The Foundation has released a new Public Service Announcement now playing on local Maryland radio stations. It examines the wide variety of feelings people experience after a particularly divisive political campaign or a significant event getting 24 hour coverage across networks and online. Those feelings can include alienation from family and friends, anger at a system or event out of their control, and grief or helplessness at what may come. There are things that can be done to help, ranging from breaks from Facebook and Twitter and similar sites to seeking actual help from professionals.

Listen to the PSA on our home page or on our PSA collection here, where you can listen to or download other advice given in past PSAs, also.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry has established the Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award. It is designed to recognize a worthy piece published in a major newspaper 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.
• A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.

The award carries a $500 prize, and has its own dedicated page here.

The winner for 2016 is Amy McDowell Marlow.

“My dad killed himself when I was 13. He hid his depression. I won’t hide mine.”
Published February 9, 2016 in the Washington Post

In this piece, Ms. Marlow gives a very poignant description of dealing with her own depression and emotional experiences beginning in childhood while dealing with a parent’s depression and eventual suicide.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations focuses on mental health care in the United States prison system. It examines the problem of mental illness being the reason for incarceration in the first place, and the lack of care once a person is behind bars.

Prisons, Inmates and Mental HealthPrisons, Inmates and Mental Health

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. now has it’s very own Twitter account. You can follow us there to get the latest news about what we’re doing as well as be notified of the psychiatric news we mention here and when a new radio spot goes online. Just click the button below or in the left column to add us to your Twitter feed!

Follow @MFP_Inc

Sadly, the civil unrest in Baltimore this spring has psychologically harmed some of our children. Our latest public service advertisement looks at the effects of civil unrest on young minds, not just from seeing or experiencing actual violence, but also to being exposed to it through the media.

Civil Unrest Effects on ChildrenCivil Unrest Effects on Children

Our full collection of advertisements is online for you to Listen and download all our public service ads here!“.

[The following obituary is from Cremation and Funeral Alternatives as posted on Legacy.Com. You can find it there as well as a guest book to sign.]

Leon Levin, M.D.: A Life of Meaning May 22,1930-October 18, 2014

For Dr. Leon Levin, 84, finding the meaning in life, relationships, people, literature and film was synonymous with breathing. How could he do otherwise? A psychiatrist, a psychoanalyst, a scholar, a community servant, a film lover, a friend and a quintessential family man – it was the lens through which he looked. He had a natural sensitivity for depth, emotion, conflict, fear, hope, pain and was always curious and empathic. The close relationships with his family, Psychoanalysis and film served as his foundation. Many have echoed that Leon’s belief in them, inspired them to be their best selves. He touched generations in the most understated and gentle manner.
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The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc.’s latest public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations focuses on how how various illnesses can be linked to depression. Being ill by itself can often be enough to cause depression, but many illnesses can affect the brain and lead to depression, too. The spot urges people to seek help when needed.

Illness and DepressionIllness and Depression

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 focuses on guns and mental illness, and specifically on the role guns play in depression and suicide.

Guns and Mental IllnessGuns and Mental Illness

You can listen to the ad using the player on the homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

The Maryland Parity Project is an initiative of the Mental Health Association of Maryland that “works to educate insured Marylanders of their new rights in accessing mental health and addiction treatment under The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.”

Their website says understanding the complex system of state and federal rules governing mental health coverage can be very difficult. Their staff hopes to alleviate concern and stress by answering questions for insured Maryland citizens. They will provide case assistance as well as evaluate complaints, help with appeals to an insurer’s decision, and assist filing complaints with the proper government authority.

You can find more information at their website here: Maryland Parity Project

The Maryland Parity Project is a featured link on our Links page.