May 10 – June 14

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REGISTERED. THE CLASS IS FULL WITH EIGHT STUDENTS.

OUR NEXT W.R.A.P. CLASS WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER. DATES TBA.

The next 12-hour training using Mary Ellen Copeland’s book “Wellness Recovery Action Plan” will begin on Thursday, May 10. The class will meet for six consecutive Thursdays at our office at 356 Biltmore Ave. #207. W.R.A.P. is a proven way to  gain insight into yourself, your feelings and emotions to help you build a constructive wellness plan to delay or prevent relapses from mental health/substance abuse/trauma issues. You will explore what makes you feel good, what to do daily to continue feeling good, triggers, early warning signs, when things are breaking down and a crisis and post-crisis plan.

This may be the first time that you have ever taken the time to really explore who you are and what you need to stay well. It is well worth the journey.

This class is for those with a mental health diagnosis/substance abuse-addiction only. It is not for professionals wanting to learn about W.R.A.P.  A separate 4-hour class will be scheduled for professionals later this summer.

Cost is $25 for materials. Class is limited to eight (8). Please register by contacting Christine at namiwnc@yahoo.com or by calling 828-505-7353 by May 3. This class is approved by Western Highlands Network for 12 hours continuing education credits for Peer Support Specialists.

We have had a request for information on the topic of voluntary and involuntary commitments. This is a complicated legal topic, but we have reprinted here the guidelines and definitions as determined by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. This is also a topic that has been, and will be again, presented as part of our education program which is held the first Tuesday of the month from 6 – 7 pm here at 356 Biltmore Avenue, second floor conference room. To check topics for upcoming programs please go to the Support Group Calendar page on this website.

Voluntary Admission

If you think you need to be in the hospital, we strongly recommend that you first visit your Local Management Entity (LME) or local provider for a mental health screening. If your mental health worker agrees with you, he or she will call the hospital’s Admitting Office.

When you arrive at the hospital, you will go to the Screening and Admissions Unit where you will be asked to sign a “Voluntary Evaluation/Admission” form. Next, you will be examined by a hospital physician.  If the physician agrees that you should be hospitalized, you will be admitted.

If you are under 18, or over 18 with a court-appointed guardian, you can be admitted on the application of your parent or guardian and with the consent of the hospital admitting physician.  You must have a court hearing, however.  At the court hearing, which must be held within 10 days of your admission, a judge will decide whether you remain in the hospital.

If you are voluntarily admitted and you think you no longer need treatment, you can ask to be discharged by completing the Request for Discharge form.  You will be allowed to leave within 3 days (72 hours) unless your doctor feels you need further treatment.  If this is the case, the process for involuntary commitment may be started.

Involuntary Commitment

If someone else has decided that you need to be in the hospital, these are the steps that must be followed:

• An affidavit must be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court or Magistrate of District Court.  The Clerk or Magistrate may issue an order to a law enforcement officer to take you into custody for examination by a qualified professional.

• If the qualified professional finds that you are mentally ill and dangerous to yourself or others, you will be taken to a hospital.

• Shortly after arrival at the hospital, you will be examined by a hospital physician.  If the hospital physician agrees with the first examiner that hospitalization is necessary, you will be admitted for observation and treatment.  If the physician does not believe you should be in the hospital, you will be released.

• A court hearing must be held no later than 10 days after you are taken into custody.  The hearing can be held either in the county where the commitment was started or at the hospital.  Within a few days after you are admitted, a lawyer from the Office of Special Counsel will contact you.  He or she will be your lawyer at the initial hearing.  You may also hire a lawyer at your own expense.  At the hearing, the judge will decide whether you should be treated in the hospital or in the community and discharged.  The judge also will decide how many days you may be kept in the hospital before another hearing must be held.

If you wish, you may retain your own lawyer at your expense. At the hearing, you may exercise the following rights.

• The right to an attorney. You may have your own, or an attorney can be provided for you. You can reach an attorney by calling 733-5544.
• The right to be present at the hearing.
• The right to speak for yourself.
• The right to challenge what is said about you.

If you leave the hospital without authorization, your physician may notify law enforcement agencies and request that you be returned.

Changes coming up at NAMI WC!

Beginning on February 21, our support groups on the THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH for both consumers (those with a mental health diagnosis) and family members/caregivers from 6 – 7:30 pm (groups held separately) will no longer be followed by an education program.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 6 we will have an education program/general meeting only on the FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH from 6 – 7 pm.

The new ongoing schedule will be:

Third Tuesday, Feb. 21 – 6pm – 7:30 pm – Support groups only

First Tuesday, March 6 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only. Speaker: Sara Cranford of Our Voice on domestic violence and sexual trauma

Third Tuesday, March 20 – 6pm-7:30 pm – Support groups only

First Tuesday, April 3 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only. Speaker: Leslie Gaidi, M.A., LP on housing in the Asheville/Buncombe area

Third Tuesday, April 17 – 6pm – 7:30 pm – Support groups only

And so on………………

ALL OTHER SUPPORT GROUP SCHEDULES REMAIN THE SAME:

First Saturday of each month 10 am – 11:30 pm – Consumer and family/caregiver support groups

Second and fourth Mondays 11 am – 12:30 pm – Consumer only support group

All groups and meetings are held at 356 Biltmore Avenue, Suite 207, second floor. We are located next to the St. Joseph Hospital campus of Mission Hospital. Please call 828-505-7353 or email us at namiwnc@yahoo.com if you have questions.

The full support group schedule through June appears on our website support group page.

This Saturday, December 3, 2011 NAMI Western Carolina will hold a general meeting at 11:30 am after our regular CONNECTION (for peers) and Family/Caregiver Support Groups which run from 10 am – 11:30 am.

At the general meeting, board president Bill Kinschner, will facilitate the election of two new board members whose predecessor’s terms have expired. Voting in the election is limited to NAMI WC members only.

Tracey E. Turner, presently an at-large board member, will run for the post of vice-president replacing Bob Carey. Tracey has been very involved with our affiliate and the mental health community on many levels including curriculum development for the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department. She is also a site coordinator for new CIT trainings, liason to other community mental health groups, a member of the Consumer Family Advisory Committee (CFAC) of Western Highlands Network  and a public speaker. She is in recovery from a dual diagnosis. She has lived in Asheville for 18 years.

Karen Hoffman has been the affiliate treasurer since March 2010 and will be running to hold that position. She was appointed to the treasurer’s post when the previous treasurer retired. Karen has an M.B.A. and worked as an internal auditor in Boston. She has also worked as a physician’s assistant. She is in recovery from a mental illness. Karen has lived in Asheville for 8 years.

After the election, Bill will discuss our work in the past year and preview planning for 2012. He will review financials and subcommittees and will be available for questions.

See you Saturday!

Thank you to speaker Ashley Pool, a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach, who spoke at our general meeting on November 15 at 7:30 pm.

Ashley discussed stressors including finance, food, family, events, deadlines and the fantasy of the holidays in how we approach this season.

Thank you to all who came to get some help and ideas on how to enjoy the holidays no matter what our situation.

HINT: One way is to come to our Holiday Potluck Party on Tuesday, December 20 from 6 – 8 pm. We will be at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Merrimon Avenue near Chestnut Street, Asheville. Bring something yummy to share or just bring yourself! Clothing and personal products will be gathered to be taken to those at Broughton Hospital.

For more information call 828-505-7353.