News Pickup for 27 August 2007

Daily Mental Health News Pick Up

From the world

This is great news! I think if consumers learn more about their mental illness, certainly they would be able to manage their illness better.
We need to have more education programme not only for support workers, but also for consumers and their families.


Researchers make bipolar breakthrough
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Researchers-make-bipolar-breakthrough/2007/08/26/1188066920204.html#
(The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia)
August 26, 2007 - 11:29AM

Victorian researchers have made a world-first breakthrough in preventing relapses of manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
Their work has also cut the number of depressive relapses in patients by half.



I think we must learn the facts about mental illness, instead of relying on getting information only from those dramatic events brought by only small number of people with mental illness.
The article below is talking about Selective mutism, which Cho was diagnosed with, while attending public schools, but in my opinion, I think an immigrant becomes quiet or refuse to speak in the non-native-language-environment is common... I think the problem is there wasn't good enough support for him before his mental condition reaches a crisis level.

Coverage of Cho may renew stigma of mental illness, experts say
(Roanoke Times - Roanoke,VA,USA)
Sunday, August 26, 2007 By Duncan Adams

Seung-Hui Cho's mix of mental disorders and violence was grossly atypical of most mental health patients, several professionals said.