E-Couch: Online Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder Available Through the Australian National University

admin August 4th, 2009

This information was gathered from Social Anxiety Disorder Blog
By Arlin Cuncic, About.com Guide to Social Anxiety Disorder

You may have heard of MoodGym, an online program offered by the Australian National University (ANU) to combat depression. During a recent visit to the MoodGym site, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that ANU is now offering a complementary program to provide education and coping strategies for social anxiety disorder (SAD). The online program is aptly named “E-Couch“.

The description on the website reads:

E-Couch provides evidence-based information about emotional problems (including depression and anxiety disorders) and teaches strategies that may help you to prevent problems and understand yourself better.

Families for Depression Awareness

admin June 23rd, 2009

Our mission is to help families recognize and cope with depressive disorders to get people well and prevent suicides.

Families for Depression Awareness is a national nonprofit organization that helps families and friends recognize and cope with depressive disorders to get people well and prevent suicides. The organization provides education, outreach, and advocacy to support families. Families for Depression Awareness is made up of families who have lost a family member to suicide or have watched a loved one suffer with depression, with little knowledge about how to help.

Do you or any of your family members

Wonder if depressive disorders run in your family?
Wish to work with your clinician better, to get well?
Need a way to help your family understand that depressive disorders can be treated, and are not a shameful family secret?
If so, then the Mental Health Family Tree Program may help you address these concerns.

If you want more information just go to their website and find a wealth of information for families and clinicians.

What Treatments Options Exist For Anxiety?

admin June 8th, 2009

An anxiety attack can incapacitate a person completely. Blood rushes to your head and your chest pounds like hammer beating a rock. You fret over every little thing. Even the problems of others become yours when anxiety rules over you. These panicky attitude will keep you from living a normal and healthy life. It is important to seek treatments for anxiety before the situation gets worse.

Read more

Written by Rafael Jones on June 8th, 2009

One in six students experienced mental health issue

admin February 7th, 2009

One in six students in Halton has experienced mental health issues including symptoms of depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide, according to a recently-completed report.

In this week’s local paper the Milton Champion there was an interesting article about mental health in the children. Enjoy the read!

Local artist who faces mental illness…

admin October 2nd, 2008

I came across this article about Sue Batson who lives in Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario. She’s been fighting depression and anxiety disorder for a number of years. I found her story very hopeful and inspiring, I hope you do too. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

“In the 16 years since her initial diagnosis–clinical depression and anxiety disorder–she says she’s learned not to let her disease outweigh her life.

It’s difficult, she says, and only possible by surrounding herself with caring people who let her talk when she needs, who don’t judge her based on the variations of her health. ”

To read the full article http://www.niagaraadvance.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1230067

Not quite the way I expected

admin April 14th, 2008

So I started this blog and figured every day I would be able to at least type a few lines and give people something good to read. Instead I have been living in stomach flu hell and all my good intentions have been temporarily uprooted.

I should start by introducing FKMAD and let you know a little bit about the upcoming meeting in May. I was looking for a support group for parents of children with Social Anxiety and in a nutshell could find nothing. So if you can’t find it…create it. I found through the wonderful internet a non-profit organization called “FKMAD” (families of kids with mood and anxiety disorders). Their philosophy on helping the family as a whole and being a resource for support is exactly what I wanted to acheive. I took on the responsibility of being the first group in Ontario. The intention is to meet every month or so and have an open forum for parents/caregivers so that they are able to find resources, friendship and a sense of strength. Your child does not have to have a firm diagnosis either; if you suspect any signs of anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder or any other mood disorder you are more than, welcome.

Let’s face it raising children is never easy…especially when other issues are involved. So please think about coming to our meeting and if you have a chance check out FKMAD’s site at www.fkmad.org.