From that initial National Depression Screening Day in 1990 , our programming and reach has expanded dramatically. In addition to National Depression Screening Day in October, we now also have National Alcohol Screening Day in April and the National Eating Disorders Program which is promoted annually during the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week—the last…
The general public vastly overestimates the number of post-9/11 veterans with mental health conditions, a misconception veterans advocates say threatens the overall well-being and employment prospects of former troops. A survey of more than 1, adults in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom found that roughly 40 percent believed more than half the 2.8 million…
Depression is a real illness that impacts the brain. Anyone suffering from depression will tell you, it’s not imaginary or “all in your head.” Depression is more than just feeling “down.” It is a serious illness caused by changes in brain chemistry. Research tells us that other factors contribute to the onset of depression, including genetics, changes in hormone…
Source: Giideon/Shutterstock Most parents have an instantaneous desire to protect their children. We tend to our children’s needs: If an unexplained rash appears, we see the doctor. If a fever spikes, we see the doctor. If a bone seems injured, we see the doctor. Visible wounds are relatively easy to recognize. It s different when a child begins having problems…
In New York, a man with schizophrenia spent 13 years of a 15-year prison sentence in solitary confinement. In a Minnesota county jail, a man with schizophrenia stabbed out both of his eyes with a pencil in his cell. A study of 132 suicide attempts in a county jail in Washington found that 77 percent of them had a “chronic psychiatric problem, ” compared with…
Psychoeducation refers to the process of providing education and information to those seeking or receiving mental health services, such as people diagnosed with mental health conditions (or life-threatening/terminal illnesses) and their family members. Though the term has been in use for most of the 20th century, it did not gain traction until movements addressing…
Following the phone conversation, Mr Cohen wrote in a tweet: “After exchange [with] Trump transition team, changed my recommendation: stay away. They re angry, arrogant, screaming ‘you LOST!’ Will be ugly.” After meeting with members of Mr Trump s transition team, Professor Cohen warned that working for the billionaire businessman could mean “compromising one’s…
ADDRESSING THE MENTAL AND MEDICAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE JAIL POPULATION IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE CONFRONTING COUNTY JAILS. Many of the challenges confronting county jails relate to addressing the mental health and medical needs of the jail population. A 2015 NACo survey of county jails found that addressing the mental health needs of inmates is the most common concern…
We all go into relationships with people under the assumption that the person we’re dating is well-adjusted. After all, no one wants to be in a relationship with someone who is so emotionally unstable they’ll explode at any moment. Thankfully, sometimes you can pick up on the crazy if you know the subtle warning signs out there. When I look back at the people…
Pelosi began by thanking the person who introduced her for his recanting of what happened at the time Democrats and activist groups rammed through Obamacare. She recalled telling her fellow Democrats that the Affordable Care Act was going to be a major achievement for government programs, and stand there with Social Security and Medicare and Medicare,apparently…
When thinking about our health, many times we believe ailments are either physical or mental. However, a third realm of our well-being exists. Emotional health, while it may sound less important, deserves just as much attention as any broken bone or state of depression. Mental health and emotional health might seem very similar, when in fact they are not the…
Whether you’re tempted to give in to your craving for a cupcake, or you’re about to give up on your goals, perseverance isn’t easy. But before you blame your lack of willpower or make an excuse for your less-than-stellar performance, consider this: It only takes a few minutes a day to build the mental muscle you need to reach your greatest potential. Building…
Prominent psychologist Marsha Linehan - the widely-revered developer of the most effective existing therapy for borderline personality disorder - recently revealed that she has personal a history of the disorder. See yesterday s New York Times article covering her disclosure here. Linehan is certainly not the only psychologist, famous or otherwise, who has struggled…
Photo Credit Matthieu Bourel A lot of people seem to be questioning President Trump’s mental health. This month, Representative Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, went so far as to say he was considering proposing legislation that would require a White House psychiatrist. More controversial is the number of mental health experts who are joining the chorus. In December…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide benefits based on disability: the Social Security disability insurance program (title II of the Social Security Act (Act)) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program (title XVI of the Act). Title II provides for payment of disability benefits to disabled individuals who are…
Clinton was, of course, Trump’s political opponent, but some psychologists have now started questioning his state of mind. Until recently, psychologists weren t allowed to assess public figures and talk to journalists about their findings. But this rule is now being cast aside and mental health experts are speaking out about Trump. He believes Trump shows signs…
The following mental health professionals can provide psychological assessments and therapy; however, cannot generally prescribe medications (although some states will allow it): Clinical Psychologist – A psychologist with a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited/designated program in psychology. Psychologists are trained to make diagnoses and provide…
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (AD), prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in several critical areas. Those areas include state and local government services, places of public accommodation, employment, telecommunications, and transportation. Under the ADA, you have a disability if you have…
There’s a particular and profound type of stigma and derision in society aimed at femininity in men (or those who are perceived to be men). This stigma (it could also be called hate, aversion, distaste, repugnance) is very deep and very old in our consciousness, particularly among men. A man in a dress has historically been fodder for humor and entertainment…
The DSM-5, scheduled for publication in 2013, will be the latest version of the American Psychiatric Association s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . Note: This chart lists major disorders only and is not meant to be comprehesive. See also: Personality Disorder Symptoms Description A - Neurodevelopmental Disorders A05 299.00 Autism The three…
The term mental health is commonly used in reference to mental illness. However, knowledge in the field has progressed to a level that appropriately differentiates the two. Although mental health and mental illness are related, they represent different psychological states. Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own…
If you have ever felt alone in your struggle for psychological stability, rest assured that many people feel this way. Psychological treatment centers, including rehab and recovery centers for co-occurring illnesses, treat millions of people every year. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 26 percent of all Americans suffer from at least…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the state of Texas has been using an unconstitutional and obsolete medical standard for determining whether those convicted of murder are exempt from the death penalty because of mental deficiency. The 5-to-3 decision came in the case of Bobby James Moore, who killed a store clerk in Houston in 1980 during a botched…
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure in which a brief application of electric stimulus is used to produce a generalized seizure. It is not known how or why ECT works or what the electrically stimulated seizure does to the brain. In the U.S. during the 1940’s and 50’s, the treatment was administered mostly to people with severe mental illnesses. During…
