Following the reported suicide death of actor and comedian Robin Williams, the topics of depression, mental illness and the possible link between these issues and creativity were once again catapulted to the forefront of our cultural communication. The Web and social media sites were abuzz with speculation and opinions. While frank, honest discussion is always […]
Since the 1999 school shooting in Littleton, Colorado that left 15 Columbine High School students dead and 21 injured, there have been more than 20 mass school shootings across the United States.1 The most recent, in Florida at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, saw 17 killed and 14 wounded at the hands of a […]
In addition to President Obama’s win on election night there were some smaller but noteworthy victories in the field of mental health. One came after seasoned reporter Tom Brokaw used the term “schizophrenic” to refer to some American voting patterns that seemed to be all over the place. “I am amazed by the schizophrenia of […]
When it comes to healthcare, we often focus on physical ailments, but there are many psychological issues that affect millions in the US. These mental health concerns impact work and home life and cost our country billions of dollars. OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults each year […]
The Army’s suicide rate is at the highest level in history, with more American soldiers taking their own lives than being killed by the Taliban. The Pentagon reported in June that suicides among soldiers averaged one per day so far in 2012, surpassing the rate of combat fatalities. The Army lost 38 soldiers to suspected […]
It’s a disease like cancer or diabetes, but when someone is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is often shrouded in secrecy. The people carrying this burden have to worry not just about getting well, but also about the sort of reaction they will get if they disclose their condition. Will it hurt their careers? Relationships? […]
There were 61,561 infants born in 2010 with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). While those babies were no doubt seen as gifts to their parents who had struggled with infertility, a new study shows that fertility treatment is stressful – even for those who manage to conceive. The process is so stressful, in […]
We are just beginning to hear how President Obama’s Affordable Care Act will affect those with addiction issues and mental health needs, but groups like the Legal Action Center see it as largely positive for those in need of substance abuse treatment. The Legal Action Center is an advocacy group that provides legal assistance to […]
As we celebrated the Fourth of July, many of us gave thanks for the servicemen and women who have bravely fought for our freedom. Ironically, the fireworks we use to celebrate those sacrifices are something some vets try to avoid. The bright colors against the backdrop of the night sky never fail to draw “ooohs” […]
While each generation of recreational drug users feels they invented the behavior, the substances they’re ingesting are rarely new. In fact, the use of hallucinogens dates back at least 2,500 years. On islands in the Lesser Antilles, archaeologists have discovered ancient bowls used for huffing hallucinogens. Other cultures also have long histories of using mind-altering […]