Mental Health Awareness Week, October 3-9

October 3-9 is Mental Health Awareness Week. During this upcoming week mental health agencies and groups as well as supportive individuals will offer programs, web pages and public walks to raise public awareness in state and local communities about mental illness and the need for treatment and recovery.

Below are a few links to resources for Kansans on mental health and mental illness.

Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
Mental Health Services
http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/mh/Pages/MHServ.aspx
(The Kansas Mental Health System offers an array of services for children and adults in need of mental health treatment)

Community Mental Health Centers and/or Consumer Run Organizations
http://www.srs.ks.gov/services/Pages/MapCMHC.aspx
(Use the clickable map or search box to locate centers and organizations that may be of help)

Directory of Mental Health Resources in Kansas, 2010
http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/mh/Documents/MHDirectory.pdf
(A guide to statewide and community mental health services in Kansas. Includes locations, website URLs, email addresses, telephone numbers and names in assisting Kansans find help. this is the 20th edition of this excellent publication by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services)

National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=by_illness

The National Alliance's website's website includes general information on the following forms of mental illness:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Dissociative Disorders
• Dual Diagnosis and Integrated Treatment of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Major Depression
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Suicide
• Tourette's Syndrome

National Alliance on Mental Illness - Kansas
http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?Site=NAMI_Kansas
(This is NAMI's presence in Kansas)

SOME KANSAS BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas
http://www.acmhck.org/

Mental Health America of the Heartland
http://www.mhah.org/

Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas
http://www.mhasck.org/

Article contact: Bill Sowers
(Check out recent additions to our collection)

Of algae and other things

Blue green algae blooms (cyanobacteria) have been in the news recently. Although algae blooms are a natural phenomenon and are caused by certain weather patterns, they can make people, livestock and pets ill. Are you concerned which lakes and ponds you can take your children or pets swimming in? Which waters its safe to fish. Do you wonder what algae blooms are and how they'll affect the public drinking water? The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is charged with monitoring waters in Kansas and informing the public which waters to avoid.

KDHE overview of what algae blooms are:
http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm

Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) overview of cyanobacteria:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/about.htm

CDC's facts about harmful algal blooms:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm

Current algae bloom advisories:
http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/algae_advisories.htm

Examples of the signage you will see at waterways that are closed due to algae:
http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/download/BGA_Signs.pdf

Explanation of symptoms brought on by ingestion of blue green algae:
http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/algae_policy.htm

* Be sure to respect the warnings, soon the algae will die off naturally and activities can be resumed.

Article contact: Kim Harp

Supporting our Troops

Last night it was announced that combat will end in Iraq. Many soldiers and their families are encouraged by the thought that they may be returning home. This prompts major changes in a soldier's life and the lives of his or her family. As a citizenry, we need to know how we can continue to support our troops as they readjust to civilian life. Learn more about the Federal and State resources and services which are available to veterans and families in finding job opportunities, counseling, and health services.

"Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it" -President Barack Obama

President Obama's message regarding the end of combat missions in Iraq:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/31/president-obamas-address-end-combat-mission-iraq

Welcome home events:
http://www.volunteer.va.gov/Welcome_Home_Events.asp

Benefits to U.S. Veterans and their families from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/

Benefits for returning veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom:
http://www.oefoif.va.gov/

Army and National Guard emergency relief:
http://www.aerhq.org/

Army Career and Alumni Program:
http://www.acap.army.mil/

Education and GI Bill benefits:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program:
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/

Jobsite for Vets, VetSuccess:
http://vetsuccess.gov/

Kansas Military Bill of Rights:
http://governor.ks.gov/issues-a-initiatives/military-and-veterans/479-kansas-military-bill-of-rights

Kansas Military Service Scholarship Program:
http://www.kansasregents.org/scholarships_and_grants

Kansas Commission on Veterans' Affairs:
http://roadwaytocollege.com/go/page.pl/000000A/http/www.kcva.org/vb/

Benefits available to families of Kansas Veterans:
http://roadwaytocollege.com/go/page.pl/000000A/http/www.kcva.org/mfs/

Veterans Upward Bound- KU program:
http://roadwaytocollege.com/go/page.pl/000000A/http/www2.ku.edu/~vub/

National Center for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder):
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp

Other organizations with benefits for veterans and families:
American Legion:
http://www.legion.org/

Kansas American Legion:
http://www.ksamlegion.org/

Veterans of Foreign Wars Kansas:
http://www.vfwkansas.org/

Disabled American Veterans:
http://www.dav.org/

If you are a veteran in emotional crisis and need help RIGHT NOW, call toll-free: 1-800-273-8255.