This Is My Brave (TIMB) has been added to our Links & Publications page. The goal of the non-profit aligns directly with our own here at the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry: to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues. They focus on sharing personal stories of individuals living successful, full lives despite mental illness through poetry, essay and original music, on stage in front of a live audience, through stories submitted and published to their blog, and via their YouTube channel.

Two of our directors, Dr. Komrad and Mr. Wiggins, recently attended a local event and reported the program was well-attended and very moving. TIMB has 17 more shows planned across the United states and 2 upcoming in Australia. You can find more information about the organization via their web site: https://thisismybrave.org/

W. Daniel Hale, Ph.D. has been awarded the 2018 Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize for his op-ed, “We need to talk about depression” in the June 13, 2016 Baltimore Sun. The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Board of Directors chose the piece from among several nominees. Dr. Hale eloquently writes in a very personal way about his daughter’s depression and suicide and his own depression and successful recovery. His courage to speak openly about suffering may give others the courage to speak about their own, or their family’s experiences. Hiding depression only makes it harder to get help and delays recovery.

The award carries a $500 prize, which will be formally presented at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting on April 26.

The Foundation established this annual prize for a worthy piece published in a major newspaper (preferably local or regional) that accomplishes one or more of the following:

• Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
• Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
• Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

To date in 2018 there have been 18 school shootings, and the effects upon those who experience them as well as those fearing such a thing might happen to their school are real and long term. A new public service ad by the Foundation is airing now that explores how and why student, teachers, and parents may be acting as they are and how psychiatry can help them heal and get beyond the trauma.

Anxiety and Mental Health in Wake of School ShootingsAnxiety and Mental Health in Wake of School Shootings, MP3, 1.5MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

Professional Risk Management Services, Inc. (PRMS) just posted a wonderful piece on its blog noting the many successful initiatives of the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry. The information is also included in their Twitter and LinkedIn (see links below). PRMS has been a generous donor to the Foundation in addition to this excellent promotion of the significant role that it plays in our state.

Related Links:

— Blog Post
— Twitter
— LinkedIn

Starting February 5, 2018, the Foundation will begin airing a new public service ad on area radio stations. It specifically examines the long term effects of trauma evidenced by the #MeToo movement as well as recent prosecution of abusers, such as the trial of the former doctor for the Olympic gymnastics team. Those effects range from anxiety disorder to suicide, and help is available for all of them.

#Metoo trauma can have long-term mental health consequences#Metoo trauma can have long-term mental health consequences, MP3, 1.5MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

As reported in the Maryland Psychiatric Society News, the Foundation’s Oral History Project is well on its way. The project is designed to collect fascinating stories about psychiatrists from different backgrounds who entered a career path that brought them to Maryland. There are nineteen interviews already archived at MPS, and the Foundation is seeking more. You can find more information about the project as well as get information on contacting the Foundation here:

Oral History Project

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations focuses on how police in Baltimore are being trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a whole range of mental health conditions and hopefully avoid tragedies.

Training helps police help the mentally illTraining helps police help the mentally ill

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations. When does most drug abuse start in college? Right now – finals and summer. According to studies half a million students started drug and alcohol abuse just in the past year. The PSA examines prevention and treatment, especially at this early age.

College and First Use of Drugs and AlcoholCollege and First Use of Drugs and Alcohol, MP3, 2.4MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

The Board of Directors of the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry voted in February to present its 2017 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award to Dr. John Lion for his piece, “Steadfast talking is the only cure for suicide” published December 18, 2016 in the Baltimore Sun. The board felt it reassured readers that even serious mental illness like depression can be overcome, even if there are setbacks along the way that evoke suicidal thoughts.

The award was established to recognize the article that best fulfills the following goals:

Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.
A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.

The award carries a $500 prize which the foundation plans to award at the April 27 Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting. The 2016 winner was Amy Marlow, whose article “My dad killed himself when I was 13. He hid his depression. I won’t hide mine.” was published February 9, 2016 in the Washington Post.

Amazon celebrated its #1 ranking in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) On March 16th, 2017. The ACSI surveyed over 10,000 customers to measure perceptions of quality and value across retailers nationwide. March 16th only, Amazon donated 5% (10 times the usual donation rate) of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Maryland Foundation For Psychiatry Inc.

While the amount is lower now, you can still make your purchases count at smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1701356.