Who knew a dramatic musical could cause so much emotion in an audience member? Not me, and I have to say I was quite surprised by it.  I found myself experiencing everything from sadness and grief to laughter and joy.  This play pulled at my heart strings like no other live performance I have ever seen.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to participate in a panel that fielded questions and discussed the challenges of mental illness.  During the hour, struggles faced by a person living with mental illness  as well as the difficulties a care giver confronts while trying to support a person with a diagnosis were addressed.  Unlike many of the panel discussions I have participated in where we have spoken mostly to people currently involved in the mental health community, this group was much more diverse and consequently less informed about the illnesses, treatments, stigma and recovery.  It was a fascinating discussion and hopefully enlightening to those in attendance.

Afterwards, I was able to watch the Broadway Musical now playing at the Arizona Theater Company, “Next to Normal.”  The play exquisitely tells the story of a family’s struggle with mental illness.  In this case, the Mother is struggling with Bipolar Disorder and the rest of the family is  doing the best they can to cope with the unpredictable scenarios that are faced on a daily basis.  When Mom is feeling hypo-manic everything is great.  But, inevitably either the bottom falls out and Mom becomes horribly depressed or just as awful, Mom becomes manic and repercussions can be just as devastating. The Dad misses the exuberant young woman he first fell in love with. The teenage daughter feels un-noticed and at times unloved by an overwhelmed Dad and an ill Mom. As for the son, well……I’ll leave his story out of this blog as I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone going to see this play.

Suffice it to say that this dramatic musical tells a complicated, absorbing tale of life in a family with mental illness.  After all, when someone in the family have a serious illness, everyone is effected, no matter if it’s a physical illness or a mental illness.  The narrative, told almost exclusively with song, is compelling and realistic.  Having experienced mental illness in my family, it touched me as if  my best friend was sharing her family life with me.  The author has great insight  and the actors were amazing.

The first steps in changing attitudes about mental illness are awareness  and education. This production does an excellent job in demystifying the reality of mental illness.  One in four families are effected by mental illness and mainstream media, even  Broadway musicals, can have a huge impact on advancing that goal.

MiKid is a local non-profit that provides support and assistance for families with children and teens with behavioral health challenges. Every holdiay season, MiKid provides toys, games, sports equipment or anything else that a needy child might want in a “Santa’s Elf Bag.” The Office Manager at MiKid, Jennifer Neely, explained that this year donations for our teen populaton are especially limited. “Many of the teens on our list are currently living in group homes and don’t have family members providing special gifts for the holiday season,” said Ms. Neely.

What do teens want?  Sports related items like soccer balls and baseballs, movies, toiletries, curling irons, sweatshirts (hoodies), colored socks, lip gloss, chapstick, combs, brushes, books, gift certificates, board games, playing cards, colored pencils, sketch pads, inexpensive jewelry, scarves, cookies etc. MiKid will also accept cash donations for the purchase of necessary items.

MiKid is a 501(c)(3) organization and is affiliated with the Federation of Families for Childre3n’s Mental Health and their philosophy is that most families are multi-stressed, not dysfunctional.  When working with famlies, MiKid staff focuses on strengths, not flaws and believes that planning and obtaining of services should be a joint effort of family and professionals. MiKid staff know that parents know their child best.

To donate please call the MiKid office at 882-0142 or stop by with your donation during regular business hours from 8am to 5pm at 4500 E. Speedway, Suite 58.  The website is www.mikid.org

FIRST OF ITS KIND

FOR MOMS WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

The Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition (TPDC) and CODAC Behavioral Health Services will host the Grand Opening of Mother’s Oasis: Center for Emotional Wellness on Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 4:30-6:30at 1067 E Silverlake Drive (85713).

Senator Linda Lopez, Elizabeth Jiminez (State Director for Healthy Families), and mothers who have experienced severe postpartum depression are scheduled to speak about the importance of a center dedicated to the emotional wellness of mothers.

“This is the first center of its kind in the entire country,” says founder Carole Sheehan, President of the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition. “Mother’s Oasis is now open to meet the special needs of women who are experiencing the troubling effects of pregnancy- and postpartum anxiety and depression.”

Maternal Depression is the number one predictor of future behavioral and cognitive problems in children. Therefore, a mother’s mental and emotional wellness are key to family health and survival. Unfortunately, however, each year around 4,000 women in Pima County suffer with anxiety and depression around childbirth. Many are not identified or treated, leading to chronic depression for the mother and challenges for the child(ren) as well.

Mother’s Oasis will offer support groups, therapy, doula services, yoga and zumba classes and connections to other community resources, such as parenting classes and behavioral health services. Services are offered at no cost.

CODAC is providing physical space to TPDC for the Mother’s Oasis free of charge, which compliments CODAC’s Healthy Families, Mother’s Caring About Self (intensive outpatient) and Las Amigas (residential treatment) programs.

All media are invited to attend the grand opening to learn of this first-of-its-kind center. For more information, please contact Kristine Welter at kwelter@codac.org or 260-2771.