Montreal, Canada – Bell announced on August 21 it will be presenting the largest-ever fundraising event for mental health in Québec. Bal des Lumières, to be held March 20, 2013, at the Bell Centre in Montréal will raise funds for the Fondation de l’Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, the Mental Illness Foundation, and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Foundation.

“Bal des Lumières will set a new standard for mental health fundraising in Montréal and Québec,” said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and Bell, and Chair of the event. “I’m very pleased to be joined by some of Québec’s most distinguished business leaders in building on the progress of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative and the fight against the stigma of mental illness.”

Joining Mr. Cope as co-chairs of Bal des Lumières are Serge Godin, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, CGI; Geoff Molson, Owner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Club de hockey Canadien, Bell Centre & evenko; and Louis Vachon, President and CEO, National Bank. These leaders of Québec industry and culture have joined to shine a spotlight on mental health and raise funds for three of Montréal’s most important mental health organizations.

“The last two years have seen major progress in highlighting mental health while breaking the stigma of mental illness,” said Mr. Godin. “Collectively we are committing to making the next leap in converting awareness of mental illness – which after all affects 1 in 5 of us – into much needed funding for these three leading organizations in Québec mental health.”

Bal des Lumières is the first external charitable gala to be held at the Bell Centre in over five years. Some 700 guests will enjoy an evening of exquisite dining and inspiring entertainment in this unique venue.

“We are very happy to make the Bell Centre available for Bal des Lumières, working together as a team to inspire hope and support the incredible work of Louis-H. Lafontaine, the Douglas and the Mental Illness Foundation,” said Mr. Molson. “This issue touches us all and there can be no better expression of the commitment of our four companies to dedication and commitment of those on the front lines of mental health care here in Québec.”

“National Bank is proud to join with Bell, CGI and the Canadiens to not only raise awareness of mental health but raise funds for those at the forefront of research and care in Québec,” said Mr. Vachon. “With mental health issues the leading cause of workplace disability, costing our economy $51 billion every year, I look forward to seeing every business leader in Québec on March 20.”

The Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative is a $50-million charitable program based on 4 action pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. To learn more about Bell Let’s Talk, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Bell is honoured to be named the recipient of the 2012 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation for the Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative. The prestigious international award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) was presented to Bell in March in Vancouver.

The article Largest-ever Fundraiser for Mental Health to Be Held in Canada appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

New York, U.S.A. – A recent clinical trial conducted by The Institute for Music and Brain Science at Harvard University on the positive effects of music on Parkinson’s disease has received substantial support from science activist, Jeffrey Epstein and his foundation, The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation. The study was conducted with the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The trial evaluated the effects of ambient music on a group of Parkinson’s patients with severe to mild symptoms. Specifically, the study looked at visuomotor integration, rapid alternating movements (RAM’s) and gait. Twenty trials per category were conducted and measured in milliseconds. The music had a strong metrical rhythm and medium tempos confined to a range of 128 to 192 beats per minute.

Control test conditions of patients were either silence or asymmetrical instrumental music. The results were encouraging: in the visuomotor tests, 40% of those with mild Parkinson’s were significantly faster with ambient music. In the RAM tests, 83% of those with moderate Parkinson’s showed faster results. In the gait tests, 25% of those with moderate Parkinson’s showed faster and larger strides.

“The results are remarkable,” Jeffrey Epstein asserted. “More studies need to be done to show that music improves motor coordination. However, these studies highlight how areas in the auditory cortex are affected, providing a road map for how to duplicate the stimulus and enhance it.”

The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation is a long-standing supporter of science research at Harvard University. In 2003, it gave a $30 million grant to Harvard to establish the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, which studies evolutionary biology from a mathematical point of view.

Founded by Dr. Mark Tramo, the Institute for Music and Brain Science seeks to advance knowledge about the neurological impact of music and to combat neurological and other diseases using music as a lens into the brain and as a rehabilitator.

Dr. Tramo is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Attending Neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the recipient of numerous awards for original research on the effects of music on the brain.

The article Music Could Be a Cure for Parkinson appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Toronto, Canada – Researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) led a study discovering a gene for a new form of intellectual disability, as well as how it likely affects cognitive development by disrupting neuron functioning.

CAMH Senior Scientist Dr. John Vincent and his team found a mutation in the gene NSUN2 among three sisters with intellectual disability, a finding to be published in the May issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

The discovery was made after mapping genes in a Pakistani family, in which three of seven siblings had intellectual disability as well as muscle weakness and walking difficulties, says Dr. Vincent, who heads the Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development Laboratory in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH.

Intellectual disability is a condition in which individuals have limitations in their mental abilities and in functioning in daily life. It affects one to three per cent of the population, and is often caused by genetic mutations.

Another study in the same journal, submitted together with the CAMH-led research, also identified NSUN2 gene mutations in Iranian and Kurdish families with intellectual disability. As with the Pakistani family, first cousin marriages in these families carrying the mutations increased the likelihood of intellectual disability among their children, and enabled researchers to focus on areas to map genes.

“The combined results from these two studies mean that NSUN2 is among the most common causes of intellectual disability resulting from recessive genes,” says Dr. Vincent.

As a recessive disorder, a child must inherit one defective NSUN2 gene from each parent to develop intellectual disability. This gene, located on chromosome 5p, encodes a type of protein called an RNA methyltransferase.

At the cellular level, the researchers found that the mutated protein was prevented from reaching its target area within the nucleus of a cell. As a result, it was unable to perform its normal role in cell division and/or RNA methylation.

Collaborators from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research in Cambridge, U.K., showed which type of brain cells were likely to be most affected by this mutation. They are called Purkinje cells, a type of neuron that responds to the neurotransmitter GABA. Purkinje cells also control motor coordination, which were affected in the Pakistani family.

“We speculate that the muscle effects may result from the accumulation of the NSUN2 protein outside its target area in the nucleus,” says Dr. Vincent.

To date, Dr. Vincent’s lab has identified five genes causing different forms of recessive intellectual disability.

This research was supported by grants from Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world’s leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

The article Researchers Discover New Form of Intellectual Disability appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

A recent study run by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada has confirmed a link between consumption of sugary foods (doughnuts, cakes, etc.) and fast food (French fries, hamburgers, pizza, etc.) and depression.

Published in the Public Health Nutrition journal, the study concludes that consumers who eat fast food and sugary foods, compared to those who eat little to none, are 51 percent more likely to develop depression.  In addition, the results have shown that “the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression,” according to Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, lead author of the study.

Participants in the study who ate great amounts of fast food and commercially baked goods were also revealed to have a greater chance of being single, less active, and have comparatively worse dietary habits, such as eating less nutritious foods like fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables, and olive oil.  Other unhealthy characteristics of this group included smoking and working over 45 hours each week.

Those who do not consume commercially baked goods and fast food in large quantities are still at risk for developing mental illness.  “Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression,” the university researcher from the Canary Islands noted.

The study sample consisted of some 8,964 participants that had no past history with either depression or mental illness and were members of the SUN Project (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program). They were studied for an average of 6 months, and 493 of them were diagnosed with depression or began to use antidepressants.

These new conclusions support the results of a previous SUN project from 2011, published in the PLoS One journal.  The project recorded 657 new cases of depression out of the 12,059 people taking part in the study over the course of a little more than six months.  A 42 percent increase in risks associated with fast food was noted, a finding lower than that found in the current study.

Sánchez-Villegas says, “Although more studies are necessary, the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being.”

Over 120 million people suffer from depression worldwide, meaning it is one of the leading causes of disability across the globe. Furthermore, in countries with low and medium incomes, it is the most common cause.  There is little information, however, about what role diet plays in developing different forms of depression.

Studies from the past have suggested that certain nutrients have a preventative role, such as B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and olive oil. Healthy diets, such as those common in the Mediterranean, have been linked to lower risks in developing depression.

While the exact link between fast food and sugary foods and depression is not yet known, the study will hopefully pave the way for other experiments revealing the exact causes that link bad diets and depression.

The article Link Between Fatty Foods and Depression Discovered appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Of all the families who seek temporary shelter in New York City, 40 percent have had at least one prior shelter stay. To reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for homeless parents and children in New York City and throughout the country, the independent nonprofit research organization Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness released a draft of ‘A New Path: An Immediate Plan to Reduce Family Homelessness’ during ICPH’s conference Beyond Housing: A National Conversation on Child Poverty and Homelessness.

Read the draft report here.

The plan proposes using the family shelter as a tool for parents with limited education and work experience, as well as for victims of domestic violence, those with mental health and substance abuse issues, and a history in the child welfare system.

While many families are forced to go to shelters because of the lack of affordable housing in the United States, ‘A New Path’ argues that approximately 15 percent of families living in shelters are further held back by lack of education, work experience, and family support.

For this subpopulation, ‘A New Path’ argues that shelter stays should be extended to 12-18 months and used as an opportunity for parents to immerse themselves in an on-site learning, career-building, and healthy environment. Although some residents will have a longer initial shelter stay, this will lead to less recidivism.

“New York City has long led the way in confronting the challenge of homeless families and should serve as a model for reducing recidivism,” said ICPH President and CEO Ralph da Costa Nunez. “This is not a 10-year plan, but an immediate action that can serve as a guide to cities, suburbs, and rural communities throughout the country.”

These shelters—designated in the plan as ‘Tier III’— should offer on-site employment opportunities for shelter residents starting at minimum wage; job search, readiness, and retention training; and GED classes.

Other advancements ‘A New Path’ recommends:

• Some ‘Tier III’ shelters should be designated ‘Safety First’ residences and serve domestic violence victims. In 2010, there was only bed space for 70 percent of families deemed eligible for DV Shelters. These shelters would offer the same safety and support as those at DV shelters.
• ‘Child Wellness Residences’ would provide on-site assistance to families with active child welfare cases and those receiving voluntary preventive services. On average, 670 active child welfare cases and 1,300 closed cases were identified each month among homeless families in New York City in 2010.
• ‘Health and Recovery Residences’ would provide targeted services to those with mental health and substance abuse concerns.

The article New Plan to Reduce Number of Homeless Families appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

After a two-day meeting of government leaders and private sector experts that focused on the proposed framework of an historic national plan to defeat Alzheimer’s disease, Eric J. Hall, founding president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and a member of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care and Services established by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA),on January 19 released this statement:

“Our nation is placing an intense and unprecedented focus on Alzheimer’s disease right now, giving hope to Americans that the bold recommendations and thoughtful discussion that emerged during his meeting of the Advisory Council and ongoing will result in a powerful plan that turns the tide of the disease.

“In the year since NAPA was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has consistently sought input from family caregivers, clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and the general public about their personal and professional experiences with Alzheimer’s disease, their recommendations for change and their hopes that the NAPA process goes beyond a ‘check the box exercise.’

Their voices formed the basis of AFA’s report ‘No Time to Waste,’ which provides hard-hitting recommendations that align with the draft plan being discussed by the Advisory Council. “Never before has our nation been poised like this to pursue and achieve what Americans facing this devastating brain disorder demand and deserve.

We are at a pivotal juncture to alter the current course of Alzheimer’s disease, and we must act aggressively yet realistically in order to carry the momentum forward.

“Since fiscal concerns and the growth of the Alzheimer’s population cannot go unnoticed, it is critical that we design this plan with incremental, fundable and attainable goals, which include substantially increasing our scientific knowledge surrounding the disease; preventing, delaying and slowing progression of symptoms; researching and implementing best practices of care; providing much-needed support services for families; and ultimately obtaining the cure we are all waiting for.

“There’s no doubt that we have no time to waste, but it will be vital to engage Congress and sustain their commitment in order to achieve a national plan to defeat Alzheimer’s disease and help countless families now and in the future. Much work lies ahead, but I am confident that we are on the right path toward the resolution of this crisis.”

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) released its “No Time to Waste” report in October 2011 in response to the mandate by NAPA for federal officials to develop an integrated national plan to defeat Alzheimer’s disease.  AFA’s report urges wide-scale public awareness campaigns, including messaging to drive earlier detection and to “shift the focus from fear to acceptance of the disease.”

Other calls for action include: a substantial investment in research toward the prevention, treatment, care and cure of Alzheimer’s disease; additional dementia training and reimbursement for primary care clinicians; and greater training and support for family caregivers of all demographics, including teenagers and ethnic populations, across the continuum of care.

At the Advisory Council meeting this week, Hall further recommended family-friendly workplace policies; tax breaks for expenses related to care giving of loved ones with Alzheimer’ disease; and Medicare-provided support services, such as respite care, that can greatly benefit both individuals with the disease and the health and well-being of family caregivers.   Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/AlzheimersFoundationofAmerica

The article Forward Movement for National Alzheimer’s Plan appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Netsmart, the leading provider of clinical solutions for health and human services organizations nationwide, has announced the launch of www.EveryDayMatters.com, an interactive, informational website designed to highlight the positive clinical and financial impacts provided by the behavioral health community.

In an era of huge budget deficits, improvement of health and healthcare cost containment cannot be achieved without the coordination of behavioral and physical health. It is with this thought in mind that www.EveryDayMatters.com was developed to highlight the enormous contribution made by behavioral health providers to the nation’s health.

Content on the website includes videos, blogs, news feeds, social media links and an interactive message board. Behavioral health organizations, clinicians, practitioners, consumers and industry vendors are encouraged to visit the site and share stories that celebrate successes and debunk myths and stigma about mental health issues.

The site allows visitors to be aware, inspired and enlightened by each other’s stories, ask questions, share opinions, eliminate barriers and celebrate successes. Current topics and news articles will also be shared for education and discussion.

“The care provided by those who work in behavioral health changes lives. You cannot treat just the mind or just the body; you must coordinate care to treat the whole person,” said Mike Valentine, CEO, Netsmart. “As healthcare in the U.S. evolves to address the health of populations, we want to ensure that the millions that suffer from some type of mental illness are not left behind.

For them – and the people that serve them – every day matters. For us, that starts with www.EveryDayMatters.com. It’s a venue where those in the community can share success stories, tell their personal stories and learn more about behavioral health.

“We also believe that technology can play a big role in advancing care in behavioral health,” said Valentine. “The primary care world spent the last 10 years integrating evidence-based medicine into their electronic health record systems. Our goal is to do it for behavioral health in half that time.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four adults, or approximately 57.7 million Americans, experience a mental health disorder in a given year. The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental disorders.

By 2020, major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children. As a leader in the industry, Netsmart is committed to transforming the way care is delivered. Part of that transformation includes new innovations that lead to improved care and outcomes.

“EveryDayMatters.com is where we can share, learn from each other, educate, and start conversations across our industry,” said Dr. Steve Ronik, CEO of Henderson Behavioral Health, the oldest and largest community-based, not-for-profit behavioral health system in South Florida. “Anything we can do to hear directly from those who have insights into mental health issues and increase awareness will only serve to benefit us all as we look at services, treatments and results.”

“Our goal is that the site becomes a trusted resource for insight, education, innovation, advocacy and awareness about mental health issues,” said Valentine. “While Netsmart is proud to sponsor this site, it is not a Netsmart site. The site is an open, public forum for all to use.”

The article EveryDayMatters.com to Raise Awareness on Behavioral Health appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

A plane search of Mount Rainier National Park for a suspect in the murder of a park ranger, sighted what is thought to be the suspect’s body lying face-down in the snow on Monday, according to authorities. It could be hours before they reach the body, and though it is yet to be identified, it is believed to be that of Benjamin Barnes, a 24-year-old Iraq War veteran.

“Obviously the strong probability is that it is” the gunman, Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman, stated. After a shooting at a New Year’s house party that wounded four people, Barnes is thought to have fled to the park to hide. He is suspected by the authorities to have shot and killed Margaret Anderson later on Sunday. Police began a manhunt for the veteran and cleared out all of the park’s visitors. They believed Barnes had survivalist and weapons training.

Barnes had had trouble adjusting to regular life after he got home from the war and was suspected of suffering from suicidal tendencies and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Court documents show that his daughter’s mother had sought a temporary restraining order against him during a custody battle because she believed he was suffering from PTSD after he was sent to Iraq for a year in 2007. She said that he text messaged her, claiming that he wanted to die, that he was easily angered and depressed, and that he had an arsenal of weapons in his home. The mother said she was afraid for their child.

Police showed undated photos of Barnes posing with two big weapons. A guardian ad litem, in November 2011, made a recommendation of classes for communication and parenting and said Barnes should have supervised visits with his daughter twice a week. A mental health evaluation was also mandated.

On New Year’s in a house located close to Seattle, gunfire erupted during an argument at a party of which Barnes was in attendance, according to Sgt. Cindi West, the spokeswoman for King County Sheriff. Two other people, who had fled the shooting, were found and West said that authorities attempted to locate Barnes, asking his family to try to get him to turn himself in and “tell his side of the story”.

A ranger started following him after he flew through a checkpoint on Sunday morning, while Anderson, mother of two and married to another park ranger, blocked the street to potentially force Benjamin Barnes to pull over. Instead, the driver fired a gun and shot Anderson before she was able to get out of her vehicle, spokesperson Troyer said. Park Superintendent, Randy King, stated, “It’s just a huge tragedy – for the family, the park, and the park service.”

The shooting has renewed debate over loaded firearms and whether they should be allowed into Mount Rainier or not. Bill Wade of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees has stated in several news reports that Congress needs to reconsider the 2010 law that makes state laws responsible for gun regulation in national parks.

The article Body of Rainier Gunman Benjamin Barnes May Have Been Found appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

While music is both soothing and entertaining, several studies have also shown that music therapy can help people who have illnesses, learning disabilities or emotional problems.

Music therapy is a technique that uses music to improve a person’s mental as well as their social function. There are four ways of using this technique: listening to music, dancing, singing or making musical improvisation using all types of instruments. The therapy has been found very useful for helping people who have a wide array of health problems.

Music for the elderly

One of the most important areas where this therapy is getting great results is with the elderly. In the 50+ age groups, people can withdraw themselves from an active life and lose interest in what surrounds them, which can decrease their self-esteem. Music can help these individuals feel better and to diminish negative feelings.

In some nursing homes, staff organize music therapy group sessions with the goal of making communication easier. They use the music as a stimulant. Depending on the objectives they want to achieve, the staff will use different types of songs. If they want to arouse emotions they will use songs that remind patients of moments from their past. These kind of songs favor the memory.

Other times they use melodic songs to stimulate physical activity. With all these techniques, the goal is to overcome physical problems derived from boredom, fear of death, personal stagnation or loneliness.

Music to fight off diseases

Music has been shown to diminish pain and reduce anxiety and stress. Some researchers have demonstrated that people who have practiced this therapy before surgery have suffered less pain than the ones who didn’t. This therapy has also had positive results with people who suffer Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.

Other ways music can help 

Music therapy is also used on pregnant women for their labor preparation because this is an important relaxation factor. You can also obtain benefits through singing practice. In some music therapy sessions they encourage people to sing to show their personality and to improve their diction, their attention and memory.

Types of music 

The type of music you use will depend on the person and his or her personal situation. Melodies should go against the patients state of mind. Paradoxically, when feeling depressed, the patient shouldn’t listen to any upbeat, rhythm song because in that case that song won’t have the same effect or meaning.

Similar to the treatment of the elderly, songs shouldn’t be completely unfamiliar, otherwise they won’t pay attention to them. However songs shouldn’t be very popular either because it will have a negative effect as well. It is very important to be treated by a credible therapist. He or she will be the one that will know which is the perfect song for each patient.

The article Music Therapy: How Can it Help You? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The sexting phenomena increases as the days go by. According to a recent survey done by the University of Rhode Island faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 56 percent of 204 college students have received sexually suggestive images by text messaging; nearly 80 percent have received suggestive messages.

The survey investigates the impact of technology use on physical and mental health, as well as interpersonal relationships in college students. It has revealed that while most of the messages (73 percent) were sent to a relationship partner, 10 percent were sent without the permission of the person who originally sent the message.

Nowadays for most of the students, texting is a primary communication tool used both for maintaining existing friendships and establishing new ones. However, using it in a bad way can lead to some negative effects.

As Tiffany S. Kisler, one of the professors who led the study, pointed out, “the danger for many students is that they don’t realize the lack of control they have over who is seeing their messages.”

Kisler thinks that it is vital to help students, understand the importance of using technology in moderation.

The issue of younger people sending explicit suggestive images and messages via cell-phone is getting worse every day.  In March, the New York Times about covered the story of a student named Margarite, who sent a message to her boyfriend with a picture of her naked. In in less than 24 hours, the picture spread through the rest of her colleagues and unknown people.

Everyday, hundreds of thousands of kids unconsciously open themselves up to not only ridicule, but also the threat of being labeled a sex offender.

On the other hand, the research has found that texting and cell phone usage is affecting important aspects of students’ physical health.

Out of the 236 colleges junior and seniors sample, 47 percent always answered the text messages even when they receive them while they were sleeping. In addition a 40 percent of students answered phone calls while sleeping.

The research stands out because all students who use their phone during the night lost around 44 minutes of sleep per week. These night interruptions can affect the sleep quality and also cause some serious issues such as depression and anxiety.

As a consequence, Sue K. Adams, another professor that participated in this survey, said “more often than not, the interruptions caused by texting come with the first few hours of sleep, which is the most important time for restorative sleep. If students are constantly interrupting their sleep cycle, they place themselves at risk for sleep debt, which can impact multiple areas of their life, including academic performance.”

Texting while driving

Text messaging while driving is banned throughout 34 states in U.S. However, many students have passed their own distracted driving bans. According to this survey more than 93 percent of students surveyed reported texting while driving, and more than 82 percent reported they had sent messages while at the wheel since the state law banning texting and driving was passed. In addition, as Adam stated “it is possible that students do not believe that they will get caught, or that the penalty is minimal enough to risk texting while driving. Many students are also confused about the definition of the law. They are unclear if it includes sending or reading a text while driving or stopped.”

In today´s society texting has converted in a fundamental tool to communicate with each other not only among young people but also among adults. Accordin to the online media outlet AARP plenty of older adults also send spicy messages on their cell phones, but it´s usually a private matter.

Transmission of sexually explicit images of individuals under age 18 is also a serious legal issue that may subject those who are guilty to child pornography charges. Regarding this aspect Kisler pointed out the importance of setting boundaries around technology, both in terms of what people share and how often they are sharing it.

The article Four Out of Five College Kids Practice “Sexting” appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Life is not always easy and most people go through difficulties at least once in their lifetime. However, some people eventually realize as the years pass, that things happens for a reason. Distance, time and reflection are some of the factors that play an important  part of coming to terms with events of the past. Have you ever experienced a difficult break-up? Lost someone you thought would be a part of your life forever? After episodes like this, it is natural for a person to feel immediately scorn and resentful but what they will realize in time is that those experiences often bring along positive side-effects. Perhaps you met a better person afterwards? Perhaps because of the situation you moved to another place and found your dream job? There is no predictable pattern of ‘fate’ but we know that many people have won after losing.

According to the Spanish psychologist Begoña Odriozola, the following advice can help you overcome the problem and move on:

1. You have to learn from your mistakes and find the positive sides afterwards.
2. You have to learn how to distinguish between the events that depend on you and the ones that you are unable to control. Your focus needs to be on the situations you can change.
3. You will benefit from a positive attitude and the belief that things will get better with time.
4. Do not become seized by frustration.
5. Set goals and figure out what you need to do to achieve them.
6. By feeding your confidence, you provide yourself with the strength to carry on despite the problems you may have to overcome. We have to believe that everything has a purpose.
7. Believe in yourself. We all have the solution inside of us; you have to know yourself enough to figure out how.
8. You have to realize that the difficulties you overcome shows how strong and brave you can be. The experience will also prepare you for similar obstacles in the future. You have to constantly learn from your battles.
9. You cannot expect that your life will always happen the way you want it to. Expecting this will only lead to frustration.
10. You have to look for the beauty in the most complicated situations.
11. You should always enjoy the triumphant feeling that follows when you have successfully solved or overcome a problem.
12. You must always ask yourself – what did I learn from that situation? What did this problem mean to me? And then move on.

The article Positive Living, A Guide appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Even when something goes horribly wrong, as it did that September day in Tucson, the mental health budget of states are the first to be slashed.  The mentally ill usually do not have large lobbying groups or funds to help direct the voting in Washington.  The mentally ill are not known to be a voting bloc that lawmakers have to fear, such as senior citizens.  The severely mentally ill are usually relying on state and federal funding to survive because their mental illness disabled them to the point of not being able to work.

According to a study from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors’ Research Institute, states have cut $2.1 billion from their mental health budgets over the last three fiscal years.  And they are likely not done.  More spending cuts are expected in the coming weeks as states finalize their 2012 spending plans.  Another study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness finds that between fiscal years 2009 and 2011, 16 states and the District of Columbia cut their mental health budgets by more than 10 percent.

The reality is even worse than those numbers.  Up to now, federal stimulus money has helped soften the blow by sending in $103 billion to states through Medicaid since early 2009.  The money has helped to keep state-run health insurance program surviving for the past two years, but the money will end this summer.  Meanwhile, because of the economic crisis, the need for mental health services continues to grow.  With more and more unemployed and uninsured, more people are in line for public services—including mental health services.  “The safety net,” says Marylou Sudders, former Massachusetts commissioner for mental health, “is shredded.”

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada.  Nearly 6 percent of the U.S. population has a serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.  People with severe mental illnesses are more likely to have low incomes because their education was interrupted by the disease, says Elaine Alfano, deputy policy director for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, D.C. It is difficult for people with severe mental illness to get a job, but add the historic unemployment rates and employers are not going to hire someone with a mental illness.  Their unexplained behaviors can alienate friends and family. Their conditions can be expensive to treat, which puts a hefty burden on the government if they qualify for public support.

According to the state directors’ survey, in fiscal 2010 and 2011, roughly half the states reported reducing the number of hospital beds in state run psychiatric hospitals. They’ve limited the amount of money they pass on to out-patient providers and cut staff everywhere. A third of states say they’ve had to reduce the number of people their programs serve.  The numbers become even more distressing when you look at them state by state.

Mental illness has traditionally been unfunded.  Many of the psychiatric hospitals have closed, but money has not been redirected to community mental health centers in order to provide outpatient care.  We closed the hospitals and then closed our eyes and just pretended the mentally ill did not exist.  Community programs have done the best with what they have.  But, in the end, there is not enough staff to handle the outpatient demands.  This just leads to more hospitalizations, which is expensive.  If we put the money into funding mental illness in the first place, we would save money in the long run.  I know… a novel idea in Washington.  Sometimes you have to spend money to save in the long run.

The article Mental Health Spending is Slashed appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

In the March edition of Archives of General Psychiatry, results from the first comprehensive global study on bipolar disorder, a serious psychiatric illness were published.  The United States ranked the highest in overall lifetime rates of bipolar disorder.

In the past, bipolar disorder was referred to as manic depression and many people still know it by that name.  Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by cycles of depression and mania.  Manic periods are different for everyone but are often marked by feelings of euphoria, irritability, grandiose thinking, impulsive and risk taking behavior, and a decreased need for sleep.  People with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk for suicide and substance abuse.  They are also likely to be more creative and highly intelligent.  Many artists, comedians, and actors have admitted that they suffer from the disease.

The study, which looked at eleven nations, found that approximately 2.4 percent of people around the world have had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at some point in their lifetime.  The United States ranked the highest with a lifetime prevalence rate of 4.4 percent.  The country with the lowest rate of bipolar was India with 0.1 percent.

Fewer than half of people with the disorder were treated by a mental health professional, according to the study,and only a quarter of those in lower-income countries sought treatment.  “It’s very important that we understand the scope and magnitude of this disorder so that we can plan appropriate treatments, facilitate recognition of diseases, and identify people at risk so we can bring them into treatment,” says the study’s lead author, Kathleen Merikangas, Ph.D., chief of the genetic epidemiology research branch at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Experts believe there could be several possible explanations for why the U.S. had such high rates of the disease. “It could be genetics; it could be environment. It also could be the way individuals in different cultures are willing to respond to this kind of an inquiry,” says Sara Bodner, M.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “Cultural awareness plays a very big role in psychiatry. Some cultures have a huge reluctance to speak about psychiatric things.”

With awareness, more people are diagnosed and there is less of a stigma to the disease.  “We’re pretty aware of [bipolar disorder],” Merikangas says.  Lower awareness in lower-income nations leads to higher levels of stigma. That means fewer people may be willing to talk about or get treatment for symptoms, which can lead to lower perceived rates of bipolar disorder.  “Rates of bipolar disorder were lower in countries with more stigma,” Merikangas says.

The article U.S. has Highest Bipolar Rate According to New Study appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Amid two wars, the United States’ military is having a difficult time with mental illness.  Extended terms and repeated deployments contribute to the rising mental illness and suicide rates in the military.  One such example can be seen with Pfc. David Lawrence, 20.  Lawrence allegedly shot and killed a captured Taliban member on last October.  The prisoner was sleeping in his cell when he was killed.  Lawrence faces premeditated murder charges and, if convicted, could face life in jail or execution.  What does the military need to do differently?

For starters, it needs to take mental illness far more seriously.  Should a person with a serious mental illness be in charge of prisoners or be given a gun?  Lawrence was on a prescribed anti-depressant at the time of the shooting.  In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Lawrence had revealed to family members that he was hearing voices.   During a military court hearing held in December, testimony revealed that Lawrence had asked for and received help from mental health providers in Afghanistan.  However, when he returned to his unit, he was not given any additional supervision.  Instead, according to Lawrence’s civilian attorney James Culp, he received longer-than-normal shifts on guard duty.

Despite the evidence to the contrary, prosecutors suggested he was faking mental illness in hopes of getting a lighter sentence.   They said Lawrence didn’t tell Army officials until after the shooting that he was hearing voices, and that after his arrest he spoke of “playing the crazy card.”   At the hearing, prosecutors also described Lawrence as a zealot bent on killing the enemy. They said his words and actions indicated he deliberately arranged to be the only guard on duty at the prisoner’s cell.

This case is a representation of the problems with mental health in the military.  “I think what this case shows is there’s these complex, contradictory needs in the military,” said Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical psychologist and founder of Give An Hour, a nonprofit that provides free mental health services to returning troops and their families.  “On the one hand … we have to look out for these folks,” she said. “On the other hand, we have to keep control of our forces.”

Lawrence’s father and attorney describe David as a young man with a family history of schizophrenia.  Schizophrenia is often triggered by a stressful event.  Lawrence was badly shaken by the death of two friends in Afghanistan.  Van Dahlen said a trained mental health provider will be able to determine whether David Lawrence has schizophrenia.  “You can’t really fake being schizophrenic … not when an evaluator is looking at this,” she said.

Last month, Army psychiatrists certified Lawrence as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.  Even so, the US Army has notified the Lawrence family they are proceeding with the court martial. If convicted, David Lawrence faces at the least life in prison up to the death penalty.

The article U.S. Military and Mental Illness: Case of David Lawrence appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Medical Journal of Australia has published an article revealing anxiety and depressive disorders are the leading cause of disability in young Australians.

The researchers analysed data from 170 different diseases and injuries for the article.

Anxiety and depression was found to be the highest cause of disability, with 17 percent among 20-24 year old males and 27 percent in 20-24 year old females.

“Our study, using one of the largest most comprehensive data sets available on the health of Australians, provides compelling evidence of the scale of disability caused by mental disorders in young people,” said Ms Rebecca Mathews, lead research and senior research assistant with the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research.

“ADHD and Autism together cause as much disability as anxiety and depression in young men, but are less common in young women who are more affected by eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.”

Professor Louisa Degenhardt said the study’s findings confirmed that the change into puberty can often be difficult for young people.

“We know the major contributors to disability in young Australians are a mixture of mental disorders and some particular physical disorders such as asthma and migraine,” said Ms Degenhardt.

The government has launched a new line of inquiry into mental barriers to employment, which covers a variety of mental health issues.

The move has been widely supported by charitable organisations that work with people suffering from mental illnesses.

Professor Degenhardt said that this report looking at young people in particular should help focus the attention towards helping cover the transition from using child health care services to adult health care services.

The article Mental Illness in Young Australians appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.