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 Nebraska hospitals are rising (Marcie at Kids Health Notes has posted an update on the revision to Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law), and there was an update to the tragic Lori Drew/Megan Meier case. Of course, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. I told you about the IAVA and Ad Council teaming up to create online communities for veterans and veterans’ family and loved ones, as well as gave you some inspirational quotes to ponder. Oh, and I pointed you in the direction of some great money-spending ideas, which, can be good or bad news, depending on how you look at it.

Regarding mental health advocacy and education, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) wants to spread the word about nominations for the Welcome Back Awards, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released it’s latest issue of a newsletter geared toward helping returning veterans, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s (DBSA) Trauma Course for Peer Specialists is just around the corner. Chato Stewart at Mental Health Humor is offering to draw free pictures (how cool is that?!) – head on over and check out the terms and conditions. And finally, Kate McLaughlin has posted some extremely helpful information for family members and loved ones of a person with a mental illness.

In the world of mental health news, research, and studies, people with both diabetes and depression may have a harder time managing their blood sugar levels (I once read a pamphlet about how depression and diabetes interact), a panel of federal drug experts says we’re getting a bit too flippant with the antipsychotic prescriptions to children, the number of suicides among the elderly in long-term care facilities is holding steady, and the alignment of a child’s eyes could actually point to an increased risk of mental illness in later years (what?!). On a lighter note, Dr. Steven Toepfer of Kent State University has conducted some research that suggests we can be happier if we become more grateful (I so could have saved you some time, effort, and money on that one, Toepfer).

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel:

• Mark explains The Insanity of Alcohol over at A Dozen Steps.
• Mary Emma shares a personal poem of thanks at Alzheimer’s Notes.
• Angelique is holding a contest for some cute handcrafted jewelry over at Breaking the Mirror (the deadline’s tomorrow night, so hurry up!).
• Angela of Breastfeeding 1-2-3 has a ridiculously adorable baby.
• Marijke talks about laughter therapy at Cancer Commentary. (Marijke is also in the running for Best Canadian Blog with her personal blog, Marijke: Nurse Turned Writer. Give her some votes and wish her luck!)
• Scott at Health and Men points to an Swedish study dealing with stress and the physical damage it could cause you.
• Liz has posted the latest Healthbolt carnival.
• And…could it be? Is Tony back at Astronomy Buff?!

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

Plenty of things happened this week for which I’m thankful. I talked to two of my favorite editors, spent some much needed time with a loved one, realized there was more money in the bank than I thought, and helped someone find a job.

Chopper even found her favorite ball – one that’s been lost for almost two weeks – which means I can stop relying on those tennis ball-type toys that she demolishes in five minutes.

However, I was also reminded once again that money tends to make the world go ’round, which seems to be the only reason the release date for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back from it’s original November 2008 date to SUMMER 2009.

WHAT?!

Ah, well. It can’t all be peaches and cream.

Luckily, I recovered enough from my shock to round up a seriously plump Saturday Sanity for you folks – enjoy!

This week at Mental Health Notes, there were plenty of resources to pass along, like those for parents of children with mental illness, everyminute.org’s PSA and new site features, free online sessions for people with PTSD and other mental illnesses, and ULifeline for college and university students. NAMI wants the opinions of people who are between 18 and 24 for their new social networking site, while Jane shared her experiences with the Amen Clinics, Erin shared a paper on postpartum depression in China and America, Jason shared pictures from his tour of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and SAMHSA is sharing tons of mental health freebies. Of course, I shared, too: One of my favorite commercials and an A.S.S. Award.

Regarding mental health advocacy, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is offering continuing education credits for peer specialists who register for a one-day course covering “Peer Specialist Ethics and Boundaries” and “Peer-Led Wellness Strategies” at the DBSA 2008 National Conference, “The Power of Peers.” The DBSA also wants input on how you think they can improve their online community. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has information up about their fourth annual “Unmasking Mental Illness” Gala, which is in October this year and is still too pricey for my bank account. Mental Health America has announced their “Jammin’ Away the Blues” events which will begin in the fall of 2008. Protesters from special needs and disability groups are upset with new movie release “Tropic Thunder,” and Timothy Shriver, the chairman of Special Olympics, speaks out in a special CNN article. (Thanks to Kristen for this heads up!)

In the world of mental health news, Beth Baker tackles the controversy around “brain games” in The Washington Post’s Is It Really Smart to Teach Old Brains New Tricks? (you can get some more background on this at OpenEducation.net Explores The Importance Of Brain Exercises), and a recent Reuters Health article reports that people with PTSD have an increased risk of dying early from heart disease. Researchers presented information at Thursday’s annual American Psychological Association meeting regarding stress, anxiety, and worse and lingering allergy attacks, and University of Texas at Austin biologists have developed a model for Angelman syndrome.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, Mark at A Dozen Steps shares AA resources in the UK, the ladies at Alzheimer’s Notes want to remind you about their “All About Alzheimer’s” carnival, and Susan at Grounded Fitness is giving up coffee to improve her meditation and gain a more focused mind (whereas I would chew coffee gum if they made it). Liz at Healthbolt tells us about the part of our brains that makes us feel like someone’s following us and Kristen at Lively Woman has a very justifiable rant at the recent treatment of two little girls at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.

Plus, Kendra at Diabetes Notes is holding a contest (the prize of which is a cookbook of your choice!) and Marijke at Help My Hurt is doing a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: I Will Note Let You Ruin My Week, Warner Brothers