A New Year, the Tenth Year

Happy 2008, everyone
This year is a special one for the Mental Health Source Page, because it marks the 10th year of its existence. I created this website in 1998, to share personal stories and resources about depression and bipolar disorder. This website gave me a voice to sort out my personal experiences [...]

Chantix Early Warning on Suicide Ideation

Chantix (varenicline, manufactured by Pfizer) is a prescription drug to help adults stop smoking. You may have also seen ads during prime time TV. I’ve seen them as sponsors to ABC’s web episodes, which requires you to watch a Chantix ad before you could watch the episode.
According to the FDA website, “An Early Communication reflects [...]

In Between Meds, Searching for a Diagnosis, Richard Dadd, and Compassion for Your Self

Welcome to another edition of Jane’s Mental Health Source Page “carnival”, a carnival that reads more like a story (much work but worth your internet reading time) than a list of blog links (easier but so boring). People are finally starting to know that I mean it when I say “top quality posts only, please!” [...]

Moving Beyond Blue

Therese Borchard at Beliefnet’s Beyond Blue interviewed me in October 2007. She asked many insightful questions including, “how do you think you know when or if you can go off your meds?” and “What did you do when you relapsed?”
I had no idea that my answers were interpreted as controversial based on the comments [...]

Acomplia Linked to Depression and Anxiety Risk

Acomplia (rimonabant, manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis) is an anti-obesity drug that was supposed to be a big hit in the U.S. However, earlier this year, U.S. FDA decided not to approve the drug here in the states because the drug was found to increase suicidal thoughts and depression. Acomplia is, however, approved and available in [...]

Antenatal Depression Important to Address

We are becoming more aware of postpartum depression - depression that occurs in women after childbirth. However, we know very little about depression that occurs prior to childbirth, at various stages of a woman’s pregnancy. Reuters reported on a study that looks at antenatal depression, and the importance of addressing this type of depression. I’ve [...]

Religion and Bipolar Disorder

This past week’s Post Secret had a postcard that said, “My pastor always talks about how if people would find God they wouldn’t need pills. I’m bipolar but took his advice. My pastor is an idiot!!”

An email follow-up to the postcard said, “Sometimes, God answers by giving us the tools to take care of ourselves.” [...]

Asians and Mental Health

Recently John asked me about some resources relating to Asians and bipolar disorder. John further says, “I don’t think psychotherapy is prevalent, valued or even understood in Asian cultures.”
John’s observation is unfortunately correct. Although compared with 10 years ago, there is some increased awareness of mental health issues including depression and bipolar disorder among Asian [...]