Mental Health America Launches Online Support Community

Connects Families, Friends, and Caregivers in Safe, Secure Environment

 Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (July 26, 2010)—Mental Health America today announced it has launched the Mental Health America Support Community—a new online community that connects families, friends, and caregivers for support and inspiration.  

The community has been created in partnership with Inspire, which works with nonprofits to provide safe, online health and wellness communities to help members live mentally healthier lives.

Located at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/community, the community will allow registered members to take part in moderated discussion groups and post personal journals, enabling them to support one another through their individual journeys and experiences.

Those joining the community will find coping strategies and answers to their questions, as well as vital support, compassion, encouragement, and inspiration from others sharing experiences similar to theirs. Registration is free; upon joining, members will have complete control of their privacy options and can communicate with others in a safe, secure environment.

“We know how important social support and connecting with others are to protecting our mental health and improving well-being,” said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. “This new community will allow more people to connect with each other, find valuable resources, and learn and gain inspiration from others.”

Brian Loew, CEO of Inspire said: "We are pleased to partner with Mental Health America. Through their partnership with Inspire, we hope that Mental Health America will be able to reach even more people and provide a place to support living mentally healthier lives. Helping people find others who are also dealing with these issues fills an overwhelming need. Mental Health America is a trusted organization and champion of those trying to lead mentally healthy lives. We are pleased to welcome them to the Inspire family." 

The Mental Health America Support Community features 20 discussion topics. Once they have registered, members can:

• Read and participate in discussions
• Post personal profiles – share as much or as little as they’d like about themselves
• Post personal photos or videos
• Invite other members to be friends
• Create a personal journal (or “blog”) where they can express their feelings and allow others to comment
• Read others’ journals to learn about their experiences

Maine Mental Health Connections is accepting entries for its 6th annual Creative Writing Contest, with cash prizes of $50, $25, & $15 for the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners respectively. Mental health consumers throughout the State of Maine are eligible to submit entries. Eligible entries must be essays or works of fiction under 2,000 words, or poetry under 100 lines.  They must be original, unpublished works submitted in English.  No more than five entries per person.  There is no prescribed theme for entries.  There is no entry fee and no purchase of any kind required to enter. An anthology of outstanding entries, including the winners, will be published and distributed free of charge to all those whose entries are selected for publication.  The copyright of each entry will otherwise remain the property of the author.  Entrants desiring their names not to be used in this publication should so indicate on each submission. Entries & contact information (name, address) should be submitted to: Creative Writing Contest, Maine Mental Health Connections, 150 Union Street, Bangor, ME  04401. Deadline For Submission:  September 1, 2010. Winners will be notified by  November, 2010.

SAMHSA and the Ad Council are pleased to announce the What a Difference a Friend Makes Contest. If you have a great story about how you have been there for a friend through his/her recovery from a mental health problem, or how a friend has been there for you, we'd love to hear from you.

Friendship and support are key aspects of recovery from mental health problems. Individuals are more likely to seek help in an environment of acceptance and understanding. SAMHSA and the Ad Council have launched this video and essay contest to promote the powerful testimonies of friends supporting each other in recovery, and to further awareness and education about the vital importance of mental health.

If you know of someone who has a compelling story, please encourage him/her to participate.

It's simple to enter—just submit a short video or an essay that tells in a creative and meaningful way how you've supported a friend during a tough time in his/her life or how a friend supported you. The story can be based on your real-life experience, and it does not need to reveal the identity of the friend (unless the friend agrees to participate). Be sure to follow the rest of our rules and guidelines. We look forward to seeing your submission soon.

Entries must be received by August 31, 2010. Winners will be announced September 15, 2010.

Prizes

• One Video Contest Grand Prize: Trip for two to the 2010 Voice Awards in Hollywood, CA, where the winning video will be shown during the event
• Two Video Contest Runner-Up Prizes: A Flip MinoHD™ video camera
• Two Essay Contest Prizes: A Flip MinoHD™ video camera

To be Held in Kennebunk from Aug 31 - Oct 19, 2010 

Kennebunk Counseling Center is offering a new outpatient therapy group for people who live with chronic pain. The Managing Chronic Pain group is an 8-week group intended for women seeking both professional and peer support for chronic pain in a nurturing environment. This group will offer a cognitive behavioral approach to coping with pain in order to achieve greater fulfillment in one's life.

Group members will develop increased insight as to how thoughts, feelings and behaviors impact the perception and experience of pain. Group members can reflect and gain support from one another, as well as practice relaxation and distraction techniques in order to manage their pain.

what: Managing Chronic Pain therapy group
when: August 31 - October 19, Tuesdays, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
where:
Kennebunk Counseling Center
2 Livewell Drive, Suite 202, Kennebunk
counselor: Mary Ann Roy, PsyD

FMI: 207.467.3369

Crossroads for Women accepts MaineCare, private insurance and self-pay.