Ok, It's Been A While...

Ok, so apparently I haven't written anything on here since last May...Like I've said before, though, it's tough to put yourself back into the mind-set of focusing on depression.

And yet here I am...But not for why you think.

Actually, in the last few days (I actually wrote this section back in January...oops), I've stumbled on 3 depression stories that have hit the news.  So in case you missed it, here they are:

On January 9, 2013, Israeli company Brainsway received FDA approval in the United States for its Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation system.  This link here was where I first saw it.  The system is already approved for use in Europe.  This is the first I've heard of it, so I haven't read a whole lot about it yet  Hopefully I'll have more for you in the near future.

Another story that broke on the 9th was the release of a study suggesting that drinking sweetened beverages (especially diet pop) is associated with an increased risk of depression.  For what it's worth, my immediate reaction was "Oh shit!" because my one vice in life is Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Classic, not diet).  That wasn't the only part of the study - another portion supported other research I've come across that suggests drinking coffee lowers the risk of depression.  Again, haven't done much research into this new study, but definitely something to ponder....

On January 15, Canada AM ran this story about mental health risks associated with different careers.  Interestingly enough, restuarant/food services topped out the list.  This is what actually got me to thinking about writing another blog entry - the other stories were just bonus.

And, if you live in Canada, you may have noticed this little program called Let's Talk that ran on February 12....

If you're not in Canada, here's the deal.  Bell is a major media & telecommunications conglomerate and for the past few years they've been sponsoring a program wherein Bell donates $0.05 for every text, tweet, long distance call or Facebook share to mental health initiatives throughout the country.  I've written about the Let's Talk campaign before: here and here.

The main goal of the Let's Talk campaign, however, has been to reduce the stigma that those of us that have a mental illness face. 

Here's how we did this year:

 

Not too shabby, eh?  Hopefully those totals can be beaten again next year, and more understanding can be shared.

And just an aside that kinda pissed me off - reading some of the tweets #BellLetsTalk, I feel bad for the (for lack of a better term) assholes, who complained about the so-called corporate branding of this program by Bell.  I've got no problem with corporate social responsibility, and if this is what Bell wants to do, well good on them.  I doubt this program alone will cause people to switch to Bell, so I don't see what the problem could possibly be....(And an FYI for any non-Canadian readers, Bell is not considered an industry leader in customer service, but they do sponsor Let's Talk, so I'll cut them some slack)

 

Where did April go?

Hey all, apparently I missed the entire month of April.

So, welcome to mid-May.  Allergies are kicking my ass, but at least the sun has been shining and the weather is getting warmer.

Couple of things to report on.  First off, in case you missed it, Michael Landsberg came to town a couple of weeks ago to give a talk on depression in support of Algoma Family Services.  Here's a couple of links to the Sootoday reports on it:  http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=40907 and http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=42116.

If you've read this blog before, you know I quote Landsberg quite a bit - I guess because he's one of the most visible and (for lack of a better term) "modern" depression sufferers. So obviously, I jumped at the chance to go and see him speak.  Even got to shake his hand and get a picture taken, but there was a good-sized crowd waiting to do the same thing, so I didn't get to socialize much.

But he gave a great talk.  And he used an acronym that I'll pass on to you in regards to depression (but you could use it in relations to any mental illness):  SLAM

S - Share.  Talk to someone.
L - Learn.  Learn all you can about depression. (I did this over a year ago - and it's definitely worth it - know your enemy, right?)
A - Action.  Take action.  Make the doctor's appt, do whatever you have to do to get feeling better.
M - Memo.  Write a memo to yourself about whatever makes you feel good and return to it when you hit a rough patch.

Here's a link to the story when he went to Timmins to give a talk a few days ago:  http://www.thedailypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3560447.  Worth the read - it puts SLAM in his own words.

Ok, well, it's now about 1:50 am, so while I promised a couple of things to report on, you only get one tonight.  Guess you'll have to keep checking back.  Promise I won't let a whole month go by this time.

Economic Action Plan 2012 - What's in the Federal Budget for Mental Health

Hey all,

I realize it's been a while since I've written anything, but with the release of the federal budget today, I thought I'd share what's in it in relation to mental health programs, delivery etc.  The following sections are lifted directly from the budget document itself, available here:   http://www.budget.gc.ca/2012/plan/toc-tdm-eng.html

Overall, the budget is roughly 500 pages long.  The following section takes up less than half a printed page:

Investing in Mental Health Research

Economic Action Plan 2012 proposes $5.2 million in 2012–13 to establish and integrate a network of mental health-related professionals. Research will be centered on treating depression, with a focus on suicide prevention and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mental health-related illnesses impact the lives of many Canadians, at a great social and economic cost. The advancement of research in this area, particularly research aimed at developing more effective diagnostic and treatment tools, is critical to improving the lives of these individuals.  Economic Action Plan 2012 proposes $5.2 million in 2012–13 to support the Canadian Depression Research and Intervention Network. The Mood Disorders Society of Canada, in conjunction with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, will lead the development of the Network, connecting over 80 of Canada’s brightest depression researchers from across the country. Particular focus will be on suicide prevention and identifying and treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Funding provided in the budget will serve as a catalyst for private and public sector investment.

Interesting that they're going to spend $5.2 million to create a network that likely already exists...if there's only 80 or so "bright" depression researchers, I'm betting most of them already know each other and are in touch.  Also, this funding is only for 1 year, so I'm also betting that after this fiscal year, the organizations listed will be on the hood for funding this "network" in the future.  I'm curious as to how the funding in the budget will be a catalyst for private & public sector investment - there's nothing else listed in the budget that gives even a hint or a clue.

So the second part of the budget that deals with mental health follows.  Again, it takes up less than half of a printed page.  But that's ok, because it really doesn't say anything:

Aboriginal Mental Health Programs

Economic Action Plan 2012 commits to working with Aboriginal communities and organizations, provinces and territories to improve the mental health and well-being of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

Health Canada currently invests over $100 million annually to support mental health programs and services for Aboriginal peoples through community-level mental health initiatives, addiction and substance abuse treatment centres, and the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.  The Government has also provided significant support to Health Canada’s Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, which provides mental health and emotional support services to former students and their families.

Again, I'm curious as to details - what exactly are they going to do to work with the Aboriginal communities?  I don't see any funding dollars being committed beyond what's already available through Health Canada.  Looks to me like they're pretty much just paying lip service to this issue.

Anyways, just thought I'd share what the budget has in store for mental health in the future....$5.2 million.  I feel like I should be ranting about this, but it's late and I'm tired.  Besides, the one nice thing about having a majority government is that it can do whatever it wants.  This budget will pass.

LET'S TALK DAY

As I posted back in January, today is Bell's Let's Talk Day.  Bell is donating $0.05 for every text, long-distance call, and re-tweet of @Bell_LetsTalk http://letstalk.bell.ca/resources/media/sections/media/press/BLTD_queens_EN.pdf

Last year they raised over $3.3 million - and they're hoping to break it this year.

The main purpose of Bell's Let's Talk Day is to do exactly that - start the conversation about mental illness.  I wrote about the stigma of going public with a mental illness back in September of 2011:
http://musingsofadepressedmind.blogspot.com/2011/09/going-public-about-depression.html
http://musingsofadepressedmind.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-thoughts-on-stigma-related-to.html


So if you're a Bell customer - send a text.  Or two.  Or three.  Call someone.  If you've got Twitter, re-tweet the @Bell_LetsTalk message.  Let's make this year's Let's Talk Day a success!

When Promoting Arson Can Be A Good Thing....

Hey all -

A cousin of mine sent this link to me a week or two ago and I just got around to reading it tonight.  This blog is written by a guy we both went to high school with.  I didn't know the guy, but I remember him - musician, really creative, really outgoing, positive - not the guy you'd figure would get depression, right?  Anyway, his blog is really well written, and provides a different perspective on depression than I have.

http://www.orgcode.com/2012/01/05/when-the-world-seems-like-a-cold-place-it-may-be-time-to-kindle-more-fires/

Enjoy!

Let's Talk v 2.0

The return of Bell's Let's Talk campaign was announced on Monday, and I just saw my first commercial for it tonight, with Clara Hughes.  Ok, I wasn't with Clara Hughes when I saw it, she's the spokesperson for the campaign.

Bell has committed $50 million over five years to work towards changing Canadians' attitudes towards mental illness.  Last year, the Let's Talk campaign raised $3.3 million (Bell donated 5 cents for every long-distance call & text) from its customers.  This year, it's adding a twist and donating for Twitter re-tweets of the message that will be posted from the @Bell_LetsTalk account.

Here's the Let's Talk page:

http://letstalk.bell.ca/

And here's the link to the press release for this year's campaign:

http://letstalk.bell.ca/resources/media/sections/media/press/BLTD_campaign_en.pdf

So on February 8, if you're a Bell customer, call someone far away.  Send a text.  Or two.  Or three.  And if you've got a Twitter account, retweet the message they put out.

Minding Your Mind

Hey all, just thought I'd share another program that's aiming to do some good in the mental health field.  I stumbled on this one during the Flyers/Senators game on Rogers Sportsnet East today.  The coaching & training staffs of both team are wearing purple buttons with "Minding Your Mind" on them.

So I Googled the Minding Your Mind program.  Here's their website:  http://www.mindingyourmind.org/

I checked them out - It's primarily geared towards youth and young adults (high school & university ages) but it has some good information and quite a few links to outside resources as well.  Definitely worth checking out.

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Again, there's no shame in having a mental illness - like I said in an earlier post, it's not like you choose to get one.   You don't choose to get cancer, you don't choose to pick up any other disease, and yet people will freely talk about them.  So why is there such a stigma related to mental illness?  Beats me.  It doesn't make any sense.  Maybe it's because we can't see it, can't X-ray it, can't biopsy it....who knows?  Stats suggest that between 20-25% of people will suffer mental illness.  You'd think there'd be more discussion about it.....

Think about that.

Or better yet,  talk about it.