TownOnline.com - Lexington Minuteman - Local News: "From his own self-education of his affliction, Lichtenstein, through his newly formed Lichtenstein Creative Media, produced the radio documentary 'Manic Depression: Voices of an Illness.' Narrated by Patty Duke, the piece was aired by more than 400 public radio stations and won dozens of awards. The goal of the project, however, had not been to win awards but to provide an outlet for Lichtenstein to 'try and produce shows on topics I really wanted to do.'"

Teen Mental Health Declining in the United States

PHILADELPHIA, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- "Adolescents in the United States are more likely to suffer from a mental health disorder than ever before, but getting these teens diagnosed and cared for is a challenge that is not being met, a new book warns."

Rosalynn Carter has been a strong advocate for Mental Health for years, and the work that the Carter Center does on this, and many other topics, is world-renowned.

A Mental Health Organization Combatting the Stigma of Mental Illness - The Carter Center Mental Health Program: "Mrs. Carter continues her advocacy efforts through The Carter Center's Mental Health Program, founded in 1991. The program focuses on mental health policy issues with four strategic goals:
-To reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses
-To achieve equity for mental health care comparable to other health care
-To advance promotion, prevention, and early intervention services for
children and their families
-To increase public awareness worldwide about mental health and mental
illness and to stimulate local actions to address those issues. "

NAMI - The Mental Health Community Responds to Tom Cruise's Today Show Interview: "The Mental Health Community Responds to Tom Cruise's Today Show Interview
Recent interviews by actor Tom Cruise about mental illness, such as those on the TODAY Show on June 24, as part of a movie publicity tour, have outraged mental health consumers and family members. We share below NAMI's response along with the American Psychiatric Association and National Mental Health Association. We encourage individuals to share the statement with others, including local TV and newspaper entertainment editors and movie critics. Please also write letters to editors."

This group used to be the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association. They have a site with lots of great information and links to resources and support. Worth a look.

What's New - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: "We have a whole new site. Learn all you ever wanted to know about being an advocate for mental health issues, how to speak with your legislators, what issues are important to the mental health community and much more.
Whether you are an experiences advocate or have never done advocacy before, you will find all the information you need to make your voice heard. "

Playbill News: Charles White, Character Actor on Broadway, Dead at 86: "Among more than 20 television shows, he appeared 'Spin City,' 'Kojak,' 'Maude,' 'The Patty Duke Show' and 'The Defenders.' When he wasn't acting, he could be found at St. Mary's Catholic Church where he directed several musicals and plays for the parish."

We came upon this site while doing some research, and they seem to have good information and resources for families in need - particularly for young folks. Often it's the families that suffer greatly while trying to get help for their loved ones. The more resources and connections we can make the better.


Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: "Bipolar disorder is difficult to recognize and diagnose in youth, however, because it does not fit precisely the symptom criteria established for adults, and because its symptoms can resemble or co-occur with those of other common childhood-onset mental disorders.

In addition, symptoms of bipolar disorder may be initially mistaken for normal emotions and behaviors of children and adolescents. But unlike normal mood changes, bipolar disorder significantly impairs functioning in school, with peers, and at home with family."

BOYDS BEARS: Patty Duke's plush party - York Daily Record: "Actress Patty Duke will unveil her own line of Boyds teddy bears Friday at Boyds Country Store on Route 15 south of Gettysburg when some 2,000 people gather for the daylong Boyds Collectors Jamboree."

This article is pretty clinical, but for medical professionals and those looking for more information and resources it's a good start. The quote below is from the paragraph summary of the article.


Mental Health InfoSource: "Pediatric bipolar disorder affects the cognitive, behavioral and affective domains of a child's being. Affect dysregulation is the central feature. It is not clear that the juvenile-onset version of PBD is contiguous with adult BD. The primary goal of pharmacotherapy is mood stabilization, dealing with complex comorbid, residual, breakthrough and/or associated symptoms. It is imperative that any medication management be coupled with a meaningful holistic therapeutic approach that is practical and tailored to PBD."

FOXNews.com - Health - Bipolar Disorder: More Common Than Expected?: "A new study says that bipolar disorder, while still rare, may be more common than previously thought.
Face-to-face interviews with more than 9,200 U.S. adults showed that 4.3 percent had symptoms of bipolar disorder or related syndromes, say the researchers, who included Ronald Kessler, PhD, of Harvard Medical School."

Stars helping slay stigma of mental illness: "For years, actresses Patty Duke and Carrie Fisher, both of whom have bipolar disorder, were the sole poster girls for mental illness. Today, newswoman Jane Pauley, actress Linda Hamilton and soap actor Maurice Benard frequently talk about their bipolar disorder. Actresses Brooke Shields and Lorraine Bracco and newsman Mike Wallace are open about their depression.
'They're realizing that the power of their celebrity can help people to not feel so alone,' said Lea Ann Browning, spokeswoman for the National Mental Health Association."

There is no way yet for anyone outside the family to know what the issue is with this talented college football player. But for those living in the public eye, the highs and lows of bipolar disorder can be more jarring because episodes are played out in full view of the media, and hence the world. We wish the best for Billy Sexton and his entire family.

Sexton facing a future of uncertainty: South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Sexton says his son isn't an addict, but still left room for this to be the case of Sexton merely having a bad trip.

But you can't help but speculate about Sexton's mental health because this episode and other behaviors are the same exhibited by Alonzo Spellman, Dimitrius Underwood and Barret Robbins -- all high-profile cases of football players diagnosed as having bipolar disorder."

Progress in treating bipolar disorder lagging: "Her feelings reverberated yesterday when her note was read by Lydia Lewis, president of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, as the Sixth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder convened here.
Though the disorder is a leading cause of disability, little progress has been made in developing better ways to fight the disease, said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health.
In the 1980s and '90s, advances in research 'really languished,' Insel told about 1,100 physicians, other health professionals and advocates gathered at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown."

Meetings highlight bipolar-disorder research - PittsburghLIVE.com: "More than 1,000 researchers and mental health care workers gather in Pittsburgh beginning today for the Sixth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder.

Staged every two years, it is the only meeting in the world devoted exclusively to highlighting new research into bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness. "

Interesting (albeit brief) article about the possible link between Bipolar and eating disorders.

myDNA.com - News: Bipolar disorder leads to eating disorder: "Dr. Carla Ramacciotti of the University of Pisa in Italy recently submitted writings to the journal of Psychiatry Research explaining that there is definitely a relationship between mood disorders and eating disorders. This relationship, however, remains nebulous.
Though eating disorders are relatively common among the bipolar community, it is often difficult to discern whether it is a product of mood alterations or a function of prescribed medications for the disorder. "

JS Online: Patty Duke 'Takes Five': "But Patty Duke's greatest role, critics say, is the one she plays now - speaking on behalf of people, such as herself, who suffer from mental illness. Duke will be the featured speaker at a luncheon Wednesday at the Midwest Airlines Center sponsored by IndependenceFirst, a non-profit agency for people with disabilities. Duke spoke recently with reporter Meg Kissinger. "

A few weeks ago Patty Duke was invited to speak at the annual banquet for the A.I.M. Center. It's a very exciting project Patty was happy to learn more about and promote. Getting ideas shared from one end of the country to the other is one of the goals of this blog and Patty's web site. A link to the A.I.M. Center is here: A.I.M. Center in Chattanooga

"Since April 3, 1989, the A.I.M. Center has offered area residents disabled by a mental illness a chance and a place to develop or regain the vocational and social skills necessary to become productive and contributing members of society. A non-medical, nonprofit, private community organization, A.I.M. is dedicated to the psychosocial rehabilitation of individuals who not too long ago had no viable alternative to institutionalization or homelessness. "

OnMilwaukee.com: Patty Duke dishes up strategies at power lunch: "On Wednesday, June 15, Duke will fly from her home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Milwaukee to speak at IndependenceFirst's annual Power Lunch about her struggle with manic depression and success strategies she has learned. "

For more information click here: Independence First - Milwaukee

Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation

"Early intervention and treatment offers the best chance for children with bipolar disorder to achieve stability, gain the best possible level of wellness, and grow up to enjoy their gifts and build upon their strengths. Proper treatment can minimize the adverse effects of the illness on their lives and the lives of those who love them..."

While reading Newsweek we learned about this blog East Coast Counselor, told from the point of view of a mental illness counselor and thought it might make for interesting reading. We're always looking for folks to link to the new blog, and for us to be able to give out helpful resources as well. For more information email us at: webemail@pattyduke.net

Kudos to Iowa - a step in the right direction

"MASON CITY - A new Iowa law guaranteeing limited mental health parity was greeted this week with measured enthusiasm by North Iowa businessmen, health professionals and consumers.

The bill, signed into law May 2 by Gov. Tom Vilsack, means companies with more than 50 employees that provide health insurance for employees must also cover treatment of biologically-based mental illnesses."

Study: Bipolar disorder harder on kids - 05/25/05: "Bipolar disorder is a more severe illness for kids than adults during the first few years after diagnosis, a landmark study suggested Monday.
The first research tracking a large group of bipolar children and teenagers finds that 2 1/2 years after diagnosis:

Nearly a third haven't recovered.

The remainder takes about 17 months to recover.

Four out of five have at least one recurrence. "

"I'm not a hunter or a fisherperson or any of those wildlife adventurer things. I'm a breath-taker. It takes my breath away."


? Actress and 15-year North Idaho resident Patty Duke, describing her attachment to the region and her interest in securing conservation easements in the St. Joe River Basin.