Mental Health Notes

Saturday Sanity: Keeps The Doctor Away

by Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader on May 3rd, 2008

Well, OK, you got me. Saturday Sanity doesn’t exactly keep the doctor away, but it does keep you up to date with what’s going on in the world of mental health, and that’s good too, right?

I talked about a lot of stuff this week here at Mental Health Notes. Not only did I get to brag about my fantasy boyfriend and how awesome his fans are, but I also announced a contest/giveaway in honor of both Mental Health Awareness Month and Mental Health Notes’s own first birthday! Chato B. Stewart officially kicked-off the This Is Why I ROCK! series, and I took part in the Healthbolt Challenge. I also mused on House, sexy women, and bile in our bodies. And of course I offered my own thoughts on current events, including the Austrian Fritzl family and the recent suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

The world of scientific-, research-, and government-related mental health news hasn’t been so quiet, either. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is aiming to redefine “informed consent” when it comes to abortions by updating materials with information about the mental health risks of abortion, among other things. Christopher Hitchens points out that anger is “the innuendo for instability or inadequacy” in yet another discussion about Senator John McCain’s ability to run the country. You’ll find some of the highest rent in the nation in Stamford, Connecticut, so the Family Centers Housing Resource Program is helping folks with mental illness by providing subsidies, security deposit loans, and donated furniture. And, the American Heart Association is now recommending that children with ADHD undergo electrocardiograms before they’re prescribed ADHD medication.

Various mental health advocacy groups are quiet chatty lately. Mental Health America is promoting the Mental Health Awareness Month theme of Get Connected, as well as has recently released survey results that show health care obstacles for people with schizophrenia. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is conducting a survey to find out which mood disorders research interests you most and the National Alliance on Mental Illness has released an informational self-help brochure for women with depression.

And of course, my fellow b5media Health & Wellness Channel bloggers are never very quiet, are they? To wrap April up, many of us decided to gather up some of our favorite posts from our respective blogs, and Channel Editor Kendra James rounded them all up for readers of all b5media blogs to check out.

Remember, if you have any news you feel is Saturday Sanity-worthy, pass it my way!

All images courtesy of Newscom.

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POSTED IN: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Childhood Disorders, Criminal Psych, Current Affairs & News, Death, Doctors & Scientists, Famous Folk, Government & Politics, Have Some Fun, Inspiring News, Medications, Mental Health Advocacy, Mood Disorders, Resources, Saturday Sanity, Schizophrenia, Self-help, Sites of Interest, Suicide, Updates, Women