(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) October 4 – October 10, 2015 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Health Affiliates Maine a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Maine are both calling on the public to learn the symptoms of mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and to “go stigma free”.

To “go stigma free”, is to see the person, not the illness; to listen and to understand. “It is also a time to free everyone from stereotypes that too often discourages people from getting help when they need it.” says Executive Director, Andrea Krebs of Health Affiliates Maine.

One in five adults experience mental illness every year; however, 50 percent of chronic mental illness begins by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24. Although many people today understand that mental illness is a medical condition, individuals and families affected by mental illness are still often subjected to stigma and discrimination.  “This is a time to raise public awareness about mental illness,” says Krebs, “NAMI and Health Affiliates Maine hope everyone will educate themselves about mental illness and share what they learn with family, friends and others.”

NAMI Maine provides support, education and advocacy for any individual affected by mental health concerns. Find out more by visiting www.namimaine.org or by contacting the Help Line at (800) 464-5767.  Health Affiliates Maine offers a variety of mental health services, to make a referral, an appointment or for more information about Health Affiliates Maine call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com.

Posted on October 5, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is thrilled to announce they exceeded this year’s fundraising goal for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Maine by over $400. With the help of their staff and clinicians, a total of $2,411 was raised to support NAMI Maine. 

Health Affiliates Maine also had a walk team of more than 30 participants at the recent NAMI Maine Walk held at Spring Point in Portland.  Friend and fellow mental illness awareness supporter, Kevin Mannix News Center forecaster and author of Weathering Shame, joined the HAM team.  “Mental health struggles, like depression, can impact anyone” says Andrea Krebs, Executive Director of Health Affiliates Maine.  “Contrary to popular belief, seeing a therapist is not something to be ashamed of.  Everyone needs help now and then and you are not alone”.

HAM has been both a long time sponsor and fundraiser for the annual NAMI Maine Walk, where both agencies share a commitment to raising awareness and ending the stigma associated with mental illness.

Based in Auburn, Health Affiliates Maine offers a variety of mental health services, including therapy, case management and psychiatric assessment and treatment services. To make a referral, an appointment or for more information about Health Affiliates Maine call: 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com.

NAMI Maine provides support, education and advocacy for any individual affected by mental health concerns. Find out more by visiting www.namimaine.org or by contacting the Help Line at (800) 464-5767.

Posted on October 1, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) is proud and honored to announce it has been awarded a contract with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide services to members of the Maine National Guard.  This is provided through the Maine Suicide Prevention Program’s Building Caring Connections in Maine grant.  The aim of the grant is to increase suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts in at-risk youth and young adult populations. The Department of Defense (DoD) has statistically higher numbers of suicides among service members. HAM has been selected by the CDC to provide services to the Maine National Guard as a component of the DoD.

Health Affiliates Maine is a growing statewide substance abuse and mental health agency, providing mental health and substance abuse counseling, case management and psychiatric assessment and treatment services.  Through this contract mental health and substance abuse services will be available at no cost to active members of the Maine National Guard who are without health insurance or who cannot find a provider for their insurance in their area. Another aspect of the contract will enable HAM to provide suicide awareness training for Guard family members. “Building Caring Connections in Maine” is a three year Garrett Lee Smith grant funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  

HAM was awarded this contract by the CDC based on their statewide network of clinicians, case managers and psychiatric providers. HAM has an established relationship with the Maine National Guard and has made strong efforts to provide their affiliate clinicians with opportunities to increase their understanding of the unique challenges military service members and their families face. As a result, HAM will help reduce the obstacles and barriers for service members in receiving much needed mental health and substance abuse treatment. 

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral    

Posted on July 13, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) recently celebrated their 4th Annual Consortium, which honored HAM’s fifth year as an Agency and was a time to celebrate all of HAM’s nearly 400 mental health professionals and staff.  

The event kicked off with a Keynote address from Kevin Mannix and his social worker wife Linda Rota.  Together they courageously spoke about their book Weathering Shame, which addresses their experiences with shame & stigma around mental illness.  Their goal being to raise awareness and be inspired to benefit from self discovery.  The event included over 30 door prizes, several awards, training’s, networking opportunities and tons of delicious food.

Posted on June 25, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) on July 1^st 2015, Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency, will take an important step in supporting the health of its employees, clients, vendors and visitors by ensuring a clean air environment through the adoption of a tobacco-free campus policy.

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of death and disease in this country with over 443,000 deaths per year, almost half of those from smokers with mental illness.  The behavioral health population consumes 44% of all cigarettes consumed in the U.S.  This population experiences high rates of chronic disease and on average dies 25 years prematurely.

As HAM transitions to being a tobacco-free environment, they will offer a tobacco treatment program for clients and employees.  Additional assistance for employees will include several staff meetings and trainings to present the new policy information, as well as making available “Quit Kits”, stress reducing exercises, fresh air breaks and healthy snacks during the transition. The policy change will be effective on July 1^st, 2015.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com.                                                                         

Posted on June 24, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

Have you ever heard of Equine Assisted Therapy? Horses can really connect to human emotions, which is why this approach helps multiple mental health disorders, such as eating disorders and drug/alcohol abuse. One of our clinicians, Åsa Gustavsson, was featured in an amazing piece for WCSH 6, giving us an inside look on how the horses help her clients.

Watch the story WCSH 6 did on Asa:
http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/health/2015/05/07/the-beauty-within-equine-psychotherapy/70916320/

For more information on the Asa’s practice, or if you know someone who may benefit from Equine Therapy, please visit Healing Through Horses Facebook page.  Or to make a referral or an appointment call Health Affiliates Maine at 1-877-888-4304 or visit: www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral     

Posted on May 13, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

“In my work with MMCC, I partner with educational personnel, school psychologists, and behavioral analysts to treat youth with developmental disorders, autism, and mental health diagnoses.”  -Dr.  Bowker-Kinley     

(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is happy to announce HAM’s Medical Director, Dr. Melissa Bowker-Kinley will be providing psychiatric services onsite, for children and youth, ages 3 to 20 at the Margaret Murphy Center for Children (MMCC).  The onsite work at MMCC will allow families to access psychiatric care within the school and to have improved communication between parents, the school staff and the child psychiatrist. Dr. Bowker-Kinley’s work with MMCC includes providing psychiatric assessment and treatment to MMCC students and collaborating directly with school staff to help provide the quality care MMCC is recognized for.

Dr. Bowker-Kinley is a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who previously worked in inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry.  Her expertise includes inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry, assessment and diagnosis, psychopharmacologic treatment, and psychotherapy.  Dr Bowker-Kinley says “In my work with MMCC, I partner with educational personnel, school psychologists, and behavioral analysts to treat youth with developmental disorders, autism, and mental health diagnoses.”  As HAM’s Medical Director, Dr. Bowker-Kinley also oversees the Psychiatric Assessment and Treatment Services program.

MMCC is owned and operated by JFMHomes Inc and is a non-profit organization committed to serving people with developmental disabilities. MMCC has seven locations in LA, providing clinical and educational services to children with autism, developmental disabilities, behavioral disorders and mental health needs. MMCC has plans on expanding to Southern Maine in the fall of 2015.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral     

Posted on May 11, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Portland, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announces Dawn Stratton, LCPC, as a new affiliate.  Stratton joins HAM as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and will be providing therapy for young adults, adults and couples from her home office in the Portland area.  Stratton is also set up to provide Teletherapy services, which allows her to provide therapy to clients all over the state by accessing the internet via webcam. 

Stratton’s expertise include diagnosis or recovery from cancer or other health crisis; loss of a loved one; parenting difficulties and family conflict; relationship issues, including communication problems, separation, infidelity and divorce; work-related or professional stress and burnout, job transition, uncertainty about career direction, and work-life balance; women’s issues including menopause and peri-menopause; sexuality, spirituality, life transitions and personal growth. 

Stratton explains “My goal is to help individuals create a full and meaningful life, no matter what is going on inside or what life is throwing their way.  I use concrete, practical strategies and tools to change relationships, uncomfortable feelings and troublesome thoughts, so they no longer rule behaviors or get in the way.” 

Stratton accepts many types of insurances and provides a sliding fee scale for those with high deductibles or no insurance. Stratton also offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to ensure a good match. 

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral

Posted on May 6, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

ELLSWORTH – Health Affiliates Maine (HAM), a growing mental health and substance abuse agency based in Auburn, is opening a brand new clinical office in Ellsworth.  HAM is hosting an open house on Wednesday, April 8th from 4:00-6:00 PM at their new location on 66 Main Street on the 3^rd floor of the Camden National Bank building, to showcase the new space. The agency, which specializes in Psychiatric Treatment, Outpatient Therapy, and Case Management services, is excited about the new location. Due to interest in their services and to meet the growing need for psychiatric, mental health and substance abuse services, the new location provides a comfortable space, which will allow for better access for care, in a safe, and confidential environment.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com

Posted on March 26, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a growing statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is excited to offer a free cutting edge seminar open to all mental health case managers on “A Recovery-Based, Trauma-Informed Approach to Co-Occurring Disorders” presented by Ruth Johnson, LADC, SAP, CCS.   The trainings will be provided in two locations:  the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor on Friday, April 3, 2015 and the Fireside Inn in Portland on Monday, April 20, 2015.

Andrea Krebs, Executive Director of HAM says “Successfully managing substance abuse and mental health issues with clients can be a complex challenge for Case Managers.”  Understanding the dynamic between these two challenges, better equips Case Managers to provide quality care.

Ruth Johnson is Region 3 Co-Coordinator of the Driver Education and Evaluation Program for the State of Maine and is one of two Coordinators in the State to hold National Master Instructor status with Prevention Research Institute.  Her extensive experience began in 1987 and includes clinical positions, as well as Clinical and Program Directions positions in residential and outpatient treatment programs throughout Maine.  Ruth’s passion is to enhance treatment opportunities for those suffering from addiction through professional development of case managers, counselors, supervisors and leaders in the addiction and mental health professions.

The free training sessions will be from 9 a.m – 4:00 p.m., worth 5.5 contact hours and breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Space is limited.

To register and save your spot for this seminar or for a complete schedule and details call 1-877-888-4304 or visit http://healthaffmaine.wpengine.com/events/

Posted on March 19, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News