Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) has been awarded a Platinum level rating, the highest offered, for Mental Health America’s Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. The Bell Seal is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification that recognizes employers who strive to create mentally healthy workplaces for their employees.
Mental Health America (MHA), was founded in 1909, by Clifford Beers, one year after founding Mental Health Connecticut. MHA is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the overall mental health of all. MHA has spent decades researching mental health in the workplace. In 2019, MHA introduced the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health to recognize companies and organizations that understand the value of addressing mental health at work and implement policies and practices that support employee well-being. MHC is committed to providing the best for its employees and looks forward to continued work to ensure the standards set forth by the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health are upheld. You can learn more about MHA and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at www.mhanational.org/ bestemployers
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since COVID shut down our state and the IC closed it’s doors. It’s been a time of transition and learning and doing things in ways we had never considered before. We are happy to announce that the IC will begin face to face activities soon. Of course things will look a bit different than what they did pre-COVID. Our Facilities team is working hard on creating a beautiful outdoor space for us to gather together in and provide activities and workshops. We hope to begin this by the end of May. This will be a steady transition with the plan to have on site activities twice a week and then adjust the schedule accordingly. During this transition we will continue to provide our free weekly meal deliveries as well as remote offerings. In the meantime, we would love to hear from you about what you would like to see moving forward. If you have not already completed a survey about in-person services, please contact Deborah Holcomb at 203-814-1840. We would love to hear your ideas and preferences!
Along with all of the changes that this part year has brought us, we have come to the decision to shift our newsletter from monthly to quarterly editions. In making this change we hope you bring you more meaningful content while still highlighting events and member achievements. We welcome your feedback and what you would like to see our newsletter capture as we move forward. Please contact Trista Genova at 203-864-9552 or email at tgenova@mhconn.org for suggestions and feedback.
It’s that time of year again where we will be reaching out to our members for your opinion on the services that you receive from the Independence Center. This is a very important process for us to gather feedback on how we are doing, how we can improve and it also lets our funding sources know if we are meeting the needs of those we serve. We know that this past year has been full of changes and that the services provided had to be shifted. We ask our members to take the time to complete these survey and provide honest feedback while taking into consideration the restrictions of what could be offered due to Covid and the pandemic. If you have not already completed a survey, please expect to hear from us soon. We thank you for taking the time out of your day to help us with this very important task!
We would like to give a HUGE shout out to our advocates who testified on March 2nd for the Appropriations Committee’s Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed Budget for Health Agencies ( or H.B. 6439). Eleven of our advocates either submitted written testimony, video testimony and some even waited for hours to testify in “person”. This year was so different since our state buildings were closed and the hearings were over Zoom video. Still hundreds of people testified for an increase in funding for our not-for-profit programs and other healthcare agencies. We would like to recognize Annette B., Karen W., Joseph C., Angela B., Brian L., Matthew R., Mary Anne C., Victor B., Susan M., Carol G., David G. If you would like to watch the public hearing, you can view it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1brdAyz_S9E
Although things are starting to improve, we still face challenges associated with Covid-19. We want you to remember that there are resources that are available. Below is a list of programs that can help.
On Wednesday, April 21, the Appropriations Committee passed a budget as the first part of its plan that includes the full funding requested by The Alliance for community nonprofits. The budget plan increases funding for community nonprofits by $470 million by Fiscal Year 2027, including a $210 million increase by the end of the biennium. Advocacy works! If passed, this would be an unprecedented investment in community nonprofits. The State has never made this significant an investment in the services nonprofits provide to the people of CT.
Alcohol and Drug Recovery/ Substance Abuse Treatment Access Line for Referrals & Detoxification 860-714-3700 and 800-563-4086
This year will be a long session, so there will be more opportunities to get involved. Please contact Deborah Holcomb at 203-814-1840 if you would like more information on Legislative Advocacy!
State law provides a reimbursement program for Connecticut renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits. Persons renting an apartment or room, or living in cooperative housing or a mobile home may be eligible for this program. Renters' rebates can be up to $900 for married couples and $700 for single persons. The renters' rebate amount is based on a graduated income scale and the amount of rent and utility payments (excluding telephone) made in the calendar year prior to the year in which the renter applies. If you live in Waterbury, applications may be made at the Waterbury Town Assessor’s Office located at 235 Grant Street in City Hall. You will need to have proof of your total income from January 2020 through December 2020. If you are on SSDI and/or SSI and have not received a year end statement, you can call the Social Security office at 877-405-4874. You will also need a statement from your landlord for your out of pocket cost for your rent from January 2020 through December 2020. The application period is between April 1st and October 1st, 2021. If you have questions related to the Renters' Rebate Program please call the program hotline at 860-418-6377. If you are prompted to leave a message, please speak slowly and clearly, stating your name and phone number. A program representative will get back to you as soon as they can. If you need any assistance, please reach out to staff at the IC and we will help you to take advantage of this opportunity!
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 1-888-628-9454 (Español) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Sexual Assault Crisis Services English 888-999-5545 Spanish 888-568-8332 CT 211 call 2-1-1, www.211ct.org CT Quitline (Tobacco) 1-800-QUIT-NOW www.quitnow.net/connecticut CT Council on Problem Gambling 1-888-789-7777 (Helpline) www.ccpg.org Mobile Crisis 1-866-794-0021 Regional
Hotline: 1-888-447-3339 NAMI CT 860-882-0236 Helpline: 1-800-950-6264 www.namict.org Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) CT 1-866-783-7712 Anywhere USA 1 -800-344-2666 www.ct-aa.org Narcotics Anonymous (NA) CT 1-800-627-3543 National Information 1-800-447-6291 www.ctna.org
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We all know that nutrition is an integral part to whole health and wellness. The IC has been delivering homemade, healthy meals this past year, but we know that this can’t go on forever, so we would like to invite you to try a recipe on your own. During the second week in May we will be delivering kits to any interested member for the recipe we have listed on page 5. It’s easy, fun and delicious! Almond butter is high in “good fats” and helps with heart health. Oats are one of the healthiest grains out there. They are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals and have been shown to stabilize blood sugar and improve heart health. Agave is a natural alternative to using refined sugar- it has a low glycemic index and the vitamin K can help lower depression. Blueberries are a powerful antioxidant and can help to protect the heart and fight off cancer. (Continued on page 5 sidebar) 4
We know that this past year has been quite the whirlwind and that we all have had to adapt to new ways of doing things. As time wore on, this became easy for some and more difficult for others. In order to help alleviate some of the burden of the pandemic and provide support, the IC began it’s meal delivery program. We knew that food is not only nourishment for the body, but also for the soul. Knowing that there are individuals out there who care about you and will make healthy, delicious meals and deliver them right to your door has been a game-changer for many of members, particularly when in quarantine. We are so excited to have been able to provide this service to our members during this past year. In April we hit a milestone one full year of deliveries! The dedication, effort and constant drive of the IC staff has made this huge endeavor possible. During the past year the IC has shopped for, prepared, packaged and delivered 18,295 meals, 6,875 snacks and almost 1200 food bank bags! We have been able to maintain providing these FREE meals with the help of grants that we received from the CT Community Foundation in conjunction with United Way and also in April 2021 we received another grant from CHC (Creating Healthier Communities). This new grant will allow us to add even more fresh produce to our meals and deliveries. If you have benefitted from our meal delivery program, we’d love to hear your stories and what has been most helpful for you. Even better, if you would like to do a short video, let us know and we will make it happen. If you are interested in sharing, please contact Trista at 203-864-9552 or tgenova@mhconn.org.
If you would like to reach IC staff, phone numbers are as follows: Deborah Holcomb: 203-814-1840 / Derrick White: 203-814-1919 Jessica McDermott: 203-864-4878 / Trista Genova: 203-864-9552
A big thank you to all the IC members who attended MHC’s/ Write On, Six-part Series “Discovering Your Inner Writer” class. This was the second writing class offered to MHC program participants. Discovering Your Inner Writer is a six week series from MHC’s Write On! program. Write On! is designed for individuals who live with trauma and/or a mental health diagnosis, and who want to bring the transformative power of writing into their lives, as both a way to heal and to change minds. Participants leave Write On! with advanced writing and storytelling skills and the confidence to share their story in a way that demystifies mental illness and ends stigma in their community. The Write On “Discovering Your Inner Writer” program will be offered to MHC participants this summer. If you are interested in attending this fun and interactive program, please contact Jessica McDermott at 203-864-4878. If you aren’t sure if this is something that you may be interested in, take a below to hear what some of our members had to say.
Dried fruits and nuts are great sources of fiber and protein. You can substitute the dried fruits and nuts that we are sending you with any that you prefer if you decide try this recipe again. You can also substitute honey for agave. Try it out and let us know what you think!
Heart Healthy Bars
“‘The Write On: Discovering Your Inner Writer’ series helped me feel better by opening a window of selfknowledge and creative expression.” – Dave G.
“I learned that you can just free write and edit later. Also, an idea can change the world.”-Joseph C.
“Use your imagination. Immerse yourself in the story and visualize what you see, smell, taste. Are you the antagonist or the villain/ villainess? Let it flow and follow it.” -Terrex C.
“I learned that I can express my emotions in a very positive manner when I write.” -Shawn M.
4 oz Almond Butter
2 oz Agave
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Cup Blueberries
1/2 Cup Dried Figs and Hazelnuts
Place all ingredients in a bowl. Stir until well blended. Gently press into a pan to make bars or roll into one inch balls. If you are making bars, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow ingredients to set and cut into bars. Enjoy! Add-ins: To improve the health benefits feel free to add in flax seed meal, chia seeds, sunflower seeds or unsweetened coconut! 5
Disclaimer: Articles which show “submitted by” are not written by an IC member. They are articles that our members came across, were inspired by, and brought in to the Center to inspire and encourage other members. Often the authors of these articles are unknown. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Independence Center’s members, the staff, or the Editor.
May is Mental Health Awareness month. The IC will be offering workshops and information throughout the month of May. Additionally, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, MHC is hosting #31DaysofWellness – a virtual experience with free resources, information, workshops, and more! At MHC we know the importance of caring for one’s mental health each and every day, so for Mental Health Awareness Month, we won’t let one day go by without sharing our knowledge and expertise. This year we will celebrate #31DaysOfWellness, sponsored by ConnectiCare, with the theme of #31Tools2Thrive. Like Mental Health America’s #Tools2Thrive campaign, we are breaking out our toolkits and highlighting our favorite self-care tools that can help you create resiliency and support wellness. Our goal for #31DaysofWellness is to help individuals across CT to build their personalized self-care toolkits. Every day in May will feature a new and unique tool like Mental Health First Aid, Journaling, Reading, Nutrition, and Visual Arts. As we build our toolkits we ask that you help us build our facility reserves by fundraising for the MHC@Home Fund. For more information you can go the Mental Health Connecticut’s website www.mhconn.org or follow this link https:// www.mhconn.org/31days/