A Testimonial from an Employer of Caramore Clients

Michael Malek, Carol Woods Retirement Community dining services manager, compliments Caramore for its record with workers with disabilities.

"The presence of Caramore's workers has lent a significant dimension to the Carol Woods community. Caramore has high expectations, just like we have of our own staff. Caramore's values—courtesy, respect, dignity, self-determination—are closely aligned with ours. Ted McCreary and Barry Shanley are phenomenally gifted. With tough love, hands on counseling and unusual acumen, they encourage (client’s) reliability and desire to learn."

Immune to Basic Social Signals

Here’s a brief article from the “The New Yorker” about individuals suffering from schizophrenia who respond to the social dysfunction of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Facts about mental illness in the United States 2007- Reuters

Legislation pending in the U.S. Congress would require health plans to cover mental health the same way they cover other medical problems. Here are some facts on the legislation and prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse:

-- The legislation would provide mental health parity for about 113 million Americans who work for employers with 50 or more employees, according to a chief sponsor of the Senate version, New Mexico Republican Pete Domenici.

-- The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health estimates that slightly more than one in four Americans aged 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year -- nearly 58 million people.

-- About 6 percent, or one in 17 people, aged 18 and above have a serious mental illness, the NIMH estimates.

-- Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada for people ages 15 to 44.

-- Mental disorders rank among the top 10 illnesses causing disability worldwide, with depression being the leading cause of disability among people ages 15 and older, according to the Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors published in 2006.

(Compiled by Joanne Kenen in Washington)

Tonight’s Client Celebration

Thanks Paul E. Jones for the inspirational night and thanks to all of you who came out tonight and made this such a memorable appreciation for the achievements our clients have made this year!

The Center Cannot Hold : My Journey Through Madness

Here’s a new “courageous and brilliant” memoir that’s getting a lot of attention for countering "the negative stereotypes about mental illness held by both the general public and mental health professionals.”

"I wanted to dispel the myths ... that people with a significant thought disorder cannot live independently, cannot work at challenging jobs, cannot have true friendships, cannot be in meaningful, sexually satisfying love relationships, cannot lead lives of intellectual, spiritual, or emotional richness."
Elyn R. Saks, The Center Cannot Hold : My Journey Through Madness.

Our Latest Fundraising Challenge: Redecorate Our Homes!

Gloomy—artwork by Bob Ross

Caramore has a particularly exciting project right now that we could use your help with.

As you know, Caramore is a free program for all we serve—clients are not charged for services, nor do we bill Medicaid. The entire program is largely funded by State money—almost, but not quite, and maybe not forever.

We have two homes where our clients begin their rehabilitation. These homes are owned by the Mental Health Association who financially insures that the structures are maintained. But the responsibility for the inside decor and furnishings rests entirely on us.

Caramore actively promotes mental wellness—a philosophy that centers on enhancing the quality of the entire life-recovery experience for our clients—which include living and working environments. With donations, we’ve renovated and enhanced our “Client Lounge” and offices. The environment is modern, inviting and calmingly pleasant to spend time in.

Our homes, while very clean and well maintained, are horribly out of date. The living environment needs updated and refreshed. We're looking to refurbish with multi-colored walls, new lighting, some new furniture, some rugs, plants, and lots of hung art work. We’re after, in our homes, a balanced exposure to nutrition, physical movement, and rich experiences—all in a serene environment that encourages health and wellbeing. Our clients deserve it.

We’re seeking to raise $5000 for this project. Won’t you help us?

Caramore Community, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) private, not for profit organization and your valuable donation is fully tax deductible.

For your convenience, you can easily, safely, and securely, donate right here online using Google Checkout.

$

Checks may also be sent to our office:
550 Smith level Road
Carrboro, NC 27510

Feel free to contact David Cooley for more information on this project.

And of course, if you’d prefer your donation be targeted for another area of Caramore that’s dear to your heart, don’t hesitate to specify.

Thank you for your gracious support!

An Incredibly Condensed History of Mental Illness

4000 years ago
The Egyptians and early Greeks saw mental and physical illness as biologically based—resulting from physical causes.

1700
Later in history the conception of the “mind” came to dominate regarding mental illness, and explanations of it centered on possessions of evil spirits, and moral weaknesses. Individuals who suffered from mental illness were not seen as ill but as flawed and were extremely persecuted.

Toward the end of the century “insanity” came to be seen as beyond the control of the individual rather than a possession or demonic. Asylums were created to treat mentally ill patients. Benjamin Rush (America’s first psychiatrist) opened the first mental asylum in America. Treatments were primitive but it was an improvement and essentially based on a medical model.

1800
Dorothea Dix, an activist, dedicated herself to improving conditions and was responsible for more than thirty hospitals built. The hospital in Raleigh that bears her name—Dorothea Dix—opened in 1856.

1936 through 1950s
Twenty thousand frontal lobotomies were performed in America.

1947
Fountain House in New York City opened providing community-based psychosocial rehabilitation.

John Umstead Hospital opened.

1940s and 1950s
New medications—anti psychotics—were discovered that greatly helped but did not cure. ECT and insulin therapies were also used to battle depression.

1960s
Conventional antipsychotic drugs like haloperidol are developed that significantly control the symptoms of psychosis.

1970
Mass deinstitutionalization began but without a lot of rehabilitation or support programs in communities.

Caramore is founded to serve as a residential and vocational rehabilitation and reintegration program for those suffering mental illness or being released from hospitals.

Managed care—short stays in hospitals with community treatment—became the standard of care for mental illness.

Today
Today there is a lot of controversy over North Carolina’s latest attempt at deinstitutionalization and the lack of community support and programs to handle patients who only stay for short periods of time in hospitals.

In addition to the lack of services and health care, the stigma of mental illness remains a painful issue. A lot of effort has been seen in equating mental and physical illnesses as biologically driven, yet the health care industry’s slow acceptance of granting parity is a lingering example of how society has been slow to see depression and psychotic disorders as similar to diabetes or heart disease.

The frightening history combined with the hard-to-grasp emotional and behavioral elements to these diseases still cause us to shy away from fully approaching them without denial or shame.

Advocacy and education are the answers. The more education that can occur dispelling myths and removing the fear and uneasiness; the more it can be shown how similar people’s experiences with the illness are—and the straight-forward nature of treatment—the better the climate will be for those seeking help. Because remember, "the best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports (NAMI).”

Caramore’s 2007 Annual Client Celebration

Carmore’s 2007 Annual Client Celebration features Paul E. Jones, also know as "Bipolar Boy," a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of Living with Mental Illness.

He's an author, speaker, and has been a stand up comic for over 17 years.

Over the past 4 years he has helped thousands learn to deal with their Bipolar Illness and has been called upon by some of America’s Business Leaders and Entertainers to help them better understand what it takes to move forward.

Join us as we listen to Paul E. Jones and celebrate the many accomplishments our clients have made over the past year.

7:00 PM
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Chapel Hill Bible Church
260 Erwin Road
Chapel Hill, NC

Cake and punch reception. Free admission.
We hope to see you there. Please call us with any questions about the event at 919-967-3402.

A Long Island Sensibility

Over the past 10 months, the face of Caramore has changed enormously. The Caramore offices, housed in the newly dedicated Jack Simonds Center, have received a burst of energy and renewal in the form of fresh colors, carpeting, furnishings and artwork.

The igniting spark can be attributed mainly to the vision and efforts of Long Island native Sue Curtis. Suzi selflessly donated her design and artistic expertise towards giving Caramore a new look that would be warmer, friendlier, and more reflective of the relationship-building efforts that Caramore has established with their clients and the whole community.

Suzi's creative vision for Caramore, as a model environment for the rehabilitative and relationship-building work that we do, has been immediately accepted. The new Caramore is a place that promotes wellness, social integration, and success for all who enter. It is also a vibrant and comfortable environment that encourages growth and creative interaction for all.

Many thanks to Suzi for her infusion of energy and for setting a new standard for a proper rehabilitative environment for dealing with mental illness.

Thanks Suzi!















B. Shanley

Caramore, at the Jack Simonds Center

Thanks to everyone who made our building dedication yesterday a success. From now on our building will be known as The Jack Simonds Center. We’ll be forging on ahead, following Jack’s vision to better the lives of those who suffer from mental illness. Thank you Jack Simonds.

Jack’s speech at the dedication.