Blog Archives - Beyond The Body

Beyond The Body

Mental Health and media bias

1/29/2016

Actress and Girls star Lena Dunham has been one of the more vocal celebrity advocates of mental illness, frequently talks about her own struggles with anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder on social media. Most recently, she posted to Instagram about the media's portrayal of women taking medication as "exhausted" and "out-of-control" and how that needs to change.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-drexler/-mental-illness-gets-the_b_9113084.html

Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate

1/26/2016

Eating disorders are about excessive control, painful perfectionism, and stubborn self-hatred. Unfortunately, anorexia, bulimia, and related disorders exist at every number on the scale. Eating disorders do not discriminate. Ed will be happy to destroy your life at whatever size and weight you happen to be. Don’t give him the chance.
https://eyestillbrave.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/being-normal-weight-or-overweight-and-having-an-eating-disorder/

Mental Illness on Campus

1/22/2016

While there has been a considerable increase in the news surrounding student mental well-being in both Canada and the United States, this infographic from TopCounselingSchools.org really puts the growing issue of mental health issues including depression, stress, and suicide amongst our college and university students into perspective. Take a look now!

Mental Health on Campus

Source: TopCounselingSchools.org

The Power of Words - Mental Illness Jokes

1/21/2016

At some point in time, you've probably heard someone state something along the lines of "No blueberry muffins? I'm going to kill myself!" While these off-hand comments are often intended with humor and a lack of intent, a mental health advocate reminds us of how certain jokes about mental illness can be quite damaging and disrespectful to those with lived experiences, and only works to perpetuate the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Take a few moments to read this powerfully written article, and consider being more mindful of the impact of your words before cracking that next joke ...

"Mental health conditions aren't words you can just throw around to describe people. Your ex isn't so bipolar because your relationship was up and down. You're friend acting spacey isn't super ADD. Your brother isn't so OCD because he's a fastidious pereson and likes to match his sneakers to his outfit. The politician who's ideas you don't like isn't psychotic. Many people who have mental health conditions are people you would never suspect have them. Your friend who appears to be calm could have anxiety. Your neighbor who is a successful doctor could have bipolar disorder. There are so many people who are thriving with mental health conditions because they have received treatment and worked their butts off to get to where they are. They are not freaks, clowns, or monsters. They are valuable, wonderful human beings who have so much intellect, talent and creativity to contribute to the world. Stop calling people acting in negative ways mentally ill. It's incredibly offensive to people with mental health conditions."

For the full article, click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-griffin/4-jokes-about-mental-illness-you-need-to-stop-making_b_8932500.html

Did You Know ... The Arts Are Good For Your Mental Health!

1/20/2016

Do you enjoy artistic activities like painting, reading or crafting? Do you frequently attend a concert, fashion show, musical or peruse an art gallery? If not, new research suggests that perhaps we all should regularly engage in artistic activities for the benefit of our mental health!

In the preliminary study researchers found that individuals who participated in such artistic activities and events either in an active or receptive role at least 2 hours per week (100 hours annually) reported better mental well-being than those who were less engaged in humanities and the arts.

"Depending on a person's interests, the arts can provide a range of health enhancing opportunities, activities and events. Arts engagement increases happiness, confidence, self-esteem and reduces stress and social isolation."

"People need to give themselves permission to be creative and to make time for the arts activities and events that they enjoy."

For the full article, click here: http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/interest-in-arts-can-boost-mental-health-study-1.2735252

Link Between Gut Bacteria and Anorexia Nervosa?

1/19/2016

Recent evidence suggests that the ‪#‎gut‬ ‪#‎microbiome‬, the trillions of diverse‪#‎bacteria‬ that inhabit our intestines, could play a role in the progression of ‪#‎anorexia‬ ‪#‎nervosa‬. Read more about this association and the power of the “gut-brain-axis” below:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/…/151005121310.htm

Psych In The News - Week 89

1/17/2016

Catch up on all the news related to mental health and psychiatry from last week!

Resident Physician Mental Health Issues and The Issue of Confidentiality

1/15/2016

"Imagine you are an ambitious new worker at a powerhouse institution. Your job performance is soaring, but you frankly work like a dog. Your weeks top out at 80 hours, you get maybe a single 24-hour block of time off every 7 days, you work weekends, and you often work up to 30 hours straight in one stint, sleep at work, and eat exclusively from food options in the building. You rarely see the sun, your mother currently has to take care of your cat for you, and you are home so infrequently you cancelled your Internet and cable."

Sound familiar? For many new physicians and residents, this is the road working in the medical profession can frequently take. However, the problem of such a scenario is that it is the perfect environment to become overwhelmed, stressed, and eventually burnt out and becoming depressed, or even suicidal.

On the bright side, many residency programs and medical facilities are working hard to focus on resident wellness and put in place services to support their learners and staff. However, as this article points out, often these supports tend to be offered at the resident's home school or hospital, leading to fears and worries related to confidentiality. What is needed instead, as the physician who authored the article points out, are supports and mental health professionals to talk to who are not affiliated with their colleagues or place of employment.

Do you agree? Would you feel comfortable seeking mental health support at your place of employment?

For the full article, click here: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2015/12/dont-poop-eat-mental-health-services-young-physicians.html

Placentophagy and Postpartum depression

1/14/2016

Kim Kardashian-West is eating her placenta after giving birth to her 2nd child in the belief that it will prevent postpartum depression. This trend of "placentophagy" or eating of the placenta is not new however the celebrities like Kim bring it into spotlight...

http://www.foodworldnews.com/articles/63104/20151216/kim-kardashian-eats-her-placenta-to-avoid-postnatal-depression.htm

How do you feel about it?

#postpartum #depression #kim #kardashian #placenta

Universities and Mental Health Accommodations

1/13/2016

When York University student Navi Dhanota requested academic supports in the context of mental health issues, York requested that she provide the specific diagnosis, which she thought was unnecessary and only perpetuated stigmatization and the fear of other affected students seeking additional supports. As a result, Dhanota filed a human rights complaint against York's requirement and finally after a two year long battle, a settlement has been reached. Thanks to Dhanota, the university's guidelines have been rewritten and now students at York no longer have to label their mental illness in order to gain access to on-campus supports. While Dhanota's determination and advocacy efforts have made a huge impact on York University, it is also paving the way for other schools, as it encourages other universities and campuses across the country to reconsider their own similar policies.

"Post-secondary schools shouldn’t require students to name their disability for fair access to supports, a government-funded report advises. It’s not only about peoples’ privacy rights. A medical diagnosis is just unnecessary for schools to provide critical help, says Michael Condra, a psychologist and lead author of Academic Accommodations, which outlined ways to make campuses more accessible. Labelling a complex illness such as depression, which can manifest in many different ways, won’t do as much to help a student as a doctor noting exactly how the illness affects that person’s ability to learn, says Condra."

For the full article, click here: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/12/york-university-student-wins-mental-health-fight.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed