frontline wellness

MARCH/APRIL 2021VOL. 38 | ISSUE 2

FrontlineWellness

Vote for New Vote for New Board MembersBoard Members

Annual Conference Info Coming SoonWe are currently in the process of planning the NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference for Novem-ber 2021. The conference will be held in Pe-waukee, Wisconsin. This years theme will focus on our 40th year as an organization, celebrating what we have accomplished in the past and thinking about where we will go in the next 40 years.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have navigated rescheduling our confer-ence. We are looking forward to safely gathering in person with you all this fall! Registration for the conference is not yet open. For more infor-mation about the 2021 Annual Conference, visit www.namiwisconsin.org/annual-conference.

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03 Interim Board President

03 From our Executive Director’s Desk

04 Annual Meeting

04 New Board Member Nominations

07 Proxy Ballot

08 Advocacy Updates

09 Nominate Someone for an Iris Award

09 NAMI’s Frontline Wellness

10 Affiliate Spotlight - NAMI Washington

11 New Cookbook - Submit a Recipe

12 Celebrating 40 Years - 1980s

13 Call for Art - 15th Healing Art Show

13 Action Online Recap

14 Stages of Grief & Mental Illness

15 Ask the Doctor

Contents

COVID-19 & Mental IllnessA recent study out of New York from JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) correlated higher mortality rates from COVID-19 to persons who live with a serious mental illness. There are sev-eral studies raising concerns about lingering mental health symptoms and neurological side effects of COVID-19.

We share this information with the hope everyone stays well informed about the effects, susceptibility, and concern we should all have about COVID-19 and mental Illness. Please talk to your healthcare provider and if interested in receiving a vaccine, please ask them about your eligibility.For more information please visit: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-about.htm jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2775179 jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2770050

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Mary Kay Battaglia, Executive Director

From Our Executive Director’s Desk NAMI Wisconsin has spent 40 years advocating for healthcare for people living with a mental illness, including mental health parity, qual-ity healthcare, increase funding for healthcare, and increase access to healthcare. Tragically, at the same time we were advocating for all this healthcare, we have been unable to provide healthcare benefits

to our staff. We had offered a small stipend to help offset the cost of purchasing healthcare on the market but trust me, it has not been a great selling point when interviewing new employees. Many small non-profits and businesses just can’t afford to provide health insurance to their em-ployees and it’s hard to compete with larger organizations who can offer higher pay and real benefits. As a non-profit who depends on grants, donations, and membership dues, the cost of providing health benefits to our staff seemed unattainable. After lots of research and analyzing our budget, we are very excited to have found a way to offer a basic healthcare benefit pack-age to our staff in 2021. It is a real blessing! And while we can now advocate for healthcare for others without feeling some guilt about our own organization, I can’t help but feel angry at our nation that all our citizens don’t have health insurance so they can receive basic healthcare.

During this pandemic millions of Americans lost their job, and to add insult to injury they most likely also lost their health insurance. Why must healthcare be linked to employment? When someone is unemployed and perhaps struggling, it may be more difficult to seek out care for their families’ medical needs. Within my own family (and maybe yours too), I can list many life decisions that have been made solely around health insurance, including going back to college where affordable health insurance is offered to students even though they don’t want another degree, staying at a hated job but they need the health insurance, staying in a job they want to retire from to keep a spouse/child on their insurance, and not taking a job they want because they do not offer health insurance.

While we may have some of the best healthcare providers, hospitals, and researchers in the world, this healthcare system does not seem to be working for its citizens. This healthcare crisis does seem like the perfect time to start a serious conversation and begin to advocate loudly to change and improve our current healthcare system!

Interim Board PresidentSita Diehl, Interim President, Board of DirectorsAs Vice President of NAMI Wisconsin, it is my honor to serve as the interim President in the wake of Kay Jewell’s resignation. Per our Bylaws, follow-ing the annual meeting on April 24th, the Board will elect officers and I am willing to serve as President, should it please the Board.

At NAMI Wisconsin, we serve individuals and families who live with mental illness, which is one of the most stigmatized set of conditions in society. Attitudes about and treatment of mental illness have come a long way in 40 years, but our work is more needed than ever in this stressful ever-changing world. Those we serve deserve our very best efforts to deliver high quality support, education and advocacy. With the administrative underpinnings instituted by Dr. Jewell, NAMI Wisconsin is in a good position to move forward with strength. I believe collaboration and good will between the Board and NAMI Wisconsin staff will advance our mission. Individuals, families, local affiliates and the general population deserve nothing less.

Rhiannon Buehler (Madison)Rhiannon started her journey in de-stigmatizing getting profes-sional mental, emotional, and psychological help by getting help herself! Rhiannon is chal-lenged with moderate anxiety and premenstrual dysphoric dis-order. It’s still not a social norm to talk about mental health condi-tions and getting help and she is ready to change that! Rhiannon

believes in the interconnected pieces of health and well-being which include mental, emotional, social, financial, spiritual, envi-ronmental, occupational, social components, and more! With a background in human and civil rights, she is a strong advocate in addressing systemic inequities which impact health and well-be-ing. Rhiannon will bring high ethical standards, integrity, the

ability to connect with diverse communities, and an inclusive, equitable, and mover and shaker mindset to her involvement with NAMI Wisconsin.

Michael Erdmann (Milwaukee) Michael served as the Treasur-er and a board member for the NAMI Milwaukee chapter for six years. He hopes to use his skills to help NAMI Wisconsin serve

Board MemberThe Nominating Subcommittee of the NAMI WI Board of Directors is pleased to present members with a number of candidates who are interested in serving as on our Board of Directors for a 3 year term, 2021-2024. Please review their statements about their interests and reasons for wanting to serve NAMI Wisconsin and our Affiliates and members. There are 2 ways you may vote for the candidates of your choice. The options are described on the Proxy Ballot enclosed in this issue of the Iris. If you have ques-tions or need additional information, please contact Mary Kay Battaglia, Executive Director via email at [email protected].

NAMI Wisconsin members: Save the Date! We invite you to our annual meeting, taking place via Zoom, April 24th, 2021 from 12pm-1pm. As a NAMI member, this is your organization: As board mem-bers, we work for you to make sure NAMI Wisconsin is serving you and your needs. Register for our annual meeting online at www.namiwisconsin.org/annual-meeting. The purpose of our annual meet-

• Highlight accomplishments and review the 2020 Annual Report • Present and elect new candidates who are interested in serving on our Board of Directors

for a 3 year term • Review bylaws and approve any changes • Discuss financial report• NAMI Wisconsin member Q&A • Submit nominations for the Iris Awards

We deeply appreciate your continuing involvement in the vital work of NAMI Wisconsin.

Sita Diehl, Interim Board President


the community and maintain its long-term financial viability. Exploring the many countries in this world is his passion. His travels began as an exchange student in Germany as a high schooler and continued with the pursuit of an MBA in internation-al business administration and becoming a CPA. His career has taken him to more than 20 countries, including two job assignments in Germany. No matter where he has traveled, the adverse effects of mental ill-ness have always been present. Both he, his family members and foreign friends/acquaintances have been afflicted. The words of Robin Williams have become his motto: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know noth-ing about. Be kind. Always.”

Tanna Hanson (Fox Valley)Mental Illness is part of my past, present and future. Growing up with a parent who lives with a severe mental health condition and a mental health condition of my own, I have a passion for mental health advocacy. I am devoted to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and I lean into my story to build up others and use my voice for all others who cannot.In my work in the Training and Development Department at Fox Valley Technical College, I am able to integrate mental health advocacy into our employee wellness initiatives. From leading our collegewide Mental Health Awareness Committee, em-ployee mental health resource groups, and building partner-ships with our internal mental health professionals and EAP provider; mental health advoca-cy and acceptance has become part of our campus culture.I am blessed to be able to vol-unteer with NAMI Fox Valley. My work with NAMI Fox Valley has given me an opportunity break

down barriers not only within my campus community and student NAMI club I oversee, but also in the classrooms and conference rooms of the community in which I live and love.Living with a mental health condition and seeing my parent go through struggles has acti-vated me to be a changemaker. My experiences have gifted me with courage, compassion and a fierce determination to advocate for others. My educational back-ground and skillset with public speaking, curriculum design and employee wellness will further support and propel the ongoing efforts of NAMI Wisconsin in public education, legislation and advocacy for all.

Heather Kaminski (Fox Valley)As a mom of young adults with mental health conditions, I truly value all of the resources and support I have received from my local NAMI chapter (Fox Valley) over the past several years. Wanting to give back on a local level, my husband and I are teachers for NAMI Basics and we also facilitate a support group for parents/caregivers of school-aged children. For more than 20 years, I worked in various indus-tries as a financial professional. 9 of those years were spent at a non-profit specializing in cost management and budgeting. On a professional level, I hold a doctorate in business adminis-tration/accounting from Ander-son University and I now teach accounting at UWGB. One of ar-eas I specialize in is governmen-tal and non-profit accounting, teaching this course to the next generation of accountants. I can-not think of a better way to give back to the organization which has helped my family in so many ways than to offer my personal experiences and professional expertise to further enhance the future of NAMI Wisconsin.

Mary Kirkendoll (Milwaukee)Within the African American cul-ture, the stigma of having mental illness has been a taboo subject for as long as I can remember. Thus, leaving those who suffer from mental illnesses feeling ever more isolated and alone. At a young age, I was diagnosed with depression and I struggled without treatment until I became an adult. Even though I did not get professional intervention until years later, I became more aware of my mental health During some of the most difficult years of my life, I longed pro-viders of color who understood the entrenched cultural stigma that is associated with mental illness. Sadly, finding therapists and other trained professionals of color remains an issue for many children, young adults and seniors of color trying to navi-gate the mental health provider matrix to attain holistic therapy/treatment.I am a registered social worker with the State of Wisconsin. In my current position, I interact with children, teens, young adults and parents of all rac-es and socioeconomic back-grounds with mental illnesses. Overwhelmingly, I find that individuals of color with lower economic means are unable to access the mental health sup-port, resources and interventions that they so disparately need. My interest in joining the NAMI board is deeply rooted in my de-termination to make a difference and to do my part in advancing the mission of this organization. I have a long history of serving on various Boards of Directors. I have served on numerous focus groups/steering committees to address community concerns. I have been active in communi-ty organizing to address racial disparities. I am the published author of five children’s books including a three-book series written for children who are re-


moved from their familiar spac-es and placed in foster care. I wrote and published these books because I could not find any books for children who experienced physical abuse. I have made these books avail-able to hand out to children who are taken into custody by my colleagues in Milwaukee Coun-ty. Helping others is what makes my life meaningful, I am indeed a born advocate. I cannot think of a greater need in our society today besides the need to help people who are suffering from untreated of under-treated men-tal illnesses. I have a passion for advocating and supporting others, it is an extension of my innate empathy and care for all people.

Robin Matthies, MSW (Madison)Hello! I am excited about the op-portunity to serve on the NAMI Wisconsin Board of Directors. I have a strong commitment to addressing the gaps in care, services and policies that sup-port individuals and communi-ties affected by mental illness. I currently serve as the Director of Public and Behavioral Health Integration with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), where I focus on adverse childhood experi-ences, suicide and overdose prevention, and the importance of taking an upstream approach toward addressing mental and behavioral healthcare challeng-es. Personally, I have lived with an anxiety disorder for as long as I can remember and strug-gled for many years with the stigma around seeking help. This prevented me from get-ting proper care and has since energized me to play a role in reducing mental health relat-ed stigma. Some of the most meaningful work I have done (both professionally and as a volunteer) is with LGBTQ+ youth who were experiencing numer-

ous identity-based struggles and crises. Hearing their stories, knowing the gaps in policy, understanding data that high-lights the existing disparities, and providing a space of sup-port has fueled me to become a tireless advocate for equitable and reliable healthcare for those experiencing mental illness.

Terry McGuire (Mukwonago)As a former Madison and Milwaukee news reporter/an-chor and freelance voiceover talent, I’ve made a living with my voice for 40 years. After my recent and worst-ever bout of depression, I vowed to use my lived and professional expe-rience Giving Voice to Mental Illness. (That’s the name of the non-profit org I founded.) Over the past four years I’ve interviewed hundreds of peo-ple about their experience of depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety in the hopes their stories (shared via the podcast I produce) would assure listen-ers they are not alone and that both help and hope are acces-sible and potentially life saving. NAMI’s mission of providing advocacy, education, support and public awareness align completely with my personal and professional mental-health advocacy goals. I believe as a board member, I could bring my deep knowledge of lived experi-ence to the table.

Senator Luther S. Olsen (retired) (Ripon)While serving in the Wisconsin state legislature, former State Senator, Luther Olsen authored several bills dealing with men-tal health issues. He was the author of two bills dealing with seclusion and restraint in the public-school system often deal-ing with students with a mental illness. While serving as the Vice Chair of the Joint Com-mittee on Finance he champi-

oned more dollars for mental health services in Wisconsin school systems. Luther has a step-daughter that is Bi-Polar I. He and his wife, Joan Wade, attended the family to family program in Oshkosh. After the course was completed, his wife took the training for the NAMI Family Support group. Luther joined his wife and another cou-ple leading the family support group in Oshkosh for about a year before their work sched-ules made it difficult to continue facilitating a group. Luther’s background in the Wisconsin Legislature and his personal experiences with mental health issues will make him an asset to the Board of Directors. He knows how to navigate the po-litical waters in Madison and has a strong background in finance. He currently volunteers as the financial administrator at Grace Lutheran Church in Ripon.

Dr. Stephanie Steinman (Madison)Dr. Stephanie Steinman decided on a career in psychology in the 7th grade. She has now been in the field for almost 20 years. Stephanie is a licensed clinical psychologist, clinical substance abuse counselor and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is currently the director of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program at UW’s Depart-ment of Psychiatry. During the current global health crisis, she has become invested in ways to have an even broader reach of improving the lives of those affected by mental illness. She wants to further her work in the community to reduce the stigma of mental health. She has had experience with grant writing, developing evidenced-based programs, and advocacy work. The message she wants every-one to know is that we all have mental health and want to have a life worth living.


Below is a list of nominees who are interested in serving as members of the NAMI Wisconsin Board of Directors. They are nominated to serve a 3 year term which would start April 2021 and end April 2024.

NAMI Wisconsin members are welcome to vote once by:1. Using this ballot. Please mail this ballot to NAMI Wisconsin,

4233 Beltline Highway, Madison, WI 53711 by April 17th, 2021. 2. Electronically – www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFKLL3Y. Elec-

tronic voting closes at 5 pm on Thursday, April 23rd, 2021.

Election results will be shared during the Annual Meeting at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 24th. All current, dues-paying NAMI Wisconsin members are eligible to vote. In accordance with NAMI Wisconsin bylaws, there are ten candidates to fill nine vacant positions. A brief bio of all candidates’ positions can be found as an insert in this newsletter.

Please only vote for nine of the ten candidates listed below by placing an X by your choices (If you vote for all ten, we will not be able to count your vote).

_____Rhiannon Buehler _____Michael Erdmann _____Tanna Hanson _____Mary Kirkendoll_____Heather Kaminski _____Robin Matthies _____Terry McGuire _____Sen. Luther S. Olsen _____Tony Thrasher _____Dr. Stephanie Steinman

By providing signature and date, I verify that I am a current, dues-paying NAMI member and I authorize NAMI Wisconsin Board of Directors to record my vote as noted above. Each vote must have a NAMI member’s signature and date.

______________________________ _____________ Member Signature Date

______________________________Member – Printed Name

___I certify this is the only vote that I am submitting for Board of Directors.

NAMI Wisconsin, Inc.2021 Board of Directors Proxy Ballot

Tony Thrasher (Milwaukee)Hello! My name is Tony Thrasher, and I am a psychiatrist in Milwau-kee with primary employment as the Medical Director for the coun-ty’s crisis services division. I have been fortunate enough to work with NAMI Milwaukee as well as NAMI Waukesha for several years pertaining to trainings, education-al efforts, and CIT development.Through these interactions (as well as observing NAMI’s strong work across the state), I’ve gained a great appreciation for what this group does as a mission... and I would be honored to join as a Board Member.In addition to my Milwaukee role, I am blessed to lead a statewide task force (composed of state psychiatrists and state emergen-cy medicine physicians) that has a central goal of improving the patient experience while in crisis. I am also lucky to work on many of these issues at the national level as President of the Ameri-can Association for Emergency Psychiatry (AAEP). In all of these clinical and leadership roles, my main areas of focus have included emphasis on education, advocacy, preservation of civil rights, and serving those most in need. As such, I see possible synergy be-tween my efforts and that of NAMI at the state level. Lastly, I would welcome the opportunity to learn from other board members and expand my own skill set to best benefit those we serve. I appre-ciate your consideration of my candidacy. If anyone has individu-al questions that they want to ask, they are welcome to email me at [email protected].


Crystal Hester, Public Policy & Advocacy Director

Advocacy UpdatesGovernor Evers Proposes $150 million in State Budget for Mental Health

On February 10th, Governor Tony Evers gave a sneak peak of his budget ahead of his February 16th public address. This announcement called for

more than $150 million to be invested into critical mental health services for Wisconsinites. He also called for the expansion of BadgerCare, an issue he ran on during his campaign. In addition, he plans to focus on high-risk groups such as children, farmers, veterans and those working to overcome sub-stance use disorders. The governor stressed that the pandemic has only further exacerbated the need for making sure every citizen has access to affordable, accessible healthcare services in their own communities. In addition to expanding BadgerCare, the governor’s budget includes:

• Ensuring access to telehealth services, including telepsychiatry • Investing more than $40 million into Medicaid rates to bolster access to outpatient mental health

services • Funding a new behavioral health treatment program for the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind • Expanding the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program to support vets who may have a mental

health condition as well as promote suicide prevention and awareness in underserved groups • Providing funding for the Farmer Mental Health Assistance program and creating a Regional Farm-

er Mental Health Support Program • Investing more than $54 million in student mental health and wellness through aid to public

schools, grants and DPI programming • Expanding the Child Psychiatry Consultation Program to cover the entire state • Funding to expand BadgerCare to cover room and board costs for Wisconsinites receiving treat-

ment in residential substance use disorder treatment facilities • Funding to support the multiple Regional Crisis Centers that provide crisis urgent care • Creation of multiple Regional Crisis Stabilization Facilities to support a community-based treatment

approach that aims to reduce the need for future intensive care • Increasing funding for Crisis Intervention training (CIT) for law enforcement • Funding to support additional staff at all Peer Run Respites to manage phone lines • Funding to support a Behavioral Health Bed Tracker to provide “real-time” in-patient, peer respite

and crisis stabilization capacity and bed availability

NAMI Wisconsin is pleased to see many of these important initiatives at the top of the governor’s pri-ority list. We still have a ways to go though and need your advocacy to see them through to the finish line. The next step of the budget process is public hearings with the Joint Finance Committee. From there, the proposals will make their way through the full legislature. Can we count on you to be at the table?

If you’re passionate about any of these issues, call or e-mail your legislator and let them know. Be sure to include a personal story and how these proposals might help someone else in your shoes. To find out who represents you, visit www.legis.wi.gov or contact Crystal at [email protected].


Help us celebrate those who have worked so hard during the last year to help provide support, volunteer, or have been an outstanding NAMI member. Each year, the NAMI Wisconsin Board of Directors select approximately 4-6 people to recognize at the annual conference. Recognition awards are given to people who stand out in their efforts, contributions, and dedication to im-prove the quality of life of people affected by mental illnesses and to promote recovery.

To learn more about the Iris Awards, see the list of award categories, and to submit your nom-inations, please visit namiwisconsin.org/iris-award-nominations-needed. Questions on the Iris Awards Nominations? Please contact Sita Diehl at [email protected].


Frontline WellnessNAMI has compiled resources, information, and support for Frontline professionals facing the many challenges in their day-to-day work life. From the pressure of making sure people get the help and care they need to working long shifts — health care and public safety are stressful fields of work.

When you encounter chronic stress and trauma as a part of your daily work life, an added source of stress like COVID-19 can feel overwhelming. For many frontline professionals, the pan-demic has taken a toll on their mental wellness. And if you are struggling, you are not alone.

Frontline professionals are encouraged to visit www.nami.org/frontlinewellness for:• Confidential and professional support• Peer support• Techniques to build resilience• Support for family members• Information on how to identify signs of a

potential mental health emergency

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Affiliate Spotlight NAMI WashingtonEstablished over 20 years ago, NAMI Washington County (NAMI WC) is the result of an active group of peers and volunteers working together to improve the lives of individuals affected by mental illness. Together they brought education, peer support, and recovery to the NAMI Welcome Center, which is recognized as one of Wisconsin’s seven Peer Recovery Centers.

NAMI WC’s Peer Recovery Center offers peer-led recov-ery-based programming five days per week to variety of different sub-populations. Adults affected by men-tal illness have the option of participating in Crafting Connections, Wellness-Self Management, Let’s Con-nect a support group for young adults ages 18 – 30 years of age, Mindful Creativity Adult Art Therapy, Fun Fridays Socialization Group, and RISE Adult Support Group. Teens affected by mental illness have access to our support group Teen Connections at our Welcome Center as well as another high school in Washington County as well as Teen Expressions Art Therapy at the Welcome Center. In addition, family members of those affected by mental illness can access NAMI’s Family Support Group at the Welcome Center. Programming at the center emphasizes the participant’s capacity for in-dependence rather than a service-dependent lifestyle. Program participation leads to increased independence and productivity as well as reduced tendencies of isola-tion, depression, addiction, and self-harm or suicidality.

In addition to our peer-run recovery center, NAMI WC provides a variety of education opportunities within Washington County. NAMI programming includes NAMI Family-to-Family, NAMI Peer-to-Peer, NAMI Friends & Family, and NAMI Ending the Silence. We also pro-vide CIT or Crisis Intervention Training twice per year to county-wide law enforcement agencies, QPR Sui-cide Prevention Training ponce per month, and start-ing March will be offering a new support group called HOPE Connections, a group to support adults who have lost loved ones to suicide.

NAMI Washington Welcome Center

Using a variety of mediums art therapy is a great way for individu-als to talk about their emotions, challenges or successes without the fear of judgment or stigma.

To spread the word about NAMI programming staff, peers, and vol-unteers participate in a variety of community events such as health fairs, the Farmer’s Market, and Music on Main (a music festival in downtown West Bend, WI.)

Due to the major success of our NAMI Wisconsin Casserole Cookbook, we are making a sec-ond edition! This cookbook will feature ‘sharables’ that you bring to a friend or family member in need. This includes but is not limited to desserts, snacks, appetizers, and more!

When someone has a heart attack, breaks their leg, or is diagnosed with a physical illness they are usually showered with support, messages of kindness, and food from friends and family. Un-fortunately, that is not always the case when someone is struggling with a mental illness. We are changing this narrative by creating recipe books for people who are affected by mental illness.

When you submit a recipe, you will get a free cookbook mailed to your home. NAMI Wisconsin’s Sharables Cookbook will be available for purchase May 2021 in honor of Mental Health Aware-ness Month. Thank you for your support!

INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS

submit a recipe

Fill out this form and mail it into NAMI Wisconsin by March 26th to be included in our Sharables Cook-book. Mail to: NAMI Wisconsin 4233 W Beltline Hwy, Madison, WI 53711.

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Quoting from “The Birth of a Friend,” a presenta-tion I made on the 10th anniversary of AMI-Wiscon-sin in April 1991, I began as follows:

“Getting the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Wis-consin off the ground beginning in April 1981 was no small task, as the expression goes. The April 24-26 conference, “Advocacy for Persons with Chronic Mental Illness,” held in the Lakeshore Room of the Wisconsin Center in Madison, culmi-nated with the five elected delegates and three alternates, who were present, holding the first meeting of the steering committee.

Because I lived in Madison and was a member of the Dane County Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Esther Howard, Dorothy Waite, Ben Foltz, Wil-liam Breisch, Ruth Beck, and Pam Erickson voted me president.”

AMI is now NAMI; the MI is no longer ‘mentally ill,’ but rather on Mental Illness; and the Wisconsin center is now the Pyle Center, but our missions continue to advocate with individuals, families, and friends to improve the lives of persons with mental illness.

Former Green Bay Packer, Lionel Aldridge, speaks at a NAMI Wisconsin Conference

The years of the 1980s were very busy in Wis-consin and the nation. Wisconsin AMI/NAMI was served by Nancy Abraham, Beverly Young, Patrick Bohon, and Robert Nugent as Presidents, along with very capable Boards of Directors, Committee Chairs, and members.

Organizing, developing, constitution and by-laws, reaching out to other disability groups in the state, approaching elected officials, participating in Rally for a sane budget at the Capitol on October 13, 1981 – with a busload of persons from Racine AMI. By December there were 13 affiliates!

We held two conferences each year during the 1980s, four consumers presented at the 1984 con-ference in Racine; there was strong advocacy for both SSI and SSDI. Three members, Everett Matz, Pam Erickson, and Maria (Meyer) Von Schraaer, were appointed to the Mental Health Advisory Council. Staff were hired in 1985 after obtaining a child advocacy (CAASP) grant. AMI and ARC estab-lished the Wisconsin Family Community Trust for the Disabled and Mental Illness Awareness week was celebrated in 1989.

Looking Back at the ‘80sNancy Abraham, Founding NAMI Wisconsin President


We are looking for artists to display their work in our 15th Annual Healing Art Show! Each year, NAMI Wisconsin hosts the Healing Art Show to raise awareness and break down stigma surrounding mental illness. The show features the works of Wisconsin artists who experience mental illness and creatively express themselves through various mediums of art.

This year, we will be hosting the Healing Art Show at Daisy Café and Cupcakery in Madison, Wisconsin during the month of May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. By showcas-ing the artistic works created by people with mental illness, we highlight the creative talents and personal strengths that far overshadow any mental illness.

To submit your art, visit www.namiwisconsin.org/healing-art-show. Submissions due March 26.

On February 25th, NAMI Wisconsin welcomed over 300 people to our annual advocacy event. Action on the Square was held virtually this year and featured a panel of mental health experts, a recap of our 2021 legislative issues, a NAMI Smarts for Advocacy presentation, and meetings with legislators. We had legislators and constituents from 32 out of 33 senate districts join us to advocate for mental health!

Whether you attended Action Online or are passionate about mental health, please contin-ue to build relationships with your legislators and encourage them to support our legislative priorities. To find your legislators contact information, visit legis.wisconsin.gov and enter your address in the “Who Are My Legislators” search bar. For more information on our legislative priorities, visit namiwisconsin.org/legislative-priorities.


Call for Art!

Action Online Recap


Catherine Woelm, Peer Leadership Council

The first emotion many feel upon receiving a diagnosis of a mental illness is relief. Finally, a name and therefore something to treat, is applied to what they’ve been feeling. But for almost everyone, soon after relief, a sense of grieving begins. Although dismissed as outdat-ed and inaccurate in 2020, almost everyone is familiar with and still acknowledges the Kübler-Ross Five Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bar-gaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Grieving is an important part of mental health recovery. All preconceived notions about one’s self can change in a moment. Career paths can change. Lifestyles are forced to change to im-prove mental and physical health. External and internal stigma come into play. As one moves along his or her mental journey, one may have to completely alter how they see themselves.

In this series of articles, we will walk through the stages of grief through a peer’s perspec-tive. We will follow the Kübler-Ross model, but it is important to state that a person may skip around the stages, cycle back to the Deni-al stage after moving through the Depression stage. Everyone’s journey is as unique as the person taking it.

The first stage is Denial. This can present in many ways, from “I don’t have a mental illness”, or “I don’t have to take all of these pills”, or even, “I can keep on as I have been, and it will be okay”. Denial can manifest in many ways, including the need to hide one’s mental illness from others. The “I’m Fine” response.

How one works through denial can often lead to a worse breakdown in health before it gets

better. For example, most medications say, “do not take with alcohol”. But for a person who used alcohol to self-medicate before seeking professional help and now identifies him/her-self with the party lifestyle, they may deny the need to cut out alcohol. As the alcohol and their medications mix, they spiral and grow physically ill, yet it will take a dramatic event—a near miss or a humiliation or a loss—before that person admits that their condition requires that they continue their medication, and that alco-hol can no longer be a part of their lifestyle.

Another example could be illustrated in the “I’m Fine” response. Hiding one’s mental ill-ness from others is a common form of denial. The thought that if others believe there’s noth-ing wrong, then there is nothing wrong. But it takes a lot of effort to put on a happy face, and can cause lashing out, suicidal ideation, and in the most extreme cases, a downward spiral of the psyche.

Denial often stems from fear. Fear of change, fear of rejection, fear of shaming, fear of facing the journey ahead. This is a delicate stage for anyone, and for those with poor mental health, can be one of the most dangerous. Fortunately, there is hope for anyone in this stage. Reaching out to support system—family, friends, peers, therapists—whoever is most trusted, can help one work through denial.

If you are struggling, or in a state of crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide Pre-vention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOPELINE to 741-741.

Stages of Grief & Mental IllnessStage 1: Denial


WisconsinAsk the DoctorThe world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 to hopefully just 2021 made this revelation to the entire world crys-tal clear as a minuscule virus brought the human race to its knees. While humility may be the great-est lesson that this war with a virus imparts to us, I think it also highlighted the tenacity of the human spirit to rise above the most impossible seeming odds.

This war really is a series of many battles and the frontline soldiers who have been fighting those battles deserve the world’s utmost gratitude. Yet, it’s far from easy to be on the ground fighting in the muck on a day-to-day basis. To these frontline heroes, I wanted to share two lessons that I have learned throughout this pandemic through person-al experience and those from my patients.

The first lesson is to make sure you utilize what I call “wellness prescriptions” for yourself. Wellness prescriptions are those behaviors and activities that are critical for your mental health. They in-clude such fundamental things such as going to sport games, watching movies, eating healthy, get-ting enough sleep, spending time with family, etc. However, when times are tough, it’s very challeng-ing to get all your “wellness prescriptions” in.

That’s why I recommend making sure you know what your “high-yield wellness prescriptions” are. When you only have time to use a few, make sure they count. To personally illustrate, while eating healthfully and getting exercise are undoubtedly important, my high yield prescriptions are playing a few hours of video games a week and hiking with my dog. All the broccoli and jumping jacks in the world aren’t going to give the same uplift in mood for me as video games and hiking!

For the second lesson, I’m going to ask you to remember your high school chemistry days and classes about diffusion. Diffusion describes how gas will move from a concentrated area and spread evenly throughout a large area. This is kind of how suffering and hardship work in our lives. Even a little bit of suffering can slowly start to

spread across your entire perspective of your life and cause bitterness and sad-ness to infect all your thoughts, feelings, and outlook. If you recognize this though, I’ll share the secret in combating the melancholy this can create. When you recognize that suffering is filling your vision, you have to ac-tively introduce new gasses into your field of view to “crowd” out the suffering gas. Use diffusion to your mental health recovery. These gases can certainly be the “wellness prescriptions” described above, which can now also be described as “well-ness gases”.

Perhaps the most critical wellness gas is the act of just being actively thankful for the blessings one does have in life that is harder to see when suffering is clouding your vision. These can range from recognizing your family and friends, having a steady paycheck, living comfortably in a home, eating a full meal, recognizing the freedoms you have in this country and not being actively re-pressed for having unique beliefs, and that you even have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.

The suffering is still there, but as it’s not the only gas to focus on anymore, it is more evenly bal-anced and you don’t personally suffer as much. Having a more true perceptive now on your situa-tion by measuring both the good and the bad, you can find contentment more easily.

So as the war continues to wage on, and as you continue to fight the good fight against COVID, please remember that the struggle and suffering are not all that’s existing in the world right now. There is real encouragement to be found as good people work together for the good of all goodly folk! Arm yourself with your “wellness prescrip-tions” and recognize that suffering doesn’t have to cloud your vision, and carry on!

Dr. Joshua Babu

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