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In this issue ...
In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, the May edition of the Recovery Report is highlighting the Office of Consumer Activities, which serves as the voice of lived experience within OHA Behavioral Health.
The OCA engages with behavioral health consumers of all ages and works to ensure that their voices shape Oregon’s behavioral health system. By collaborating with both internal and external partners, the OCA helps advance a behavioral health system that is person centered, recovery oriented and trauma informed.
The OCA director, Brandy Hemsley, is a person with lived experience and the parent of two young adults who experience mental health and developmental challenges. Using that expertise, Brandy serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Leadership Team and leverages her position to elevate the voices of youth, families and adults with lived experience.
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Spring is a time of year that many people find hopeful and revitalizing. Blooming flowers and trees, warmer weather and brighter skies can lift our mood and leave us feeling more energized after the long, wet Oregon winter. For me, this period of hope and renewal is more welcome than usual this year. Like many of you, I am feeling concern about COVID-19 and the effect it is having on our communities – especially those who are experiencing disproportionate impacts of the virus and the physical distancing measures we’ve all been asked to take. I miss seeing my friends and coworkers in person, and sometimes I find it challenging to juggle work at home, caring for my family, and tending to my mental health.
However, I am also feeling inspired by the stories of hope I hear as I talk with people around the state. Our efforts to slow the spread of the virus are working. According to researchers at the Institute for Disease Modeling in Washington state, Oregonians prevented more than 70,000 coronavirus infections and 1,500 hospitalizations by staying home through mid-April. Communities are pulling together, reaching out to one another, and caring for their friends and neighbors. People are finding creative ways to stay in touch with their friends and loved ones. Many of you have found new ways of getting things done that can be built on even after the COVID-19 response draws to a close.
As we continue to practice physical distancing, it’s more important than ever for us to reach out and stay connected to one another in safe ways. In this issue, we’ve shared some ideas for having fun with others while staying at home. It’s also important for the Office of Consumer Activities (OCA) and OHA Behavioral Health to stay connected to all of you and hear about your needs and concerns. Keep reading for more information on how you can stay in touch and be engaged in the work we’re doing for all of you.
I hope you are all safe and well. If you are struggling during this time, please know that you are not alone and that there is help available. The OHA COVID-19 website has a list of remote resources listed, including support groups, 12-step groups, and one-on-one peer support. You can find them here, under the “behavioral health” heading. Feel free to reach out to me with questions or for a copy of the resource list in PDF form. Please, take care and be well.
Warmly,
Brandy Hemsley
Director, Office of Consumer Activities
Oregon Health Authority Behavioral Health Unit
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This year Mental Health Awareness Month comes during a challenging time when it’s more important than ever to care for our mental well-being. Despite the physical distancing measures in place, people have taken to online platforms to celebrate mental health awareness month.
Some ways to get involved are:
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week: May 3-9 is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Our friends at Oregon Family Support Network have moved their celebration online. Visit their Facebook page to join in and share your own photos and videos. Use the hashtag #MentalHealthHero2020 and let everyone know who is your “Mental Health Hero.”
NAMI National Day of Hope: In place of its annual walks, NAMI has moved activities online and designated May 30 as a “National Day of Hope.” Our friends at Oregon NAMI are encouraging everyone to register, form a team and participate virtually. To join in the virtual Walk Your Way event, visit their website. You can also follow NAMI on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
One Day at a Time campaign: Using the hashtag #onedayatatime, join Healthy Transitions’ campaign all month to raise awareness of the needs of youth and young adult mental health, and share resources that support them. Each week, Healthy Transitions will have new themes to focus what resources we share. Find graphics, resources and posts to share at Douglas County HT’s Facebook page.
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OHA is committed to ensuring that people with lived experience have a strong voice within the state behavioral health system. During the COVID-19 response, it’s critical that we hear about the successes, needs, and concerns people are experiencing in communities around Oregon. Here are some ways that YOU can stay connected to OHA Behavioral Health:
- The OCA has created a short-term workgroup for youth, family members of youth, and adults with lived experience who would like to advise OHA and work on projects related to the COVID-19 response. There are several ways to be part of this work, including emails, telephone calls and weekly online meetings. Any amount of participation is welcomed and appreciated. If you are interested in joining the group, please email the OCA director at brandy.l.hemsley@dhsoha.state.or.us.
- The OCA director is holding remote “office hours” twice a week. Brandy will be available 9-10 a.m. every Tuesday and 4-5 p.m. every Thursday to hear your thoughts, needs and concerns. Please feel free to drop in for a chat! You can join the meeting on your computer, tablet or smartphone using this link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/405023373 . To join by telephone, dial 872-240-3212 and enter access code 405-023-373#.
- The OCA is hosting webinars for behavioral health consumers and their families every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. This is a chance to hear updates from OHA about COVID-19 and behavioral health and ask any questions. Upcoming topics include “Telehealth Tips and How To’s” on May 12 and an update from our Child and Family Behavioral Health team on May 19. Registration is required; please sign up at GoToWebinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
- The OCA director is available for one-on-one conversation by telephone at 971-239-2942 or by email at brandy.l.hemsley@dhsoha.state.or.us.
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Hello, community!
It is an honor to be working here at OHA in support of developing and maintaining a vibrant peer delivered service system across Oregon. At OHA, we recognize the value of peer delivered services in transforming a behavioral health system of care based on recovery. We work with consumers, survivors, stakeholders and Oregon’s peer network to:
- Develop strategies to increase the use and availability of peer-delivered services (PDS).
- Influence health policy and improve enrollment and use of peers in expanded insurance options and integrated health care programs.
- Promote the development of PDS training programs and certified peers representing Oregon's diverse population, including those with military experience and young adults.
We have such an active and supportive peer community here in Oregon! And watching the grassroots response to COVID-19 has been awe-inspiring. The words that come to mind are resilience, the ability or capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; and elasticity, the ability to spring back into shape.
Resilience is embedded within our peer advocacy community and, indeed, within myself as a result of my own lived experience. It shines brightest and is most useful during times of crisis and situations that could be emotionally, mentally and physically overwhelming. It helps us to maintain a sense of balance and dignity during times of great upheaval and stress within ourselves and our communities.
As a person with lived experience in recovery, I do not take resilience for granted. For all of us, the adjustments made – social distancing, teleworking, maintaining a sense of community and connection despite heavy feelings of isolation and despair – have been challenging. While the pandemic has heightened our emotional states, the simplicity created by physical distancing reconnected me with resilience, as well as with myself, my community and the world in which we live.
When the pandemic crisis arose, our community of peers leaned on that well-honed resilience. We adapted to the new state of the world and quickly developed systems of support and advocacy that maintained physical distancing measures and promoted everyone’s holistic health. We keep it simple: We make that call. We believe there is hope. We are grateful for each other. We are responsive. We answer the phone. We attend our Skype and Zoom meetings. We eat food and drink water. We experience trust, partnership and healing. We recover.
Sincerely,
Beau Rappaport
Peer Delivered Services coordinator
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During this time of increased stress, it’s important to prioritize our mental well-being. Being gentle with ourselves, staying connected to friends and loved ones, and making time each day for self-care can help us keep balance and stay well. Below, we’ve shared some ideas for supporting wellness that we hope you find helpful during this time.
- Remember to eat food, drink water, and get enough sleep. These basic physical needs are the building blocks of self-care, but they’re often the first things we neglect during times of stress.
- Try to build some social connection into your regular routine – it’s best not to wait for sadness or loneliness to set in, because sometimes that can make it harder to reach out. People around the world are finding new ways to have fun with friends, family members, and even people they don’t know from a distance. Some ways to do this include:
- Playing online games with others using smartphones, gaming consoles or computers.
- Holding virtual play dates or hangouts.
- Sharing videos of yourself singing or playing musical instruments.
- Facebook Live events.
- Online story time.
- Virtual powwows.
- Online talent shows and dances.
- Many people find that being active is good for both their mind and body. Outdoor exercise, alone or with your household members, can be a fun way to relax and can help combat sad or anxious feelings. You can also exercise in your own home, alone or by joining online classes like yoga or Zumba.
- If you’re struggling with feelings of sadness, frustration, or anxiety during this time of increased isolation, know that you are not alone. Some tools that some have found helpful to cope with these feelings include:
- Guided relaxation, meditation, or mindfulness exercises.
- Physical exercise.
- Writing in a journal.
- Creative expression like singing or making music, creative writing, or creating artwork.
- Use reliable sources of information to stay informed. The following websites are good places to find information on the COVID-19 virus and ways to stay safe and healthy during this time:
While it’s helpful to stay informed, some people find it beneficial to take occasional breaks from media coverage, especially social media.
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