The National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) launched a new social networking site where young adults, age 18-25, can connect with peers who also have mental disorders. In addition to social networking opportunities, the site also offers resources for important issues such as independent living, employment, and finances. The site looks pretty sweet and it provides a great opportunity for young people to connect and share advice.

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Depression, if left untreated, is the number one cause of suicide. Thousands of American’s die of suicide every year. Phone texting and instant messaging are the most popular forms of communication. Many people are more likely to use these types of communication versus talking on the phone or in-person. “The Kristin Brooks Hope Center, To Write Love On Her Arms and PostSecret have partnered together to launch IMAlive, the first live online crisis network with 100% of its staff certified and trained in crisis intervention.” This technology is still at the testing stage with a projected launch date in 2010.

You can help TWLOHA by becoming a certified volunteer or by donating to the cause.

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Sharing your experiences with mental illness is a great way to make a difference. Your life could inspire others and help feel less alone. Below are several websites where you can share your story.

1. Bring Change 2 Mind
2. Mental Health America
3. Time To Change

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One should not be discriminated against based upon their sex, race, age or ethnicity. But what about their mental health status? If we speak about it, we face the possibility of being shunned and limited in our opportunities. If we don’t, we may endure silence and self-segregation. By creating an anti-discrimination campaign, we speak out while at the same time creating crucial change. 

“Open Up” is a conference that will raise awareness about combating mental health discrimination across England at a grassroots level, bringing together those who challenge discrimination through a diverse group of projects. It will take place at Jury’s Inn, Birmingham June 14th, 2010 and will raise awareness about mental health discrimination, featuring speakers such as Mental Health User Trainer and Consultant Tina Coldham, Conference Chair, contributions from Mind Chief Exec Paul Farmer, as well as Time to Change Director Sue Baker, Time to Change LEAP member Karen Machin, Harmit Kambo from the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, and Bruce Calderwood from the Department of Health. 

The conference will feature networking opportunities and workshops on topics ranging from challenging discrimination locally to getting anti-discrimination projects up and running. There will be food, refreshments, music that raises awareness about the cause. Sign up for the conference today and join the fight to end discrimination against the mentally ill. 

In a time when people living with mental illness face a lack of essential services, often rejecting treatment due to the stigma associated with these pernicious diseases. It is no surprise that nearly 840,000 people in the United States attempt to commit suicide; 32,000 succeed. Due to lack of funding,  ‘hotlines’ and crisis support lines are unavailable to people who need them.

One of the problems facing many people living with a serious mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder is that they find it very difficult to discuss their depression with someone in a face-to-face situation. The anonymity presented by a telephone ‘hotline’ makes it possible for someone who has reached a point of desperation to reach out when they might otherwise decide to allow their demons to take them beyond the point of no return. This is only one of the reasons why suicide prevention lines are so important; they save lives, plain and simple.

A grassroots non-profit organization named TWLOHA beat scores of other non-profits including PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which came in 2^nd, and UNICEF USA, which came in 50^th, in an online competition to win a full-page AD in USA Today. The prize is valued at $190,000.

The content of the AD addresses everything from the grief of losing a child to suicide to PTSD and the anxiety caused from contemporary financial pressures. It then introduces To Write Love On Her Arms to America; a group which began to help a friend with depression but now supports thousands of people by communicating with them in their time of need and supporting treatment efforts with funding.

Inspired by another interesting article on BPD Family, I have decided to share some insight into why I behaved the way I did in previous romantic relationships.

It’s funny that my non-borderline partners feel like they are under attack because I feel the same way. A lot of what I have done, I did in self-defense to protect myself from some perceived threat. I’ll be the first to step up to the confessional and admit that what I did was irrational. Here are several behaviors I have displayed in romantic relationships and the reasoning behind them:

• Broken a gift you gave me, on purpose. I did this because sometimes I get filled with a rage that is hard to control. You may have hurt my feelings, when I’m upset I get destructive. Weird as it sounds, destroying things you give me hurts my feelings too. I may have felt a strong sense of self-hatred and may have desired to inflict some emotional pain on myself too.
• Crushed on and flirted with several other people at a time.  I have a short attention span and people intrigue me. I’m not planning to hook-up with any of them so what’s the problem? I love you, you know that.
• Said some of the most cut throat things you’ve ever heard. I felt hurt and I was retaliating, I am used to chaos and things were just too smooth, or I am playing mind games to see if you really love me.
• Talked about suicide even though I know if hurts you. I feel such angst and depression that sometimes it seems like the only option. It’s nothing personal, and most things you’ll try do to cheer me up simply won’t work.
• Pulled a jekyll and hyde. I have rapid mood swings and with them come personality changes. I may not remember how I felt before the mood swing and may even contradict myself several times. I need some more therapy, there is nothing you can do about this.
• Pushed you away then pulled you right back. I am still learning to trust you, it takes time so be patient. I am expecting to be hurt and, when I get to close, my fear of losing you causes me to unconsciously sabotage the relationship. I may also be splitting you which means you are either amazing  or you totally suck.
• Started an argument out of nowhere. I either felt hurt by something you did (probably unintentional) or things are just going too smoothly and I need to rock the boat. Relationships can’t be this smooth, there must be something wrong. Somehow harmony seems to take the passion out of the relationship and it can get a bit boring too.

What about you? What have you done and why?

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Community integration  is an important component of good mental health. In times past, mentally ill individuals were estranged from society. This made them feel even more along than they already felt. Mental Health America will be addressing this issue in an upcoming conference.

Mental Health America is holding the 2010 Annual Conference, called “Get Connected: Social Inclusion in Wellness and Recovery” in Washington D.C during June 9-12. This theme serves to emphasize the role of social roles and interactions in mental health enhancement and will include guidance from community leaders.

Advocates, consumers, educators, researchers and business leaders are also encouraged to attend. For more information on registration and travelling expenses, please click here.

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“When Medicine Got It Wrong” is a “human rights saga” documentary of the rebellious family movement that rose in the 1970’s .Parents revolted against doctors, politicians and society who blamed them for their children’s schizophrenia. It challenges the notion that mental illness is somehow separate from a biological illness, and strives to negate parents’ contribution to the illness. It will be broadcasted only two times this year, a DVD is also available for sale for those who miss the episode. Check the public television broadcast dates/times here.

The medical establishment has often been criticized for its history of mistreatment towards the mentally ill. Yet perhaps the most forgotten victims of mental illness are the parents of the children who suffered extreme scrutiny and blame for the mental health issues of their progeny.  As we progress towards a dialogue of mental illness, this documentary provides crucial insight into how families suffer a direct negative impact as a result of the stigma that continues to exist.

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MOVE is a great example of the progress communities and mental health facilitators are making towards shedding light on important mental health issues, while reminding us that there is still progress to be made. People, suffering from borderline personality disorder, are especially in need of a voice in the community. The stereotypes surrounding their illness often disable borderline survivors from speaking about their experiences, leaving them feeling ashamed, unworthy and invalidated when, in fact, their disorder often stems from experiencing such an invalidating environment. The conference is an opportunity for everyone to share their story and be heard.

By building a community of survivors, we can continue to explore the issues they face and their ability to create change for themselves and others. The MOVE conference is an innovative step towards community involvement in mental health advocacy. Join the fight, break the silence, and MOVE.

Applications are now being accepted for upcoming conferences to take place in Boston, June 25th-26th, and Omaha, June 30th-31st. MOVE is also coming to sites such as Portland, Southern California and Dallas, Texas in Fall and Winter of this year.

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