The Voice

Mindfulness has become an increasingly popular part of our repertoire for enhancing brain health. There are school mindful meditation programs for children to reduce the stress of exams. Many health providers offer adjunctive mindful-based therapies for those suffering with pain associated with chronic diseases, such as autoimmune disorders and cancer. But the benefits of mindfulness-based therapies have been felt the most by those who live with mental illness. To have control over the focus of your mind’s eye such that you are healing yourself by changing the activity patterns of your brain circuits is about as empowering as it gets!

But what is mindfulness? or mindful meditation? or mindfulness-based intervention? Mindfulness is based on the Tibetan Zen Buddhist practice of meditation. It was adapted for modern psychology and integrated into therapy by Thich Nhat Hanh, Herbert Benson, Jon Kabat-Zinn and Richard Davidson. Mindfulness is focusing your attention on experiencing the present without judgment from the past or worries about the future. It is training the brain to focus on sensory perception and motor behaviors as you experience them. You learn to attend to sensations from the world around you and from within you. Focusing on breathing and body sensations like muscle tension and posture facilitates entering a mental state removed from internally generated emotionally charged repetitive thoughts. In this state, stream of consciousness thoughts can pass without emotional attachment and burden. Inner thoughts can be observed at a distance with self-awareness and detached perspective.

So what do we think is happening in the brain during mindful meditation? Mindful meditation changes the balance of brain activity between the higher order cortical regions responsible for attention and strengthens executive control over the activation of these attentional networks. There are four attentional networks: The Default Mode Network (DMN), Attention Network (AN) and the Salience Network (SN). In addition, the Frontoparietal Control Network (FPCN) guides how brain activity is balanced between these networks and other brain tasks.

The Default Mode Network is active when you are just sitting around thinking, such as: When you are thinking about yourself and things that happened to you in the past and how you felt about them. Or when you are imagining the future. Or when you thinking about others and trying to

November 2019

Issue XI, Vol. IX

5205 Greenwood Ave., Ste. 110 West Palm Beach, FL 33407

561-588-3477 www.namipbc.org

put yourself in their shoes. When the DMN is active, it can spin around in loops ruminating about something and bringing up emotions associated with your thoughts. In many mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the DMN is overactive or it is not well controlled by the FPCN. Runaway thoughts from within can prevent you from processing information from the world around you and reduce your ability to focus on achieving your goals.

The Attention Network is active when you choose to pay attention to stimuli from the outside world. There are two subnetworks to the attention network: the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN) and the Ventral Attention Network (VAN). The DAN is active when you are listening to a friend, or appreciating a walk on the beach or enjoying a nice meal. Activation of this network is under voluntary control; you choose which things in your environment you pay attention to. The Attention Network is active when you shift focus to pay attention to something unexpected that happens around you. This shift to the VAN happens without you consciously thinking about it.

The Salience Network is active when you are determining what things in your environment are important for your wellbeing. It is important for evaluating threatening situations and in determining what behaviors will have the most rewarding outcome.

During mindful meditation, the DAN is engaged to keep your attention focused on external stimuli. When you concentrate on breathing and bodily sensations during meditation, the SN is engaged to evaluate these sensations. The FPCN works with the DAN to keep you focused on sensory experiences and motor behaviors and to monitor when your attention drifts off to internal thoughts and starts to activate the DMN. To return your thoughts to the present experience, the SN nudges the FPCN to shift brain activity to the DAN and away from the DMN. In short, the FPCN, DAN and SN work together to keep you present in the moment and not lost in the DMN with perseverative worries.

There is evidence from FMRI, EEG, MRI and DTI studies that long-term practitioners of mindful meditation have changes in the activity and structure of attentional network. There is decreased connectivity and activity within the DMN in meditators compared to those not trained in mindful meditation. There is increased cross talk between FPCN and

Cont’d on page 2

How Does Mindfulness Change the Brain? A neurobiologist’s perspective on mindfulness meditation

By: McLean Bolton, NAMI PBC Board of Directors

SAVE THE DATES Nov 02 – NAMIWalks (p. 3)

Nov 13 – Peer Council Trip —LW Playhouse (p. 4)

Nov 14 – Introduction to Jail Healthcare (p. 7)

Nov 14—Sip and Shop at Sequin (p. 9)

Nov 18 – NAMI 101 (p. 2)

Nov 19 – Annual Meeting (p. 7)

Nov 20 – Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders (p. 7)

Dec 12 – NAMI Annual Luncheon (p. 5)

Dec 14 – Peer Council Yard Sale (p. 4)

Dec 15 – Peer Council Meeting (p. 4)

Dec 18—Shop and Share at Lilly Pulitzer (p. 9)

*See p. 11 for support group listings.

No Peer Council Meeting in November

No Reunion Potluck in November or December

Page 2

In September, NAMI PBC

served 509 individuals

We answered 188 family calls

18 attended NAMI Presentations

20 attended NAMI Family Support Groups

120 attended NAMI Connection Groups

28 attended the NAMI Y oung Adults Group

12 attended the NAMI Peer-to-Peer course

12 Teens Mentored, 23 Adults Mentored

100 participated in NAMI Peer Council and

NAMI on Wednesday activities

About the Author:

McLean Bolton is on the Board of Directors at NAMI PBC.

McLean started her research program at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience as an independent Research Group Leader focusing on disorders of neural circuitry in January of 2011. Prior to this appointment, she was a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Duke University Medical Center (2008-2010).

McLean’s early postgraduate career was in ion channel drug discovery and developing high content screening platforms for neurological disorders (2000-2008). Before returning to basic research in 2008, she worked as a Research Scholar for the Duke Drug Discovery Center, a Senior Scientist at Icagen, Inc., a Scientist II at Amphora Discovery Corporation, and an Investigator at Cogent Neuroscience, Inc.

McLean received her Ph.D. in Neurobiology at Duke University.

NAMI 101

Monday, November 18, 2019, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

NAMI West Palm Beach Office

5205 Greenwood Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

RSVP 561-588-3477

cont’d from page 1

DMN, reflecting greater executive control over the DMN. Studies also show increased connectivity within the SN and increased interconnectivity between FPCN, SN and DAN helping to keep the mind on rewarding topics. There is also increased interconnectivity between FPCN, DAN, and VAN to keep the focus on the present

Mindfulness training can help change patterns of brain activity because the synapses within these attentional networks can strengthen or weaken with use. So, join a mindful meditation class or download a mindful meditation app and train your brain to get out of the default mode network and be present!

For more information see “A neurobehavioral account for decentering as the salve for the distressed mind", by Anthony King and David Fresco in Current Opinions in Psychology (2019) v. 28 pp 285-293, which is the reference for this article).

Page 3

NAMIWalks 2019

Saturday, November 2nd Check-In: 8:30 a.m. | Walk: 10:00 a.m.

John Prince Park, Lake Worth Register your team today!

namiwalks.org/palmbeachcounty

In Kind Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Media Partner

Silver Sponsors

Supporter Sponsors

Kilometer Sponsors

Page 4

NAMI ON WEDNESDAY (N.O.W.) Drop In

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Drop In for Arts & Crafts, Games, Socializing & more!

NAMI Lake Worth Office, 1520 10th Ave. N., Ste. D, Lake Worth, FL 33460 For more information, call the NAMI office at 561-588-3477.

Join us Wednesday, November 13th, for Birthday Celebrations!

Peer Council

Upcoming Peer Council Events

Peer Council Meeting Sun., December 15th

1:00—4:00 p.m. NAMI Lake Worth Office 1520 10th Ave. N., Ste. D

Lake Worth, FL 33460 Pizza & Football

No Meeting in November!

“Inspecting Carol” Wed., November 13th

7:30 p.m. Lake Worth Playhouse

713 Lake Ave. Lake Worth, FL 33460 RSVP: 561-588-3477

Delray Yacht Cruise Despite the rain, the NAMI PBC Peer Council had a great time on the annual Delray Yacht Cruise!

Peer Council Yard Sale Sat., December 14th

8:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. NAMI Lake Worth Office 1520 10th Ave. N., Ste. D

Lake Worth, FL 33460 Volunteers/Donations

needed: Call 561-588-3477

Page 5

Donate Your Birthday to NAMI!

Did you know that Facebook has an option for users to create fundraisers in honor of their birthday?

It’s an easy way to raise money for your causes.

Please consider choosing NAMI PBC if you are donating your birthday

this year!

Support NAMI PBC every time you shop on Amazon!

Just go to smile.amazon.com

and search for NAMI Palm Beach County.

A donation is made each time you shop!

Page 6

Chairmen Margaret Donnelley, Ellie Siklossy, Mary Lou Wagner, and the Luncheon Committee

kindly request the pleasure of your company at the Annual Luncheon to benefit NAMI Palm Beach County

Guest speaker

Nyna Giles

Thursday, December 12, 2019

11:00 a.m. Silent and Tea Cup Auctions

12:00 p.m. Lunch and Program

Marriott West Palm Beach, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401

$85 per person

The courtesy of your reply is requested as soon as possible. Limited seating. For additional information, please contact Kelly Garvis (561) 588-3477 or email: kellygarvis@namipbc.org

Please mail to: NAMI Palm Beach County, 5205 Greenwood Avenue, Suite 1 1 0, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.

Name ___________________________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________________________

City_______________________________________________________State ___________Zip___________

Telephone __________________________ Email ______________________________________________

__ *Grand Benefactor $25,000/10 Tickets __ *Grand Benefactor Ticket $2,500 per person

__ *Benefactor Table $15,000/10 Tickets __ *Benefactor Ticket $1,500 per person

__ *Sponsor Table $10,000/10 Tickets __ *Sponsor Ticket $1,000 per person

__ *Patron Table $5,000/10 Tickets __ *Patron Ticket $500 per person

__ *Supporter Table $2,500/10 Tickets __ *Supporter Ticket $250 per person

__ *Contributor Table $1,000/10 Tickets __ *Contributor Ticket $100 per person

__ *Friend Table $850/10 Tickets __ Friend Ticket $85 per person

__ NAMI Member Ticket $75 per person

Please select a meal choice ____CHICKEN or ____VEGETARIAN

*Recognition of your generosity in the Benefit Program if received by December 5, 2019.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Tickets will be held at the door.

□ I would like to reserve _____Tables/Tickets for a total of $_____________. Please send the names of your guests and meal choices, or those with whom you wish to be seated to Kelly at: 561-588-3477 or kellygarvis@namipbc.org

□ I cannot attend, but wish to donate $___________ to support NAMI Palm Beach County’s programs.

□ Check enclosed (payable to NAMI Palm Beach County) $____________

□ Charge $____________ to my credit card □ Visa □ Mastercard □ American Express □ Discover

Card # ________________________________________ Exp. Date __________ CVC (3 or 4 digits) ______

Authorized Signature __________________________________________________________________________

You may also pay by credit card through our secure website: www.namipbc.org

Contributions benefit NAMI PBC, a 501c (3) not for profit tax exemption organization. Tax ID No. 59-2301320. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL

REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF NAMI PBC (CH 6498), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER

SERVICES AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM OR BY CALLING TOLL FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. REGISTRATION

DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. NAMI PBC receives 100% of each contribution.

Introduction to Jail Healthcare 101

Introduction to the components a quality jail-based health care program,

and discussion of current operational challenges.

Presented by: William P. Kissel, MS, CCHP-MH Regional Vice President, Wellpath

Thursday, November 14, 2019,

6:00-7:30

NAMI Lake Worth Office

1520 10th Ave North, Ste. D, Lake Worth, FL 33460

RSVP at 561-588-3477

Page 7

NAMI Annual Meeting & Community Needs Assessment

Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders

The Past, Present, and Future—from a clinical neuroscience perspective. Presented by: Dr. Christopher Kye

Wednesday, November 20, 2019,

6:00-7:30 p.m.

NAMI West Palm Beach Office

5205 Greenwood Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

RSVP at 561-588-3477

At our NAMI Annual Meeting attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a community forum to

discuss the strengths, challenges, and barriers associated with behavioral health services in Palm

Beach County. NAMI members will also vote for the incoming Board of

Directors. See page 8 for more information. Light refreshments will be provided.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

6:00-8:00 p.m.

NAMI West Palm Beach Office

5205 Greenwood Ave.

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

RSVP at 561-588-3477

Annual Board of Directors Election NAMI members are invited to vote on the incoming NAMI Board of Directors at the NAMI Annual Meeting

on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at the NAMI West Palm Beach Office,

5205 Greenwood Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.

See below for more information about the candidates.

Page 8

Flynn P. Bertisch is a native Floridian and former police officer who currently works as a criminal defense attorney in Palm Beach County. His work in defending individuals in both state and federal court has exposed him to a variety of unique situations and theories of defense, especially in the areas of mental health. His desire to work with NAMI stems from his commitment to ensure that people who suffer with mental illness are not lost in the system and do not feel ostracized. Flynn is seeking re-election to his second term on NAMI Palm Beach County’s Board of Directors. Cheryl Checkers, M.S., Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), LEAP® Practitioner, UCLA Certified PEERS® Therapist, received degrees in Business Management, Marketing, Psychology and Mental Health Counseling. She served as past Clinical Director for NAMI Palm Beach County and Clinical Coordinator/Clinical Support Specialist and Instructor for Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). Cheryl has worked in private practice for the past several years and currently has offices in Jupiter and Delray Beach, where she specializes in working with individuals with severe and persistent mental health conditions and their families, and individuals who are dually diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as a mental health disorder. Cheryl continually strives to improve the quality of life for individuals with severe and persistent mental health disorders and their families. Donna Harris, LCSW, came to the Jerome Golden Center as an MSW student from Barry University in 1986. At the end of the internship, she was hired as a Case Manager. In 1989, she received her LCSW and was promoted to Director. Over the last 33+ years at Jerome Golden Center, Donna has provided leadership over various departments such as Case Management, Acute Care Services, Children’s Services, Mobile Crisis, Outpatient Therapy, Housing Programs, Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement, and Risk Management. She has helped develop and/or implement such programs as Intensive Case Management Teams, FACT Team, children’s services, Mobile Crisis, and Coping with Economic Stress. Donna also helped develop the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training for Palm Beach County and is an active member of the CIT Planning Group and member of CIT International. She has taught Crisis De-escalation Techniques, a primary element of the training, to CIT participants since 2003. Nigel Johnson has a passion for people. He especially likes to work with individuals with disabilities, including social and emotional challenges. Nigel was drawn to NAMI as he has perspective on mental health from multifaceted views. He wants to learn, share, and spread knowledge on mental and behavioral health. Nigel is a youth mentor and a school behavioral health professional. He has also worked with at-risk youth ages 11-16 in a therapeutic residential environment who were experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. Lisbeth Matheus is a business professional with experience in business planning, strategy, marketing, and communications. She is currently working as a Sr. Marketing Manager for Kaplan Higher Education. In her current role, she is responsible for developing marketing plans to help drive student acquisition enrollment goals. Lisbeth manages and executes integrated marketing campaigns in collaboration with web, engagement and creative services teams to promote and enroll in online degrees programs. She conducts research and analyzes economic developments for business and IT college degrees, including competitive landscape, industry trends, demographic characteristics, and translates findings into actionable strategies. Most recently, Lisbeth actively contributed to the launch of cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and Competency Based Education degrees for Purdue Global University. She joined NAMI in 2019 and completed the Family-to-Family training. Lisbeth is actively involved with Calvary Chapel, her local church. She attends life groups and ladies bible studies on a regular basis. Lisbeth is bilingual, enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her family. Married since 1991, she and her beloved husband, German, have two (almost) grown boys. Lisbeth and her husband live in Delray Beach. Angela Pica would like to serve on the BOD for NAMI PBC because she has a desire to help change the way mental health is handled here and elsewhere in our country. She believes that it starts with one. One person, one law, one day, one moment. Angela is willing to go for more training to enhance her skills and see where she can do the most good. She is grateful for this tremendous opportunity. Angela states, “I will do my best and when that's not good enough, I will do better.”

IN A CRISIS

Mobile Response: Mobile Response provides emergency intervention, de-escalation, screening and assessment for

individuals who are in emotional distress. As a family member or close friend, you can call Mobile Response and

discuss the situation with them. They will help to determine the best course of action. It may involve them going to

the individual’s home to assess the situation. Based on the assessment, they may recommend community treatment,

or they can arrange to have the individual hospitalized. Mobile Response services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days

a week.

Mobile Response Units:

South County Mental Health Center Mobile Response (southern part of county): 561-637-2102;

(northern part of county): 561-693-8681; (Glades area): 561-382-3555

Calling 911: If you find that the situation has escalated to a point of crisis, call 911, describe your situation and ask for

a CIT-trained officer. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) completes a week-long training developed nationally by NAMI

and the police to improve responses to people in crisis. Many local officers have participated in this training.

Questions / Need Resources? When you are looking for support finding resources, or to develop a crisis contingency plan, you can call NAMI PBC’s

Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (Family Support), Sue Gordon at 561-588-3477. Sue is available during regular

business hours to help you identify resources in your area within Palm Beach County.

Page 9

Resources

Shop & Share

Please join SEQUIN for a Sip & Shop honoring

The NAMI 2019 Luncheon Committee

Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

SEQUIN

219 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, FL 33480

Kindly RVP 561-328-8405

Lilly Pulitzer Shop & Share

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, from 2:00-6:00 p.m.

Lilly Pulitzer

240 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, FL 33480

Kindly RSVP 561-588-3477

Page 10

NAMI in the Community

NAMI Florida Annual Meeting

NAMI PBC volunteer, Laurie Deardeuff

spoke on a panel at the NAMI Florida

Annual Meeting

Laurie shared about her experience

working in the mental health field.

NAMI Family-to-Family State Training

NAMI State Trainers, Marsha Martino and

Nancy Krell, led a two-day training for new

NAMI Family-to-Family Instructors.

We look forward to watching the program

grow in Palm Beach County and

throughout the state!

Dana Eagle Interview

NAMI PBC Director of Programs, Katherine

Murphy, recently interviewed comedian

Dana Eagle, author of How to Be

Depressed: A Guide. The event was held at

the Faulk Center for Counseling and was

hosted by Comic Cure as part of the

Inaugural Flamingo Comedy Festival.

NAMI Support Groups

Page 11

NOTE: Support groups are subject to change. Please call NAMI Palm Beach County at 561-588-3477 to confirm details.

For information about other local support groups, please call

NAMI Palm Beach County at 561-588-3477.

NAMI Connection Peer Recovery Support

NAMI Young Adults Group (18-35 years)

NAMI Family Support Group

NAMI on Wednesdays Drop In Center

Delray (South County Mental Health Ctr., Toole Bldg.)

16158 S Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL 33484

Mondays, 2:45 p.m.—3:45 p.m.

Lake Worth (NAMI Office)

1520 10th Ave. N, Ste. D, Lake Worth, FL 33460

Saturdays, 4:00 p.m.—5:30 p.m.

Saturdays, 6:00 p.m.—7:30 p.m.

Lake Worth (NAMI Office)

1520 10th Ave N, Ste. D, Lake Worth, FL 33460

First 3 Fridays each month, 6:00 p.m.—7:30 p.m.

Lake Worth (NAMI Office)

1520 10th Ave N, Ste. D, Lake Worth, FL 33460

Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

Boca Raton (East) (Boca Raton Community Center)

150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432

2nd Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m.

Boca Raton (West) (West Boca Library)

18685 N. State Road 7, Boca Raton, 33498

1st Thursday, 6:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m.

Delray Beach (Fair Oaks Pavilion, Classroom D)

5440 Linton Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33446

2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.—8:30 p.m.

Jupiter (El Sol)

106 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458

2nd Thursday, 7:00 p.m.—8:30 p.m.

Wellington (Fire Station 30)

9610 Stribling Way, FL 33414

3rd Sunday, 3:00 p.m.—4:30 p.m.

Go Paperless Stay up to date with NAMI PBC online. Contact the office at 561-588-3477 to learn more.

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NAMI Palm Beach County

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DONATION: $____________________

Mail to:

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You can also become a member or donate

online at: namipbc.org

To make a lasting impact, consider donating to the NAMI Palm Beach County Endowment,

Margaret C. Donnelley Fund.

Please visit: www.yourcommunityfoundation.org/namipbc

or call Kelly Garvis at 561-588-3477 for more information.

NAMI Membership includes 3 levels: Affiliate, State & National. NAMI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization—contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Together, we can continue to fight for all those affected by mental illness. PLEASE NOTE: In order for NAMI PBC to receive

your full donation, please send your donation to the NAMI PBC office. Thank you!

Contributions benefit NAMI PBC, a not for profit tax exempt organization. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF NAMI PBC (CH 6498), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM OR BY CALLING

TOLL FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMEN-

DATION BY THE STATE. NAMI PBC receives 100% of each contribution.

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