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Educating, Supporting, and Breaking Down Stereotypes of the Mentally Ill and their Caregivers.
Crisis Intervention Team Update
Recently, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) testified before Congress: “Police are often the first responders when a person is in psychiatric distress. Every community owes it to them to provide the knowledge and training to handle mental health crisis situations safely and compassionately. At the same time, people living with mental illness—through no fault…
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Do One Thing Different: Ten Simple Ways to Change Your Life
Book Review on Do One Thing Different: Ten Simple Ways to Change Your Life By Jay Trenhaile, Ed.D. Bill O’Hanlon wrote Do One Thing Different: Ten Simple Ways to Change Your Life in 2000. It is a solid choice when you are looking for a strength-based book that is a fairly quick read. O’Hanlon…
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Meet Jessica, BEP’s Housing Committee Chair
I’m Jessica Wulf and 26 years old. I grew up in Estelline,SD and am the oldest of three siblings I graduated high school in 2010, and attended SDSU for Human Development and Family Studies, graduating in 2015 with a Bachelors degree. I enjoy spending my spare time with my dogs, baking or enjoying the company…
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Caregiver’s Lament
By Caregiver Parent Grief is all I have sometimes Loss unreconciled and ongoing Wounds unhealed and scars invisible Children still in my care Grief is all I have sometimes Hope for them faded Dreams for them lost Children still in my care Grief is all I have sometimes Clueless well meaning friends Judgemental community…
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Echos
by Caregiver Parent Hope echos through the lives of our children Grandparent’s Hope, Parent’s Hope, Children’s Hope Community Hope, School Hope, Friends Hope Echos of Hope Mental Illness echos through the lives of our children Unasked for, unplanned, unexpected Not allowed, Not understood, Not discussable Echos of Hope lost Hope of recovery and return to…
Read MoreWhat is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)?
Calls involving persons experiencing mental health crises can be particularly problematic for police officers. Surveys of officers suggest that they do not feel adequately trained to effectively respond to mental health crises, that mental health calls are very time-consuming and divert officers from other crime fighting activities, and that mental health providers are not very…
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BEP Rummage Sale
BEP will host a rummage sale this Saturday, May 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more details, please see the attached flyer.
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Help BEP Help Others
The BEP Temporary Housing Committee is providing a facility that functions as a stepping stone to independence for those who struggle with mental health issues. We need your help to furnish the facility before opening our doors on May 16th. We have created registries at Slumberland Furniture and The Carrot Seed Kitchen Co as well…
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BEP House Wish List
The BEP Housing Committee has identified the following items needed to furnish our temporary housing pilot: Furniture Common room furniture Entryway Desk Couch x2 End table x2 Coffee table TV trays Kitchen furniture Stools Bedroom furniture Twin Bed x6 Generously donated by Sleep in Heavenly Peace Office furniture Desk/Office Chair Chair x2 Coffee table Brochure…
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Brain Injury Awareness
February is Brain Injury Awareness Month. For more information about how Independent Living Choices supports individuals with brain injuries, please read their newsletter below. It also contains information and contact for the Brain Injury Alliance of South Dakota. Inaugural BI Newsletter-2
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