It’s been a fairly slow week here at Mental Health Notes, and I can’t quite put my finger on one particular reason why. We had thunderstorms almost every day this week, and so when I wasn’t working (which kept me fairly busy), I was taking advantage of the writing inspiration (and snooze-inducing effects) thunderstorms always seem to give me.

I also found out early in the week I’m going to have to work extra hard to keep my local NAMI affiliation going, which caused a bit of stress, but I was happy to find I’ll have support.

Oh, and I’ve been re-reading the Harry Potter series in anticipation for November 21, 2008. A bit early, yes, but I’m also trying to squeeze in a re-watching of Prison Break seasons one, two, and three before September.

However, my slow (and, at the same time, busy) week doesn’t mean the rest of the mental health world has slowed down. Read on for this week’s Saturday Sanity!

This week at Mental Health Notes, I shared my thoughts about pzizz, passed along the news of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s new music contest, laughed at Sharon Stone, applauded Jenifer Lewis, and issued a call for pictures of the Lamictal rash.

In the world of mental health news, as reported by The Boston Globe, Marylou Sudders, president and chief executive of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and a former state mental health commissioner, claims that mental health parity will only add minimal costs to insurance, while Dr. Marylou Buyse, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, is iffy about it all given the current economic situation. Several states away, The Columbus Dispatch reports that a plan “designed to reduce Medicaid spending on costly psychotropic drugs could actually cost the state money in the long run.” Denis Paré, professor at the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University in Newark, studies the amygdala and has helped identify brain cells related to fear which could help lead to better treatment for anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, and we may all soon be able to tell exactly how stressed we are simply by getting dressed.

Regarding mental health advocacy, Mental Health America is applauding the Senate’s action on Medicare, and is asking us to ask President Bush not to veto Medicare Parity. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has also spoken out regarding the death of a psychiatric patient in Kings County, New York, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance wants to know how computers are used during your mental health care.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, Marijke at Womb Within is hosting a prenatal vitamin giveaway, and Ruth at Eating Fabulous is holding a contest to win a copy of Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life. Mary Emma at Alzheimer’s Notes lists 13 summer projects for Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers, and loved ones, and Kristina at Autism Vox discusses therapy animals. Liz at Healthbolt shares some news about potentially life-saving medical tattoos, and Hope at Weighting Line shares some thoughts on the Emotional Freedom Technique.

That’s it for this week’s Saturday Sanity news. If you have any news, announcements, or just interesting stuff related to mental health that you’d like to pass along for next week, shoot me an email!

Image Credit: Me

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: And The Thunder Rolls

Jenifer Lewis has bipolar disorder. I had no idea. I’m surprised I didn’t run across it when I wrote Celebrities and Bipolar Disorder or Female Celebrities and Mental Illness.

In any event, I did run across it, when I ran across Broadway Star Battles Bipolar, a Health Talk with Dr. Manny video from FOXNews.com.

During the video, Lewis talks very frankly about her diagnosis, the length of time it took for her therapist to convince her to take medication, and why she was afraid to take medication in the first place (like many people with bipolar disorder, Lewis was afraid it would take away her “edge”).

Lewis then explains that her bipolar disorder treatment plan includes medication, weekly therapy, exercise, healthy foods, and a strong support system of friends and family as well as promotes Bridge to a Brighter Tomorrow as she discusses the different ways to reach out and get help.

Overall, it’s a worthwhile interview to watch when you have about six minutes to spare. Especially when you love listening to strong voices that cut to the chase and don’t pussyfoot around when it comes to topics lots of folks won’t even discuss – like mental illness.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Actress Jenifer Lewis Talks Openly About Bipolar Disorder