relative to talk to about their struggles may find it hard to reach out.

This is where the Otsego County Warm Line comes in, said Burrows, a team leader of the organization.

The Warm Line, one step down from the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline, is a resource for anyone who needs confidential peer self-help, suggested referrals to community services or alternative means of finding growth and health, Burrows said. However, most of the time, the people who call are "lonely and just want someone to talk to," she said.

"We're a friend to the friendless," Burrows added.

According to Burrows, the Warm Line gets about 1,000 calls a month. This includes calls from Delaware County and elsewhere in the region. To reach the Warm Line, call 433-1714 or (800) 377-3281, Burrows said.

Another great local resource is the 24/7 Mobile Crisis Assessment Team, which was recently established to help identify mental health needs and provide early intervention to decrease the number of crisis cases, Hewlett said. The main goal of the MCAT is to prevent hospitalization through de-escalation, she added.

The development of the MCAT has been especially important in light of the recent termination of psychiatric services at Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta and the cutting back of psychiatric inpatient unit beds at Bassett Medical Center, Hewlett said.

Bassett officials announced in July that it will establish a psychiatric crisis center at its Cooperstown campus, with licensed staff trained to work with people of all ages experiencing a psychiatric crisis available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bassett is in the process of hiring additional staff and will construct a new suite in order to accommodate the new psychiatric crisis services.

VARIETY OF SERVICES, RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Another key to recovery is realizing that you are not alone, Burrows and Hewlett said. That's why the Mountain View Social Club, which is run by Otsego County Rehabilitation Support Services at 9 River St., exists.

At the social club, Burrows and Hewlett organize and run a host of different groups that give recovering individuals a chance to socialize, keep busy and develop hobbies, which can serve as positive coping strategies, they said.

Hewlett runs groups centered on walking, open discussion, wellness self-management, creative writing and mindfulness/relaxation and hopes to start a photography group in January, she said. Burrows teaches gardening classes and coordinates fishing excursions.

Another local resource that people may not know about is the Community Education Project Library at 35 Main St., where visitors can find books, videos and DVDs on mental health-related topics, Hewlett said. Library cards are not needed and the facility is open Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 3 p.m.

Hewlett said she is living proof that a mental health diagnosis is not a death sentence. She defied the odds and limitations once placed upon her by attending Fisher College and the University of Arizona, working for Rehabilitation Support Services and getting married to her "best friend," she said.

"With time, patience and support," Hewlett said, "there is hope."

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