POST
98
SEPTEMBER
– AND EVERY MONTH – IS “RECOVERY MONTH”!
Sixteen years ago – September 2001 – is a time most
people in America connect with the tragic attacks upon the United States: passenger
planes became weapons of destruction and the victims were both in the air and
on the ground. Pennsylvania, the
Pentagon, and Lower Manhattan became instant graveyards – the trauma of which
has continued to challenge recovery within many hearts and minds.
Sixteen years ago – September 2001 – is also a time
those of us involved with Gambling Recovery Ministries remember well. It was the official beginning month of a
brand new initiative established by the South Indiana Conference of The United
Methodist Church. With financial backing
from the Conference, I (as designated Director) started from scratch: no
governing Board, no office, no stated mission, no name. A month later, with help from my District
Superintendent, an Advisory Board of Directors was formed. For several months, we worked on creating a
mission statement – and a name. We
agreed: recovery was what we were all
about. While others thought we were
formed to do away with gambling establishments, we saw our mission – rather -
as one of offering help and hope to those affected, directly and/or indirectly,
by problem gambling. Gambling Recovery Ministries (GRM) was,
indeed, the perfect description – and name – for this new outreach. RECOVERY to a new life: for both the gambler
and the loved ones effected by the dysfunction of compulsive gambling.
Over the years, GRM has witnessed many lives
recovered and restored. The testimonies
are encouraging and very real. That is
why as each September approaches, the promises of recovery take on new and deeper meanings for me. Moreover, I am grateful that this month of
September is officially named “Recovery Month”.
The messages of hope, help, new life, and, yes, personal resurrection-recovery reassure millions
across our nation of new beginnings - and an end to dependency and illness.
A terrific and very helpful resource centering on
the topic of personal recovery is SAMHSA – the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration. This
month’s edition of the GRM Blog highlights
material provided by SAMHSA.
The below information is found at the following
website: https://www.recoverymonth.gov/sites/default/files/toolkit/2016/toolkit.pdf
“Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (www.samhsa. gov), within the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (www.hhs.gov), sponsors National
Recovery Month (Recovery Month) to increase awareness of behavioral health
conditions. This celebration promotes the message that behavioral health is
essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and
people can and do recover from mental and/or substance use disorders.
Mental and/or substance use disorders affect
millions of Americans and directly touch the lives of individuals, family
members, neighbors, and colleagues. Families often deal with the complex
dynamics of supporting a loved one in recovery while at the same time learning
how to take care of their own well-being. Given the widespread impact and
societal cost of these behavioral health conditions, it’s important for
communities to make prevention, treatment, and recovery support services available
and accessible for all who need them.
The prevalence of mental and/or substance use disorders is high. Among adults aged 18 or older, 43.6 million (18.1 percent of adults) had any mental illness in the past year.1 Approximately 21.5 million people age 12 or older were classified with a substance use disorder in 2014.2 In spite of their high prevalence, most Americans believe that recovery from a mental illness3 or a substance use disorder is possible. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2008). Summary report CARAVAN® survey for SAMHSA on addictions and recovery. Rockville, MD: Office of Communications, SAMHSA. 5 SAMHSA Blog. (2012))
The Recovery Month website (www. recoverymonth.gov/)
provides printable materials, web, television, audio, and social media
resources to help communities encourage individuals to seek treatment and
recovery services. § Share your recovery story and learn from others.
(www.recoverymonth.gov/personal-stories) § Find and
post recovery events in the community
(www.recoverymonth.gov/events) § Watch the Road to
Recovery television series
(www.recoverymonth.gov/road-to-recovery) § Download
web banners and flyers to promote Recovery Month (www.recoverymonth.gov/
promote/banners-logos-flyers)
SAMHSA RESOURCES § SAMHSA’s Website
(www.samhsa.gov/): Provides numerous resources and helpful information related
to mental health and substance use issues. §
SAMHSA’s Find Help Webpage (www.samhsa.
gov/find-help): Provides various links and numbers to mental and/or substance
use disorder treatment and recovery services locators. §
SAMHSA’s
National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD) (www.samhsa.
gov/find-help/national-helpline): Provides 24- hour, free, and confidential
treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders,
prevention, treatment, and recovery in English and Spanish. §
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-
273-TALK (8255) (www.suicidepreventionlifeline. org/): Provides a free, 24-hour
helpline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. §
SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatments and Services
Webpage (www.samhsa.gov/treatment): Provides information on common mental
illness and substance use disorders and how SAMHSA helps people access
treatments and services. §
SAMHSA’s Homelessness Resource Center
(homeless.samhsa.gov/): Provides resources about homelessness, mental illness,
substance use, co-occurring disorders, and traumatic stress. §
SAMHSA’s Recovery and Recovery Support Page
(www.samhsa.gov/recovery): Provides information on how recovery-oriented care
and recovery support systems help people with mental and/or substance use
disorders manage their conditions. §
SAMHSA’s Veterans and Military Families Webpage
(www.samhsa.gov/veterans-militaryfamilies): Offers information about SAMHSA’s
efforts to ensure that American service men and women and their families, can
access behavioral health treatment and services. §
SAMHSA’s Wellness Page (www.samhsa.gov/
wellness-initiative): Promotes the improved wellness of people with mental and/or
substance use disorders by engaging, educating, and training providers,
consumers, and policy makers.
This list is not exhaustive of all available
resources. Inclusion of websites and resources in this document and on the
Recovery Month website does not constitute official endorsement by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services or the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration.”
One
final note!
An excellent resource for family members of persons
suffering from gambling addiction is from SAMSHA’s website. This practical guide covers much of what
loved ones need to know and prepare for as they deal with a family member/close
friend who is a compulsive gambler.
This guide, Personal
Financial Strategies for the Loved Ones of Problem Gamblers, is downloadable
at:https://store.samhsa.gov/...Financial-Strategies-for...Loved-Ones...Gamblers/BKD535
Rev. Janet Jacobs
Founding DirectorGambling Recovery Ministries
www.grmumc.org
For more information on problem gambling and recovery issues, visit:
www.indianaproblemgambling.org
www.ipgap.indiana.edu
www.mdproblemgambling.com
www.gamblersanonymous.org
www.gam-anon.org
www.kycpg.org
www.pgnohio.org
www.calproblemgambling.org
www.christsd.com
https://masscompulsivegambling.org/
