Daily Healthy: Diversity Mental Health Month

Diversity, Culture, and Mental Health

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July is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diversity Mental Health Month, a time to appreciate the diversity among us and to focus on the unique mental health issues of diverse populations and efforts to reduce mental health disparities.  It’s clear we live in an increasingly diverse society, but how does that diversity relate to mental health and receiving quality mental health services?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Month/DMHM-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Diversity, Culture, and Mental Health   " border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkL_OjrDyabEjTk4EXiYAU_WdntuFFCiwz5TowgGhjRusrnpmogybfMzOGTtE8DkiNRUE21R3PpYmsDgRiMW0hQtqX9qwMYU_EgqeY8sL329k8AF2Yozeo5JCxNUmE8nvHfyBHtmVd34U/s200/DMHM+Infographic+small+DC.jpg" title="Diversity, Culture, and Mental Health   " width="121" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Month/DMHM-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank">Diverse Populations and Mental Health</a></td></tr>
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Cultural background, including race/ethnicity and other aspects, can greatly influence how we think and feel about mental health and illness, how we experience symptoms, how we communicate about mental illness, and how and where we seek help.  Some people may be reluctant to talk about mental health concerns out of fear or shame, some people may seek help from faith leaders, while others may turn to a family doctor or a mental health professional.  (See the infographic from APA:  <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Month/DMHM-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank">Mental Health and Diverse Populations.</a>)<br />
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Extensive research tells us that ethnic and racial disparities in mental health care exist. A new report from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that among adults with mental illness, whites, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and adults reporting two or more races reported higher mental health service use than black, Asian, and Hispanic adults. (See chart.) <br />
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Being aware of differences in the use of mental health services among different ethnic/racial population groups is critical for mental health professionals. That is part of what Diversity Mental Health Month is about – increasing understanding among psychiatrists about the influences of cultural diversity in their practices.<br />
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The SAMHSA report also looked at why people don’t use mental health services.  Adults across all racial/ethnic groups cited the same reason most frequently for not using mental health services:  the cost of services cost or lack of insurance.  Other reasons included:  low perceived need; stigma; and structural barriers. Concern about whether mental health services would help was the least cited reason by all racial/ethnic groups.<br />
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The top barrier to care, cost, may at least be partly addressed as more people gain access to mental health care with the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity Act. Many organizations, including the APA, are working to improve cultural sensitivity and to reduce the stigma of mental health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority populations.<br />
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By Ranna Parekh, M.D., M.P.H., Director<br />
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APA Division of Diversity and Health Equity<br />
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<i>This post is part of an ongoing series spotlighting diversity from APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity.</i></div>

July is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diversity Mental Health Month, a time to appreciate the diversity among us and to focus on t...

Making Mental Health Fashionable

6:30 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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<span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Each week through this blog, I try to bring you new opportunities for funding, events and some gentle social comment. This week’s sees a hideous car-crash of polemic and funding, as I caught sight of a new government fund for a pot of gold and a ridiculously short run-in time! Still, the monstrously titled: <i>New Character Education Grant Fund</i> has to have a mention, doesn’t it? I fear it may just be me, but it sounds like some bastard hybrid love child of the government’s </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY3SC2Rq_V8" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Nudge Unit</span></a><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> and </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfgsP8-l4VA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Quack Psychiatry.</span></a><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> It seems only a moment ago that simple religious conversion/treatment or </span>behaviour<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> modification techniques and a cocktail of prescribed meds, could cure you of being gay! Then of course, there are people who </span></span><i style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">by their very nature</i><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, question the status quo - we can’t have that. 'New </span>Character<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">' - good </span>grief! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f4cccc;">Still this agenda to change ‘character traits, attributes and behaviours’ is probably innocent stuff designed to give future generations more ‘perseverance, resilience and grit.’ Ahh - </span><i style="color: #f4cccc;">True Grit</i><span style="color: #f4cccc;"> - I guess it’s what our children need battering into them by the state. I whole new generation of </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfegGAcZwRE"><span style="color: red;">John Wayne’s,</span></a><span style="color: #f4cccc;"> or else - heaven knows - </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otx49Ko3fxw"><span style="color: red;">John Wayne Gacy, Jr’s?</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So artists and free-thinkers - be the instrument of the state - you have the power to be the next generation of behaviour-eugenicists. And we’ll have absolutely no discussion of the social determinants of health and well-being, let’s just focus on all the idiosyncrasies of being human, being different, having opinions and hearty dissenting voices. Let’s not question authority and instead, just focus on creating children who are wholesome, fresh-faced and utterly, utterly, compliant - the 'stupid </span>athletes<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> of </span>capitalist<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> productivity'.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Government Launches New Character Education Grant Fund</span><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Department for Education has announced that schools, colleges, universities, local authorities and voluntary organisations can apply to a new £3.5 million character education grant fund to support projects in character education. The Department want to ensure that more children develop a set of character traits, attributes and behaviours that underpin success in education and work, such as perseverance, resilience and grit; confidence and optimism; motivation, drive and ambition; etc. The funding is available to encourage the expansion of existing projects that demonstrate effective character education. The funding will also support new and innovative projects to develop promising approaches in this area. Up to £3.5 million is available to grant fund projects in the 2015 to 2016 academic year. There is no predetermined level of grant award, but as a guide grant awards are expected to be in the region of £50,000 to £750,000. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: 0px;">The closing date for applications is 12 noon on the 6th February 2015. Read more by clicking on those </span><span style="color: #f4cccc;">athletic, javelin-throwing, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_race"><span style="color: red;">G.M.</span></a><span style="color: #f4cccc;"> </span><span style="color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: 0px;"> women at the top of the page.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://theconversation.com/outsider-art-can-refashion-how-we-think-about-mental-illness-36439"><span style="color: #f4cccc;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4BfSqYXbsWYwIj0MEolK4qsBI3Ejd-FhZbgmsHBi0pFqRgxW-RrjytvTS8sKviYJwpY8idNgGXJvvDQ8DXneLDGjUaopt1Di28tr_241RjY2h8gquLFzGTwKgWch6AYnD6VvLKqs524/s1600/VT.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Making Mental Health Fashionable</b></span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Senior Lecturer in Psychology at University of the Arts London and friend of Arts for Health Dr Victoria Tischler writes, that outsider art can refashion how we think about mental illness. Read her article by clicking on the Adolf Wolfi drawing above. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you like what you read, why not check out an event that Victoria is planning called <i>Making Mental Health Fashionable</i> on 27 February. Find out more by clicking on the </span>crowd of<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> everyday people below.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://events.arts.ac.uk/event/2015/2/25/Making-Mental-Health-Fashionable/"><span style="color: #f4cccc;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhoyGW7PoO877OgauK-oesfmNUf2-o3nf8etJ2jUFw7eZYN15e_tHPadmfBfNxn9oJv5S9zAGSIkL-mK-PRv5Z2erL_AvpnOusOcsH4BHXm3iCp70LdS_YtUxctPeCYhzYO6mw6MYX7c/s1600/crowd-of-people-public-opinion-poll.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>BMA Patient Information Awards 2015</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The British Medical Association has run a Patient Information Awards for the last twenty years in order to recognise excellence in the provision of information to patients and to support the valuable work which is done by many charities and agencies,   It is free to enter and shortlisted agencies are invited to an awards ceremony at BMA House in London in September. </span></span><span style="color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The closing date is the end of February 2015 but if you have resources you wish to enter then please do it as soon as possible.  You can find more information by clicking on this link.</span></span><span style="color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://bma.org.uk/librarypia" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">http://bma.org.uk/librarypia</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>ARTS MENTORING FOR ARTISTS IN MANCHESTER</b></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you an artist in the Manchester area that has experienced mental health needs? If so, you may be eligible to take part in a limited number of mentoring sessions with Pool Arts. Our mentor, James Bloomfield offers one to one sessions where you can show your portfolio, discuss how to progress with your practice and explore opportunities that may be available to you. You will also find out more about Pool Arts and the benefits of becoming a member. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f4cccc;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are offering up to two mentor sessions per person for a small fee (to cover admin costs) on a first come first served basis. Just e.mail us a short paragraph about yourself and why you would like a mentoring session and we will get back to you as soon as we can. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Sessions take place in our central Manchester studio facility from February 2015. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cost £10 (for up to two sessions) Contact Alison Kershaw </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="mailto:poolarts@gmail.com">poolarts@gmail.com</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and put MENTORING in the subject bar. Alternatively call our office on 0161 273 1492 and leave a short message and we will ring you back as soon as we can. Find out more by following this link.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://poolarts.org/blog/arts-mentoring-for-artists-in-manchester/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">http://poolarts.org/blog/arts-mentoring-for-artists-in-manchester/</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.warringtonmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/event/de-profundis-from-the-depths/"><span style="color: #f4cccc;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkKm7uAahvQ0BTlEhnXn1WkFV8CxJ1OPEQlbgMLkk28Fw7OJ_6ZTarE_1jiyojT_MstBfyGpT5B4AEYTn7ftL-4arnYLTPFXfuq8htnRZ9WKJCSfdsW05GOVx5RtFexI9h8YnvhLe_bs/s1600/Pete%20Regan%20-%20De%20Profundis-1-2.jpg" width="282" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">De Profundis – From the depths</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“I was diagnosed with Cyclothymia (considered to be a milder form of Bipolar Disorder) in my early twenties. It was a dark point in my life. I was struggling, spending months in bed without leaving the house, completely isolated from society. Thankfully from the depths of depression, I was given a camera. The camera has over the years transformed my life. In this project I explore how the arts can help people who are suffering, as I was. Beauty can be found in the smallest of things and I attribute the camera for seeing beauty and purpose in life again…” <a href="mailto:peteregan.photos@gmail.com">Pete Regan.</a> An exhibition </span>starting<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Saturday 7 Feb 2015 - Saturday 2 May 2015. More details by clicking on the flyer above.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.prnmagazine.com/"><span style="color: #f4cccc;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcU90yiYkW4HJHijMAillJVE907gURXJlHT_0k9mzHvRdSTMi-UAgcGm7Ksi2lNf1fXppi8H_T0awErXakNZGXqKqXHjtVm6OyX6u4JIuuXpUolzs_8r2IMSovUQkrMqnia6xcUq6GY0/s1600/PRN.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>PRN</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Artist, illustrator</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> and nurse Anna Magnowska is developing a new web resource and magazine making connections between art, medicine, culture, science, technology and history whilst also focusing on the practical elements of nursing. Anna says: “we aim to create something beautiful that explores what it is be human, and what it is to be a nurse in the 21st century.” We say - this looks superb. Click on the logo above for more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>A brief footnote from history</b> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f4cccc; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">The US-based <i>Arts and Health Alliance</i>, formally <i>The Global Alliance for Arts and Health</i>, formally <i>The Society for the Arts in Healthcare,</i> has currently ‘...has ceased functioning as a going entity due to management and financial issues.” More soon</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">…</span></span></div>

addiction Diversity Mental Health Month Making Mental Health Fashionable

Each week through this blog, I try to bring you new opportunities for funding, events and some gentle social comment. This week’s ...

Diversity Mental Health Month: Why It is Needed and How It Came to Be

2:31 AM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

<br /><br /><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />By Steve Koh, MD, MPH, MBA<o:p></o:p></h4><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">July of 2014 is the very first APA Diversity Mental Health Month. This<br />emphasis on mental health needs of diverse populations is much needed. While we<br />have diversity oriented month observances for specific population groups like<br />the Black History Month (February), National Women’s History Month (March),<br />Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), Gay and Lesbian Pride Month<br />(June), American Indian Heritage Month (August), and Hispanic Heritage Month<br />(September), we have not had a dedicated month more broadly addressing diverse<br />populations and mental health issues. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cannot overemphasize the importance of this month. For the first<br />time, together, we will bring attention to the unique and challenging needs of<br />the diverse populations with mental illness and substance use disorders, work<br />to decrease mental health disparities, and engage with diverse populations to<br />help promote and grow future mental health champions in the communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_CdToFgJ5rvqaMClTsyJ_eWwV195ArZO1h0PLqZABNqIqB9RhgpWTGzGr0L6wF20MB0aSqB5ew9lKpLN-Y58Xurgg-9aKc2k9n26gYZ7E2rn1NrIqIXCBMxUwS3MGMSev9uDxksEMHe9/s1600/diversity.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_CdToFgJ5rvqaMClTsyJ_eWwV195ArZO1h0PLqZABNqIqB9RhgpWTGzGr0L6wF20MB0aSqB5ew9lKpLN-Y58Xurgg-9aKc2k9n26gYZ7E2rn1NrIqIXCBMxUwS3MGMSev9uDxksEMHe9/s1600/diversity.png" width="194" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The concept for Diversity Mental Health Month came from a group of<br />participants in APA’s Minority Fellowship program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The program’s goal is to eliminate racial and<br />ethnic disparities in mental health and substance abuse care by providing<br />specialized training and mentorship. The fellowship fosters those with diverse<br />backgrounds who have chosen to become physicians specializing in mental health<br />and to do this work with the diverse populations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br />But what happens when we go home? What then? We felt that it was easy to get<br />lost when we left our APA meetings in Washington DC. How do we galvanize our<br />colleagues at home to look at the importance of minority mental health issues?<br />To recognize the stigma of being an ethnic and cultural minority and also<br />suffering mental illness? To understand that many minority students do not<br />consider going into field of medicine let alone mental health profession? To<br />appreciate the importance of cultural competency and humility in working with<br />diverse patient population?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without<br />involvement a coordinated effort by the APA, it was our belief that while we<br />personally benefited from the fellowship experience, our impact would be<br />limited. There needed to be a designated time for all of APA to bring attention<br />to this important patient population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So<br />the idea was born to create a Diversity Mental Health Month. The APA Assembly asked<br />APA staff to help create a month designated to minority mental health issues<br />and for the APA to actively promote the month. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope that others are excited about this new endeavor of the APA as I<br />am. The challenges are great but together we can bring the needed attention to<br />this area of our profession. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many resources, including an infographic with basic data on mental<br />health disparities, and brochures and fact sheets on specific populations,<br />suggested activities, video messages, and more, are available at </span><a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/diversity-month"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.psychiatry.org/diversity-month</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><br />