Important (and Free) Mental Health Info Event April 30

Mental Health is part of Health.
There has been a lot of discussion "post-Newtown"  about mental health. (Quote marks are because there is some discussion about not tainting the place name and instead calling the event "December 14th" but I am unsure if this is a movement by realtors to preserve property values or actually a true sentiment of the victim's families.)

Anyway, on April 30th, to kick off Mental Health Month, The Milford Prevention Council and Cachement Area Council 6 (part of the CT Dept of Mental Health and Addiction Services) are hosting an event at the Milford Public Library - and it is free. (also: Free parking behind the Library, bus stop nearby from Stratford and beyond and from New Haven - walking distance from Milford MetroNorth train station.)

Milford Library
57 New Haven Avenue
Tuesday, April 30
6:30 – 8 pm. 

To kick off May is Mental Health Month
The Region II Regional Mental Health Board CAC 6 and The Milford Prevention Council will sponsor an event “Celebrating Good Health, Wellness and Mental Health”
_______________________________

Speakers include Michael Sernyak, M.D., CEO of the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven, who will discuss the “health” crisis in mental health and how overall wellness can address it. 

Additional speakers will discuss community support systems for people with mental illness. 

Photographs by members of Bridges’ Young Adult Services program will be displayed, and handcrafted items such as jewelry and pillows from the Young Adult Services store, “Metamorphosis,” will be available for purchase. 

The discussion is open without charge to the public.  Refreshments served.

 _______________________________

The Milford Prevention Council is a coalition of community professionals working together to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth.  Community mental health and substance abuse treatment programs in Milford, West Haven and Orange comprise the Region II Regional Mental Health Board CAC 6. 

Love Thy Neighbor

What we need to do post-Hurricane, besides clean up. ie Use Your Noodle.

Help others The First Baptist Church in Milford has a Clothes Closet, open every Tuesday, for free clothing exchange. Bring your clean, in-Season, all ages clothing from 10 am to 2pm - 24 North Street. They will also accept some toys and games for kids, and occasionally cooking materials (pots & pans). The important thing is that these goods are offered for free.   Goodwill and Salvation Army sell what you donate.
Be Nicer   Ask about how others fared, rather than talk about yourself.  Show a little Tenderness.
Be Patient   Everyone is exhausted.
Look out for the Kids    Their patterns have been disrupted, and kids need a scheduled security. Ask the people who have been displaced if their kids need to come to your place to study.Look out for the Homeless   As always. Some may have had difficulty getting their medication, so be nice, be patient, be cautious but be as helpful as you can.

We all did good, thanks to the leadership of Governor Malloy and President Obama - who ere pro-active and reasonable prior to and during the Hurricane. If Mayor Bloomberg had not evacuated downtown Manhattan it would have been more difficult to persuade people to evacuate, so thanks to him too.

Lessons Learned

• Our local information systems failed. The "Reverse 911" phone calls are useless if the phones are out. We would have done better with someone on a horse with a megaphone.  Next time, perhaps.
• The Library and City buildings should have been open 24/7 for cellphone recharging.
• The schools should have been open for showers.
• We desperately need solar power.