The Open Society Mental Health Initiative

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Mental Health Blogs

 

Addiction

Anxiety

Bipolar Disorder

Children´s Mental Health

Depression

General Resources

Psychiatry

Women´s Mental Health

 

Addiction

Addiction Blog offers news about trends and discoveries in the treatment of addiction. More information is available at: http://addictionblog.org/.

Addiction and Recovery blog provides commentary on drug and alcohol addiction, treatment, and recovery. More information is available at: http://www.dawnfarm.org/blog.html.

Hazeldon - Thought for the Day blog offers daily affirmations and meditations for those in recovery. More information is available at: http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view?catId=1901.

Rehab Survival Guide offers diverse perspectives on drug and alcohol addiction. More information is available at: http://rehabsurvivalguide.blogspot.com/.

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Anxiety

Anxiety Insights is a blog on anxiety topics including: OCD, panic attacks, and phobias. Insights are provided on related news and treatments. More information is available at: http://www.anxietyinsights.info/.

The Reality of Anxiety is a popular blog on anxiety and panic disorders. Aimee, the author, suffers from social anxiety and chronicles her journey here. More information is available at: http://anxiousnomore.blogspot.com/.

We Worry: A Blog for the Anxious is a group blog dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic anxiety, stress, panic attacks, and depression. More information is available at: http://weworry.wordpress.com/.

You Don't Have to Suffer from Anxiety is a blog written by a person with an anxiety disorder. It gives first-hand advice on coping. More information is available at: http://anxiety.wordpress.com/.

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Bipolar Disorder

Beyond Meds blog chronicles one person's journey off psychiatric medications. It deals with the withdrawal as a result of stopping medication, as well as the effectiveness of alternative treatments. More information is available at: http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/.

I Am Bipolar blog offers "random scribblings from a bipolar mind." More information is available at: http://www.iambipolar.ca/blog/.

John McManamy's SharePosts blog is a information resource on bipolar disorder. McManamy was recently awarded a Mogens Schou Award for Public Service for his work in the area. More information is available at: http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/15/.

Living the Scientific Life is a blog by a writer known as GrrlScientist writing about her academic career in science, as well as her struggles with mental health. More information is available at: http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/.

The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive is a blog on the struggle with bipolar disorder. More information is available at: http://thesecretlifeofamanicdepressive.wordpress.com/.

Sue Bergeson's SharePosts by expert and advocate Sue Bergeson is a blog on all things concerning bipolar disorder. More information is available at: http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/116/.

The Trouble With Spikol blog by Liz Spikol, a contributing editor of Philadelphia Weekly, is about her experiences with bipolar disorder. More information is available at: http://trouble.philadelphiaweekly.com/.

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Children´s Mental Health

Half Full: Science for Raising Happy Kids blog teaches how to foster good mental health from the very beginning. It offers topical parenting advice, as well as commentary on the latest research findings related to child psychology. More information is available at: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/half_full/.

It Takes a Village to Raises a Child is a blog by a child abuse survivor and covering a range of mental health issues. More information is available at: http://villageofmany.wordpress.com/.

Kids´ Stuff blog by a psychologist discusses various topics related to children and adolescents.  More information is available at: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/kid-stuff.

Life with ADHD blog is written by the father of a child with ADHD. It has ADHD news, information, and current ADD/ADHD research. More information is available at: http://lifewithadhd.com/.

Teen Mental Health blog presents information relevant to teenage mental health. More information is available at: http://blog.teenmentalhealth.org/.

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Depression

A Beautiful Revolution blog by Andre Jordan offers his "depression doodles," which express his ever-changing moods. More information is available at: http://www.abeautifulrevolution.com/blog/.

Beyond Blue blog by best-selling author Therese J. Borchard offers a spiritual guide through depression. More information is available at: http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/.

Depression Introspection is an anonymous blog is written by a young female suffering from bipolar disorder. Here, she focuses on the depressive state. It is personal, frank, and offers sound advice to others who suffer from depression. More information is available at: http://deepintro.typepad.com/depression_introspection/.

My Journey With Depression blog is written by Addy, who suffers from bipolar disorder, depression, and self-inflicted harm. More information is available at: http://www.myjourneywithdepression.com/.

Optimism Software blog offers anti-depression information. More information is available at: http://www.findingoptimism.com/

The Pursuit of Happiness blog chronicles one man´s battle with depression and his experience with St. John's Wort. The blog provides a first-hand glimpse at a person's ups and downs through various treatments. More information is available at: http://happinesspursuing.blogspot.com/.

Space and Time blog offers sometimes self-deprecating views of depression. More information is available at: [MH1] . http://caffeinatedlissy.wordpress.com/about/

The Splintered Mind blog by Douglas Cootey deals with AD/HD and depression. It chronicles how he is overcoming his conditions and leading a more fulfilling life. More information is available at: http://thesplinteredmind.blogspot.com/.

Storied Mind blog has built a small community based on the idea that writing stories is a useful method of fighting the effects of depression and related mood disorders. More information is available at: http://www.storiedmind.com/.

Commitment to Living is a blog by a family psychologist that offers insightful notes on suicide risk and prevention. This is a useful resource for those who are affected by depression, either directly or indirectly. More information is available at: http://commitmenttoliving.com/.

Walking the Black Dog is an anonymously written blog by someone who is overcoming depression. More information is available at: http://walkingtheblackdog.com/.

Wing of Madness blog addresses clinical depression and offers a guide to depressed readers on how to overcome their condition. The blog is just one area of a growing community. More information is available at: http://www.wingofmadness.com/.


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General Resources

Blogs - A Mental Health Guide offers a review of mental health blogs. More information is available at: http://www.psychminded.co.uk/news/news2006/sept06/Blogs.htm.

Blogflux offers a directory of mental health blogs. More information is available at: http://dir.blogflux.com/cat/mental-health_2.html.

Eating Disorders Blogs supports recovery from anorexia, bulimia, and related disorders. More information is available at: http://www.eatingdisordersblogs.com/.

Furious Seasons blog by a long-term psychiatric patient offers a critical and first-hand account of the modern mental health industry. More information is available at: http://furiousseasons.com/.

Mental Health News blog keeps readers up to date with depression, anxiety, addictions and general mental health news. More information is available at: http://www.mental-health-news.org/.

Mental Health Blog is Meg´s blog on various mental health issues, from addiction to homelessness. More information is available at: http://www.mentalhealthblog.com/.

Mental Health Sanctuary hosts a variety of blogs on diverse mental health issues. More information is available at: http://www.mhsanctuary.com/mh/blog.htm.

Neurological Correlates blog presents the neuroscience of dysfunctional behavior from psychosis to obesity, and provides insights into the science behind a host of mental illnesses. More information is available at: http://neurologicalcorrelates.com/wordpress/.

The NMHAC Mental Health Blog brings fresh perspectives and thought-provoking stories from the media. More information is available at: http://nostigma.org/blog/.

Psychology Today Blogs is a group blog on a variety of topics written by experts who write for Psychology Today. More information is available at: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/.

Providentia is a blog by a psychologist and Red Cross disaster management volunteer about psychology topics around the globe. More information is available at: http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/.

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Psychiatry

BrainBlog by Dr. Anthony Risser covers news about our knowledge of the brain and behavior. More information is available at: http://www.neuropsychological.blogspot.com/.

Brain Blogger reviews the latest news and stories related to neuroscience, psychiatry, and neurology. More information is available at: http://brainblogger.com/.

The Carlat Psychiatry Blog offers one doctor's thoughts on the current state of the health industry, particularly where medical education is concerned. More information is available at: http://carlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com/.

Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look offers a critical look at psychiatric medications, science, marketing, psychiatry in general, and occasionally clinical psychology. More information is available at: http://clinpsyc.blogspot.com/.

Frontier Psychiatrist blog is anonymously written by a London psychiatrist offering a fly-on-the-wall perspective of modern psychiatry. More information is available at: http://frontierpsychiatrist.co.uk/.

In the Room is a blog by Chris Allan, a clinical psychologist, writing on various psychotherapeutic techniques and issues. More information is available at: http://gandalwaven.typepad.com/intheroom/.

Just Noticeable Differences is a blog by a psychologist and scientist, and covers a wide range of topics, from mental health to politics. More information is available at: http://justnoticeabledifferences.blogspot.com/.

Peter H. Donnelly's Mental Health Blog offers a critical opinion of psychiatry. More information is available at: http://bazookajoe7.blogspot.com/.

The Psychiatrist Blog is written by Dr. Michelle Tempest, a psychiatrist and editor of The Future of NHS. She discusses psychiatry, politics, and other topics. More information is available at: http://drmichelletempest.blogspot.com/.

Psychological Perspectives blog by Dr. Deborah Serani offers her perspective on a variety of psychological topics. More information is available on: http://drdeborahserani.blogspot.com/.

Shrink Rap is a mental health blog written by three "shrinks" and intended for an audience of fellow psychiatrists. More information is available at: http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com/.

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Women´s Mental Health

Anxiety is a blog on the MGH Center for the Women´s Mental Health website. More information is available at: http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/category/blog/blog-topics/anxiety/.

MGH Center for Women´s Health has a blog dedicated to mental health issues and concerns affecting women. More information is available at: http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/blog/.

Save your sanity for later is a blog by Erika on her experience of depression since she was 12 years old. Now a grown woman, she still battles depression and offers a unique insight. More information is available at: http://saveyoursanity.livejournal.com/.

Women´s Well-Being and Mental Health is a blog on a variety of mental health issues affecting women, including post-partum depression, self-esteem, mood disorders, dieting, etc. More information is available at: http://www.womens-wellbeing-and-mental-health.com/.

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Highlights

1) Dumping Grounds For Forgotten People

An investigation by Bulgarian journalist Yana Buhrer Tavanier on the mental care institutions in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.   

Please visit the website dedicated to the investigation and view the new promotional video.


Judith Klein, director of the OSMHI (Open Society Mental Health Initiative) has written a foreword to the article, which appears in the newsletter of the European Coalition for Community Living, Issue No. 10, October 2009 and also on the investigation website.


2) Report of the Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care

A report on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care was handed over to Commissioner Vladimír ?pidla on September 23, 2009. The report was drafted by a group of independent experts convened by Commissioner Spidla in February 2009 to address the issues of institutional care reform in their complexity.  The report is also available in Bulgarian, Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian.

Films

Karin Dom - a training and resource centre for children with special needs and their families

This short film was made following a BBC production about a children's institution in Mogilino, Bulgaria. The film features MHI partner organization Karin Dom and highlights what community-based alternatives for children can be like in Bulgaria.

UN Disability Convention

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities received its 20th ratification on April 3, 2008, triggering the entry into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol on May 3, 2008. This marks a major milestone in the effort to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Information on the convention process:
Convention in Easy to Read
View the list of signatories
Countries that have ratified the Convention
ICRPD Ratification Toolkit
Convention and Inclusive Education
View more information

 

News reports on the Convention:
Agreement on New UN Convention
Urging Implementation
Archive Webcast: Convention Signing 
Record Number of Countries Sign
Secretary-General Ban Hails Entry Into Force Of Treaty On Disability Rights
More news reports

Publications:
UN Handbook for Parliamentarians on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol
First Implementation Manual For The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities (Addressed Specifically To Users And Survivors Of Psychiatry)


Ratify Now (The campaign to support global grassroots efforts to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).

Films about Inclusion

Foster Care for Children with Disabilities: English ** Russian

I Want to Work and I Can Work!

Living Proof: The right to live in the community

Reality - film on personal assistance

Being an Unperson. A short film about the experience of dehumanization within the care system.

In My Language. A short film about autism and nonverbal communication.

A Way of Describing Autism. A short film by Dave Spicer and Amanda Baggs.

Equalise It!

A Manifesto for Disability Equality in Development Cooperation

The international committee of UK Disabled People's Council (formerly BCODP) has written this manifesto in the light of the signing of the UN Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

To read the campaign launch letter, please click here.

Organisations who wish to sign up to the Manifesto are asked to contact Bill Albert or Mark Harrison so that their name and logo can be added to the list of signatories.