Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Physical Activity And Lower Odds of Psychiatric Problems in Children

Excerpt from Your Therapy Source: (click for entire article)

The Journal of Pediatrics published research that measured the physical activity of 199 eight year old children. Wrist accelerometers were worn to determine if there was an association between physical activity and parent/teacher rated psychiatric problems in the eight year olds. The results indicated that "higher overall physical activity and more time spent in more intense physical activity were associated with lower odds for psychiatric problems in emotional, social, and behavioral domains".

Need ideas to get children more active? Check out 50 Sensory Motor Activities for Kids, Dancing with the Owls, Mini Movement Breaks and Locomotor Games.

Abolish label 'schizophrenia,' psychologist says

Excerpt from CBC News: (click for entire article)

The term schizophrenia should be dropped because it is not scientifically valid and is stigmatizing, a mental health expert says, renewing a debate on the best ways to fight the shame associated with the disease.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder in which a person loses touch with reality. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disturbances in thinking and withdrawal from social activity.

More than 250,000 Canadians are living with schizophrenia, which affects an estimated one per cent of the population.

"It groups together a whole range of different problems under one label," Richard Bentall, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Manchester, told a news conference in London on Monday, the eve of World Mental Health Day.

Social Media and Suicide Prevention

Excerpt from Science and Technology: (click for entire article)

What would you do if a Facebook friend updated that they were depressed and thinking of ending their life?

What would you do if you observed a group of individuals bullying another person on a social media site? Would your actions be the same if the person was a friend or a complete stranger?

Your answers to these questions may have important implications for how these scenarios turn out. Fortunately, there are resources in social media to help you reduce the risk for suicidal behavior and to get help.

An Update on the DSM-5 and ASD

Excerpt from Autism Society: (click for entire article)

The Autism Society knows individuals are concerned about the potential impacts of the proposed criteria for autism spectrum disorders in the DSM-5, set to be published next spring. The American Psychological Association has recently opened the third session for public comment ending on June 15. So far, more than 6,000 comments have been received by the APA workgroups related to ASD. Read more…

Three Autism Advocates for your Membership!

The Autism Society is your source for autism information you can trust. To show what we mean, we’re giving away three editions of the Autism Advocate to new or renewed Autism Society members! Read more…

Register Now for the Autism Society National Conference!  Early Bird Registration Closes on May 31
 
This year’s conference includes a program full of the timeliest topics in autism, from transition to adulthood, to environmental health and the DSM-5. Read more…

SAMHSA and Cyndi Lauper celebrate youth who overcome trauma and the “Heroes of Hope” who enhanced their resilience at annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day observance

Excerpt from SAMHSA: (click for entire article)

Grammy and Emmy award-winning artist and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality Cyndi Lauper joined the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and more than 130 Federal agencies, programs, and National organizations in celebrating the seventh annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This year, the national event focused on youth who have experienced a traumatic event and the caring adults who have helped them be resilient.

“Young people unfortunately experience trauma every day, but they are resilient and can recover if we provide them the support that they need,” said Lauper. “In particular, homeless gay and transgender youth face unique challenges, like family rejection, and they inspire me with their honesty and bravery to do all that I can to help them overcome those adversities and succeed in life.”

Lauper served as honorary chairperson of the “Heroes of Hope” tribute program held at The George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius presented an award to Lauper for her work on behalf of homeless LGBT youth through her foundation, the True Colors Fund. The True Colors Fund is set to expand its efforts with its newest initiative this June, a national program to raise awareness of the many issues impacting homeless LGBT youth, who account for 20-40 percent of the homeless youth population. The goal of the initiative is to bring an end to the growing epidemic of youth being thrown out of their homes or running away because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. She is also the co-founder and Honorary Chairperson of the True Colors Residence, a project that provides permanent and supportive homes to homeless LGBT youth in New York City.

New Depression/Bipolar Group at Havenwyck Hospital

Excerpt from the attached letter:

I'm happy to announce there will be a new DBSA Metro Detroit Support Group in Auburn Hills starting on June 5th.  Please bring this information to your group attendees/clients/friends in case they are interested or know somehone who may be interested in attending.  I want to get the word out as soon as possible!

Download New Depression and Bipolar Group at Havenwyck Hospital

Being Bullied Tied to Anxiety, Depression in Special-Needs Kids

Excerpt from Women's Health: (click for entire article)

Special-needs youth with chronic medical conditions or developmental disabilities are at risk for anxiety and depression if they're excluded, ignored or bullied by other young people, a new small study says.

It included 109 youngsters, ages 8 to 17, who were recruited during routine visits to a U.S. children's hospital. The patients and their parents completed questionnaires that screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the youngsters also completed a questionnaire that asked them about bullying or exclusion by their peers.

The patients in the study had one or more conditions such as: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (39 percent); cystic fibrosis (22 percent); type 1 or 2 diabetes (19 percent); sickle cell disease (11 percent); obesity (11 percent); learning disability (11 percent); autism (9 percent); and short stature (6 percent).

Bullied Children at Greater Risk for Self-Harm, Study Finds

Excerpt from Medline Plus: (click for entire article)

Children who are bullied are three times more likely than others to self-harm by the time they are 12 years old, according to a new study.

A team of researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom said its findings, published online April 27 in the BMJ, could help identify those at greatest risk for this type of behavior.

Examples of self-harming behaviors included cutting and biting arms, pulling out clumps of hair, head-banging and attempted suicide by strangulation, the study said.

Successfully decreasing antipsychotics use

Excerpt from McKnight's: (click for entire article)

If you're wondering if anyone outside the profession is paying attention to the antipsychotics-use debate in long-term care, allow me to direct your attention to Boston.

In a two-part series last weekend in the Boston Globe, health reporters Kay Lazar and Matt Carroll put together a package that looked at data on more than 15,600 nursing homes nationwide, the result of a Freedom of Information Act request sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. They were looking at the percentage of long-term residents without a diagnosed psychotic illness who received antipsychotics (which is contrary to federal recommendations), and the profile of the nursing home, such as staffing level, percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries and numbers of residents who had behavioral problems.

They found that in 21% of nursing homes in 2010, at least one-quarter of the residents without illnesses recommended for antipsychotic use received the medications anyway. They also found a significant correlation between staffing levels and the percentage of residents on antipsychotics.

A grieving heart

Excerpt from HHS.gov: (click for entire article)

A study of 2,000 people hospitalized for heart attacks finds the psychological stress of losing a loved one can increase heart attack risk.

At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Elizabeth Mostofsky and her collaborators say heart attack symptoms should not be dismissed as a harmless response to grief.  Mostofsky says:

"Bereaved individuals and their family and friends should be aware of this heightened risk to make sure that the bereaved person takes care of him or herself. It may indicate that the person is indeed having a heart attack and should seek immediate medical attention."