Approaching Neverland on Kindle

I’m very excited that Approaching Neverland is on Kindle

Within Our Reach

Looking forward to reading Rosalyn Carter’s new book Within our Reach, which covers the recent history (past 30 years) of mental illness in America and how today,  recovery is more possible than ever before.

NNAMI’s Great Tips for Parents

Just found a great Australian site — National Network of Adult & Adolescent Children of Mentally Ill Parents — with super advice (see below). The site also features a great downloadable Family Management Crisis Plan.

http://www.nnaami.org

Tips for Parents with a mental illness for managing life with Children and Young people.

• Be honest with you kids.
• Let them know when you are feeling stressed.
• Talk to them about what you can and can’t do.
• Don’t wrap your kids up in cotton wool. (Hav to admit I’m a little in the dark about the cotton wool advice — pk).
• Let them do ‘kids things’ within reason, let them go to birthday parties and to the pool to the gym.
• Let them go to youth groups, sporting activities, church, religious activities.
• Don’t be over protective.
• Because when you are really unwell these positive experiences from these things can pay off.
• Let them talk to friends and develop friendships in these activities; you have to let them be part of their community.
• Keep well by taking your medication, have regular contact with your psychiatrist.
• Give your kids positive reinforcement.
• Tell them they have done a good job when they have done the washing up or the vacuuming or a task that you appreciate.
• Tell them that you love them, unconditionally, as often as you can.
• Does not matter what they do (your kids), good or bad, tell them that you love them.

20% of Approaching Neverland to NAMI!

In honor of Mother’s Day and my wonderful mother Barbara who had acute bipolar disorder, if you buy a copy of Approaching Neverland now thru May 31, 20% will go to NAMI Walk SF Bay Area to help other families dealing with mental illness!

Mental Health Parity in Health Bill

The Health Care bill signed into law today should help to improve the lives of individuals and families dealing with loved ones with mental illness. One important thing about the bill is that it requires mental health parity with that for physical illnesses in terms of annual and lifetime treatment benefits.  This would also require “carve-out” programs, or specialized managed care organizations that provide mental health services, to comply with parity requirements.  I’m hoping this makes a big difference in quality of life for the one in four families dealing with mental health issues.

I love book clubs!

I was honored to be a guest at a San Ramon group’s first book club meeting this morning. Meeting with this lively, lovely group of women reminded me of how lucky we women are that we feel so comfortable diving deep into our emotions to find the answers to what makes us tick and what makes us who we are as individuals. Within the course of 90 minutes, we shared our stories of mental illness and relationships and loss, and I think we all left feeling a little closer and a little less alone.
Thanks so much to all of you at today’s book club for coming and opening up your hearts 🙂

Alamo Rotary Approaching Neverland

There’s nothing better than talking to a group of people who get together for the sole purpose of doing good things for their community.
I had the great pleasure of talking about families dealing with mental illness with the Alamo Rotary this afternoon. My hope is that organizations like Rotary will help spread the word to families in their communities who are struggling with with mental illness that help is available through organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which provides a crises help line, education, and family-to-family training in a supportive environment.

Fairy Dust for your pocket

Approaching Neverland Wins Mom’s Choice!

I’m very excited that Approaching Neverland has been chosen by the Mom’s Choice Awards as a Silver Medal Recipient! The Mom’s Choice Awards honor excellence in family-friendly media, products and services.
To celebrate with me, go get some pixie dust from my home page http://www.approachingneverland.com by running your mouse over the cover of my book and stuff it in your pocket. You never know where it might take you!

Need Pixie Dust?