Hot Topics

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“Hot Topics” after the jump…

In psychiatry, is it safe to use humor with a patient?

A reputable rag comes to the defense of Nebraska’s Child Abandonment Law.

Cross-cultural psychiatry: Discrimination eats away at you.

Google uses searches to track flu’s spread.

A despicable term: thinspiration.

The Halifax police force is using polygraph tests to screen job applicants—and, umm, they’re asking about sexual practices, drug use and suicidal thoughts. Even banks don’t use lie detectors. The story goes National.

The American Heart Association recommends that doctors screen all heart patients for depression. Oh hogwash, says another study. Screen ‘em for Dwight Yoakam says a third study.

Justice Dianne Nicholas is making a huge difference—this court is good for the soul. Michael Mannarino is de-stigmatizing mental illness by keeping an open heart and an active mind. “Reality TV” approach to mental illness watched by 2 million. The Healthy Minds Co-operative in Halifax, Nova Scotia is co-ordinating a standup comedy program…for people living with mental illness. Marching band’s “Symphonic Schizophrenia” offensive to some. A virtual hallucination that allows you “six minutes as a schizophrenic.” And seriously—this has to stop.

Let’s see Tiger Woods do this.

Remembering Tony Hillerman.

Man robs bank in motorized wheelchair, gets arrested minutes later during high low speed chase. Matteus gets to ride his new wheelchair, and we get a reason to smile. Tennessee man with no legs hits the open road in a…motorcycle. Pooja Viswanathan’s Smart Wheelchair gets more good press. Temporary impairments don’t “clearly establish a right” to protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The problem is not the wheelchair—it’s gravity.

13-year-old boy could face charges for inappropriately hugging his junior high school social worker.

Camera captures gutless school bus driver choking and beating student—watch video.

Upper crust Hillcrest grammar school made a 13-year-old boy with ADD and a painful connective tissue disorder stand still in detentions lasting up to 40 minutes.

New scan spots beginning of bone problems in anorexics. Rising food costs are taking a devastating financial toll on people with bulimia. Pilot project in Newfoundland and Labrador to tackle eating disorders. They’d better hurry up. Hey Facebook, hands off my self-esteem! This was a battle over 20 pounds.

Blindness won’t stop veteran Canadian newsman Craig Oliver. Julie Woods refuses to let blindness rule her life. If you live anywhere near Kansas City, go to this!

Susan Elliott became the first hearing impaired instructor in Colorado to win Teacher of the Year. Deaf soccer player possesses blazing speed. Curtis Pride is one of only five deaf players in major-league baseball history. A man who has been totally deaf since birth is facing a month-long wait to find out if he…can hear. A theatre production of James and the Giant Peach has been adapted for deaf people.

Psychiatrist by day, writer by night—Julie Curwin wins big. A psychologist who’s a poet. For a half day each week, Doctor Pete Temple, a suburban psychologist, offers free counseling to unemployed men. Good start Dr. T…now what about, umm, women? Wanted: a psychologist for Australia’s cricket team.

A formerly-agoraphobic author. School phobia is “crippling” for some students. And Janet Rogers has more courage than fear.

Child hunger in America rose 50% in 2007. Wonder if Tony Romo paid for popcorn too? In 1992, Dr. Jim Withers began making “house calls” under bridges in Pittsburgh—sometimes dressing as a homeless person to help earn the trust of the truly homeless. Class project brings free health care to homeless people. Homeless Navy veteran Joe O’Boyle is a nomad no more. NPR features five versions of the song “Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?” Great Depression part deux: Sears joins Kmart in bringing back layaway. People who remember the 1930s share memories of the real thing. Many self-reliant homeless folks rely on recycling. And…schools. The number of homeless killed is on the rise.

Vicky Bibler pens a beautiful appeal for kindness.

Tyra Banks surprises contestant with sex change operation. And Wanda Sykes is proud to be gay.

Four organizations have been added to the Polio Hall of Fame.

University of North Texas researchers look to treat ADHD with…cookies.

A theater class for children with Asperger’s. Why girls with Asperger’s syndrome don’t get diagnosed. The best tool for any child with autism is a strong support group. Raising an autistic child: a transcript of a fascinating online chat. VIDEO: An autism assistance dog training program in Southern Oregon. Federal complaint filed over 11-year-old autistic boy’s service dog. David Kirby continues writing about the large number of Somali children with autism in Minneapolis. A judgment-challenged kindergarten teacher encouraged her students to vote on whether an autistic boy could remain in class. Grey’s Anatomy hires an aspergian cardiac surgeon (watch featurette). And no one thought Zachary Vitto could reach the top of Red Rock Canyon.

Four “pocket” films to increase understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (narrated by David Hyde Pierce). Down with ginkgo biloba! Once the memory goes, forget it.

Student charged with indecent assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and attempted rape of teacher. Groundbreaking charge in Darfur: rape as genocide. But this is a step in the wrong direction.

Directional disability has Lucille Lovestedt longing for a GPS implant.

Hockey player’s survival credited to PUBLIC defibrillator.

According to a youth survey, 31 percent of eighth, 10th and 12th grade students in Fairfax County, Virginia said they had felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for weeks that they had stopped participating in some regular activities. Four teenagers from Southeast Polk High School have committed suicide in the past seven months. One teenager committed suicide in front of his webcam. Jordan Burnham has turned his suicide attempt into something very, very positive.

Study yields surprising results: babies who get incubator care are less likely to suffer major depression as adults. Midwife project aims to tackle post-natal depression. A social worker in Miami, Florida overstepped the boundary of law when she showed up at a family home demanding to interview the home schoolers’ children.

An Australian claymation movie that deals with psychiatry, autism, taxidermy, kleptomania and agoraphobia is getting “Sundance buzz”.

International Disability Film Festival in Moscow announces “sports” as a new category.

Utah woman battling OCD is on the mend.

The reality of mysterious medical maladies.

Marijuana good for memory?—unless you’re high. No problems so far. Apparently, there are more medical marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco than Starbucks Coffee shops. Dr. Phillip Leveque has been challenged to a debate/duel. According to the first phase-II clinical trial, ecstasy can help ease the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Netherlands to ban magic mushrooms. Spain to test vaccine to treat cocaine addiction.

Funny and unfunny simultaneously: Exploding Head Syndrome.

Good news for people with insomnia.

New addiction service in central London to help treat doctors and dentists—confidentiality a key priority.

An unusual anti-crime project is giving Westminster schoolchildren a taste of life behind bars.

Friendly Faces

Surfing the Waste hits The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (And Paul gets his own public profile!).

Karen Putz twitters about Irked.

Dave Roche hits The HuffPo!

Lewis Schofield needs our support.

Hannah Taylor would love this. And this too.

The Homeless World Cup gets “a spectacular street soccer stadium.” Kicking It DVD now available. The Scottish team (reigning champs) score a £10,000 much-needed boost.

Glenda Watson Hyatt gets interviewed for Fernanda’s Masters degree in Applied Disability Studies at Brock University.

Mark E. Smith writes a groovy article about playing it cool.

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