Mental Health America of the HeartlandJanuary 2017 eNewsletter
 

Happy New Year!  While you prepare to get organized, quit smoking, and/or lose weight (the most popular resolutions made in the US), you might be overlooking something that would actually make a bigger difference for you and your family.

How about some New Year's resolutions for mental health?
"Some people think that only people with mental illnesses have to pay attention to their mental health.  But the truth is that your emotions, thoughts and attitudes affect your energy, productivity and overall health.

Good mental health strengthens your ability to cope with everyday hassles and more serious crises and challenges. Good mental health is essential to creating the life you want.  Just as you brush your teeth or get a flu shot, you can take steps to promote your mental health."

Best wishes for 2017!


Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 16
Did you know...

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had recurrent severe depression and made two  suicide  attempts as a preteen.  King is not alone in these struggles; many studies show a link between great leaders and mental illness.

" Creativity and resilience is higher in people with mania and realism and empathy is higher in people with depression compared to [mentally healthy] subjects... Many of us just believe that mental illness is inherently bad and mental health is inherently good... [but] there's some good and some bad to both mental illness and mental health." ( NPR )

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you or someone you know is showing signs and symptoms of depression and/or having thoughts of suicide, call the  Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or  chat onlineSuicide is not inevitable for anyone. By starting the conversation, providing support, and directing help to those who need it, we can prevent suicides and save lives.

MHAH Information & Referral
913-281-2221
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Warmline
Compassionate Ear Warmline
1-866-WARM-EAR
or
913-281-2251
Open daily, 4pm-10pm
Celebrating Milestones

At our Annual Meeting and Reception on December 11th, two staff members and one member of our Board of Directors were honored for reaching major milestones of service at MHAH.

Pictured from left to right: Melody Davis, JoAnn Colt, Tony Terwelp

JoAnn Colt has been  involved with MHAH since the mid-1990's when she sat on the Board of the Mental Health Association of Johnson County, which was one of three Mental Health Associations in the Kansas City area at the time. As a young auditor, JoAnn's skills and perspectives were crucial to the financial diligence needed to navigate and implement the merger of the three Mental Health Associations in 1996. JoAnn stayed beyond the merger then took some time off to raise her family and build her family business but returned to the agency in 2010. She has served several terms as Treasurer and two terms as Board Chair. MHAH is deeply grateful to JoAnn for her skills, knowledge, wisdom, attention to detail, persistence and passion.

Melody Davis  joined MHAH 10 years ago and serves as our Comptroller. She manages the complexities of accounting and handles tasks effectively and diligently as our one-woman accounting department. Melody often goes above and beyond to assure that essential things get done and her commitment and sacrifices are often unseen-- but no less appreciated.

Tony Terwelp began his work with us in 1996 by answering the Mental Health Association of Greater Kansas City's HelpLine calls. Like JoAnn, he stayed on through the merger and over the next 20 years Tony spearheaded, supported or saw the agency through some of its most important developments: the launching of the Compassionate Ear Warmline, the building of permanent supportive housing and starting our Wellness and Support Advocates (WASA) program. As the first person on our staff who self-disclosed as having a mental illness, Tony has been the guardian of our mission and is the embodiment of who we were, are and will become.

Thank you for your service!
UPCOMING EVENTS

Want to learn more about MHAH? Attend a Road to Hope event!
Please RSVP to Whitney at wjustice@mhah.org.

2017 Mental Health Legislative Summit

Wednesday, January 11th
4:30 - 7:30pm
FREE CEUs (health related professions) and a light dinner provided.

RSVP to Cindi Keele at namimockj@yahoo.com
or call 1-800-374-2138

Click here for more information.

We also have many educational presentations and opportunities for CEUs. Visit our website for a full list of upcoming events.

NOTE: MHAH offices will be closed on Monday, January 2nd and Monday, January 16th. This does not include the Compassionate Ear Warmline which is open 365 days a year from 4pm-10pm.
As we enter the new year, we want to say a BIG THANK YOU to our volunteers, Clifford Beers Society members, donors, sponsors, Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and staff for their continued support of our work and our mission in 2016.

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2017 filled with continued successes that we will celebrate with all of you!
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Mental Health America of the Heartland is dedicated to promoting the mental health of the community, and improving the quality of life of persons with mental illness, through advocacy, education and support.

913.281.2221 |  info@mhah.org |  www.mhah.org