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Mental Health Summits
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Issue
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An estimated 22.1% of Americans ages 18 and older - about 1 in 5 adults - experience a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. This translates to an annual 54 million Americans with a mental disorder, yet fewer than 8 million seek treatment. Suicide is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., and for the approximately 31,000 suicide deaths per year, there are an estimated 200,000 additional people whose lives are negatively impacted. For every suicide death there are 5 hospitalizations and 22 emergency room visits. Santa Cruz County has one of the highest suicide rates in California. Mental health issues and suicide continue to have a staggering negative impact on the foundation of our community.
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Local Response
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The Santa Cruz County Coalition for Mental Health, under the sponsorship of our local United Way, began a campaign in 2002 to create systemic change in the way people think about and serve the mental health and care needs of our community. Coming together at two previous community Summits, individuals and organizations from across the county were guided by an Appreciative Inquiry process to create the vision of a mentally healthy community; one that truly serves all people. This spawned several grassroots workgroups that have continued to meet and work on specific focus areas. In early 2004, an Advisory Group formed to advance the vision of a mentally healthy community by putting forward the goal: to prevent and reduce suicide in Santa Cruz County.
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Next Steps
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On November 5, 2004, the third in a series of strategic planning "Summits" took place to develop a plan to achieve the new goal. The session brought together key affiliated organizations and individuals (service providers, consumers, family members, education, business, faith-based, etc.) to collaboratively develop this strategy. Participating organizations include County Mental Health, Sheriff’s Department, Dominican Hospital, Monterey Bay Psychological Ass., Mental Health Client Action Network (MHCAN), Cabrillo College, and UCSC. The following teams and desired outcomes emerged:
COALITION SUICIDE PREVENTION TEAMS
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- Education Team - Develop countywide capacity at an individual-level beginning with QPR’s Gatekeeper Training component (i.e., develop, train & certify universal and selective gatekeepers)
- Evidence-based Practices Team - Quality improvement at the community-level to create a culture of systems/quality improvement
- Resources Team - Develop system capacity by ensuring access is available to the required amount of quality suicide prevention information and resources
DESIRED OUTCOMES
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- Developed the community’s sense of shared responsibility for suicide prevention
- Increased community competence in learning the skills necessary to prevent suicide
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Model
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The Coalition is working to transform our community's understanding of, and response to, mental health issues and suicide. In Santa Cruz County, a model program is emerging to connect organizations and resources, so no one falls through the cracks. Through personal stories, a collaborative strategic planning process, evidence-based practices, and effective community actions, our Coalition will improve the mental health of all, dissolve the stigma and despair that limits recovery, and work together towards preventing and reducing suicide in Santa Cruz County.
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Board of Directors
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- Neal Adams, California Department of Mental Health, Chairperson
- Linda Calciano, Calciano Symposia, Vice Chairperson
- Suzanne Koebler, MHCAN, Secretary
- Paula Comunelli, Coalition Project Director
- Dave Bianchi, Family Services Agency-Suicide Prevention
- Diane Bridgeman, Monterey Bay Psychological Association
- Mary Cross, CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Shirley Ginzburg, COPA for Temple Beth El
- George Jarrow, Dominican Hospital
- Rock Pfotenhauer, Cabrillo College
- Norm Wyman, County Mental Health
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Community Provocative Proposition (Vision)
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October Summit
We are a collaborative and innovative mentally healthy community passionately celebrating diversity,
choice, integrity, and trust amongst our members.
We knit together a community that works for everyone by utilizing our abundant social, cultural,
and financial resources to encourage the realization of freedom, dreams, and unlimited possibilities.
April Post-Summit
Our community is empowered through collaborative action where everybody winds. We listen to and inform each other and policy-makers with the voice(s) of all people. We celebrate and value human rights by advocating for mental health and overall well-being through the strengths of our stories and experience.
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Mentally Healthy Community (MHC) Teams
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Mentally Healthy Community (MHC) Teams formed at the Summit
- Summit Implementation Oversight Committee (IOC)
- Community Education
- Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
- Continuum of Care as Related to the Criminal Justice System
- Access to Quality Mental Health Services
Team Information and Updates
Check the Meeting Calendar for information on upcoming meetings.
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Key Events
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- The Mental Health Summit: Oct. 13 - 14, 2003, 8 - 5 p.m., Cocoanut Grove
- Post-Summit Meeting: April 19, 2004, 8 - 5 p.m., Cocoanut Grove
- Stakeholder Strategic Planning Session to End Suicide in SCC: Nov. 5, 2004, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., TBD
- Trust-Truth-Triumph: A Celebration of the Resiliency of the Human Spirit - A Community Mental Health Awareness Event and Coalition Fundraiser: Nov. 4, 2004, 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Cocoanut Grove
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Donations/Support
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All support for this grassroots initiative is deeply appreciated.
Financial contributions are tax-deductible, as they administered for us by the
United Way of Santa Cruz County. Non-financial contributions are also
appreciated. Also consider adding yourself to our contact list to stay
informed about our successes. And if there are other people you feel should
know about and/or be involved in the Summit and its implementation, please
tell us who they are.
Support Us
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