"Scientists Move Closer to Understanding Schizophrenia's Cause"

The internet was booming at the end of last week with an exciting development for the mental health community. "Scientists reported [last] Wednesday that they had taken a significant step toward understanding the cause of schizophrenia, in a landmark study that provides the first rigorously tested insight into the biology behind any common psychiatric disorder." Find the full article on the New York Times website, HERE.

A video on the subject from The Toronto Star can be watched HERE.

A break-down of research "Schizophrenia's strongest known genetic risk deconstructed" can be found on the National Institutes of Health website, HERE.

New Care Strategy

Recently there was a study conducted to look the care strategy for individuals experiencing Schizophrenia in the United States, and the results they found are quite promising in terms of implementing more comprehensive community care.  Medication has always been at the forefront of care for individuals experiencing psychosis related illnesses, and while they can be extremely helpful, are not a "magic pill".  This study shows that participants who were on a lower dose of anti psychotic medication, while receiving comprehensive talk therapy and family therapy, tended report a higher quality of life over the next two years.
It's important that we are constantly striving to find new and better ways to support people experiencing mental illness, and please read the New York Times Article that gives a great overview of the study, and goes on to discuss how this new comprehensive care strategy can be implemented in the community.

COPMI Launches Video Series For Youth

COPMI: Children of Parents with a Mental Illness.

COPMI is an online Australian mental health information resource for children, teens and parents. Recently COPMI has launched a brand new video series for youth living with a parent experiencing mental illness. These videos provide a wide range of information based on specific illnesses, treatments, coping strategies and much more.

These videos aim to be both educational and engaging for youth and so they are filmed with youth who have experienced similar struggles.

http://www.copmi.net.au/kids-young-people/about-mental-illness

Lyrical Insight

While battering chicken fingers for the FAMEKids group, I was listening to the Hozier self-titled album (2014). The song "Arsonist's Lullaby" was on, and I found myself washing my hands too often to re-play it. I recommend taking a few minutes to listen to the song before reading on.

On a quest for more information, I came across this lyrics website: Rock Genius. Individuals can highlight lines/sections of the song and comment on what they feel it means to them (you can click on a line and an elaboration will appear to the right), and I found it particularly interesting to read what people thought and shared about this specific song.

Music has historically been a means of release for many artists and musicians, and many listeners have found an empathetic shoulder to lean on. [Cat Power being the first artist to come to mind]. Often layered with enigmatic lyrics and metaphoric language, musicians are surely opening the platform for individuals the world over to engage in a conversation about what they think the song could mean, how it impacts them and myriad other thoughts and feelings. Certainly, sites like the one posted above offer a place to speak, allowing people who perhaps wouldn't voice their ideas naturally to raise their virtual hand in an anonymous and safe space.

Let me know what YOU think!

Caveat: Although I don't necessarily share the views that are written on the website mentioned, I feel it imperative to open the discussion surrounding such issues of mental illness and their public reception, as they are often laden with misconceptions and stigmatized perspectives.

Resource for Anyone Affected by Schizophrenia

This website has helpful resources, information and interactive tools for families and others affected by schizophrenia. There is also a short video clip about schizophrenia that may be helpful for children and youth to understand about symptoms and treatment.