It’s almost time to vote for America’s next leader, and if you’re anything like me…well, you’d be quite pessimistic, jaded, and apathetic. (Well, let me take that back. I’m not really that apathetic. I care quite a bit. I just have a bad feeling about both directions, and rather than stress myself out even more…I’m just going to wait and see what happens.)

However, even if you are feeling like me, you should still vote. Given how important the issue of health care is in all elections, and given a national mental health parity finally passed this year, it’s actually crucial for mental health consumers to make – and continue making – their voices heard.

We can’t expect change if we don’t advocate for change, after all.

Despite all the commercials, debates, articles, blogs, radio advertisements, billboards, and yard signs we’ve seen and heard this election year, some folks are still undecided about their picks for the next President of the United States. Fortunately for us, three major mental health advocacy organizations have created online election centers to help us.

Read on!

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides Bringing Mental Healthcare to the Ballot, which information about making our voices heard (might be a bit too late for some of those suggestions at this point, but there are still some good questions we can ask ourselves), information about the democratic and republican platforms, materials that shed light on the importance of mental health issues, and a list of nonpartisan websites for further information.

Mental Health America offers Vote for America’s Mental Health in 2008, which gives a ton of election resources, including the candidates’ reform proposals, the party platforms, and information about voter registration.

And, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) launched their Election Center: MI Vote Counts, which is a handy group of interactive tools that help explain the role of the government and why it’s important to vote, helps folks register to vote and explains how to vote, and includes information about mental health legislation and advocacy.

If you’re still undecided this election season, don’t be like the millions of Americans who are either going to forgo voting, or vote for whomever their family members or friends tell them (yes, I just made that statistic up – but it sounds pretty reasonable). Spend some time perusing these resources before election day, and make your voice heard November 4.

Post from: Blisstree

Mental Health Consumers: Make Your Voices Heard

What’s this? Saturday Sanity is on time this week? Do tell!

This week at Mental Health Notes, things were pretty busy. In addition to Kristina’s Newsweek interview about John McCain’s talk of autism, I told you about a few mental health campaigns and communities like Howie Mandel’s Adult ADHD Is Real, Canada’s Let’s Face This, and icyou’s mental health videos and vlogs. I also told you about a new study regarding memory side effects of using ecstasy just once, and dove into the brains of sociopaths (well, kind of) with posts about Private Practice and resources to learn more about sociopathy.

Regarding mental health advocacy, Mental Health America wants everyone to send emails to their representatives urging them to include Medicaid in the next economic stimulus package, NARSAD wants to make sure everyone knows about the Third Annual Silver Ribbon Symposium on November 9th, NAMI is providing information and resources related to the current economic crisis and our mental health, and the DBSA is getting ready to announce the winner of the Facing Us: 2008 Music Contest.

In the world of mental health news, a new study suggests cortisol may help with post traumatic stress disorder, two doctors believe aerobic activity may reverse mental decline, and researchers have identified new candidate genes for schizophrenia. Teen suicide rates in the UK are declining, but economic problems may cause Korea’s suicide rates to increase and Canadian researchers are reporting young people in poor neighborhoods are more likely to attempt suicide.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, we’re full of contests and interesting tidbits this week!

• At Grounded Fitness, Kelly’s kicked off her Danskin clothing giveaway spree with a scoop neck tee giveaway.
• Kristen’s wrapping up Lively Women’s October Prizepalooza with two giveaways: One for a Swiggies wrist water bottle (five winners) and one for Cocoon Total Body Rejuvenating Emollient (three winners).
• Grace Ibay is holding a giveaway for an Allergy Luxe bed bug barrier pillow cover at Kids Health Notes and she’s telling readers about an Alzheimer’s drug that may be beneficial for children with Down Syndrome at Genetics & Health.
• Mary Emma is discussing the voting rights of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients At Alzheimer’s Notes.
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3’s Angela White wants to know who’s up for NaBloPoMo in November.
• Scott Wharton has compiled a list of interesting facts about the human body over at Health & Men (take note of the stuff about your brain!).
• And finally, Marijke is talking about depression related to both chronic pain and pregnancy.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: New Research, Reports, and Giveaways

So…there was no Saturday Sanity last Saturday. Actually, there were no posts at all last weekend.

Why, you ask?

Because it was freaking gorgeous outside and I said to myself and anyone who would listen, “You know what? I am not getting on the computer today.”

Very uncharacteristic of me.

I’m actually not on the computer today, either, and won’t be tomorrow. I’m off celebrating my birthday this weekend. Yeah, it was Wednesday, but who can properly celebrate during the work week? Not I. However, I’m back to being responsible and have prepared this week’s Saturday Sanity ahead of time.

Enjoy!

This week at Mental Health Notes, I told you about California’s $8 billion bill for new medical and mental health facilities in prisons, pointed you in the direction of a poem relevant to World Mental Health Day, and did a lot of talking about the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008: the text of it, my initial thoughts about it, and some concerns many folks may have now that it’s passed.

Regarding mental health advocacy, Mental Health America is calling for breakout session proposals for their Centennial Conference, “Celebrating the Legacy, Forging the Future,” the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is accepting registrations for their next live webinar “Moving From Peer to Peer Provider,” which is on October 14, 2008 and is part of their Peer Specialist Continuing Education (CE) program, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness is providing “Stuck on the Rage Road,” an excerpt from bp Magazine, Fall 2008. Oh, and the Metro Coffee Company in Wyoming recently played host to an exhibit of the photographs taken by and the written words of children with mental illness: “Photovoice: Giving Voice to Youth and Families with Mental Health Needs.”

In the world of mental health news, survey findings suggest survivors of adult cancer are more likely than other adults to suffer severe psychological distress (I wonder if they really needed a survey to figure that out), research shows children who were born after only 25 or fewer weeks are more likely than babies who stayed in the womb for the full term to have behavioral and emotional problems, and researchers at John Hopkins think ginko can help prevent damage to brain cells after strokes. Teens with mental health problems are being dropped off at hospitals under the last “safe haven” law in the nation, University of Toronto psychologists have created what they think is a “fake-proof” personality test, and some researchers believe we can count on narcissists to lead the way.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, we’ve lost of one of Healthbolt’s bloggers (Liberty Kontranowski has left, but this is bittersweet news as she’s had some exciting job opportunities and life changes!), but we also have:

• Kristina Chew on a panel discussing Dr Paul Offit’s Autism’s False Prophets.
• Kristen King hosting her October Prizeapalooza at Lively Women.
• Over at Healthbolt, Liz is holding a contest for…wait for it…Harry Potter’s Candy Cauldron!
• Pink Ribbon Review’s Karen Lynch discussed reducing the risk of breast cancer on the Women’s Day Magazine talk radio show.
• Mary Emma reminds us about Blogtober Fest over at the Lifestyles Channel.
• Angelique offers eating disorder warning signs for parents.
• Grace Ibay tells us that premature ejaculation isn’t all in the mind, after all.
• Marijke discusses music easing stress and depression during pregnancy.

Now, go out and enjoy your Saturday!

Image: SXC and Mateusz Stachowski.

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Responsibility Abounds

I’ve been fairly stressed out this week.

The state of the American economy, the housing market, health insurance (or lack thereof), my yet-to-be paid off student loans – in other words, money (or again, lack thereof) – all have me freaking out just a bit about my future and my country’s future.

I didn’t used to worry about things like this. Of course, I don’t remember a time in my life when things ever seemed this bad.

Anyone else feeling the stress? Have some suggestions for mellowing out? I’d love to hear them.

In the meantime, let’s check out what’s going on in the world of mental health.

This week at Mental Health Notes, I told you about National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month and our blogging event to raise awareness, as well as shared my two spins on the second and ninth steps. I also pointed you in the direction of an article about pharmacists’ secrets, told you where you could get free, condensed summaries of health books, asked you what you thought of electronic medical records in light of Practice Fusion’s new program, and shared a funny.

Regarding mental health advocacy, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has made it easy for us to urge Congress to get moving on Mental Health Parity, the Consumers Union shared the story of Kim, a lady who struggled to get health insurance because she dared to use the mental health coverage her former policy offered, and Mental Health American released its Fall 2008 issue of The Bell.

In the world of mental health news, Ireland campaigners believe their government is seriously lacking resources for suicide prevention strategies, researchers claim pregnant women who experience even moderate amounts of stress are putting their babies at risk for lowered intellectual development, more teens are putting their brain development at risk with a rise in oxycodone and hydrocodone abuse, and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is developing self-guided, computer-based depression treatment.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, many of my fellow bloggers participated in our little event for National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Check out b5Media Salutes National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month to check out what they had to say!

Enjoy your Saturday (and if it’s anything like mine, i.e. rainy beyond belief, you’ll appreciate all the reading material).

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Stress Abounds

Whoa! I have had one hectic week! Most of it has been work-related, so I’m not complaining (when one is a freelance writer and editor, one doesn’t complain when work gets hectic), but I’ve barely been able to leave my desk long enough to take Chopper outside.

Next week is going to be just as hectic, but that’s mostly because of all the big plans I have for Mental Health Notes, as well as something special all of us in the b5media Health & Wellness Channel are cooking up.

Oooh, I bet you’re curious now.

Have patience and, in the meantime, enjoy this week’s Saturday Sanity!

This week at Mental Health Notes, Aside from telling you about brain foods for vegetarians and the history of the emoticon, as well as making a few announcements (see below), I didn’t do a whole lot of writing (I told you – it was a hectic week!). Fortunately, Airdrie Miller (remember her?) wrote a very special four-part guest series for Mental Health Notes about her battle with depression. If you missed it, backtrack and catch up with part one, part two, part three, and part four. I feel very blessed that she shared her story here.

Regarding mental health advocacy, Project Helping Hands is now also offering mental health resources to Hurricane Ike victims, NAMI has established a special fund to help Gustav and Ike victims, Mental Health America has launched its Vote for America’s Mental Health campaign, and the DBSA has launched a support group for parents of people with mood disorders.

In the world of mental health news, mental health professionals seem to be choosing methods that aren’t proven effective over methods that are proven effective when treating children suffering from PTSD, researchers are still linking pot and psychosis (did I read another study about that once?), overbearing parents may be fostering obsessive children (hmm…kind of like college students having low self-esteem because of their parents’ high expectations?), and homosexual men are experiencing poor mental health due to homonegativity (which is a “negative attitude towards homosexuality”).

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, we’re as busy as always:

• Kelly at Grounded Fitness wants to tell y’all about her GoTrybe.com one-year membership giveaway.
• Marijke at Womb Within wants to promote National Seat Check Saturday (which takes place today!).
• Karen at Pink Ribbon Review is recruiting people to join her team for Lee National Denim Day.
• Liz and Mary Emma remind us that today is the deadline to submit to the All About Alzheimer’s Carnival.

Enjoy your Saturdays!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Putting An End To A Hectic Week

Saturday’s just don’t have the same magic they had when I was a kid. Saturday’s used to mean no school. Sleeping in. Hanging out with friends until all hours of the night. Going to the pool, or the mall, or some other such fun place.

Now, Saturdays mean catching up on work. Getting a quick call in with a friend. Doing chores I didn’t have time to do during the week. Going grocery shopping, doing laundry, or some other such mundane task.

It’s sad when you have to plan a lazy Saturday, yes?

In any event, enjoy this week’s Saturday Sanity. And the reason for the little smiley faces above is two-fold: One, there’s a lot of good news below, so yay! Two, there’s a lot of bad news below, so you’ll need some perking up!

This week at Mental Health Notes, in addition to participating in the Health & Wellness Channel’s September theme day with 5 Tips To Keep Your Child’s Mind Healthy This School Year and telling you about all the drugs that may or may not be in your water, I ran a five-day series on becoming a mental health advocate called – unsurprisingly – The Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate. Don’t worry; you don’t have to dig through a week’s worth of posts to find them. I’ve provided a convenient round up for you. Oh, and I’m running a contest to win a copy of Surviving Ben’s Suicide, which ends tonight – so hurry on over and enter!

Regarding mental health advocacy, Project Helping Hands is providing mental health services to Gustav victims (and Ike victims, as well, I just found out), Mental Health America set National Parity Call-In Day in motion, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) announced the 16 finalists in the Facing Us 2008 Music Contest, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is hosting a free teleconference on Tuesday regarding the challenges providers face when treating people with mental health problems. It’s too late for me to register (I just found out about it!), but maybe if any of you reading this are participating, you’d like to take notes and share with the class, hmm?

In the world of mental health news, there’s not a lot of good. Suicide is up for soldiers and still high for teens. Parents are doing a lot more talking with school personnel and health care providers about their kids’ mental health (well, now wait – that’s a good thing), and the number of young adults who’ve abused prescription drugs is up (okay, we’re back to the bad stuff). ADHD is causing adults to have lower levels of educational and occupational attainments, IBD is causing a whole plethora of mental problems (or, at least, being connected to them), and dialysis patients with depression are more likely to die or be hospitalized within a year than those who aren’t suffering from depression. Wow, I wish there was more good news. Well, I did find some stuff I’m saving for next week.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, we’ve all been pretty dang busy! In addition to checking out Grace Ibay’s round up of theme day posts, you may also be interested in checking out:

• Mark’s look at medications and other drugs in relation to alcohol and substance abuse.
• Kendra’s recount of her experiences during 9/11.
• Mary Emma Allen’s thoughts on caregivers lifting their spirits when they’re down.
• Angelique’s five reasons parents ignore eating disorders.
• Ruth’s report of coffee perks for women.
• Kristen’s hysterical post about guppy sex (well, it’s hysterical to me!).
• Marijke’s report on how Wii Fit has been working for her.
• Karen’s quote in a Health.com article (go Karen!).
• My guest post over at Weighting Line. (Hint: It’s dripping with sinfully superficial ways to perk up on crap days – and some good advice, too.)

Enjoy your Saturday!

Image: SXC and Aleksandra P.

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: The Good, The Bad, And The Smiley Faces

Feel like taking part in a nationwide mental health movement today? Don’t have much time for anything other than a phone call?

Then you’re in luck.

According to Mental Health America, today is National Parity Call-In Day, a day that we’re all urged to call our U.S. Senators and our U.S. Representative and urge them to bring mental health parity to a vote.

With Congress back in session this week and only a short time left, it must pass mental health parity legislation. This is the moment to remind lawmakers that parity legislation is critical, unfinished business.

Never in the almost two-decade fight for parity have we been closer to victory. If Congress fails to bring parity to a vote before adjourning later this month, we must restart the push for parity in 2009.

The number to call is 1.866.parity4 (1-866-727-4894) and the message Mental Health America suggests is:

“I’m calling to ask the Senator/Representative to press congressional leaders to bring mental health parity legislation to a vote. It’s critical that Congress pass parity legislation this year.

Pretty simple, yes?

And when you’re finished, head over to Contest: Win A Copy Of Surviving Ben’s Suicide By C. Comfort Shields for your chance to win a copy of this moving memoir!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Today Is National Parity Call-In Day!

In yesterday’s post for the “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate,” I wrote about how you can easily become a mental health advocate when you stop yourself and others from promoting mental health stigma.

Today, let’s look at how large mental health advocacy and research organizations can help.

Number Two: Become a mental health advocate when you get involved with large mental health advocacy and research organizations.

Large mental health advocacy and research organizations really have their stuff together, and can help you stay on top of current mental health issues, find nationwide mental health resources, and even get involved with special events. Check out the following to get started:

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).
• Mental Health America, or the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) as they’re being called now.
• The National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD).
• National Anxiety Foundation (NAF)
• Best Buddies International
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP)
• The Alzheimer’s Association

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s information about mental health support groups, but in the meantime, share your thoughts here about these large organizations.

• Are you involved with or a member of any of these mental health organizations?
• What has been your experience with these groups?

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Get Involved With Mental Health Advocacy And Research Organizations

Just when I think I’m going to have a normal week (i.e. one not bogged down with getting caught up with work and chores, but one actually spent working and “choring” at a regular pace!), a gigantic tree about 20 feet from my house decides to give up on life and take a few power and telephone lines down with it.

Fortunately, no one (and no homes) were hurt, but most of my street went without power and/or telephones for two days – which not only blows for people who, you know, want to keep the food in their refrigerators cold, but also really blows for people who work from home.

And I once again found myself scrambling to meet a deadline last night.

In any event, all’s well with the world (and electricity!) again, and here’s your Saturday dose of sanity!

This week at Mental Health Notes, Karen Lynch contributed tips on how to manage emotional distress (and gave me a much needed break!), and then I told you about a few mental health blogs I’m reading, asked you if you’re happy with your psychiatrist’s services, reminded you about the chance to have your donations to Mental Health America matched, posted my review of Surviving Ben’s Suicide, rolled out another edition of What Do You Really Want?, and shared five brain cancer resources. Oh, and I also announced the winner of Dr. David Clarke’s They Can’t Find Anything Wrong!, spread some doggy humor, and publicly announced my extreme jealousy of Nikki Katz.

Regarding mental health advocacy, along with the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Mental Health America published their statement on the JAMA study that shows a continued high rate of suicide among youths after the “Black Box” warnings, the DBSA’s Power of Peers National Conference is right around the corner, and there’s still plenty of time to participate in NAMI’s Grading the States survey.

In the world of mental health news, it’s a big day for women. Researchers believe dialectical behavior therapy may help women who suffer from both an eating disorder and borderline personality disorder, a large study suggests women who experience extreme stress right before or during pregnancy have a higher risk of giving birth to underweight babies, researchers have reported young women who’ve experienced extreme stress have a higher risk for developing breast cancer, and another study suggests that babies born to depressed mothers have “more chaotic sleep patterns early in life.”

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, Karen Lynch of Pink Ribbon review hosted a live blogging event during Friday night’s Stand Up To Cancer event, and also featured each one of us Health & Wellness Channel bloggers, and a few others, who participated in helping to spread the word about cancer awareness. Check it out!

• Susan Watiker is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Alicia Sparks is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Kristen King is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Michelle Smith is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Ruth Schaffer is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Scott Wharton is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Kendra James, RN is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Angela White is Standing Up 2 Cancer
• Marijke Durning, RN is Standing Up 2 Cancer

Enjoy your weekends!

Image: SXC and Andrew Faulkner

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: If A Tree Falls 20 Feet From Your House…

Mental Health America would like to remind everyone (or, notify, for those of you who don’t know) that an anonymous donor has offered to match all donations to their Resource Center from August 22 to September 8 – up to $2,000!

Matching Gift Alert: An anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations to the Resource Center from August 22 to September 8, up to $2,000! Every dollar you pledge gives the Resource Center $2 to help those in need. Act now!

You can visit Mental Health America: Help Save Lives to read about how the Resource Center helps people in need and make a donation.

And remember: Your bank account doesn’t have to be overflowing with the green to make a donation. Thanks to the anonymous donor, even a donation of just $1 gives the Resource Center $2 to work with!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Anonymous Mental Health America Donor To Match $2,000 In Donations