Education, Alliance Help Families Deal With Mental Illness

The Shah family of Millstone Township — Shrabanee (from left), Arjun, Pradeep and Lipica — are shown at Arjun’s graduation from Collier High School at Wickatunk. At age 7, Arjun, now 20, began exhibiting what his mother described as unusual behavorial signs. More than seven years later, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. (PHOTO COURTESY SHAH FAMILY)

Asbury Park Press

More than seven years had elapsed from the time Arjun Shah’s family first noticed his symptoms until he was accurately diagnosed.

“”My son began demonstrating unusual signs at 7 years old, and I thought it was bad-boy behavior,” said his mother, Shrabanee, of Millstone Township. “”I did some horrible things because I didn’t know.”

Neither did his doctors. Shrabanee and her husband, Pradeep, struggled with a stream of labels for Arjun such as OCD, ADHD, split personality and suicidal disorders. At one time, psychiatrists had prescribed eight different medications.

“”He was like a walking zombie,” Shrabanee said.

Still, nothing seemed to help until the couple attended some NAMI-NJ (National Alliance on Mental Illness) classes recommended by a friend.

“”When I took my first class, I started to learn how the brain works. And when I heard the others talking, I recognized what we were dealing with, the mood swings and behaviors,” Shrabanee said.

Soon after, Arjun had a new psychiatrist who reduced his medications — he’s now down to just one — and a diagnosis, at age 15, of bipolar disorder.

The Shahs joined NAMI’s Visions for Tomorrow (now called NAMI Basics) classes and subsequently the organization’s 12-week Family-to-Family sessions. Today, the couple are educators and facilitators for several of the nonprofit agency’s programs.

“”Mental illness is so misunderstood. It’s heart wrenching,” Shrabanee said. Yet, it’s “”not a death sentence. It doesn’t need to take your life away if you’re given understanding, education and support, without the stigma.”

That stigma is lessened, she added, when people realize that the brain is just a part of the body and has “”a right to get sick,” just like any other part.

And stereotyping based on the family’s Indian heritage created another stumbling block for the Shahs.

“”You look to the doctors for support and they say, this can’t be, because multicultural people are supposed to be top-notch. You’re supposed to be doctors and engineers, and your children are supposed to be brilliant, A students,” Shrabanee said.

“”But it has nothing to do with environment, culture or race. I regret how long I lived with the guilt, feeling this was my fault.”

The NAMI education gave the Shahs the tools to manage life with mental illness, Shrabanee said, even as Arjun continued to experience a series of crises. “”He was grandiose, suicidal; I was constantly walking on eggshells. As caregivers, we go into panic mode.”

And excessive anxiety can lead to physical ailments, Shrabanee added. She developed a peptic ulcer.

“”I was extremely nervous and jittery because I didn’t know how to react. But you can learn to deal with this. Now I can stay calm, stay focused, and most important, take a deep breath before doing anything.”

Arjun, who turns 21 this summer, is an Eagle Scout and a sponsored skateboarder. With his illness stabilized, he attended some community college classes and worked until recently at a department store.

“”I have hope he will lead an independent life someday,” his mother said. “”But it doesn’t happen overnight.”

NAMI’s slogan, and her own personal mantra, she said, is “”don’t give up hope.”

The family, including Arjun’s sister, Lipica, currently a student at New York University, also participated in NAMI’s South Asian Mental Health Association of Jersey (SAMHAJ), one of four culturally specific support groups organized by the agency.

“”It’s most beneficial when you walk into a room full of other people familiar with your culture, your language, suffering from the same thing. You feel like you’re among family. To be guided by people with similar backgrounds is a
gift,” Shrabanee said.

Pradeep and Shrabanee now facilitate the group. The couple also created an alumni program for NAMI families to meet once a month at a potluck breakfast.

“”It’s a wonderful way to stay connected, to vent, to share, to come back and bring in new information for the group,” Shrabanee said. The Shahs say their goal is to give back, to encourage other families dealing with mental illness.
“”People are hiding this in their homes and getting worse every day. They need to come out and acknowledge it,” Shrabanee said. “”I believe early intervention is crucial because we didn’t have it.”

Mental Illness, Demonic Possession, And The Christian

I have been a Christian almost 34 years.  In that time I have gone from being a naive believer who trusted pretty much anyone in a position of spiritual authority to one who would seem jaded if you were to compare where I am now to those early years.  Somewhere along the way reality came knocking and I realized things weren’t so simple as just believing everything you heard from those in elevated positions.

Many things I read and heard early on didn’t stand the test of time and more importantly the scrutiny of God’s word.  One of those things is that a Christian could be demon possessed.

I reject many things I read as well as hear from the pulpit today.  Does that make me jaded?  Not one bit.  I’ve learned it’s okay to not agree with everything that is being taught or written about without having an attitude problem.  HOW I disagree is the issue I need to be concerned about.  How we disagree with others is something we must all be concerned with.  If we aren’t then we run the risk of our pride leading us astray.

As the title of this article suggests I want to address the idea that mental illness is a sign of demonic possession.  I understand that there are those who after much study have taken this position.  At the same time there are those who hold this position but do so in such a way they recklessly wound innocent believers. It’s also quite clear that for some there is money to be made.

How often have you heard that mental hospitals are filled with those who are demon possessed?  I always wondered how folks were able to so casually make such a statement.  How exactly did they know?  Why wasn’t a ministry set up to go into these places to cast these demons out?  Were those people the throw aways of our society?  It didn’t click for me.

I will be up front in saying that I believe in demonic activity today as described in Ephesians 6:10-24. I also imagine there very well could be individuals in mental hospitals who are demon possessed.

In saying that I am compelled to also say the cruelest thing anyone could say to a Christian with a mental illness is that they are inhabited by a demon.  The idea is laughable yet some believe it. Bob Larson makes a living through his exorcism and deliverance ministry.  His website can be found by clicking   HERE.

He even offers a questionnaire for you to take to see if maybe you have a demon.  Look at the questions and it’s clear we are ALL possible candidates!  Imagine the potential dollars to be made from those who take this little test and are convinced they need deliverance?

As you look at Larson’s website you’ll notice all sorts of opportunities for you to invest in the kingdom.  What a peach.  Sadly Bob Larson isn’t the only one out there who isn’t ready and willing to spiritually abuse and separate undiscerning and desperate Christians from their money.

Until recently there was a very large international ministry called “Mercy Ministries” that had close ties with  “Hillsong Church” in Australia. They have been exposed in exploiting young women who went into six month programs for issues such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. I’m sure this is a part of the Hillsong story that will surprise  many of us  as we only know Hillsong through their music.

The professionals from “Mercy Ministries” didn’t show much mercy at all as they exploited the young women who came their way. Those who were counseling them and doing these exorcisms appeared to have absolutely no qualifications to be doing what they were advertised to be offering.  Imagine entrusting your daughter to these people.

Hillsong has now officially cut ties with Mercy Ministries due to financial issues! Here are three links for you to take a look at.  The first two address “Mercy Ministries” and the last addresses their demise.       HERE.   HERE.  AND HERE.

Bob Larson is not taken seriously by many but somehow he keeps on truckin’. It surprises me that Hillsong and their  not so Merciful Ministries couldn’t outlast Bob.  Thankfully they didn’t. What has been perpetrated upon vulnerable and desperate young women in the name of Jesus is staggering.

I become angry just thinking about those who lay the “you must have sin in your life” business on some of the most Godly people they might ever encounter.  To suggest demonic possession could ruin a person.  To do so in the name of Jesus……….

Years ago a man from church had his cousin give me a call.  The call ended with this man casting demons out of me.  Thankfully I didn’t take him seriously.  Having that happen to a young woman battling an eating disorder is beyond my comprehension.

I do know what it’s like to be hurting to the core of your being and becoming desperate.  That is a very vulnerable place to be.  That’s why the Benny Hinn’s of the world are so wealthy.  They take advantage of the desperate and hurting.

If you are considering or know a person who is considering a ministry to possibly deliver a believer who is suffering, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  I can not imagine how a believer must feel after a demon has been supposedly cast out of their body only to find themselves no better off.  Consider the ramifications.

I am open to the fact there are different ways to treat  mental illness in the Christian community.  Exorcism will never be an option.

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

2Timothy 2:15  Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

1John 4:1  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1John 4:2  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God;
1John 4:3  and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world.
1John 4:4  You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The Soloist Is Cutting A CD

Last year “The Soloist” was released nation wide.  The movie starred Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. and was met with critical acclaim.  If you haven’t seen the movie I suggest you rent it or visit the official website located    HERE.

This article by Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times brings us up to date on Nathaniel Ayres AKA The Soloist.  Please follow the link at the end of the article to view a video of Nathaniel playing music for his upcoming CD.  If interested you can follow the other link to purchase the CD.

With a little help from his friends, the Soloist cuts his first CD.

I was beginning to think we’d never get around to making the CD that Nathaniel Anthony Ayers has been talking about for years.

Last summer, on a trip to San Francisco, where Mr. Ayers was honored for his spirit by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, we came up with the perfect name for it:

“Putting on Ayers.”

But when readers and friends asked when it would be available, I had no good answer.

Some days Mr. Ayers is fine; some days not.

Some days he wants companionship; other days he needs to be alone.

As for the CD, he’d back off one day, calling it a terrible idea. And then he’d be ready to roll the next day.

Finally, a few weeks ago, it all seemed to be coming together. We had a day booked in a Silver Lake studio. A pal of his, Joe Russo, had agreed to fly in from Connecticut to record with him.

L.A. Philharmonic pianist Joanne Pearce Martin and violinist Robert Gupta had juggled schedules. And Michael Balzary, also known as Flea of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers, was eager to join us.

Then, the night before, Mr. Ayers — a former Juilliard student who was homeless and playing a two-string violin when I met him five years ago — backed out of the recording session.

“It’s not going to happen,” he said, complaining of an upset stomach that I suspected was caused in part by a case of nerves.

I woke the next day to an urgent message from Mr. Ayers: He was feeling better and ready to go, and I was relieved I hadn’t called off the whole thing.

An hour later, he canceled, and I lost a few more strands of hair.

The other musicians were standing by. Would Mr. Ayers reconsider?

OK, he said.

I picked him up on skid row and packed his bass, cello, violin, guitar, trumpet and flute into my car. He left his viola, French horn, keyboards and trombone in his room, perhaps saving them for his second CD.

On the way to Silver Lake, Mr. Ayers was nervous but game. He wanted to know how the day would play out, and I reminded him there was no strategy other than for him to jam on as many instruments as he cared to play. Steven Argila, a pianist and owner of the studio, had met Mr. Ayers before and was ready to go with the flow, and the same was true of Stephen Krause, the recording engineer.

Bass player Flea and drummer Scott Gold, my mate at The Times, beat us to the studio. I think it’s fair to say Mr. Ayers had never met anyone named Flea at Juilliard, but musicians are musicians, and they were all playing together before long.

Mr. Ayers was on piano, Flea and Gold backing him up. Mr. Ayers had a smile on his face, and Flea seemed happy just to be there. He had begun e-mailing me when I first started writing about Mr. Ayers, telling me he was inspired by the story and would love to play with him if possible.

“For me, it’s just having a belief and a faith in the healing power of music,” Flea said, telling me he could identify with the way music gives Mr. Ayers sanctuary during tough times.

Flea described himself as “a street urchin” in his youth, running around L.A. and getting into trouble before music rescued him. After the success of the Chili Peppers, he set up the Silver Lake Music Conservatory, which has taught music to hundreds of kids, whether or not they can pay. It was just such a nonprofit, the Music School Settlement in Cleveland, that gave Mr. Ayers his start 45 years ago.

Ayers and Flea have another thing in common: They are both still students. Flea studied music theory last year at USC and has been learning piano. Mr. Ayers started on the bass but can’t stop exploring other instruments. He’d rather struggle with the viola, say, for the sake of the challenge, than impress on the instrument he’s mastered.

“That’s exciting,” Flea said, telling me the artistry is in the risk.

Yes, but it makes for mixed results. Mr. Ayers played violin, cello, bass, piano and trumpet with varying degrees of success. There were moments of brilliance, with Mr. Ayers swinging on cello and bass, and there were moments that won’t make the CD cut.

He’s got his own sound, for sure, unstructured and sometimes unresolved, manic, lost. He plays his life, and he plays it in a jazzy, bluesy voice framed by the classical training. I wonder sometimes if formal treatment, which Mr. Ayers resists, would smooth his expression or remove the soul.

Flea and Argila were wowed by Mr. Ayers’ rich, haunting tone on trumpet. And after giving Mr. Ayers an impromptu lesson on violin, Gupta insisted the man’s got magic fingers.

“What I notice in him when we play together is a sort of different glint in his eyes; there’s a different character,” Gupta said. “It’s the student at Juilliard, the really brilliant, talented, quick student. That hasn’t gone away.”

Nor has the dream that whatever instrument he holds in his hands, something is out there and possibly within reach, something pure and magical and uncompromised.

“Mr. Russo,” he asked his friend after the recording session, “do you think I could be good again?”

You can see video from the recording session Thursday night in my report on KCET’s SoCal Connected. For a preview, go to http://kcet.org/socal/2010/02/the-soloist-in-a-duet.html. The CD “Putting on Ayers” will be available in several weeks at the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation, www.naayers.org, with proceeds benefiting arts programs at mental health agencies.

Flowing From Us: Streams in the Desert – February 7

“Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out!” Song of Solomon 4:16

Look at the meaning of this prayer a moment. Its root is found in the fact that, as delicious odors may lie latent in a spice tree, so graces may lie unexercised and undeveloped in a Christian’s heart. There is many a plant of profession; but from the ground there breathes forth no fragrance of holy affections or of godly deeds. The same winds blow on the thistle bush and on the spice tree, but it is only one of them which gives out rich odors.

Sometimes God sends severe blasts of trial upon His children to develop their graces. Just as torches burn most brightly when swung to and fro; just as the juniper plant smells sweetest when flung into the flames; so the richest qualities of a Christian often come out under the north wind of suffering and adversity. Bruised hearts often emit the fragrance that God loveth to smell.

“I had a tiny box, a precious box Of human love–my spikenard of great price; I kept it close within my heart of hearts, And scarce would lift the lid lest it should waste its perfume on the air. One day a strange deep sorrow came with crushing weight, and fell upon my costly treasure, sweet and rare, and broke the box to atoms. All my heart rose in dismay and sorrow at this waste, but as I mourned, behold a miracle of grace Divine. My human love was changed to Heaven’s own, and poured in healing streams on other broken hearts, while soft and clear a voice above me whispered, “Child of Mine, with comfort wherewith thou art comforted, from this time forth, go comfort others, and thou shalt know blest fellowship with Me, whose broken heart of love hath healed the world.”

Beautiful Christian Music- Praise & Worship, February 6th

Song List

1.  My Savior My God-  Aaron Shust

2.  I Need You To Love Me-  Barlow Girl

3.  Majesty-  Delirious

4.  Psalm 8-  ??

5.  Awesome God-  Michael W. Smith

6.  Bring Me Down-  Pillar

7.  In Your Presence-  Jason Upton

8.  You’re Beautiful-  Phil Wickham

9.  All The Earth-  Parachute Band

10.  Bring The Rain-  MercyMe

11.  Restore-  Sherri Youngward

Ramblin’ Man

I’d like to see the New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl.  I think it would be a great story for the tragedy stricken city.

I had no idea until today that the Portland Trailblazers weren’t in the Pacific Division any more.  I wanted to see how close they were to the Lakers.  Oh well!

I have turned into a SyFy freak!  I’m discovering old shows I had never seen and I think they are great.  My favorite is Battlestar Galactica followed closely by Stargate 1.  I also enjoy Farscape and Doctor Who.

The last season of LOST started off in awesome fashion.  I am very curious how they will tie things up at the end.

24 has let me down so far.  They brought in Katee Sackhoff from Battlestar Galacataca and her character is ruining the show.  Terribly written and I hope they change that story arc pronto!

Saw a very cool piece about Nathaniel Ayres last night on a local show.  He’s the main character in the movie, “The Soloist.”  He’s cutting a CD with proceeds going to charity.  I’ll be doing an article on him with an update next week.

If you have experienced mental illness in your life feel free to contact me if you would be up to sharing your story.  Even if you are a work in progress.  People relate to you and will benefit from what you share.  erunner54@gmail.com

What are you reading?

Do you read the Old Testament?

How are you doing emotionally?  Are things tough right now.  If you need prayer please share your request on the prayer thread.  If things are going well I’d like to know.

My mother is a good dominoes player.  Loves to win!

I am good at Scrabble.

Almost bought Yahtzee the other day

Listening to Big Band music as I type.

Good night John-Boy!

Prayer Requests & Praise Reports, February 5th

“The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!’”

J. Hudson Taylor

Past Prayer Requests

Set Free- erunner – we still have no building for our church it’s not easy to share with another ministry since we are limited to having any special services. Please continue to pray that God will answer soon. And when he does I’ll be sure to let you know. I will continue to lift these other prayers you have here in your website I know they are more serious then what I am requesting. God’s Richest Blessings.

Angela-  Keep Angela in prayer as she continues on her road of recovery from Anorexia.

Allan-  Our nephew’s wife has an aggressive form of MS. There is a remarkable procedure that has been going on in Italy that is virtually healing those with MS. The family has submitted Tiffany’s name to be one of those selected for the procedure. Please pray that could happen as she has been through much as described below by our nephew’s mother.

“Tiff has had virtually no relief for the past 2 1/2 years and is not doing well. Her MS is progressing rapidly. She was recently started on a new treatment plan, IV Immunoglobulin therapy and Avonex injections every 10 days. She has failed all other treatments. She started out on the Avonex initially, but it didn’t do much for her. They are hoping the combination of that and the immunoglobulin will help.

I want to give you my sincere thanks for all of your prayers for them. You will never know how much it means to me.”

Okie Preacher-  Battling unknown physical problems and depression.  “I have a physical problem that the doctors have not been able to identify. It has been characterized by severe muscle pain and weakness, joint pain, fatigue, shortage of breath, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, and coughing fits that almost cause me to pass out.”

Allan-  Pastor John Duncan is hospitalized as the result of a motorcycle accident. His leg was severely damaged. Please pray that John’s leg would heal completely. Update:  John is now home and recovering.  Still needs much prayer as he is dealing with severe pain.

Long Term Prayer Requests

Allan-  Oden’s six month old son had a liver transplant.  Pray that his body doesn’t reject it and that he recovers swiftly and completely.

White Horses- Prayer for anxious thoughts and worrying.

Allan-  My mother is going to need bypass surgery on both legs.  She has Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Shaun Sells-  Keep Shaun in prayer for wisdom as he seeks to continue his ministry to those with mental illness in his church.

Dusty- Continued prayer for deep depression.

Rachel-  Continued prayer as she struggles with bi-polar disorder.

Natalie Tan-   Keep Natalie in prayer as she continues on the road of recovery from Anorexia.

Allan-  Our nephew’s wife has M.S.

Dorci- I would love it if people could pray that our son Eric would fall in love with Jesus and would follow Him with all his heart. Thank you

Praise Report

Allan- Our daughter shared with us that her friend’s father has been declared cancer free. He had throat cancer and a subsequent surgery that included the removal of his voice box. The family has been through a difficult time as things did not seem to be going well.

Please pray that God would see fit to allow Kurt many more healthy and peaceful years and most of all that he would come to know Christ if he has yet to receive Him as Savior.

Our Grandson

Connor is now eight days old.  Today he had his first doctor’s appointment and all is well.  While he was there he turned over from his stomach to his back!  He’ll be doing push-ups soon! 

Self Harm: Some Kids Hurt Themselves To Feel Better

Editor’s note: Theodore Beauchaine is the Robert Bolles and Yasuko Endo Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington, where he is also director of the Child and Adolescent Adjustment Project. He is editor of “Child and Adolescent Psychopathology,” associate editor of the journal “Psychophysiology” and a contributing author to the upcoming “Oxford Handbook of Suicide and Self-injury.”

This article is taken from CNN.com

Seattle, Washington (CNN) — They come from all walks of life. One teenage girl cuts her thighs after piano lessons to avoid the crushing pressure for perfection. She sees a therapist twice a week, but she never gets better.

Another young woman makes dangerous cuts to her arms and wrists when she is anxious. She is on her fourth foster placement because no one can handle her behavior. Another burns her fingers with a cigarette lighter when she hears her parents fight. She’s been hospitalized twice in the past year.

Stories such as these are heard daily by those of us who study and treat self-injury — that is, any activity resulting in intentional bodily damage to oneself. It is a syndrome found across cultures and socioeconomic classes (although it tends to be a bit more common among the more well-off), and it appears to be on the rise.

Though cutting the skin with sharp objects is the most common method used, especially by girls, other means of self-injury including head banging, overdosing, burning, hanging, drowning and shooting.

Given its potential for death and serious injury, this phenomenon has received increasing media attention, with a number of movies, such as “Secretary” in 2002, portraying the phenomenon.

From my perspective, this is an urgent public health issue, yet funding for research and treatment lags well behind funding for other behavioral disorders, such as autism.

Self-injury is troubling for several reasons.

First of all, almost 400,000 adolescents and young adults were treated medically for self-inflicted injuries in 2006, the most recent year for which these injuries were counted.

One recent study revealed that the number of children and adolescents in the U.S. who were hospitalized for depression, which is sometimes accompanied by self-injury among youth, increased by 27 percent between 1997 and 2007.

Second, self-injury is associated with crippling psychiatric distress. Girls who engage in such behaviors score lower than their peers on almost all measures of positive psychological adjustment, such as sociability, and higher than their peers on almost all measures of negative psychological adjustment, such as depression and delinquency.

Third, adolescent self-injury is linked to adult borderline personality disorder — a chronic and difficult to treat mental health condition characterized by impulsive behaviors, difficulties self-regulating emotions, mood instability and high rates of suicide.

Finally, self-injury is the single best predictor of suicide. Intentional self-injurers are about 75 times more likely to kill themselves than others in the population, an especially alarming statistic.

Scientists are not sure why rates of self-injury appear to be on the rise, or how to stop the trend.

When teens who self-injure are asked why they do it, most say the behaviors help them regulate overwhelming negative emotions, including anger, sadness and rejection. This emotion-regulating function may occur because injuries trigger the release of endogenous opioids, chemicals produced by the body that relieve pain. Over repeated episodes of self-harm, the endogenous opioid system may become more efficient at reducing physical and psychological pain.

Recent studies conducted at high schools and universities reveal that almost 20 percent of individuals self-injure at least once, and about 11 percent self-injure repeatedly.

Given how common the behavior is — and the alarmingly high risk of eventual suicide — one might expect self-injury to be a major public health priority. One might also expect considerable investment into basic science aimed at understanding the brain mechanisms involved and treatment-outcome research aimed at developing effective interventions.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Little is known about the brain mechanisms of self-injury, particularly in adolescence, and traditional approaches to treatment usually involve inpatient hospitalization, which is more cost-effective than individual care.

However, when treated in groups, as is often the case in hospitalization, self-injuring girls often become worse, not better, an effect known as contagion. (Note that this can also occur through access to Web sites and Web postings in which self-injurers share strategies.)

Nevertheless, there has been some progress toward understanding and treating adolescent self-injury.

On the basic research side, Christina Derbidge, a graduate student in my lab, is conducting a study in which the brains of adolescent girls who engage in self-injury are imaged as they cope with negative emotions.

On the treatment side, Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy at the University of Washington is signs of hope. The therapy is a variant of cognitive therapy and an effective treatment for adults with borderline personality disorder. It has been adapted to adolescent patients with encouraging results.

Despite these positive developments, a much greater investment is needed. For fiscal year 2010, the National Institutes of Health –far and away the primary source of funding for health research in the world — projects spending $41 million on suicide and suicide prevention (NIH does not report specific funding figures for self-injury).

In contrast, NIH expenditures for autism are expected to be $141 million in 2010. Corrected for the higher prevalence rate of suicide, this translates into a six-fold greater investment per person with autism.

Indeed, across the past five years, NIH has spent more than $700 million on autism research, with impressive results in terms of treatment effectiveness and our understanding of the genetic and neural underpinnings of the disorder. Given the urgency of preventing suicide among our youth, a similar investment is needed in self-injury research.

Three New Resources

As a result of doing the article titled “It can’t be depression I’m a Christian” I was able to contact Pastor Mark Mounts who wrote the article.  Along with being a Pastor Mark also works part time as a therapist.

With Mark’s permission the church he pastors, Community Christian Fellowship located in Houston Texas.  Their website can be found by clicking   HERE.

I am also linking to the Houston Center For Christian Counseling with locations in Sugar Land and Katy, Texas.  Mark works out of the Sugar Land location.  The website for the two locations is located   HERE.

Also being added is the International OCD Foundation  Their website can be found by clicking   HERE.  Below is a description of what looks to be an outstanding organization.

Founded by a group of people with OCD in 1986, the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is an international not-for-profit organization made up of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders, as well as their families, friends, professionals and others.  The mission and goals of the IOCDF are to:

• Educate the public and professionals about OCD in order to raise awareness and improve the quality of treatment provided;
• Support research into the cause of, and effective treatments for, OCD and related disorders;
• Improve access to resources for those with OCD and their families;
• Advocate and lobby for the OCD community.