I stopped avoiding.

And I feel great.

Now it’s time for some Saturday Sanity, and I hope by this time next week, I still feel just as great.

At Mental Health Notes, I shared survey findings about saving money on prescription medications, passed along advocacy alerts about Mental Health Parity and Medicaid regulations, showed you where to find information about headaches and brain tumors, highlighted Web sites about two interesting -ologies (color psychology and graphology), and, very simply, told you that water is good for your brain. And, this week at Mental Health Notes was extra special because we were visited by triple-boarded psychiatrist and award-winning author Doreen Orion!

Mental health was prevalent in the news this week. Mental Health America salutes the service of veterans and families as well as offers tips on how to boost workplace wellness, and researchers from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) presented information about new depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia treatments. In other research news, Dr. Rosalind Wright of Harvard Medical School and colleagues found that women who experience stress during their pregnancies may have babies who are predisposed to allergies and asthma, and a new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders suggests that anorexic women who had childhood anxiety may experience more severe symptoms of the eating disorder.

And finally, what’s going on with the rest of the b5media Health & Wellness Channel? Grace at Kids Health Notes points to a UCLA study that suggests that pregnant women who use cell phones may have children with behavior problems. Kendra at A Hearty Life gives a glimpse into her struggles with stress and how it affects diabetes. Mary Emma at Alzheimer’s Notes offers 13 tips for caregivers to alleviate depression. Ruth at Eating Fabulous tells us about how celery and green pepper compound can prevent neuroinflammation.

That’s it for this week! If you have any Saturday Sanity-worthy news, send it my way for next Saturday!

All images courtesy of morgueFile.

Remember! You have until May 31, 2008 to enter the Mental Health Notes Birthday Giveaway, and forever to join the This Is Why I ROCK! series!

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Keeping Up With Yesterday

Anyway…

First, let’s take a look back at some of the things that have gone on here at Mental Health Notes this week. We kicked off the stress-busting Goin’ to the Chapel series with Molly McDonald (which wraps up later today), learned how Harry Potter saved J.K. Rowling’s sanity, took a really brief peek into possible new French legislation regarding eating disorders, and pondered the University of Virginia’s new policy on students with mental illness. Oh, and of course, I’m still accepting applications for This Is Why I ROCK!

Next, let’s get up to speed with what’s going on with advocacy groups. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) April newsletter is online with information about postpartum depression legislation and about about peer services and training, as well as discounts on the DBSA 2008 National Conference. The UIC National Research and Training Center and the NAMI STAR Center are conducting the cultural competence survey regarding consumer-run mental health programs. And, in honor of Mental Health Month (it’s in May – just around the corner!), Mental Health America has developed the Get Connected theme.

Now, let’s acknowledge some scientific-, research-, and government-related mental health news. Last week, the Health Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation (H.R. 5613) to block proposed federal Medicaid regulations, including limits on rehabilitation services for people with mental health problems. Small businesses and the insurance industry haven’t succeeded in beating back mental health parity in Arizona this time around. New research suggests anxious or depressed children are more likely to grow up and work occupations that cause anxiety and depression.

And, finally, what’s going on in the rest of b5media’s Science & Health Channel? Angelique weighs in on the French bill to stop media promotion of “extreme thinness” over at Breaking the Mirror. Ruth at Eating Fabulous tells us about the cognitive and motor development benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for babies. Mary Emma Allen honors Charlton Heston’s Alzheimer’s battle and nods to her co-blogger Liz Lewis’s tribute, as well as Jean Murray’s thoughts on the matter.

That’s all for this week! If you have any Saturday Sanity-worthy news, send it my way and I’ll get it in next week’s edition!

Image credits and sources here, here, here, and here.

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Upgrade Your Brain