Friday, May 28, 2010

Recap: The first two weeks

It’s been an amazing two weeks! We have 41 fans on facebook, 4 followers on Twitter, and we have recruited a fabulous team of Peer Leaders.

Our Peer Leaders start meeting next week and the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition will begin our campaign June 10! Thanks to everyone for your continued support.

Best,
Shana Friedman, Mental Health Program Specialist

Be a superhero!


Want to be a superhero? Join the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition!

Do you want to be stronger, jump higher, and run faster? Volunteer! A recent study showed that people who volunteer, give back to the community, or make charitable donations experience an immediate boost of physical strength or willpower following the action!

Does this sound like the plot of a comic book to you? Click on the picture to read the full article. If you feel suddenly inspired to accomplish great things, contact us at sonomapeeroutreach@gmail.com to become a superhero!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

What would you do for a friend?

Campaign for Mental Health Recovery - Dude Got Back?

Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition Website!

The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition Website is live!

Click on the link to come check out our new website full of links, information about the coalition members, and how to get in touch with us.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Another addiction


"What does tanning have to do with mental health?"

I used to have a coworker who would lie in a tanning bed every single day on her lunch break. When we would arrive at our cubicles at 7:30am she would declare "I can't wait until I get to go tan!"

"You are so addicted!" I would tell her.

Now it appears maybe I was right all along. According to researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and State University at Albany, a study was recently done that may prove tanning beds have addictive properties similar to alcohol and drug addiction. Researchers used criteria similar to that used to assess addiction, such as waking up first thing in the morning and craving tanning or skipping social or work obligations to go to the tanning salon. Out of the 229 participants who stated they used tanning beds, 70 to 90 showed signs of being addicted.
We now know that spending time in a tanning bed is riskier than lying out poolside because the ultraviolet radiation is more concentrated. According to researchers, spending time in an indoor tanning bed increases your risk of skin cancer by a whopping 75 percent!

So why would anyone go to a tanning salon if it not only increases your risk of cancer, but is also very addictive? It seems like people would prefer to be pasty year-round. “Some scientists have hypothesized that a similar physiological mechanism underlies addiction to tanning and substance abuse." It looks like the more you tan, the harder it is to stop, just like abusing alcohol and drugs.

Following that philosophy, just like alcohol and drugs, it is easier to never start tanning than to have to quit. Click on the photo above to read the whole New York Times Article.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Depression = Chocolate?

“Depressed mood was significantly related to higher chocolate consumption,” Dr. Natalie Rose of the University of California, Davis, and University of California, San Diego. Wait, they needed to do a study on this?
According to a study at University of California, Davis and University of California, San Diego, people who are depressed eat chocolate more. Click on the picture of chocolate to read the whole story!
Mmm….I’m feeling pretty happy right now, but I could sure use some chocolate! 10am isn’t too early, right?

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Friends Helping Friends


Who do you talk to when you are depressed? If you are an adult, you probably could come up with an entire list of people to confide in. But what if you are a teenager? Who do you talk to?
My background is in school counseling, and as a new counselor I often assumed that teens suffering from depression would come talk to me about their problems. I quickly learned that this is not the case. If I found out a student was depressed I would hear it from the student's friends first.
According to the National Institute of Justice (a government research organization that focuses on reducing violence and victimization), teens who might be depressed or suicidal most often confide in their friends. Occasionally, a teen will confide in a trusted teacher or school counselor. Parents are often the last to know that their child may be suffering from severe depression.
As a teen or young adult, you may be the first person to notice changes in your friend's behavior or mood. It may feel scary when a friend confides in you about his/her emotions. Here are some steps to make the process easier:
1. Listen: Take the time to listen to your friend without interrupting or judging.
2. Reach out for help: Encourage your friend to talk with a trusted adult like a school counselor, family member, family friend, teacher, clergy member, or health care provider. These adults may have more experience or know how to get help.
3. Find solutions: You can help empower your friend to take action. Encourage your friend to think of ways to improve his/her situation.
4. Keep your friend safe: Sometimes a person may feel so overwhelmed it may be difficult to take action. If your friend does not get help from an adult quickly enough, talk with an adult that you trust. If your friend is being harmed or talking about suicide, or hurting other people, it is important to contact an adult right away. It is important to maintain safety and get a trusted group of people to rally around your friend.
5. Keep up the support: Keep talking with your friend about his/her feelings. Let your friend know that you care about how he/she is doing, and include your friend in activities.
If you would like to learn more about ways to help your friends, please check out The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/scpoc
If you would like to get involved in the Peer Outreach Coalition, please contact us! We would love to hear from you!