News & Updates

• BBC News: A new report predicts that "presenteeism" - where an individual is at work but not productive because of untreated depression - could cost the UK around £900m a year.
  
  
• Dr. Maria Feliz-Ortiz: Depressed people often drink to “self-medicate,” to relieve some of the sadness or emotional pain. But depression can be a consequence of drinking, too.
  
  
• NY Times: Op-Ed: Let's wait until we find the right medical treatment before we assume that depressed patients just don't want to get well.
  
  
• Depression survivor Delonte West returns to the Cavaliers for another awesome season of basketball.
  
  
• Dallas Morning News columnist Steve Blow has been honored by the Texas chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
  
  
• NARSAD awarded its annual prizes for outstanding research -- among the most coveted in psychiatry and neuroscience this week. Recipients include Mark S. George, M.D. of the Medical University of South Carolina, one of world's leading experts in the use of brain imaging and stimulation to understand depression and to devise new antidepressant treatments.

In Stressful Times, Take Good Care of Yourself

USA Today published a thoughtful op-ed by Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine. In "Don't Let the Economy Kill You," Siegel notes:

A survey by the American Psychological Association indicated that financial concerns "topped the list of stressors for at least 80% of those surveyed," according to last week's front-page story in [USA Today]. More than half reported the most common symptoms of stress being anger, fatigue and an inability to sleep. Close to half responded by overeating or eating poorly, a trend that will definitely lead to killer diseases that include heart attacks and strokes.

Later in the piece, he adds:

Though stress in society at large is impossible to measure, we're already seeing anecdotal evidence suggesting that angst is spreading. In New York, calls to the Hopeline network for people with depression or suicidal thoughts increased 75% in the 11 months ending in July. And according to UnitedHealth Group, the largest U.S. health insurer, hospital admissions for psychiatric services are up 10% this year over last year. Medical illness is sure to follow.

Now, more than ever, it's important to take care of one's health and watch for signs of depression among our friends and family members and co-workers. When signs of depression appear, it's critical to acknowledge them. The economic factors causing people to experience so much stress in their lives are real. Let's not ignore how they impact our health.

Depression Survivor: Archbishop Raymond Roussin of Vancouver, British Columbia

Archbishop Roussin's motto is "Steadfast in Faith." Yet, his battle with clinical depression deeply tried his faith.

In 2005, Archbishop Roussin took a leave of absence after being diagnosed with clinical depression. After admitting to people he was in distress, Roussin took about five months off to slow down and recuperate at a health and retreat center in New York.

In a 2006 interview with the Canadian Salt and Light Television network, he said that there were risks in going public.

“Bearing the title of archbishop, there are a lot of expectations placed on the title, on the person. This I knew, that by making it public, some people might be scandalized, and they probably were,” Archbishop Roussin said.

“My faith was deeply tried. Throughout this whole time I kept trying to pray. And by trying to pray, you are praying, but to me it was dark,” Archbishop Roussin said. “‘Where are you my God?’”

“There’s this popular notion that happiness is always proportional to closeness with God,” said “Catholic Focus” host and associate producer Kris Dmytrenko, who conducted the interview.

“So when a Christian admits depression, he worries others assume he isn’t praying regularly or he doesn’t appreciate his salvation,” Dmytrenko said. “Worse still, perhaps others will see his depression as evidence that religion is useless. If faithful, accomplished leaders like Archbishop Roussin didn’t confront these myths, they would continue unabated.”

The archbishop said that in the midst of his journey through depression he received countless letters of support.

“Christ says ‘it is when you are weak, I am strongest.’ And this is what has happened with all the letters I received,” he said.

Archbishop Roussin told reporter Douglas Todd that he is dedicated to combating the myth that people who are close to God don't experience depression. Depression, he says, is an illness that needs to be treated. To balance his mind, body and spirit, he goes for a 45-minute walk each morning from his church-owned residence in Shaughnessy. And he's pumping iron at a gym twice each week. "I weigh 140 pounds, and it's all muscle, literally," he says, amazed at his own fitness.

Mrs. United States Spreads the Word About Breaking the Silence

Dr. Gariane Gunter, a a third-year psychiatry resident at the University of South Carolina, recently was crowned Mrs. United States and will dedicate her reign to raising public awareness about mental illness. Gunter is currently teaching NAMI's "Breaking the Silence" curriculum http://www.btslessonplans.org to all fifth grade classes at an elementary school in her hometown. The program is designed to educate students in upper elementary school, middle school and high school about mental illness.

"I am thrilled that Dr. Gunter was crowned Mrs. United States 2008," Nioka Campbell, M.D., the psychiatry residency training director at the University of South Carolina, told Psychiatric News. "I believe that she will provide a new face for psychiatry in the public, which in itself will combat the stigma that exists."

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding

Today is the 5th annual National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding.

Here are two beautiful prayers written by Margaret Ann Holt, UMC, recommended by NAMI.

O, God, we gather here together today, as people from many different faith communities.
We come before You, remembering all those persons whose lives have been touched by mental illnesses.
We give thanks for those persons here who have given of their time and talents to do what they are able to help persons who are dealing with mental illnesses in their lives and in the lives of their families and friends.
We give thanks for the improvement in medication and treatment programs that have enabled persons with mental illnesses to live productive lives.
We pray that our society would do everything possible to make early diagnosis and treatment a standard operating procedure.
We pray and ask that stigma be removed, so that persons and their families would get the appropriate help as soon as symptoms appear.
Guide each one of us, and help us, as we endeavor to bring help and hope to those families and individuals. Amen

Read in unison:

The faith community says to those people who suffer from the symptoms of mental illness, and to their family members:

We will walk with you. And God walks with you. You will not go through this alone.

Pray in unison:

O Lord, you have searched us and known us

You know when we sit down and when we rise up,

and know our innermost thoughts.

You search out our paths and know all our ways.

Before we speak, you know our words.

When we were knit together in our mother's womb

You knew us as woman, as child, as man.

Wherever we go, Your hand will lead us.

So guide us along the pathways to hope,

that night becomes bright as day.

So lead us on our walk together,

that darkness is lifted from our hearts.

So encourage us that our sisters and brothers

Who have mental illness shall know that

they never walk alone.

Amen

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Passes

By a vote of 263-171, the House this afternoon gave final passage to the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (HR 1424). President Bush has already signed the legislation.

The law passed provides parity between medical-surgical and mental health and addiction benefits in plans that offer mental health coverage. It will prohibit health insurance plans sponsored by businesses with 50 or more employees from imposing day and visit limits or applying different deductibles, co-payments, out-of-network charges and other financial requirements for treatment.

The New York Times quoted Frank B. McArdle, a health policy expert at Hewitt Associates, a benefits consulting firm, who said the law would force sweeping changes in the workplace.

“A large majority of health plans currently have limits on hospital inpatient days and outpatient visits for mental health treatments, but not for other treatments,” Mr. McArdle said. “They will have to change their plan design.”

Federal officials said the law would improve coverage for 113 million people, including 82 million in employer-sponsored plans that are not subject to state regulation. The effective date, for most health plans, will be Jan. 1, 2010.

Depression Survivor: The Amazing Lisa Smith-Batchen

What can a depression survivor do? Raise $500,000+ for children in Africa orphaned by AIDS, that's what!

I first heard about Lisa Smith-Batchen in Runners World magazine in 2006 when she shared her story about overcoming depression. She was one of the first elite athletes to let the world know that depression can affect anyone, including people who are champions in their sport.

Right now, Lisa is in the process of an unprecedented 810-mile run and ride to raise funds for AIDS Orphans Rising, an organization that benefits those orphaned by the AIDS virus. As of today, she has already raised $500,000.

“There is no greater purpose than helping children who have been orphaned by AIDS,” Smith-Batchen said.

“These children lose everything; I am so blessed to have the opportunity to use athletics to raise money for this worthy cause. I have increased the difficulty of this year’s event in hopes that our donors will help us contribute even more to AIDS Orphans Rising than in 2006. Together, we can have an incredible impact on children’s lives.”

Sister Mary-Beth Lloyd of the Religious Teachers Filippini founded AIDS Orphans Rising, and 100 percent of all donations directly benefit the lives of the orphans. They receive shelter, food, clothing, and much-needed attention from those who care. The organization succeeds by providing the children with skills necessary to live productive lives.

You can learn more about the project, follow Lisa's progress and make a donation at Lisa810.com.