[DocJohn]

Hi folks,

We're compiling our annual Year in Review entry and just wanted to solicit your input for any stories or things that happened in 2008 in psychology or mental health news that seemed to have made a big impact in your life, or you remember reacting strongly to in some way.

Just reply to this thread if you have any ideas or things you think we should look to include (even if the idea seems obvious!). Thank you!

DocJohn

[kim_johnson]

Election of Obama!!!

:-)

[pegasus]

I don't know if this is any good to you >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

BPS Reseach Digest.

http://bps-research-digest.blogspot....max-results=50

[Slippers]

federal parity bill passed

[cantstopcrying]

Financial system getting $700 billion thrown at them with no questions and the Big 3 being questioned right down to how long the drove on the trip out to DC then being turned down for $14 billion.

[cantstopcrying]

Governor Palin being the first Republican woman on the ticket.

Foreclosure rates at all time high

The drop in the Dow

"pregnant man"

Michael Phelps

George Carlin died

Paul Newman died

Tim Russert died

[free2beme]

House Approves Bill on Mental Health Parity

A mental health parity measure was passed in Congress as part of the $700 billion financial rescue package. The measure requires covered employers that provide health plans to cover mental illness and substance abuse on the same basis as physical conditions.

[Raynaadi]

Hey there DocJohn. Please excuse typos, using talking computer now. Don't have a link to a story for you, but a few months ago here in Tucson, AZ we had a man go on a shooting spree which left an officer dead. He claimed paranoia that his neighbors were spying so he shot up the house and then ran from police. He's recently back in the news for assaulting a female corrections officer. He is claiming not guildty by reason of insanity. I react strongly to this because I feel that people take advantage of this line of defense instead of paying for crimes. I wish I could provide a link but can only get around pc for now l o l. You can prob find info at az starnet or az daily star or something, if interested.

Good to be back,
Randi

[free2beme]

Scientists at Cardiff University made a breakthrough in schizophrenia research by identifying genes associated with the disease

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/he...1466-21438586/

# of homeless ppl going up
Liz McCartney a woman who helped rebuild homes St. Bernard Parish
Obama winning ...Total history in the making
gas prices and how it effected ppls lives
the recession ...
atom-smasher
the war

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by free2beme

Scientists at Cardiff University made a breakthrough in schizophrenia research by identifying genes associated with the disease

Forgive the skepticism, but this happens every few months. For schizophrenia, for alcoholism, for... The latest silver bullet?

Anyway folks, all these stories (this one qualifies) are supposed to be mental health related...

[Perna]

The new biomarkers for depression and bipolar and possibilities of telling if antidepressants working, etc.:

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=612984

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=611950

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=612984

[KathyM]

Last summer in Chicago, a woman who suffered from epilepsy became homeless because she could not work and her family could not care for her. Her bed was the floor at the train station. After suffering a seizure, it left her in a state of confusion - typical for those who suffer from epilepsy.

She approached a woman at a bus stop. The woman complained to the bus driver, who called the police to have her removed. The policeman tried to apprehend her, but she fought him off. Mind you, she was in a state of CONFUSION - probably thought she was being mugged. The general public doesn't care much for the homeless, and some think it's funny to provoke and abuse them.

While trying to fight off the policeman, she grabbed his gun from his holster and shot him in the head. Fellow officers opened fire on her.

The newspapers described her as a deranged lunatic, and the fellow officers were called heroes.

Are people who suffer from epilepsy not allowed to defend themselves? Is "deranged lunatic" the proper label for those who suffer from epilepsy? Does the diagnosis of epilepsy warrant imprisonment and execution?

I suffer from amyloidosis and stagger when I walk due to neuropathy. By all appearances, it looks like I'm drunk. I also become confused due to brain involvement - i.e., can't remember sometimes how to pick up a spoon or open a door. If/when I become homeless, will I be considered a deranged lunatic worthy of execution? If a "stranger" with a gun approaches me, I would have no right to defend myself?

Then again, this probably isn't a top news story - or even bottom news story. I seriously doubt mainstream society gives a hoot about our homeless population, especially those who suffer from illness.

[Brian37]

Joe Pantoliano (actor) opens up about being diagnosed with depression and the stigma attached to mental health in general

[maximumeffect]

Fluoxetine being psychological?

[seeker1950]

Bush getting shoes thrown at him during the visit to Iraq.
Patty

[jeremiahgirl]

The Greed on Wall Street; and how we as americans were being fooled by "bigwigs" of AIG and others!!!!!

[kim_johnson]

(sorry, i thought you meant that had an impact on our psychology / mental health)

:-/

[sunrise]

There was that story from New York, I think, about the mentally ill woman who went to an emergency room for help, and was ignored. She eventually died in the ER waiting room after 12 hours or something and she still hadn't been seen. The whole thing was captured on video camera. That story made an impression on me.

[KathyM]

Originally Posted by sunrise

There was that story from New York, I think, about the mentally ill woman who went to an emergency room for help, and was ignored. She eventually died in the ER waiting room after 12 hours or something and she still hadn't been seen. The whole thing was captured on video camera. That story made an impression on me.

She didn't start out mentally ill - just VERY upset. She had been supporting her children back in Jamaica and became distraught after losing her job and home here. It's a shame her children had to eventually watch that video of their mother struggling all alone on the floor.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/03/hospital.woman.death/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[DocJohn]

Thank you for all of your suggestions! The article has been published here:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...n-review-2008/

Best,
DocJohn

[cantstopcrying]

Originally Posted by kim_johnson

(sorry, i thought you meant that had an impact on our psychology / mental health)

:-/

Was there something posted that you didn't think had an impact on our psychology/mental health? Or did you want to post something and didn't?

[ozzie]

Google has just revealed their list of items that were most searched for in 2008. I thought it was interesting and you can find it here: http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/...008/index.html