Last week I shared my worries about Nebraska’s Safe Haven law, and the numerous children whose parents were driving them to Nebraska hospitals from all over the country. (To my understanding, Nebraska has since taken action to stop this in the form of revising the law so that only children who are 30 days or younger are eligible.)

On my original post, though, reader Neva chimed in with the point-of-view of a mother. It’s definitely worth sharing, so I’ve included it below:

I am the mother of a fourteen year-old boy who has struggled with an emotional disability for many years. His father and I divorced when he was eight and the entire thing was very difficult on him. He witnessed many horrific things in his young life and it all had a profound effect on him. Around the age of ten his behavior at home and at school was completely out of control. He was kicked out of his first school in the fourth grade, and has been kicked out of six schools since. His schools included three day treatment programs and he was kicked out of all of them. I have had him in counseling throughout the years. He has run away from home countless times and I made run away reports each time. The times that he was picked up as a run away I was called from the police station t go and pick him up. I would get him home and he would basically go in one door and out of the other. My son is about four inches taller than me and out ways me by a good fifty pounds. Needless to say I can’t physically restrain him. I have taken him to three psychological evaluations and he has been sent home with me every time. One time I said that I refused to take him home because I could not control him. I was told that department of social services would be called and his two healthy and thriving younger sisters could be taken as well. I didn’t want to give my son away, as a matter of fact I was more concerned with his well being than I was my own. His story is far from over but to make a long story short, I had to fight agencies, lawyers, and judges in order to get my son the help that he needs. I have often wondered about the parents out there who do not have my ability to take on the system? There were many times I wanted give up and countless days I couldn’t see myself facing another day with my son, and I love him. I love him the way any normal healthy mother loves her child and there wee days I wanted to throw in the towel. I think that the parents who took advantage of Nebraska’s safe haven law were making a point. This country doesn’t seem to care about mental health issues until somebody gets hurt. I hope the latest developments in Nebraska will make people think and open their eyes. The parents and children in these situations have all been victims of the system.

A mother’s love.

My heart goes out to all the family members who have trouble finding the support they need for their mentally ill or troubled children. I know how frustrating it must be. Neva’s child is fortunate to have a mother who fought so hard for help, and in the end that’s what we all must do.

Post from: Blisstree

A Mother’s Love: Sometimes The Only Hope We Have

It’s been a pretty hectic week for most of my American readers. A major national holiday and Black Friday, all in one week. Back to back, no less!

The only thing that could rival that excitement would be a brand new Saturday Sanity, right? (Well, it was worth a shot.)

As you read this, I’m most likely putting up Christmas decorations. And that is more exciting to me than any of it!

This week at Mental Health Notes, things were sad. People watched as a fellow human being committed suicide live, the numbers of children being dropped off at Nebraska hospitals are rising (Marcie at Kids Health Notes has posted an update on the revision to Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law), and there was an update to the tragic Lori Drew/Megan Meier case. Of course, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. I told you about the IAVA and Ad Council teaming up to create online communities for veterans and veterans’ family and loved ones, as well as gave you some inspirational quotes to ponder. Oh, and I pointed you in the direction of some great money-spending ideas, which, can be good or bad news, depending on how you look at it.

Regarding mental health advocacy and education, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) wants to spread the word about nominations for the Welcome Back Awards, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released it’s latest issue of a newsletter geared toward helping returning veterans, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s (DBSA) Trauma Course for Peer Specialists is just around the corner. Chato Stewart at Mental Health Humor is offering to draw free pictures (how cool is that?!) – head on over and check out the terms and conditions. And finally, Kate McLaughlin has posted some extremely helpful information for family members and loved ones of a person with a mental illness.

In the world of mental health news, research, and studies, people with both diabetes and depression may have a harder time managing their blood sugar levels (I once read a pamphlet about how depression and diabetes interact), a panel of federal drug experts says we’re getting a bit too flippant with the antipsychotic prescriptions to children, the number of suicides among the elderly in long-term care facilities is holding steady, and the alignment of a child’s eyes could actually point to an increased risk of mental illness in later years (what?!). On a lighter note, Dr. Steven Toepfer of Kent State University has conducted some research that suggests we can be happier if we become more grateful (I so could have saved you some time, effort, and money on that one, Toepfer).

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel:

• Mark explains The Insanity of Alcohol over at A Dozen Steps.
• Mary Emma shares a personal poem of thanks at Alzheimer’s Notes.
• Angelique is holding a contest for some cute handcrafted jewelry over at Breaking the Mirror (the deadline’s tomorrow night, so hurry up!).
• Angela of Breastfeeding 1-2-3 has a ridiculously adorable baby.
• Marijke talks about laughter therapy at Cancer Commentary. (Marijke is also in the running for Best Canadian Blog with her personal blog, Marijke: Nurse Turned Writer. Give her some votes and wish her luck!)
• Scott at Health and Men points to an Swedish study dealing with stress and the physical damage it could cause you.
• Liz has posted the latest Healthbolt carnival.
• And…could it be? Is Tony back at Astronomy Buff?!

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

Lately, Nebraska is becoming an increasingly popular hot spot for parents across the nation looking to drop their kids into the care of someone else. That’s all thanks to Nebraska’s Safe Haven law.

According to an Iowa Independent article:

At last count 34 children, ranging in age from 20 months to 17 years, have been left at Nebraska hospitals under the auspices of a vaguely written “Safe Haven” law.

Nebraska isn’t the only state with a Safe Haven law, mind you – every state has one. So why are people driving from all over the country to drop their children off at Nebraska hospitals? That’s easy. The age limit in Nebraska is 18, whereas most states require children to be younger than one year old (check out this graph from the Iowa Independent).

Aside from formerly residing in urban areas and being raised in single-parent households, the one thing most of the children have in common is a need – most likely a still-present need – for mental health services. 30 out of the 34 children had received mental health care, and 11 of those children received mental health care “above an outpatient level.”

When I first started reading the Iowa Independent article, one thought popped into my head. Well, two, really. First, how do you explain to your child that you’re driving him to Nebraska and leaving him there? Second, what is stopping some of these older teenagers from saying “screw this” and hightailing it out of Dodge before their parents had a chance to take them to Nebraska?

Naturally, the first thought was the more pressing one.

Yet, as I continued reading the article, I realized that for the majority of these parents, it all probably boils down to one thing: a lack of resources and support for their children’s mental health problems.

George Estle, the executive director of Tanager Place, weighed in:

“If we would have had this same law in Iowa, the same thing would have happened here,” Estle said. “I suspect that if we really look at the kids who are being dropped off in Nebraska – particularly the adolescents – many of those will be young people who have serious emotional problems. My hunch is that parents are utterly frustrated at not being able to access services. So, they are using that law as an act of desperation because they can’t get services.”

And Carrisa Gatley, the single mother of a child with “severe mental disabilities,” said:

“We left Iowa about six years ago because there were no doctors available in our area,” she said. “Now we live in an urban area where services aren’t plentiful, but adequate. At least I know that when there is a really bad day, I’ll have someone to turn to – someone who helps us through the rough spots. Without that support, I might very well have also made the drive into Nebraska.”

Can you imagine what it must feel like for these parents? To have no where to turn but some random (and for some out-of-state) hospital? To feel as if they have to give up their children because they can’t or don’t know how else to properly treat them?

I feel so badly for them. And their children. The whole thing is so very sad and frustrating.

What do you think? Parent or not, how do you think you’d deal with the situation?

Post from: Blisstree

Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law Attracting Parents Of Mentally Ill Children

If you’re the parent of someone with a mood disorder, and you’re free tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (or 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain, 5 p.m. Pacific, 12 a.m. Tuesday GMT), then I have news of interest for you.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is launching an online support group for parents of people with mood disorders. You can learn more about this DBSA online support group – including its regular schedule – at DBSA Online Support Groups.

You may even find another one you’d like to attend.

Oh, and the DBSA is looking for your opinions about their online community. If you’re interested in sharing, check out the Online Community Use Survey.

For more posts related to online support groups, visit:

• Online Resources For Parents Of Children With Mental Illness
• Review These Online OCD Support Resources
• National Council Uses Second Life For Mental Health Advocacy
• Who and How to Choose Your Support Group

Imae: Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Online Support Group For Parents Of People With Mood Disorders

Plenty of things happened this week for which I’m thankful. I talked to two of my favorite editors, spent some much needed time with a loved one, realized there was more money in the bank than I thought, and helped someone find a job.

Chopper even found her favorite ball – one that’s been lost for almost two weeks – which means I can stop relying on those tennis ball-type toys that she demolishes in five minutes.

However, I was also reminded once again that money tends to make the world go ’round, which seems to be the only reason the release date for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back from it’s original November 2008 date to SUMMER 2009.

WHAT?!

Ah, well. It can’t all be peaches and cream.

Luckily, I recovered enough from my shock to round up a seriously plump Saturday Sanity for you folks – enjoy!

This week at Mental Health Notes, there were plenty of resources to pass along, like those for parents of children with mental illness, everyminute.org’s PSA and new site features, free online sessions for people with PTSD and other mental illnesses, and ULifeline for college and university students. NAMI wants the opinions of people who are between 18 and 24 for their new social networking site, while Jane shared her experiences with the Amen Clinics, Erin shared a paper on postpartum depression in China and America, Jason shared pictures from his tour of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and SAMHSA is sharing tons of mental health freebies. Of course, I shared, too: One of my favorite commercials and an A.S.S. Award.

Regarding mental health advocacy, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is offering continuing education credits for peer specialists who register for a one-day course covering “Peer Specialist Ethics and Boundaries” and “Peer-Led Wellness Strategies” at the DBSA 2008 National Conference, “The Power of Peers.” The DBSA also wants input on how you think they can improve their online community. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has information up about their fourth annual “Unmasking Mental Illness” Gala, which is in October this year and is still too pricey for my bank account. Mental Health America has announced their “Jammin’ Away the Blues” events which will begin in the fall of 2008. Protesters from special needs and disability groups are upset with new movie release “Tropic Thunder,” and Timothy Shriver, the chairman of Special Olympics, speaks out in a special CNN article. (Thanks to Kristen for this heads up!)

In the world of mental health news, Beth Baker tackles the controversy around “brain games” in The Washington Post’s Is It Really Smart to Teach Old Brains New Tricks? (you can get some more background on this at OpenEducation.net Explores The Importance Of Brain Exercises), and a recent Reuters Health article reports that people with PTSD have an increased risk of dying early from heart disease. Researchers presented information at Thursday’s annual American Psychological Association meeting regarding stress, anxiety, and worse and lingering allergy attacks, and University of Texas at Austin biologists have developed a model for Angelman syndrome.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, Mark at A Dozen Steps shares AA resources in the UK, the ladies at Alzheimer’s Notes want to remind you about their “All About Alzheimer’s” carnival, and Susan at Grounded Fitness is giving up coffee to improve her meditation and gain a more focused mind (whereas I would chew coffee gum if they made it). Liz at Healthbolt tells us about the part of our brains that makes us feel like someone’s following us and Kristen at Lively Woman has a very justifiable rant at the recent treatment of two little girls at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.

Plus, Kendra at Diabetes Notes is holding a contest (the prize of which is a cookbook of your choice!) and Marijke at Help My Hurt is doing a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: I Will Note Let You Ruin My Week, Warner Brothers