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8 FEBRUARY 1, 2009 SmOKE SlGNALS
OepGressDODD saps moDvaDOim tio be haipipy
In an effort to inform and assist the community at large, Smoke
Signals has kindly agreed to publish a monthly article addressing
various mental health issues written by a member of the Behavioral
Health Department at Health & Wellness. We welcome letters, e-mails
and questions from people with mental health-related questions.
f N II
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By Tom Bender
Tribal Mental Health Counselor
Depression is this month's topic.
There are different kinds of de
pression, from chronic, low-level
depression that can last sometimes
for years to more intense depres
sion that comes and goes over
shorter periods of time.
No matter the type, depression
shares many of the same symp
toms, including poor appetiteover
eating, sleeping too muchtoo little,
low energy, lack of motivation, poor
concentration, irritability, low self
worth, substance abuse, isolation
and suicidal thinking.
It's very important to separate
depression from normal grief. Feel
ing upset over the loss of a relative,
relationship, pet or an illness is not
only normal but important to experi
ence. To be human is to feel the pain
of loss. If we try to avoid our grief by
pushing it down or self-medicating,
we repress our feelings and that
may affect us down the road.
The nature of depression is that
it saps our motivation to be happy.
Thus, often the first activities we
put down when depressed are the
very things that give us pleasure
exercise, spiritual pursuits, hob
bies, family events and friends.
In the counseling room, I have
often heard people say they feel
like they should be able to handle
their depression on their own, that
asking for help is a sign of weak
ness. But if one has been feeling
miserable for years, then clearly
this isn't working.
Sometimes feeling better means
we try to listen to our "wise minds"
rather then letting the depression be
our guide. Exercise and continuing
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Mental Health Counselor Tom Bender
with pleasurable activities are both
extremely important in coping with
depression. If the little voice inside
says, "I'd really like to go for a walk,
but I have to finish watching this
infomercial," this may be a sign that
depression is driving the bus.
If you are a Tribal member and
wonder if you're living with depres
sion, please contact the Behavioral
Health Department at 503-879-2026.
We offer free mental health
assessments and counseling ser
vices for members of all Tribes, as
well as substance abuse counseling
for qualified individuals. We also
offer free psychiatric services for
Grand Ronde members only. D
Boas scDnedluDe ffocanses on shMs aft case mi
To entice people to try the new
service, the Salem Area Mass
Transit District offered free rides
between Jan. 26-30.
Free shuttle rides to and from
the Governance Center and Spirit
Mountain Casino will be provided to
community members and employees
to access the casino bus connection.
For more information on the Sa-lem-to-Grand
Ronde service, check
the Web site www.cherriot9.org.
The new Salem-to-Grand Ronde
transit connection is the second re
cent major transportation develop
ment in the area. In 2008, the Tribe
worked with the Yamhill County
Transit Area to extend its McMin
nville to Willamina bus service out
to Grand Ronde.
That service offers area residents
and employees seven round trips
daily, Monday through Friday, link
ing the Tribal Governance Center
and Grand Ronde Station to Willam
ina, Sheridan and McMinnville.
For more information on that ser
vice, visit www.yctransitarea.org.
Weekdays (No service on Saturday, Sunday or holidays)
1 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7
Depart Arrive Depart Arrive Depart
Glen Creek Salem-Keizer Rickreall Spirit Spirit Rickreall Glen Creek Glen Creek Salern-Keizer
Jransit Station Transit MaH Park & Ride Mountain Mountain Park & Ride Transit Station Transit Station Transit Mall
5:10 5:20a 5:40a 6:15a 6:30a 7i?5a 7:25a 7:35a JAQa
.."n J&OaZLZ. 3:30a TT 'l"! 6;50a 777" 7i2Sa7". 7?40a , .18:1 sT'JTI3 f 8:3I3ffia
7:35a 7:48a 8:10a 8:55a 9:10a 9:45a 1 0:05a 10:05a 10:15a
. UH.J;!5pIL. Jj30p 1 .71.. . f:50p ..l.l2:25pll .Il245p;Jl
3:00p 3:15p 3:35p 4:1 0p 4:25p 5:00p 5:25p J5:25p 5:40p
l40pZ ..ZI?X5PZT0P .11 3fLZlZ5IZL 6:20p'70P ' ' , Z".,6:40p n..'",6l50p
7:50p 8:00p 8:20p 8:55p 9:10p j):45p 10:05f !?:05P 10:15p
T777Z 8:45p " 8:55p 7 Sp" - -- P05p I Jl 0:35p rj&55p777
10:05p 10:30p 10;50p 11:35p 11:50p 12:20a 12:40a 12:40a 12:50a
BUS SERVICE continued
from front page
percent to $37,50 after the 15th of
the month. The Grand Ronde 2X
Express passes also are good on all
bus routes in Salem.
Purchases of monthly passes
must be made with check or exact
change at the Governance Center.
In addition, Tribal and casino
employees can set up an automatic
payroll deduction on a pre-tax ba
sis to buy monthly passes through
their respective Human Resources
departments.
Transit District Director of Fi
nance Pat Mercier estimates that
an average commuter driving 65
miles daily and averaging 20 mpg
with gas at $2 per gallon will save
more than $1,000 annually, plus the
wear and tear on their vehicle.
"The savings goes up with the
cost of fuel," Mercier said. There is
also the intangible benefit of having
the time to read, relax, etc., while
someone else does the driving.
Grand Ronde-Salem
bus rules
Do not eat on the bus. -
Drinks are allowed in a hard
sided, spill-resistant covered -container.
No smoking.
Use cell phones quietly and
only as needed.
Use headphones with elec
tronic devices.
Have exact change if you're
paying cash. Drivers do not
carry change.
Offer your seat to a senior citi
zen or person with disabilities.
"Also, from a 'green' perspective,
if we meet ridership projections, by
making this service possible the Tribe
is helping to take hundreds of cars
daily off one of the busiest highways
in the state, and will be eliminating
the pollution equivalent to over 3 mil
lion vehicle miles per yenr."
Most of the operating costs for the
new transit option will be covered
by federal Tribal Transit and state
Special Transportation funds with
fares and the state's Business En
ergy Tax Credit program covering
the rest of the expense.
The schedule focuses on shift
changes at Grand Ronde's largest
employer, Spirit Mountain Casino,
but anyone can ride the buses, which
are equipped with wheelchair lifts to
serve elderly and disabled riders.
Buses leave the Salem-Keizer
Transit Mall at 5:20, 6:30 and 7:48
a.m. and 1:30, 3:15, 4:15, 8, 8:55
and 10:30 p.m. Buses depart Spirit
Mountain Casino at 6:30, 7:40 and
9:10 a.m. and 2:45, 4:25, 5:45, 9:10,
10:05 and 11:50 p.m.
Schedules for the 2X Grand Ronde
Express and other Salem routes are
available at the Tribal Governance
Center and at the casino's Informa
tionCoat Check station located
inside the main doors.
The only stop between Salem and
Grand Ronde is near the Rickreall
Park & Ride.
4