Comments for Fighting for those with Mental Illness http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com The Blog of Mental Health America of Northeast Georgia Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:51:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on An Editorial Questioning the “Bipolar” Diagnosis by Mark Zamen http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/an-editorial-questioning-the-bipolar-diagnosis/#comment-340 Mark Zamen Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:51:24 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=557#comment-340 This is a very good post, and your assertions are correct. There are always those who will try to take advantage of any situation, who lie, who offer excuses for bad behavior, and who enjoy playing victim. However, we must not overlook the fact that there is much genuine mental/emotional illness throughout the population. We should not allow cynicism to prevent our recognition of this, or to withhold compassion and proper treatment from those who are truly in need. The repercussions of doing so can be seen within the pages of my recently released biographical novel, Broken Saint. It is based on my forty-year friendship with a bipolar man, and chronicles his internal and external struggles as he battles for stability and acceptance (of himself and by others). More information on the book is available at www.eloquentbooks.com/BrokenSaint.html. Mark Zamen, author This is a very good post, and your assertions are correct. There are always those who will try to take advantage of any situation, who lie, who offer excuses for bad behavior, and who enjoy playing victim. However, we must not overlook the fact that there is much genuine mental/emotional illness throughout the population. We should not allow cynicism to prevent our recognition of this, or to withhold compassion and proper treatment from those who are truly in need. The repercussions of doing so can be seen within the pages of my recently released biographical novel, Broken Saint. It is based on my forty-year friendship with a bipolar man, and chronicles his internal and external struggles as he battles for stability and acceptance (of himself and by others). More information on the book is available at http://www.eloquentbooks.com/BrokenSaint.html.

Mark Zamen, author

]]> Comment on An Editorial Questioning the “Bipolar” Diagnosis by munro ross http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/an-editorial-questioning-the-bipolar-diagnosis/#comment-339 munro ross Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:18:58 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=557#comment-339 so you're going to re-post this without any editorial comment? That makes it seem like you agree with the article, which is very hostile towards the concept of mental illness. Sure, people shouldn't use mental illness to avoid their responsibilities, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a valid reason. I'd like to hear your opinion on Mike Adam's piece. Living with and dealing with bipolar is a constant challenge: http://www.bipolartalk.org/the-truth-about-mania.html http://www.bipolartalk.org/dealing-with-bipolar-rage.html anyway thanks for highlighting the issue. so you’re going to re-post this without any editorial comment? That makes it seem like you agree with the article, which is very hostile towards the concept of mental illness. Sure, people shouldn’t use mental illness to avoid their responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a valid reason.
I’d like to hear your opinion on Mike Adam’s piece.
Living with and dealing with bipolar is a constant challenge:
http://www.bipolartalk.org/the-truth-about-mania.html
http://www.bipolartalk.org/dealing-with-bipolar-rage.html

anyway thanks for highlighting the issue.

]]> Comment on Kids Needing Mental Health Help Don’t Get It: Participation low, but demand high by ewhitlock http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/kids-needing-mental-health-help-dont-get-it-participation-low-but-demand-high/#comment-304 ewhitlock Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:13:53 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-304 This is fantastic news. I appreciate your sharing it, Ms. Whicker. This is fantastic news. I appreciate your sharing it, Ms. Whicker.

]]> Comment on Kids Needing Mental Health Help Don’t Get It: Participation low, but demand high by Rebecca Whicker http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/kids-needing-mental-health-help-dont-get-it-participation-low-but-demand-high/#comment-303 Rebecca Whicker Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:51:45 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-303 The Cobb County School District just received an unprecedented $8.5M grant to fund in-school and in-home mental health services for children in Northwest Cobb in Georgia. The project is called Success For All Students and is funded by the Safe Schools/Healthy Students program that was developed by a collaboration among the Departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services. 35 schools have opened their doors to therapists and other clinicians in a way that will undoubtedly create systemic change for the better. The Cobb County School District just received an unprecedented $8.5M grant to fund in-school and in-home mental health services for children in Northwest Cobb in Georgia. The project is called Success For All Students and is funded by the Safe Schools/Healthy Students program that was developed by a collaboration among the Departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services. 35 schools have opened their doors to therapists and other clinicians in a way that will undoubtedly create systemic change for the better.

]]> Comment on JOIN! by hymes http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/join-2/#comment-280 hymes Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:11:22 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=342#comment-280 Not in Georgia, but good luck and all my best wishes for your efforts. Not in Georgia, but good luck and all my best wishes for your efforts.

]]> Comment on Our Organization by amber http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/about/#comment-269 amber Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:51:03 +0000 #comment-269 Hello, My name is Amber and I have set out to raise awareness on the topic of mental illness. I have listed links to my website, blog and news article below. I am contacting you because I hope to present my exhibit /presentation to college students. My brother experienced his first psychotic break during his last semester at college. I hope to use my exhibit as an tool to educate students about mental illness and to reduce stigma. I have received countless testimonials (a few are on my website-see link below) from people who have seen the exhibit. You can see and hear the exhibit at the first link below. Be sure to also view my poster page. I think these are a wonderful way to engage students in a discussion about stigma. I am very passionate about raising awareness about mental illness. In the future, I plan to complete a thought provoking documentary about mental illness and stigma. I also would like to get involved with creating national campaigns for this cause and an anti-stigma, educational program for younger students. I am an creative/art director with an ad agency so I would like to put my skills to good use. I look forward to hearing from you soon! http://gaining-insight.com/ http://gaining-insight.blogspot.com/ http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=750776 Amber Christian Osterhout Hello,

My name is Amber and I have set out to raise awareness on the topic of mental illness. I have listed links to my website, blog and news article below. I am contacting you because I hope to present my exhibit /presentation to college students. My brother experienced his first psychotic break during his last semester at college. I hope to use my exhibit as an tool to educate students about mental illness and to reduce stigma.

I have received countless testimonials (a few are on my website-see link below) from people who have seen the exhibit. You can see and hear the exhibit at the first link below. Be sure to also view my poster page. I think these are a wonderful way to engage students in a discussion about stigma. I am very passionate about raising awareness about mental illness.

In the future, I plan to complete a thought provoking documentary about mental illness and stigma. I also would like to get involved with creating national campaigns for this cause and an anti-stigma, educational program for younger students. I am an creative/art director with an ad agency so I would like to put my skills to good use. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

http://gaining-insight.com/
http://gaining-insight.blogspot.com/
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=750776

Amber Christian Osterhout

]]> Comment on Living with Schizophrenia by ewhitlock http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/living-with-schizophrenia/#comment-111 ewhitlock Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:05:52 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=271#comment-111 I am happy to post comments that disagree with me. I am not an expert, but I can say that my own depression has been positively treated with medications. I can also say that mental illness is biological. Differences in diseased brains do show up in autopsies. I can appreciate reluctance to accept that. Medications should never be a first option. They likewise should never be excluded. I am happy to post comments that disagree with me. I am not an expert, but I can say that my own depression has been positively treated with medications. I can also say that mental illness is biological. Differences in diseased brains do show up in autopsies. I can appreciate reluctance to accept that. Medications should never be a first option. They likewise should never be excluded.

]]> Comment on Living with Schizophrenia by BeenThere http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/living-with-schizophrenia/#comment-110 BeenThere Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:22:18 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=271#comment-110 The "medication" creates more problems than it solves. A supposed "disease" whose "cause" is not known, with no biological or chemical basis or test for diagnosis, yet someone thinks it's good medicine to "treat" it with severe mind altering chemicals? Please. The “medication” creates more problems than it solves. A supposed “disease” whose “cause” is not known, with no biological or chemical basis or test for diagnosis, yet someone thinks it’s good medicine to “treat” it with severe mind altering chemicals? Please.

]]> Comment on The Public Health Approach to Preventing Suicide at Colleges & Universities in Georgia by Sarah Schwartz http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/the-public-health-approach-to-preventing-suicide-at-colleges-universities-in-georgia/#comment-108 Sarah Schwartz Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:31:28 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-108 Thanks for this information, Eddie. Although I had been planning to go to the conference, I couldn't make it due to other work obligations. I'm glad to get the information through your attendance! Sarah Thanks for this information, Eddie. Although I had been planning to go to the conference, I couldn’t make it due to other work obligations. I’m glad to get the information through your attendance!

Sarah

]]> Comment on Some Humor by Davis http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/some-humor/#comment-104 Davis Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:24:13 +0000 http://fightthestigma.wordpress.com/?p=279#comment-104 I DID see that one on the Onion, and lamented the drug couldn't be used on the cackling chipper person sitting behind me right now. I DID see that one on the Onion, and lamented the drug couldn’t be used on the cackling chipper person sitting behind me right now.

]]>