Interlochen Public Radio: 20th Anniversary of Traverse City State Hospital Closure

Twenty years ago this month, the State of Michigan locked the doors of the Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital. At any one time, the State Hospital was home to thousands of patients and steady work for hundreds of employees. On the next Points North here on Interlochen Public Radio, we'll take a tour of the building with some former employees.

TV 9 & 10: Accessing Mental Health Services May Get More Difficult in Budget Deal – 9/22/09: Ryan Raiche and Photojournalist Jeremy Erickson, a video interview with Greg Paffhouse, CEO and Signe Ruddy, Traverse House Director

Budget talks continued in Lansing Tuesday, but it's not real clear how much progress is being made. Among the many areas likely to see cuts is the department that supports the state's mental health services.

Public Invited to Candidate Forums

Local, state and federal legislative candidates have been invited to a series of forums in October to discuss their views on key issues. The public is invited to attend. The forum is sponsored by Northern Lakes Community Mental Health (NLCMH) and its Consumer Advocacy Council. The forum will focus on affordable housing, employment, public transportation, and health care. Candidates attending will have the opportunity to address these issues and to respond to audience questions.

TV 9 & 10: Some Mental Health Patients Will be Affected by Cuts

Jodi Hathaway and photojournalist Joel Deaner have more on how patients might be affected – includes a video interview with Greg Paffhouse, NLCMH Chief Executive Officer.

Coping With Economic Stress, by Greg Paffhouse

Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and summer is finally here. That brightness, however, doesn’t diminish the emotional distress and struggles that many Michigan residents are dealing with in the midst of this difficult economy. Economic turmoil can cause a whole array of negative health effects, both physical and mental. Everyone deals with economic struggles differently. Dealing with these troubles can add tremendous stress, which increases the risk for developing depression, substance abuse, anxiety or compulsive behaviors such as over-eating and excessive gambling or spending.

Local Edition: “Process Painting” in Cadillac, video story by Vic McCarty

Creating art — without praise or criticism. That’s exactly what happens at a series of classes that take place at Northern Lakes Community Mental Health. Vic McCarty visited one of the classes, and brings us the story.

Crawford County Avalanche: “Fun Nights are a community effort to provide recreation for the disabled.”

From the moment the night begins, the chatter starts. People are animated and the energy level is high. People are greeting each other, catching up on news, sharing summer plans, complimenting each other on their hair ribbons and pretty jewelry, one person's newly shaved moustache, another person's nice new shirt.

Cadillac News:”Breaking age barriers,” By Mardi Suhs

Don’t judge a book by what it looks like during high school. Marcia Wieringa admits she "went to high school for fun."

Traverse City Record Eagle: “Transitions: Families, professionals plan for post-school years.”

Dawn McConnell wonders what her son William should do when his high school years end a year from now. William can graduate with a special education diploma, or put his diploma on hold and go on for job training through the intermediate school district until age 26.

Cadillac News: “Mental health: Bridging the gap between parents, professionals,”

For the past 15 years, Chris Davis has felt alone. Davis, who lives in Grayling, has a 15-year-old son with severe emotional disorder (SED); since he was young, his mother has felt judged and criticized as a parent; people didn’t understand that her son has SED, a neurological disorder, which causes him to act out.

Cadillac News: “Winter blues linger”

Take a deep breath and a sigh of relief. Today, winter officially ends. While yesterday, snow fell from the skies one last time as winter said good-bye, a corner has been turned and not long from now, birds will be singing and flowers will be blooming. Believe it or not, spring has arrived.

Cadillac News: “Rising above the poverty line”

Jeff Miller has a unique perspective on financial stability. He doesn’t use the traditional markers - how many material items he has or assets bought and traded on the stock exchange - to determine whether he has financial stability. Instead, the 36-year-old uses a much simpler way to come to that conclusion - are all the bills paid and are all the basic needs of his family met?