On a 35-fold Increase in Children with Severe Mental Illness: Why?

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Robert Whitaker raises a disturbing question, but not so uncomfortable that we won't be taking it up at upcoming consultations -gw
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The number of children who receive a federal payment because of a severe mental illness rose from 16,200 in 1987 to 561,569 in 2007, a 35-fold increase.

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I wrote Anatomy of an Epidemic to investigate this epidemic, and this pursuit necessarily raises a very uncomfortable question. Although we, as a society, believe that psychiatric medications have "revolutionized" the treatment of mental illness, the disability numbers suggest a very different possibility. Could our drug-based paradigm of care, for some unforeseen reason, be fueling this epidemic?

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-whitaker/anatomy-of-an-epidemic-co_b_555572.html

On a Parent Speaks: I was told by doctors that I didn't know what I was talking about

Being told by doctors I didn't know what I was talking about


She was there constantly advocating for him and supporting me

A new professional in the field who is also the parent of two children with autism shared her experiences at our October meeting. -gw

I always credit Blues Clues for my son's speech


They've learned more from technology than flashcards

On Paternal Depression: Babies with depressed dads are at risk of developing behavioural and social problems by the time they start school

 

http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/newdad-depression-hurts-child-20111206-1oh9e.html

 

You do home visits. One house is always dark, curtains pulled, hardly any light except that coming from a movie on an enormous screen TV that dominates the living room. Both parents are there, but only physically. They are both in the throes of depression. -gw

 

 

On Learning to Relax: Guided imagery online

How do you get the parent of a young, challenging child to relax? How do you get anybody "who needs it" to relax?
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When he ws 12, my middle son, high strung by nature, learned to relax by listening to nature tapes on his shoebox cassette player. It was his discovery. It became how he went to sleep.
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At Kitsap Mental Health yoga is offered for employees during the noon hour twice a week. Our yoga instructor, Kathleen, starts each session with calming, soothing guided imagery. Yoga's original purpose, after all, was to prepare a person for meditation.
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Lucy Berliner of the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress recommended this YouTube video  with "great audio (with clouds) for relaxation with kids." Guided imagery on demand as close as your computer. -gw
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