Gloria Duffy: Giving Asylum to the Chronically Mentally Ill?

The illogical expectation that the chronically mentally ill will take care of themselves creates much more cost for our public safety, law enforcement, the medical system, the environment where homeless encampments take over parks and streamsheds and for other social services than it would cost to provide them with appropriate institutional care. Read more: Commonwealth Club, Mental Illness, Mental Health, Deinstitutionalization, Health Care, Politics News

Support for Colleges to Assess and Enhance Mental Health Programming

By: John MacPhee, Executive Director and CEO, The Jed FoundationThe Jed and Clinton Foundation Health Matters Campus Program (The Campus Program) is designed to help colleges and universities promote emotional well-being and improve mental health programming, reduce substance abuse, and prevent suicide.Tagged: Suicide Prevention | Schools | Youth | Depression | National conversation on mental health initiative | Anxiety Disorders

Why You Should Care About Mental Health

By: RADM Boris D. Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H., Acting U.S. Surgeon GeneralMost people don’t realize how common mental health and substance abuse problems are in the United States. Just as there are many types of physical illness, mental illness is varied and can affect people at all stages of life. In fact, at some time in their lives, nearly all Americans will be affected by a mental health or substance use disorder in themselves or their families.Tagged: Suicide Prevention | Youth | Depression | Observances

Jessica Young: Why Is It So Hard to Forgive Yourself?

It won’t be easy, and it will take time (maybe years or decades) but I have identified that obnoxious roommate and now it’s time to show her the door. Read more: Thrive Ocourse, Health, Arianna Huffington, Emotional Wellness, Mental Health, Third Metric, Healthy Living News

Adolescents Play a Key Role in Their Own ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment

By: Susanna Visser, Dr.P.H, M.S., Acting Associate Director of Science, Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Jackie Oberst, Ph.D., Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications, NIMH; Ruth Perou, Ph.D, Program Performance and Evaluation Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Mark Wolraich, M.D., University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterParents, adolescents, and healthcare providers need to know about the best practices for ADHD diagnosis and treatment among adolescents. It is especially important that adolescents play an active role in the process to diagnose and treat their ADHD. This way, adolescents are empowered to take care of their own wellbeing and can control their ADHD treatment in

Kristen Lee Costa: 4 Traps to Avoid When You’re Filled With Anxiety

Most of us who have faced anxiety know that we should have come out with it sooner, and that doing so brings about great relief. Letting it fester and go untended is a surefire way to add fuel to the fire. Read more: Anxiety, Stress, Worry, Mental Health, Emotional Intelligence, Wellness, Health, Psychology, Managing Emotions, Healthy Living News

Ravi Parikh: When Paternalism Doesn’t Work for Patients

Paula detested the sitter. And, by extension, she detested the medical team that ordered the sitter. “It’s like you guys don’t trust me to take care of myself!” she exclaimed, tears running down her face. The fact was, we didn’t. Read more: Medicine, Patient Care, Doctor Patient Communication, Patient Centered Care, Paternalism, Residency, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Health, Health Care, Healthy Living News

To All The Blog For Mental Health Warriors Out There

Due to my health, I will no longer be able to curate this site. If Blog For Mental Health has served its true purpose, you don’t need me here anymore anyway. The 2015 Blogroll is up-to-date as of this writing, and you can use the wonderful community of bloggers listed there to make connections, and […]

My experience: Growing up with Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder that affects both children and adults. It is believed that one in 150 children are affected and it is more common in girls that in boy. In this specially commissioned blog, Carl Sutton from iSpeak discusses growing up with this misunderstood disorder.

Let’s Talk About Bipolar Disorder

By: Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., FAAAP, Chief Medical Officer, and Paolo del Vecchio, M.S.W., Director, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationBipolar disorder, sometimes called “manic-depressive illness,” is a serious mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. In any given year, it impacts approximately 2.6 percent of the American public.Tagged: Depression | Basics | Bipolar | Mood Disorders