Mental Health Notes - News, Education and Advocacy

Saturday Sanity: The News Is More Important

by Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes on November 15th, 2008

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 article about dream symbols that mean you’re stressed, and rambled on about activities that help boost brain power. Oh, and I also offered some entertainment: You can download a radio broadcast about PTSD (informative stuff!) and watch an interesting performing arts segment titled “Mental Health” (not so informative stuff).

Regarding mental health advocacy and education, director Richard M. Patricia is spreading the word about his new documentary, Strive for Happiness. The film takes a look at what it’s like growing up in a home with a loved one who suffered from mental illness. iVillage’s iLearn courses is offering Stress, Sanity, and Survival, a free course that aims to help you learn how to better manage your stress. In Buffalo, New York, a campaign is underway to get mental health providers to volunteer their time and services to make sure veterans receive the treatment - and not just the medication - they need. And, serious mental health advocate and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter offered her views on the state of America’s mental health care at a recent Magellan Health Services, Inc. conference.

In the world of mental health news, research, and studies, hyperactivity is one of the conditions for which children are being increasingly medicated, researchers believe folks experiencing chronic pain may be at more risk for suicidal thoughts, and some researchers from researchers at the Centre for Women’s Mental Health at The University of Manchester think there’s a link between a mother’s mental health and stillborn babies and newborn deaths.

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel,

• Lively Women blogger Peggy Rowland is holding a contest to win a Conception Kit by Conceivex, Inc. (The contest will run until November 24.) Peggy also has also posted an interesting interview with an aromatherapist who explains how aromatherapy can work to manage stress.
• Healthbolt’s Liz Lewis is giving away a Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD headset. (This one runs until November 18.)
• Grace Ibay points to a fascinating article about genetics and mental health (those of you looking for reasons to point fingers at Mom or Dad may love this one) over at Genetics and Health.
• Over at Autism Vox, Kristina Chew updates us on a sad story turned sadder involving the death of Jon Jon Jackson, a 10-year-old boy with autism.
• Marijke Durning shares the pain and healing that comes along with losing a pet at Cancer Commentary. And, at Womb Within, she allows a reader to share her story of depression and in vitro fertilization.

Now, I’m off to write!

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