Mental Health

Incisive commentary from a blogger about what it’s like to have borderline personality disorder and the discrimination he chalks up to the “Fear of the Unknown.”

Pretty cool program run through the Bay-area Sentinels of Freedom being offered to severely wounded veterans looking for some much deserved tranquility.

Intriguing piece that looks at the variability of an autism diagnosis and what alternative treatment paths are available.

This is pretty amazing—the first soldier to survive after losing all four limbs in the Iraq war, Brendan Marrocco, has received a double-arm transplant.

The sad ending to the life of Michael Mason, who was never the same after returning from Afghanistan with PTSD.

Laudable idea by Congressman Jeff Miller of Florida. Quote from piece: “”We can double overnight the number of providers for those who are in need. Eighteen veterans a day commit suicide in this country. Nobody thinks that is acceptable.”

Fascinating new study conducted by the state of Minnesota about the linkage between early childhood trauma. Topline: More than half of the 13,520 Minnesotans reported at least one traumatic experience in their childhood, including physical abuse, parental divorce or the incarceration of a household member. Those who reported multiple events had higher rates of chronic diseases such as asthma and mental disorders such as depression.

It’s the most used excuse for domestic abuse. But there is no excuse for domestic abuse. Check out the stats in this piece. Sobering. Also, check out our interview with Dianne Schwartz on the blog. Similar reasoning. Valuable.

Bipolar disorder presents much differently in children than it does in adults. It’s good to know the difference.

Fascinating new piece from the Harvard Medical School on the local functional connectivity of the brain and how it is reduced in individuals with autism.

A smart and empathetic reminder that you can’t always see suicide coming. There are signs and there are responses but mental illness is still elusive. The only answer: stop treating mental illness like a second-class disease that is mocked, ridiculed, and discriminated against every day in this country.

A remarkable and haunting essay by Janet Burroway on the loss her son to suicide after his return from war. An important contribution to the understanding of mental health and private contractors.

A very smart and compassionate look at the mental health of  private contractors.

Rock solid first sentence of this piece on military suicides:

George Washington once said that “the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by the nation.” Indeed, America holds in high esteem our military members and veterans, honoring them for their service. This respect for the military — as well as providing service members with benefits for housing, food, and health care — is essential to maintaining morale as well as ensuring a stream of qualified recruits into the all-volunteer force.

Exciting new information in the scholarship of health consequences and the treatment and rehab needs of combat veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury.