Changing the Name Schizophrenia

From the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders:

The World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders is conducting a survey: Changing the Name Schizophrenia. The issue has been talked about for years and continues to crop up. It is an important time to ask this question, as the DSM is being reviewed (it will be published in 2012) and changing the name of schizophrenia is one of the items being considered. While it is a diagnostic and treatment-based decision, the impact is much broader than just diagnosis and treatment.

We need to add our voices to the debate, letting the reviewers know how family, people with the illness and other mental health professionals feel. We want to gather a broader range of opinions than is typically gathered when this question is posed - around the world and to all of the stakeholders, and also give people a chance to say 'this is important' or 'this is a waste of time'.

It will take just a few minutes to complete the survey. Simply click here.

Useful References

Renaming schizophrenia (2007)

Schizophrenia can and should be renamed (2007)

Change is required; but name or attitude? (2007)

Renaming schizophrenia: a Japanese perspective (2006)

Great Maritime Hockey Getaway

eBay Auction

Winning bid of $300 was made by Vicky MacLeod

Vicky MacLeod

This was a fundraiser for the Lunenburg County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (LCC-SSNS). All items were donated and all the proceeds from this sale went to LCC-SSNS.

Vicky received:

1. Four VIA Rail tickets; round trip between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick, valued at $492.48 (valid up until and including December 14, 2008 with the exception of Easter Weekend [not valid for travel Easter weekend from Thursday to Monday, inclusive]);
   
2. $150 Holiday Inn Express Voucher (voucher expires December 31, 2008 - not valid July and August 2008);
   
3. $100 Budget Rent A Car Voucher (voucher is valid until November 30, 2008, and car rentals can be at any Budget Car and Truck Rental location in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Charlottetown, Sydney, Truro, Yarmouth, Bathurst, Halifax, or Dartmouth); and
   
4. Two Special Guest Passes to any Moncton Wildcats Hockey Game during the 2007/2008 season (passes must be redeemed at the Coliseum Box Office for complimentary tickets 24 hours before the game).
   

Thank you to all who participated in the bidding!

A very special thank you to Via Rail Canada, Holiday Inn Express, Budget Rent A Car, and the Moncton Wildcats for their donations!

Schizophrenia Facts and Statistics

An excellent summary from Schizophrenia.com. To read the summary, click here.

We have moved!

The offices of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia are now located at:

Rooms B23 and B24, E.C. Purdy Building
300 Pleasant Street
P.O. Box 1004, Station Main
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 3Z9

Our telephone numbers remain the same:

Phone: (902) 465-2601
Toll-free in Nova Scotia: 1-800-465-2601
Fax: (902) 465-5479

Feel free to drop in for a visit!

We thank the Capital District Mental Health Program for their in-kind donation of office space.


The five SSNS office windows are circled in yellow in the above photograph (click the photograph to enlarge it).

Photograph by rwkphotos.

Mental Health Services, 2008 Calendar Project

The Nova Scotia Department of Health, Mental Health Services, is seeking submissions of works of visual art from women who have experienced or are experiencing a mood disorder (i.e. anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.) and who live in Nova Scotia.

Artwork will be reproduced in a calendar to be published by the Department of Health to raise awareness of women and mood disorders and the issues for them at home and in the workplace.

Women whose artwork is selected for inclusion in the calendar receive a $150 honorarium.

To view the Project Poster, click here (downloads a PDF).

To view the Information and Submission Form, click here (PDF)

Healthy Living Series

Presented by
Cole Harbour Public Library and
Cole Harbour / Eastern HRM Mental Health Services

These education sessions are open to anyone interested and will be held Wednesdays from 7 pm to 9 pm at Cole Harbour Public Library.

For a complete listing of the upcoming sessions, click here.

Online Support Groups for Family / Supporters

The BC Schizophrenia Society and the Mind Foundation (on behalf of BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information) are pleased to announce the launch of a series of new online support groups.

These support groups are for people caring for a loved one:

• who is having difficulty coping with difficult thoughts, experiences or emotions, or
• who may have a brain condition or mental illness affecting their thoughts emotions or behaviour.
  

The online groups are anonymous, private and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are three groups in the series. All groups are moderated. To go directly to the support groups, click here.

(NOTE: you will need to register [click on the register link] to view or post in the family support forums. You will need to provide your email address to register but no one other than our moderators will be able to see it.)

Focus on Families

From the January 2008 issue of Psychiatric Services:

Three articles in this month's issue address the important role of families in the lives of people with severe mental illness. Amy N. Cohen, Ph.D., and colleagues report on the Family Forum, a 2006 conference sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The 40 researchers, providers, and administrators who attended the forum identified challenges to implementing family psychoeducation and reached a consensus on how best to move forward with new approaches (page 40).

In the second article Susan A. Pickett-Schenk, Ph.D., and her coauthors compare outcomes of 231 family members who participated in Journey of Hope, an eight-week family-led psychoeducation program, and 231 family members assigned to a waiting list. Program participants' gains in knowledge and coping skills were significantly higher and were maintained at six months (page 49).

In the third report Matthew J. Smith, Ph.D., M.S.W., and Jan S. Greenberg, Ph.D., present results of a survey of 136 siblings of adults with schizophrenia. Their findings indicate that early-intervention programs with families that focus on the needs of siblings may have lifelong positive effects on the quality of the sibling bond (page 57).

More Prescribing Decisions to Be Guided by Genetic Tests

An article published in the January 18th edition of Psychiatric News:

By Jun Yan

Genetic discoveries, which are continuing to reveal why different people react to the same drug differently, are beginning to influence personalized drug therapy.

To read the entire article, click here.

Parasite May Lead to Schizophrenia

Thursday, Jan. 17 (Psych Central) -- An amazing new finding suggests a common parasite carried by animals may increase the risk of schizophrenia.

Toxoplasma gondii parasite, an organism carried by carried by cats and farm animals was found to increase the risk of schizophrenia by 24 percent among individuals.

To read the entire article, click here.

Image provided by Ke Hu and John Murray.

The Residence is more than a place to live.

A story from the January 18th edition of The Ledger:

The Residence is one of a handful of assisted-living facilities in Polk County that specialize in providing a home for people who have illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

To view the video, click here.

To read the entire story, click here.

To read the entire series of articles on Matters of the Mind: The Effects of Mental Illness click here.

Photograph: Rick Runion | The Ledger

Provincial Health Services Operational Review (PHSOR)

To read the Provincial Health Services Operational Review (PHSOR) released today, click here.

Quoted below is what the PHSOR says about mental health services (pages 20 and 21):

MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health services are delivered throughout the Province either in a combined district model or through individual DHAs. This service is handicapped by limited resources and a provincial mental health response that is in development, but remains disjointed. Efforts to improve mental health services are underway. The PHSOR identifies a number of themes that support the need for extensive redevelopment of mental health services, including:

• Access to both community-based supports and acute inpatient services is limited. Shortages of community-based services increase the reliance on acute services. Conversely, bed utilization and inability to discharge are common issues due to limited community programs and hospitalization. There is insufficient community housing, few community groups and resources, little long term rehabilitation and a lack of geriatric assessment units and senior mental health programs. These issues are particularly difficult for patients who cannot access services within their own DHA.
  

• Access to mental health professionals is limited. There are few psychiatrists outside the larger urban centres. The same is true for many other mental health professionals, e.g., psychologists. Emergency response teams are inadequate to compensate for and meet crisis care needs for most communities. The issues are exacerbated by transportation challenges between healthcare providers and patients, reflecting the geographic realities in Nova Scotia.
  

• Pharmaceutical interventions are often costly and limited Pharmacare coverage for prescription drugs encourages non-compliance to prescribed treatments.
  

• Limited integration and communication between government departments and within the DOH interrupts the continuum of care. There is a need for greater planning with the Department of Community Services to provide appropriate supported housing. In addition, patients with concurrent disorders are not well supported due to infrastructure and longstanding stigmas attached to service providers, e.g., mental health and addiction services. Finally, the mental health needs within aboriginal communities are not being addressed adequately and require stronger linkages between provincial and federal jurisdictions.
  

RECOMMENDATIONS:

10. That the Department of Health lead a process with the DHAs/IWK to complete a focused review of mental health services including, but not limited to: a health human resource strategy for mental health professionals; a provincial bed analysis to determine how many beds are needed in the Province and where those beds should be (fewer sites for inpatient programs may need to be considered to alleviate the pressure that is currently being experienced regarding recruitment and retention of staff to support the inpatient units); necessary linkages across the continuum; and Province-wide strategies for program prioritization, growth and development (e.g., seniors’ mental health services).

11. That the Department of Health work with the DHAs/IWK to identify options to increase available funding for community and outpatient mental health services, to reduce unnecessary inpatient stays.

12. That the Department of Health continue to enhance collaboration across government departments by engaging the Department of Community Services and other governmental partners as appropriate in transformation activities related to mental health, at both the provincial and DHAs/IWK levels.

News Release: Province Accepts All Health System Review Recommendations

Department of Health
January 17, 2008 14:17

The province is taking action on recommendations from a provincial health system operational review to make Nova Scotia's health-care system more effective, efficient and sustainable for all Nova Scotians, now and in the future.

The government announced today, Jan. 17, that all 103 recommendations made by Corpus Sanchez International in the report titled Changing Nova Scotia's Health Care System: Creating Sustainability Through Transformation have been accepted and will begin to be implemented over the next three years.

"A thriving health-care system is critical to the future of Nova Scotia," said Premier Rodney MacDonald. "With the information in this report, we are ready to chart a path that will ensure our health-care system is safe, accessible appropriate, effective and efficient for generations to come."

The recommendations outlined in the report cover every aspect of the health-care system. It notes Nova Scotia's system is heavily focused hospital-based care, which is the most expensive way to deliver health-care services. It recommends a focus on community-based care, and restructuring across the system.

"Nova Scotians need and deserve a health-care system that supports all of their health-care needs, whether it is staying healthy, living with chronic disease, or end of life care," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont.

The report was developed with input from thousands of health-care providers and interested groups, from every hospital across the province. It notes factors such as an aging population, poor health status of Nova Scotians, increasing demand for health services, health human resource challenges, and the cost of maintaining the system as reasons why the system must change to continue to meet the changing health needs of Nova Scotians.

"As health system leaders, we support the vision of transformation that focuses on quality and safety. In order for the health-care system to be truly sustainable, we must broaden our focus from the treatment of illness, to include maintaining and improving health, in partnership with our citizens," said Dr. Brendan Carr, vice-president of medicine, Capital District Health Authority.

In its response to the report, the province has outlined actions for four key areas: helping people stay healthy; addressing changing needs of seniors; supporting health professionals; and investing for better results. Specific initiatives include establishing a selfcare/telecare phone line for 24/7 health advice, establishing a health human resource strategy, reviewing pharmacy and laboratory services, improving the flow of patients throughout the hospital system, and the use of non-clinical support services.

"I am particularly excited to note that we will be engaging citizens in consultation on the development of a rural health strategy for the province, which will include addressing the issue of emergency health care," said Mr. d'Entrement. "As patients, caregivers and taxpayers, we all have a role to play in ensuring we have the best health-care system possible -- not only for ourselves, but for generations of Nova Scotians."

The Provincial Health Services Operational Review, an executive summary of the report, the province's response document and fact sheets about Nova Scotia's health-care system are available online at www.gov.ns.ca/health.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The province is taking action on all 103 recommendations from a provincial health system operational review.

The recommendations will help make the health-care system more effective, efficient and sustainable for all Nova Scotians.

Premier Rodney MacDonald says with the information in the report, the province is ready to chart a path to ensure the health-care system is safe, accessible, appropriate, effective and efficient for generations to come.

The report says factors such as an aging population and the increasing demand for health services contribute to the need for changes to the health-care system.

In its response to the report, the province has outlined actions to take place in four key areas: helping people stay healthy; addressing changing needs of seniors; supporting health professionals; and investing for better results.

-30-

Media Contact:

Kim Silver
Department of Health
902-424-3034
E-mail: silverka@gov.ns.ca

Jan MacKinnon
Annapolis Valley Health
902-538-3443

Greg Boone
Cape Breton Health Authority
902-567-7791

Krista Wood
Colchester East Hants Health Authority
902-893-5554 ext. 2409

Ann Keddy
Cumberland Health Authority
902-661-1090

Heather MacKay
Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority
902-867-4262

Eileen MacIsaac
Pictou County Health Authority
902-752-7600 ext. 1124

Theresa Hawkesworth
South Shore Health
902-527-2266

Barbara Johnson
South West Health

New resource charts course to recovery for people with schizophrenia

From the December 2007 issue of Canadian Psychiatry Aujourd’hui:

by Mary A. Metcalfe, M.S.

Warren Butcher is like many young people today. The 28-year-old worked at a number of part-time jobs before landing a full-time position that will finally give him weekends off. As the newest support worker in Winnipeg’s Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Warren has taken a personal step forward in his journey of recovery from schizophrenia.

Mr. Butcher experienced his first psychosis six years ago and was diagnosed five years ago.

“When we were first faced with his diagnosis we were frightened." His mother Amy, a registered nurse, remembers thinking, “What could I do? How could we help him? Who could we reach out to? Even with my medical knowledge, I didn’t know where to turn."

For patients and families facing that journey today, there is a new publication to help them navigate. Schizophrenia: The Journey to Recovery. A Consumer and Family Guide to Assessment and Treatment was a joint effort by the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) and the Schizophrenia Society of Canada to produce a plain-language resource for those whose lives are affected by schizophrenia.

To read the entire article, click here.

Printed copies of Schizophrenia: The Journey to Recovery. A Consumer and Family Guide to Assessment and Treatment are available from the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia by sending an email to ssns@ns.sympatico.ca.

Potential New Treatments Being Researched for Schizophrenia

A January 10th posting by Psych Central:

Schizophrenia remains one of the most challenging mental disorders to treat. New research published this month examines a number of possible treatments that hold promise in the treatment of schizophrenia. While these drugs are still in their infancy and far from being approved for human use for schizophrenia, the research suggests future schizophrenia treatment directions.

To read the remainder of this article, click here.


All of the research papers referred to in the above news story are available for free download from the January 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry, the theme of which is Schizophrenia: From Genetics to Treatment. Click here to view the Table of Contents of this issue and to download the papers.

Moving Forward Together:

Stakeholder perspectives on the priorities of The Mental Health Commission of Canada


From a report produced by the Mental Health Commission of Canada:

Introduction

Since its inception, the Mental Health Commission of Canada has been committed to working together with the many Canadians who care about mental health and mental illness. One of the first tasks we set for ourselves was to begin the process of building or strengthening stakeholder relationships. This report describes the results of a series of stakeholder consultations that kicked off this process.

Between October 9 and October 17, 2007, seven meetings were held in six cities across Canada: Toronto (two meetings), Saint John NB, Halifax, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg. These meetings were considered a first step in a broader initiative that will see the Mental Health Commission regularly reach out to stakeholders across the country. The resulting ongoing conversation will provide critical input to help guide our work.

Key informants in every city helped us identify possible participants from local groups and organizations, and approximately 75 people were invited to each meeting. Although we recognized that the invitees for this first round of meetings represented just a small sampling of stakeholders, every attempt was made to hear as wide a range of views from the field as possible.

Invited participants included:

• people who have experienced mental illness
• their family members
• formal service providers
• hospital personnel
• community groups
• regional planning bodies
• government
• police
  

These participants also represented different life stages, ethnocultural groups, Aboriginal communities, as well as a variety of perspectives.

Each invitee was given the opportunity to submit a short brief. Six to eight participating groups were also invited to present the main points of their brief in person at the meeting, in order to stimulate dialogue and lead into the discussion. The briefs were structured around two questions, framed within the context of the Commission’s three key initiatives: development of an anti-stigma program, a Knowledge Exchange Centre and a National Mental Health Strategy.

The questions are:

• What would you like to see the Commission accomplish over the next three years?
• How could your organization help the Commission and the mental health community to achieve these objectives?
  

The written briefs and face-to-face discussions in response to these questions provided us with a rich base of information. There were many consistent messages, but there were also distinct themes unique to each meeting, and some challenging divergent perspectives on issues and priorities. What came through clearly across all the meetings were a strong sense of optimism about the potential impact of the Commission, and enthusiasm for working with us to help achieve our common goals.

Preparation of this report involved taking all the data from the oral record and written briefs in all seven consultations, identifying common themes and categories and distilling the information into a coherent summary. Most points included represent the views of a number of participants; the source is identified for some very specific suggestions. The goal was to capture the most consistent messages in regard to the Commission’s three priority areas and its work in general, while retaining the integrity of the complete record as much as possible.

Despite best efforts, the process of clustering and distilling information meant that some discrete points, and many details, are not included. It is also important to note that the results reflect the participant mix in the consultations, and are not necessarily representative of stakeholder views in general.

To all of those who participated in this process, we offer our sincere thanks for sharing your valuable time and views. We have been truly impressed by the wisdom and passion behind every point made. Although only a few of these appear in the report exactly as stated or written, they all informed the analysis, and we will be keeping the complete record for ongoing reference.

To those who were not present in this first round of consultations, please stay in touch with us. We remain committed to continuing and expanding the conversation so that the emerging agenda of the Mental Health Commission reflects the interests and needs of its entire constituency across Canada.

Bonnie Pape
On behalf of the Mental Health Commission of Canada

To read the entire report, click here.

To read the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia's October 12th submission to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, click here.

Pathways to Inclusion

Building a New Story with People and Communities

A new book by Canadians John Lord and Peggy Hutchison:

Pathways to Inclusion: Building a New Story with People and Communities is an examination of various perspectives on disability and provides insightful discussion on the current need for social innovation to move vulnerable citizens from areas of exclusion to social inclusion.

Pathways to Inclusion addresses the organizational strategies that have been used in the past and highlights areas for change. Human service organizations are examined, pinpointing common characteristics that have led to improved quality of life for people with disabilities and other vulnerable citizens. This book includes a discussion of discriminatory social policy and outlines characteristics of pathways to inclusion, detailing the need for social innovation and a New Story.

Well-researched, with clear dialogue and interspersed with insightful anecdotes, Pathways to Inclusion inspires change within both human services and the greater community. This book is an invaluable resource to educators, advocates, citizens, families, and practitioners in the fields of disability studies, aging, and related human services.

About the Authors

John Lord is a community researcher and human service consultant. He was a founder of the Centre for Research and Education in Human Services, and the Centre's first Director from 1982 to 1995. John has published widely in the areas of deinstitutionalization, independent living, empowerment, and innovative community supports for vulnerable citizens. John has been the co-founder of several innovations, including the Support Clusters Project, the Welcoming Home Initiative, and Foundations for Life.

Peggy Hutchison is a Professor in Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. She was a founder of the Centre for Research and Education in Human Services. She has been actively involved in research, education, and advocacy related to inclusion for the past twenty-five years both nationally and internationally. Her areas of interest include: empowerment, inclusion, IL movement, relationships, and community building. In addition, she is a long time editor of the Journal of Leisurability and advisor for Kitchener-Waterloo People First.

Thanks go to the National Network for Mental Health for bringing this book to my attention.

Focus Group Participants Needed - HRM

Project Title:

Pharmacist’s services for patients with mental illness: a descriptive survey of patient experiences and preferences.

Researchers at Capital Health will be holding a focus group during the week of February 4th to 8th. The date, time, and location will be selected to suit those who volunteer to participate. This one time focus group will take 90 minutes to complete.

We are looking for 6-8 people to participate.

The aim of the focus group is to get feedback on a short survey about pharmacy services for people with mental illnesses.

People who are 19 years of age or older and who have taken or take a medication for a mental illness may participate in the focus group.

If you are interested or would like to receive more information, please contact: Dr. David Gardner at 473-4955.

This project (CDHA-RS/2007-313) has received research ethics approval by the Capital Health Research Ethics Board.

The Risk for Schizophrenia From Childhood and Adult Infections

To read this editorial written by Alan S. Brown, M.D., M.P.H. (pictured), and published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, click here (downloads a PDF).


Photograph courtesy of the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Centre.

Elaine Purpel: Mental illness course helps families cope

To read this January 5th news-record.com article on NAMI's Family-to-Family Education Program, click here.

FDA Evaluating New Drugs for Schizophrenia Treatment

"Despite an earlier setback with bifeprunox, three new antipsychotic drugs — asenapine [molecular structure illustrated on right], paliperidone palmitate injection, and iloperidone — have been submitted to the FDA for review."

To read this article written by Jun Yan and published in the January 4th issue of Psychiatric News, click here.

And now for something completely different ...

... from the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society.

Naked Jumpers take the Plunge

Bungy fans let it all hang out to raise money for mental health organization

An article published in the January 4 the edition of the Nanaimo Daily News:

By Paul Walton

Jumpers at a popular annual nude bungy jump will be removing a stigma as they remove their clothes.

The event, set for Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 at WildPlay at the Bungy Zone south of Nanaimo, will raise awareness and money for the B.C. Schizophrenia Society. WildPlay president and general manager Tom Benson said this is the second year the event will benefit the Schizophrenia Society.

Benson said his own experience in seeing schizophrenia in a family member drew his organization to link up with the society.

"They made a big difference . . . and we think mental illness is under-supported," said Benson. "We said, 'let's make a difference where it really counts.'"

Nadine Saunders, a spokeswoman with the Schizophrenia Society, said last year's event pulled in $4,000, and they hope to double that this year. And though the cost to naked bungy jumpers is $25 (and the regular $99 for clothed leapers), oglers will be charged $10 to get in the park on that weekend.

The drop is 50 metres to the bottom of the Nanaimo River gorge with a harness around the ankles. Asked if she would participate, Saunders was resolute.

"No way!" she said, but noted she will be on the platform for both days to assist with donations.

All proceeds go to the Schizophrenia Society, and Benson hopes to see people from all over the Island in a generous mood on both days.

"We'd love to see support from the community, people offering sponsorships and making donations," he said.

Saunders said she was a little concerned when the naked angle was raised to the Schizophrenia Society board last year.

"A lot of our members are older, and I thought it would be more controversial but all our board members had no problem with it," she said.

While fundraising is important, both Saunders and Benson said the event is also important to raise awareness about schizophrenia. Benson said that most people are touched by mental illness among family or friends, if not personally.

Click here for the event poster (PDF).

Event location not exactly as illustrated.

Two questions to ponder

A quote from an article published in the December 31st issue of the Halifax Daily News:

Mental-health advocates say the Hyde case and the cases of accused-murderer Race and stabbing victim Ayer highlight the need for more services for the mentally ill in Nova Scotia.

So why has the Nova Scotia government not announced any new resource allocations for mental health services?

Or have they?

Schizophrenia takes a daughter away

Even a loving family with ample financial resources is powerless against the disease.

An well-written article in the December 29th issue of the Los Angeles Times describes the heart-wrenching story of a family dealing with a daughter living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and drug addiction.

Accompanying the article are are numerous photographs and a Flash audio presentation.

To read the entire article, click here.

To access a series of articles entitled Breakdown: A Times Special Report, click here.

Photograph by Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Book explores mental illness through art

'My poetry is about living your best life'

An article from the December 28th issue of The Halifax West Clayton Park Weekly News:

By Kate Watson (email: watsons5@accesswave.ca)

Connections Clubhouse is an opportunity centre in Halifax that offers mental-health consumers a social network and an opportunity to provide leadership in the community.

Members of Connections, along with other Nova Scotian mental-health consumers, recently launched a book entitled Looking Beyond.

The book, which was produced with funds from the Nova Scotia Mental Health Foundation, contains poetry, prose and art work with a unique perspective on mental illness.

John Devlin of Dartmouth contributed two poems, The Ghost on the Mezzanine and Enigma of the Piano.

"My poetry is a way of dealing with the images that come to mind when one is mentally ill, a way to objectify them," he said. "Hopefully, that will be interesting to other people."

Devlin says that although it's wonderful to have his work published, he writes because he enjoys expressing himself through the structure of poetry.

Laura Burke of Halifax has been writing poetry for 12 years, and she welcomed the opportunity to be published with other creative artists.

"My poetry is about living your best life," she says. "It's about finding a way towards recovery from the things that hold you back.

"I really think that this collection will be enjoyed by people who appreciate art and the written word, and that it will truly give people a chance to look beyond."

The book was edited by Teresa Brown (pictured, right), who says the project came about on the recommendation of the members of the clerical department of Connections.

Brown approached mental-health consumers across Nova Scotia and persuaded them to get involved.

"A big part of my job was chasing people to meet deadlines," she says, laughing. "But I'm very happy with the result, and I'm hopeful that there will be more collections in the future."

Looking Beyond sells for $15 and is available from Connections Clubhouse, 1221 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B2J 1Y2, or by calling (902) 473-8692.

Photograph by Glen Canning.

GAA star tackles mental illness in new campaign to fight stigma

A post from Independent.ie:

By Allison Bray
Thursday, December 27, 2007

FORMER GAA star Dessie Farrell is among a number of high-profile people appearing in a series of ads which began yesterday and are aimed at putting a human face on mental illness.

The former Dublin football captain and current head of the Gaelic Players Association wrote about his own battle with depression in his autobiography 'Tangled Up in Blue'.

He is now spearheading a campaign by the National Disability Authority (NDA) to help erase the stigma associated with conditions such as depression and schizophrenia.

He, along with 'Sunday Independent' journalist Carol Hunt, Bodywhys chairperson Marie Devine and chess whiz Paul Leavy, courageously reveal how they are able to lead full, productive lives despite their own personal struggles respectively with depression, anorexia and schizophrenia.

The television ads, which will air for the next fortnight, reveal the various facets of each personality -- including their roles at home and in the workplace, their likes, interests and the mental health challenges they have faced. Radio ads will begin airing tomorrow followed by billboard ads on bus shelters beginning on New Year's Day.

Ms Hunt (42) has written about her battle with post-natal depression following the birth of her two children and her ongoing battle with depression.

Susceptible

She chose to take part in the €500,000 campaign, entitled Challenging Attitudes to Mental Health, to drive home the message that anyone can be susceptible to mental illness.

"There still are a lot of people who firmly believe that any type of depression is some sort of personality weakness, which is quite amazing," she said.

Paul Leavy (26) was first diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17 and has suffered two breakdowns. But with the help of doctors, friends and family, he now enjoys a full life as a mental health advocate for the Health Service Executive, as well as teaching chess and running a local club and coaching children's soccer.

"There's definitely a stigma attached to schizophrenia and to mental illness in general. People look at people having these mental illnesses as being 'mad, crazy, nuts, lunatics'. They don't realise that a person is a person and the illness is a part of them, it's not them as a whole. People can actually live an active, full, everyday life along with having their illness," he said.

Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Disability Jimmy Devins, who launched the campaign, said the same kind of stigma exists around mental illness today as it did 20 years ago when conditions like alcoholism were seen as shameful, moral lapses, instead of diseases from which people can recover.

Yet in reality, one-in-four people will suffer from some kind of mental illness at some stage in their lives, according to the World Health Organisation and negative stereotypes will only hinder people from getting help or recovering, he said.

"No one is immune from poor mental health. Perceptions around mental illness need to be broken. Mental health is as important as physical health and I welcome this NDA campaign which will increase awareness."

SSNS Facebook Group

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia now has a group on Facebook. To join the group, click here.

Kurt Entsminger named executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center

National nonprofit working to secure right to treatment for the mentally ill will benefit from Entsminger's extensive legal, nonprofit expertise, consumer perspective

November 19, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA –The Board of Directors of the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) selected attorney and consumer Kurt Entsminger (pictured, right) to be the organization's next executive director, only the second since the organization was formed nine years ago.

Entsminger was unanimously approved at TAC’s board meeting on November 10, 2007. He will start work January 2, 2008.

“Kurt Entsminger will be a strong leader,” said TAC president E. Fuller Torrey. “TAC has firmly established itself as the only organization willing to stand up and fight for treatment for the most seriously ill and neglected patients. Entsminger’s expertise in the nonprofit world, combined with his personal experiences with bipolar disorder, give him an unique understanding of how to position TAC for future success.”

“I believe it is time to restore common sense to a society that has literally sacrificed human sanity in the name of personal privacy,” said Entsminger, who was most recently president of the national nonprofit Care Net. “I consider it a great honor and privilege to join this effort.”

Entsminger was at Care Net for nine years, where he doubled the organization’s income and greatly expanded its impact. He is a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, and spent 18 years as a trial lawyer, including serving as a partner in two law firms. He was also an Administrative Law Judge for Huntington Human Relations Commission. He has a bachelor’s in economics from West Virginia University and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law, where he graduated first in his class.

Entsminger said he was drawn to the empathy and compassion of the Treatment Advocacy Center. “It is my history that brought me to TAC. As a person who has lived with bipolar disorder for many years, I understand firsthand the importance of effective treatment. My hospitalization and subsequent and continuing treatment is the reason I’m well today. I come to the Treatment Advocacy Center with great respect and appreciation for its work, and a particularly strong passion for its mission. TAC is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans who continue, without treatment, to struggle with severe brain disorders.”

“The search committee recommended Entsminger without reservation and feels he is extraordinarily qualified to be a champion for those with severe mental illnesses that other organizations ignore,” said search committee co-chair and board vice chair Stephen Segal. “His unique background and passion make him worthy of being Mary Zdanowicz’ successor and building on the continued outstanding work of the staff of the Treatment Advocacy Center.”

TAC’s founding executive director Mary Zdanowicz resigned July 2007. She remains active as a member of the honorary advisory board.

“The nationwide search brought in an impressive group of candidates,” said search committee co-chair Jonathan Stanley, TAC’s assistant director. “The caliber and reach of the almost 150 applicants is reflective of TAC’s status in the broader community.”

Since it opened its doors in 1998, TAC has been involved in reforming treatment laws in 18 states, including Kendra’s Law in New York. Kendra’s Law is hailed as a national model for assisted outpatient treatment, a way to court order someone with severe mental illness who is too ill to recognize they need help into community-based treatment. The American Psychiatric Association awarded TAC its Presidential Commendation for “sustained extraordinary advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable mentally ill patients."

The Treatment Advocacy Center (www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

We take no money from pharmaceutical companies. The American Psychiatric Association awarded TAC its 2006 presidential commendation for "sustained extraordinary advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable mentally ill patients.”

Remission and Recovery in Schizophrenia: Practitioner and Patient Perspectives

An abstract from the January 2008 edition of Schizophrenia Bulletin:

Schizophrenia remains a complex, dynamic, multi-dimensional, and poorly understood condition.

Although the concept of heterogeneity in outcome has conceptually overturned the post Kraepelinian legacy of progressive deterioration, a number of factors appear to contribute to perpetuating a pessimistic attitude toward outcome within the field. These include the limited access people with schizophrenia have to effective interventions and the phenomenon of the "clinician's illusion," which refers to the tendency of practitioners to assume that patients remain seriously ill when outside of the clinical care settings in which they are typically seen.

Longitudinal studies, however, continue to point to a large number of people who experience improvements in their condition over time. Pressure from patients and their families, who experience periods of symptomatic relief and enhanced functioning first-hand, has led to the introduction of such concepts as "remission" and being "in" recovery with schizophrenia, in addition to the conventional notion of recovering "from" schizophrenia.

These developments are consistent with recent policy initiatives by the U.S. and other governments around the world and aim to re-orient research and clinical practice from a traditional focus on effecting cure to exploring ways to encourage and assist people with schizophrenia to live meaningful lives in the face of an enduring illness.

By Larry Davidson (1,2), Timothy Schmutte (2), Thomas Dinzeo (2) and Raquel Andres-Hyman (2).

Notes
1. To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: 203-764-7583, fax: 203-764-7595, e-mail: Larry.Davidson@Yale.edu.

2. Program for Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Erector Square 6 West, Suite #1C, 319 Peck Street, New Haven, CT 06513

Photograph of Dr. Larry Davidson is courtesy of the Yale University School of Medicine.

Physiology of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder

An abstract from the December 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry:

Laura F. Martin, M.D., Mei-Hua Hall, M.S., Randal G. Ross, M.D., Gary Zerbe, Ph.D., Robert Freedman, M.D., and Ann Olincy, M.D.

OBJECTIVE: Endophenotypes have been proposed to identify the genetic and biological substrates of complex disorders. Three physiological inhibitory endophenotypes of large effect size in schizophrenia include suppression of P50 auditory evoked responses, inhibition of leading (small anticipatory) saccades during smooth pursuit eye movements, and cancellation of reflexive saccades in the antisaccade eye movement task. The aim of this study was to determine if the pattern of endophenotype abnormalities within individuals with schizophrenia differed from that within individuals with bipolar disorder. A second aim was to determine whether subjects with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, were neurophysiologically more similar to subjects with schizophrenia or subjects with bipolar disorder.

METHOD: Endophenotypes were recorded for subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia (N=29), bipolar disorder (DSM-IV-TR) (N=40), and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type (N=18). Data from normal comparison subjects were used to establish normal performance.

RESULTS: Logistic regression determined that P50 ratio and frequency of leading saccades identified subjects with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with a sensitivity of 95%* and a specificity of 83%*. The schizoaffective disorder group was split, with six subjects physiologically classified as schizophrenia-like and 12 subjects as bipolar-like. Those classified as schizophrenia-like were significantly younger at illness onset and had higher symptom ratings.

CONCLUSION: A composite endophenotype of P50 ratio and frequency of leading saccades is consistent with the current clinical nosology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and parses patients with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, into two subgroups.

* Emphasis is mine.

Promotion and Prevention in Mental Health:

Strengthening Parenting and Enhancing Child Resilience

To download this report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, click here (PDF).

An overview of the report was published in the December 21st edition of Psychiatric News, to view, click here.

Mental Health Courts Bill Targets Multiple Problems

Proposed [U.S.] legislation to promote mental health courts would require the attorney general to report on the rate of serious mental illness among state, federal, and local inmates nationwide.

To read this entire article by Rich Daly, published in the December 21st issues of Psychiatric News, click here.

BMO Donates $10,000 to Strengthening Families Together Program

For Immediate Release:
December 21, 2007

VANCOUVER, BC - In their ongoing involvement in community initiatives, BMO Bank of Montreal has donated $10,000 to the BC Schizophrenia Society’s Strengthening Families Together education and support program. The Strengthening Families Together program gives families who have a mental illness the tools and coping skills to help them help their ill family member. It also provides an opportunity for families to share their feelings and find support in other people going through similar circumstances.

“BMO Bank of Montreal is pleased to provide a donation of $10,000 towards the BC Schizophrenia Society’s “Strengthening Families Together Education Program”, said Wayne Hashimoto, Personal Banking Area Manager for BMO in Richmond and Delta.

“We are especially pleased that these funds will be used to help reach families who are challenged by this serious mental illness through a 10-week education course at locations throughout the province”, added Mr. Hashimoto.

The mission of the BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) is to improve the quality of life for people affected by schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support programs, public policy, and research. Schizophrenia affects 40,000 BC residents and costs Canadians an estimated seven billion dollars a year.

“It has been shown time and time again that when there is a strong support system from family members of a mentally ill person, the individuals chances of recovery are significantly improved. This generous funding from BMO Bank Of Montreal will help ensure that families have the education and support programs in place to help them support their loved one and also let them know they are not alone,” commented the Society’s Executive Director, Gary Glacken.

For more information on schizophrenia, psychosis, or BC Schizophrenia Society’s programs and services, please visit www.bcss.org.

Contact
Nadine Saunders, Director of Development & Marketing; (604) 270-7841, Ext. 28

An Environmental Scan of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Atlantic Canada

September 2007

A report by Martha Muzychka prepared for the Public Health Agency of Canada, Atlantic Regional Office. To view the report, click here (downloads a PDF).

Duty to Accommodate Mental Health Disability Upheld by Landmark Ontario Human Rights Decision

Toronto (December 18, 2007) - A recent Ontario Human Rights Tribunal decision in the case of Lane v. ADGA Group Consultants Inc. of Ottawa has upheld the right of persons with a mental health disability to be appropriately accommodated in the workplace under Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team

For a document containing information on the role Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team, click here.