Yipee! It’s the Health & Wellness Channel’s monthly theme day, and I’m super excited because not only am I finally hosting, but the theme is mental health in honor of May being Mental Health Month!

My fellow b5media bloggers have really pulled together and presented some great information this month, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in for some good readin’!

Over at Help My Hurt, Marijke Durning addresses Depression and Chronic Pain, and touches on the question of, “Which comes first, depression or chronic pain?”

Healthbolt gives us a first-hand look into depression via a Question and Answer session with a long-time sufferer. Diagnosis, triggers and treatments are all discussed in this exclusive interview.

At Alzheimer’s Notes, Mary Emma Allen discusses Depression – a Mental Health Concern for Caregivers and Alzheimer’s Patients. (Something I’ve experienced firsthand and can’t wait to read!)

With Stigma and Pride, Kristina Chew at Autism Vox reminds us that some of the past and present stigma cast upon autistic individuals is in part because of misconceptions not only of autism, but of mental illness.

Karen Lynch at Pink Ribbon Review points out that Breast Cancer Can Cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In her post she lists symptoms to watch for and links you to an assessment tool to see how far you’ve come in terms of personal growth and healing.

Weighting Line’s Hope Wilbanks gives us some insight on How To Deal With Depression And Weight Gain.

Over at Lively Women, Kristen King asks a very thought-provoking question – after she offers up some just as thought-provoking quotes – with In Honor Of Mental Health Awareness: Are You REALLY Happy?
Gabrielle Sedor at Fertility Notes nods in the direction of this year’s Mental Health Month theme, “Get Connected,” with Get Connected for Mental Health Month. Not only does she encourage us to get connected, but she offers resources to do so!

Gab is also now the blogger for Daily Tomorrow, and for that she offers up Is Going Green Good for Your Mental Health, or Just Making You Crazy? (You can bet I’ll be leaving a comment or two on that one!)

Grace Ibay reminds us of the importance of Building A Positive Self Image In Our Children at Kids Health Notes.

Health and Men’s Scott Wharton got a jump on all of us last week by rounding up FIVE of his mental health-related posts with Health And Men’s Best Of Mental Health.

Mark W. discusses Anger Turned Inwards at A Dozen Steps (something I’m really looking forward to reading, especially given that he explores mental health and alcoholism – over the past couple of years, I’ve become very interested and somewhat involved with mental health and addiction of any sort).

Angelique at Breaking the Mirror fills us in on mental health, medication, and eating disorders with Anorexia, Bulimia, Depression, Prozac – What You Should Know.

Breastfeeding 1-2-3’s Angela White takes a look at traditional anti-depressants and alternative treatments for depression in breastfeeding mothers with Breastfeeding, Mental Health, Anti-Depressants and Alternative Treatments.

Gloria Gamat over at Cancer Commentary talks about how mental health is a critical factor in the life of a cancer patient, thus it shouldn’t be ignored by healthcare professional and the patients and their families alike, with PTSD, Cancer Patients, Mental Health Month and Channel Theme Day.

And finally, at Diabetes Notes our very own Channel Editor Kendra James presents Depression Is An Independent Trigger For Type 2 Diabetes to inform us that depression is an independent factor for type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that depression alone, and not lifestyle factors like being overweight, can trigger Type 2 diabetes in adults 65 and older, a population with a high prevalence of diabetes and depression.

Kendra also writes A Hearty Life, and over there she tells us about Heart Disease And Depression/Anxiety: It Is Directly Related.

That’s all for now! Be sure to let each one of these awesome bloggers know how much you appreciate the time, effort, and research they dedicated to these posts!

Ken Jensen is currently rockin’ out in the This Is Why I ROCK! series here at Mental Health Notes. If you have a mental illness and are still living the life you love, head on over the the official announcement post and enter!

Post from: Blisstree

Join The Health & Wellness Channel In Recognizing Mental Health Month!

I talked about a lot of stuff this week here at Mental Health Notes. Not only did I get to brag about my fantasy boyfriend and how awesome his fans are, but I also announced a contest/giveaway in honor of both Mental Health Awareness Month and Mental Health Notes’s own first birthday! Chato B. Stewart officially kicked-off the This Is Why I ROCK! series, and I took part in the Healthbolt Challenge. I also mused on House, sexy women, and bile in our bodies. And of course I offered my own thoughts on current events, including the Austrian Fritzl family and the recent suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

The world of scientific-, research-, and government-related mental health news hasn’t been so quiet, either. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is aiming to redefine “informed consent” when it comes to abortions by updating materials with information about the mental health risks of abortion, among other things. Christopher Hitchens points out that anger is “the innuendo for instability or inadequacy” in yet another discussion about Senator John McCain’s ability to run the country. You’ll find some of the highest rent in the nation in Stamford, Connecticut, so the Family Centers Housing Resource Program is helping folks with mental illness by providing subsidies, security deposit loans, and donated furniture. And, the American Heart Association is now recommending that children with ADHD undergo electrocardiograms before they’re prescribed ADHD medication.

Various mental health advocacy groups are quiet chatty lately. Mental Health America is promoting the Mental Health Awareness Month theme of Get Connected, as well as has recently released survey results that show health care obstacles for people with schizophrenia. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is conducting a survey to find out which mood disorders research interests you most and the National Alliance on Mental Illness has released an informational self-help brochure for women with depression.

And of course, my fellow b5media Health & Wellness Channel bloggers are never very quiet, are they? To wrap April up, many of us decided to gather up some of our favorite posts from our respective blogs, and Channel Editor Kendra James rounded them all up for readers of all b5media blogs to check out.

Remember, if you have any news you feel is Saturday Sanity-worthy, pass it my way!

All images courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Keeps The Doctor Away