Schizophrenia Linked to Higher Risk of Dying From Cancer

From HealthDay News

Cancer is the second leading cause of death for people with schizophrenia, after suicide, a new French study reports. Researchers from the University of Reims in France found that people with schizophrenia die from cancer at four times the rate of the general population, making it the second leading cause of death in that group. The study, published online in Cancer, said that doctors should pay closer attention to cancer prevention and early detection in people with schizophrenia. Lung cancer was a leading killer among men, possibly due to the high rate of smoking in the group. Among women, the risk of dying from breast cancer was significantly higher than in the general population. The higher death rate might be due to several factors, including a delay in diagnosis and less compliance to treatment. (HealthDay News, 6/23/09)

Frontline: The New Asylums

Note: This program was aired in 2005, but is worth watching.

PBS Frontline: POV

Fewer than 55,000 Americans currently receive treatment in psychiatric hospitals. Meanwhile, almost 10 times that number -- nearly 500,000 -- mentally ill men and women are serving time in U.S. jails and prisons. As sheriffs and prison wardens become the unexpected and often ill-equipped caretakers of this burgeoning population, they raise a troubling new concern: Have America's jails and prisons become its new asylums?

In "The New Asylums," FRONTLINE goes deep inside Ohio's state prison system to explore the complex and growing issue of mentally ill prisoners. With unprecedented access to prison therapy sessions, mental health treatment meetings, crisis wards, and prison disciplinary tribunals, the film provides a poignant and disturbing portrait of the new reality for the mentally ill.

Watch the full program here.

Media Opportunity: Depression Stories Wanted

From NAMI National:

A reporter working on a story about major depression would like to speak with someone who lives with depression and can share his or her candid experiences about how family helped them work through their depression. Specifically, she is interested in someone who can give examples of steps a person can take to ask their loved ones for help. For this story she cannot consider candidates with bipolar disorder.

Please send your name, phone number and a brief description of your experience (250 words or less) to Christine Armstrong. NAMI will not release any personal information to the media without your explicit consent.

Great Falls woman shares pain of suicide to help others

Cynde Jacobsen shared the story of her husband's suicide on a Great Falls news broadcast this week. She is a Center for Mental Health Foundation Board Member and longtime mental health advocate. Watch the video here. Cynde will be a keynote speaker at tomorrow's Beautiful Minds walk.

Report Finds Rural Mental Health Issues Overlooked

Rural Americans remain underserved in terms of health insurance coverage and mental health providers, a new report finds. The Center for Rural Affairs report, “Mental Health: Overlooked and Disregarded in Rural America,” points out that major depression rates in some rural areas significantly exceed those in urban areas. Teens and older adults in rural areas have significantly higher suicide rates than their urban counterparts. It calls for health care reform that includes an affordable, meaningful public health insurance option. And any such reform should also ensure that all Americans, rural and urban, have reasonable access to quality mental health care. (The Grand Island Independent, 5/29/09)

Good Mood Can Run a Long Time After Workout

Moderate exercise may lead to a happy day, a recent study shows. It has long been recognized that moderate exercise can cause mood improvement; however a study at the University of Vermont shows that better moods can be sustained up to 12 hours after the exercise is over.

"There are other studies that show there is acute improvement in mood after exercise, but we found those improvements are more durable than we thought," says Jeremy Sibold, an assistant professor in the University of Vermont's Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science.

That's an especially important finding for people who have depression or stress, he says.

"Daily exercise can improve your mood and mitigate some of the stressors of your day," Sibold says. "It's clear that exercise is critical for both physical health and mental health."

(USA Today 6/2/09)

Mental Health Education Program for Service Members and Their Families Unveils New Name and Enhancements

Military Pathways^TM offers anonymous mental health screenings year-round, by phone or online

Not all wounds happen on the battlefield. Some are not even physical. But all wounds need attention. To better reflect the multitude of educational offerings for military members and their families, we have changed the name of our military program from the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program^® to Military Pathways. Read more>

Mental TV Series

On May 26, FOX-TV aired the pilot episode of Mental, a "medical mystery drama" in which a new director of mental health services shakes up other psychiatrists at a Los Angeles hospital through “unorthodox methods” in treating psychiatric conditions and promoting recovery. Full episodes can be access on the FOX-TV site . NAMI StigmaBusters is interested in receiving comments.