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 …read more

If you’re the parent of someone with a mood disorder, and you’re free tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (or 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain, 5 p.m. Pacific, 12 a.m. Tuesday GMT), then I have news of interest for you.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is launching an online support group for parents of people with mood disorders. You can learn more about this DBSA online support group – including its regular schedule – at DBSA Online Support Groups.
You may even find another one you’d like to attend.
Oh, and the DBSA is looking for your opinions about their …read more

So far in the “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma and a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get involved.
Today, let’s talk about the importance of smaller mental health support groups, how you can get involved with one, and how you can even start one if there are none in your area.
Number Three: Become a mental health advocate when you get involved with mental health support groups, or start a mental health support group.

Ever want to know more about online support groups? Been curious and tempted to join one, but skeptical or unsure of how you’d benefit?
Well, you’re in luck. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is having another online chat today, and this time the “guest” is DBSA Chapter Recruitment Manager Elizabeth Siegel who will talk with chat participants about the benefits of DBSA online support groups.
Chat times are:
Eastern: 4:30 p.m.
Central: 3:30 p.m.
Mountain: 2:30 p.m.
Pacific: 1:30 p.m.
To find out more about the chat and sign up, visit DBSA Chat: Online Support Groups–Benefits & Challenges.

Image: Newscom

I’ve written about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) numerous times during the last year, and recently one Mental Health Notes reader mentioned the need for a Web site and online chats dedicated to OCD.
Good news! I did some snooping around and found several OCD resources online. Based on factors such as visibility, reputation, and activity I narrowed them down to the top five.
Check them out!

The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, or OCF, was founded in 1986 and provides education, assistance, and support for people with OCD and their family and friends. As far as I can tell, the OCF doesn’t have any online support groups, …read more

Let’s see how much you know about mental health and factors that can actually predict the status of a person’s mental health.
Choose which of the following factors you think is the most effective in predicting a person’s mental health status:

Race/ethnicity
Age
Education
Income
Literacy skills
Employment

If you chose literacy skills, you’re absolutely correct. And it’s deeper than just being able to read and write – it’s also being able to understand health-related information. In other words, it’s your health literacy.