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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 …read more

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It seems like just a few Saturday Sanities ago I was talking about how warm and sunny it was outside; now, we’re covered in snow. We have been all week. I still don’t have a winter coat (I didn’t have one last year, either – I can be very serious about my procrastination) and Chopper doesn’t understand why we don’t go outside 9,375 times a day anymore.
Anyway…
This week at Mental Health Notes, I talked about a new study about the television viewing habits of unhappy people, commented on two legal situations involving mental health issues (the …read more

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November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and the Cleveland Clinic would like to point to several epilepsy resources they have available within their Epilepsy Center. Of special interest, I’m told, is the Epilepsy Medical Guide, the Pediatric , and their webcast series “Living with Epilepsy.”
Now, some of you may be wondering, “What? Yeah, I get the brain part, but what’s this got to do with mental health?” Well, a lot actually. There’s a ton of research out there dealing with epilepsy and various mental health conditions. Check out these facts and sources for starters:

“Mental health and …read more

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Well, we’re, what…two weeks into November? And NaNoWriMo is not going as well as I hoped it would. Don’t get me wrong – it’s going much better than last year’s. I just thought I’d be farther along than I am right now. Still, any progress on this book is a blessing!
On to the brainy stuff:
This week at Mental Health Notes, it was business as usual. I commiserated over animal testing in new schizophrenia research, told you about two ways you can donate to help veterans receive mental health treatment, pointed you in the direction of an …read more

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Several years ago, a soldier I once knew told me about the time he had to dig graves for children who’d starved to death in a country most of us have never been to. It wasn’t a war zone; these children simply didn’t have enough food to stay alive. He and his fellow soldiers dug the graves while family members stood looking on.
This experience stayed with him for a very long time.
I’ve written about America’s service men and women more than a few times here at Mental Health Notes, so it’s no surprise I’m doing it …read more

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With only a few days until the 2008 presidential election, we’re getting down to the nitty gritty here in America. Like many Americans, I’m quite anxious. The race is close, and I’m looking forward to its finish. I’m looking forward to knowing who our next leader will be. I’m looking forward to seeing if he can pull us out of this economic slump.
I’m also looking forward to no longer receiving campaign emails and enjoying a full week of prime time television without debate interruptions.
Despite how close Election Day is, nearly 6.4 percent of the voting public …read more

Today kicks off NaNoWriMo, my friends. I attempted NaNoWriMo last year, but pretty much hid my face until it was December was sidetracked by the third day in due to an unexpected but necessary move. This year, I really have no excuse not to participate. I even have a story this time. Sure, none of the characters have names and I have no idea why any of them even know each other, but hey, Harry Potter wasn’t written in a day.
As you read this, I’m probably curled up in the fetal position somewhere.
Anyway, on to the goods. There’s a lot …read more

Earlier I told you about how I loved the way Private Practice handled a storyline in which a mother thought her son was a sociopath.
When I hear the word “sociopath,” I cringe. I admit it. Not because I think people shouldn’t use the word “sociopath,” but because, well, it’s a scary word. “Sociopath” has been connected to names like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, and John Wayne Gacy, and – hello – those were some scary peeps.
But what exactly qualifies someone as a sociopath? What is sociopathic behavior? It’s not really something you’ll find in an informational pamphlet down …read more

Are any of you familiar with icyou, which provides “Intensive Content for Your Health”? (<- ooh, clever, huh?)
I received an email the other day letting me know that icyou was hosting a scavenger hunt in celebration of it’s new homepage (which leads me to believe the site itself is no spring chicken). Aside from the fact that the winners of the scavenger hunt get things like iPod Nanos and gift certificates for iTunes and Amazon (I’ve never had a regular iPod, and I could use some funds to order Prison Break Season 3…), I was genuinely interested in what this …read more

Yesterday I told you about all the mental health awareness events going on in October, one of which is the 18th annual National Depression Screening Day. This morning, I received an email and a press release from a research assistant for MentalHealthScreening.org, the site I referred you to for finding depression screening areas near year.
This year’s campaign focuses on how the uncertain economic and political climate – the crisis on Wall Street, high gas prices, and a presidential race too close to call – can leave Americans feeling depressed, anxious or overwhelmed.
Sounds a bit like last Saturday, yes?
Anyway, read on …read more