This week at Mental Health Notes, I recommended checking out John La Puma and the book he wrote with Rebecca Powell Marx, Chef MD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine, as well as I Dose, which claims to be “the perfect Binaural Beats experience.” I also introduced you to Frank Calloway and the Cover America Tour, and then asked you what you thought about Barack Obama’s stance on mental health parity and to share good stories about mental health.

In the world of mental health news, UC Irvine researchers may be quickening the pace to finding more effective medications to treat panic disorders now that they’ve found out how to “switch off” the traumatic feelings bad memories can bring about, and Oregon Health & Science University researchers may have a drug that could help people addicted to alcohol quit drinking. An international group of researchers have found that the proteins that modify DNA are more expressed in people who commit suicide and may help identify underlying causes of depression, while another group of researchers supported by the National Institute of Mental Health may have discovered why some mothers develop postpartum depression and others don’t.

Regarding mental health advocacy, Dr. Waqas. A. Awan would like to pass along news of the new Web site MyFamilyHealth.com, which “allows people to connect with their relatives and track family health history.” The DBSA’s 2008 National Conference: The Power of Peers is drawing closer (September 10-14), and you can still take advantage of Advance Rates if you register before August 3.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, we’re as busy as ever! Mental Health Notes was featured at Best Health Mag yesterday, and a whole slue of us is in the Health & Wellness Channel are in included in eDrugsearch.com’s “The World’s Top Blogs On Health and Medicine.” Liz at Alzheimer’s Notes shares an informative video about the “creation of Leeza’s Place, an oasis for caregivers and loved ones dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease,” and Angelique at Breaking the Mirror issues a call for advice for a man suffering from postpartum depression and an eating disorder. Susan at Grounded Fitness explains why yoga can help make you happy, and Grace at Kids Health Notes offers a nice round up of blog contests and giveaways, while Karen at Pink Ribbon Review talks about the benefits and downfalls of emotional writing.

Oh, and Kristen at Lively Women has one of the worst. bruises. ever.

If you have something you’d like featured in next week’s Saturday Sanity, shoot me an email with “Saturday Sanity” (or similar) in the subject line and we’ll take it from there!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Tons Of New Mental Health Research

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