Statewide Public Affairs

State Fair Time: Volunteers Needed
The Kentucky State Fair starts August 15 and runs until the August 25. KPA is responsible for a day or more of depression screening. Each day has four three-hour shifts. At least two psychiatrists are needed each shift. Those who have screened previously cannot say enough about how rewarding it is. "It gave me wonderful feeling of having helped people who otherwise may not seek help" said Pete Steiner, M.D. Resident Anoop Karippot, M.D., enjoyed his first experience so much, he returned another day. This effort by the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition reaches Kentuckians throughout the state. The coalition pays for each screener's admission to the fair.

Essay Contest
KPA for the third year participated in the American Psychiatric Association Alliance/APA national essay contest, "When Not to Keep a Secret". This is the second time that a Kentucky student has won the national title. Kevin Dillion from St. Xavier High School in Louisville was this year's winner (see front-page story). Last year, Robert Hatt from Lexington Catholic tied for 3rd place nationally. In 1999, Cynthia Ailiff from duPont Manual High School in Louisville won the national honors.

KPA needs help in getting broader participation throughout the state. This year five Louisville schools sent in entries. UK resident, Edwina Zettler, M.D., spear-headed the distribution of materials in the Lexington/Louisville area. APAA/APA has developed excellent material to be given to the schools. This essay contest is open to ninth and tenth graders. It is limited to 750 words. At the state level, KPA asks each school to send us their top three essays. The KPA committee judges the essays and the top three in the state are awarded monetary prizes as is the teacher of the state winner. This is an easy volunteer project for our members to become involved with. Please call the office and offer your help and we will send you the kit.

HB843
As a result of the 2000 HB843 (the long range mental health planning bill), many of our members and your executive director have been participating at both the local and the state level on regional planning councils, and 843 committees and subcommittees. This has been exciting work. The cooperation among cabinets in state government and at the local level is unprecedented. Want to get involved? Call the KPA office.

Grants
KPA and the Department for Mental Health each year give small grants to consumer and advocate groups to encourage and enable them to conduct educational projects in their communities during and around Mental Illness Awareness Week. The applications for these grants have been received, and as usual, show a great variety. Applications received include such activities as the Stigma Fighter Players, donations of books to local schools and libraries, walk/runs, candlelight vigils, open houses with speakers on mental illness, art contest for schools, and selling tee shirts with a mental illness message and design by a consumer.

Media Awards
Each year KPA also gives the Barry Bingham, Sr. Media Awards. These are given to members of the media for outstanding coverage and education on mental illness. There are categories for radio, television, newspaper editorals, daily newspaper articles, weekly/monthy newspaper articles, academic, and magazine. The deadline for this year's entries is July 31. The entry must have aired or been published between August 1, 2001 and July 31, 2002. The public affairs committee would appreciate you letting us know about any of these that you think merit an award. The press is one of our best allies in educating the public. This is our way of thanking them.
Theresa Walton, Executive Director

Mental Health Advocates of Central Kentucky
MHACK worked with the KPA in contacting schools to let ninth and tenth grade students and their teachers know about the annual APA Alliance essay contest. The top three essays this year came out of the Louisville area with the second-place Kentucky state finisher going on to win first place at the national level.

MHACK members are getting geared up for another exciting year of activities with plans to expand into more areas so that the public continues to learn more about mental illnesses and hears the important message that "Treatment Works!"
Todd Cheever, M.D., Chair MHACK

Morehead Mental Health Coalition
This spring the Morehead Mental Health Coalition (MMHC) participated in National Anxiety Screening Day at Kroger, screening about 35 shoppers. We gave out a lot of information to passers by. Morehead State University participated in Alcohol Screenings in April. We were also featured on the local NPR station, WMKY, hour-long weekly radio call-in show, "Health Matters".

We are currently in the process of planning events for the fall, to include our first outreach to the local ministry. We are planning a dinner program with two speakers. We also plan to sponsor another book drive to purchase books on mental health topics to be donated to the public library and MSU library. Of course, we will participate in National Depression Screening Day.
Laura Salyers, Chair MMHC

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