Shownotes: Should under performing teachers be fired? And is all bad behavior truly bad or is there more to it? There are some red hot issues being debated in the San Mateo-Foster City school board race. Finally, Lafayette Parish School District continues with the aftermath of Katrina. Plus, this week's Bookmark of the Week.

The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA): Some have dreamed about that day forever, but saying "I do" isn't always as easy as the final moments of a romantic Turner Classic Movie. "After you make such a commitment on a feeling, sometimes you start seeing how different you are from the person you're with and how it's not working," explained Linda Watts, a licensed professional counselor with Interactional Services. "We change every day. There's always some kind of change going on in our lives and when that happens, a lot of people think, 'I need to do this before it gets too late,'" she said. Local marriage and family therapist George Gardner admits there is no easy way to break such news. "Basically, you're making a decision that will hurt someone else," Gardner said. However, for those who suddenly find themselves in such a scenario, act now. "It's good to break it off before than divorce later," Watts said. The best way to approach the delicate situation of ending an engagement is to tell the truth. If they have issues they need to deal with, let them know so that they can work on that. Also, make sure you seek counseling. The healthy thing would be to find someone to talk about it with so you wouldn't have to hold it.

The News-Press (Fort Meyers, FL): Tips for people with mental health problems and their caregivers: (1) Be aware of behavioral symptoms and appropriate interventions and (2) Join a support group. Behavioral symptoms common in Alzheimer’s or memory impairment include: agitation, aggressiveness, anxiety, confusion/disorientation wandering. These and other symptoms may be more noticeable and distressing during a catastrophic event such as a hurricane. To cope with post-Wilma stress: (1) Maintain a normal routine if possible. Anticipate needs of the person with memory impairment such as hydration and food, (2) Avoid continuous viewing or listening to news stories regarding the weather or aftermath of a hurricane, (3) Make sure your loved one wears their ID bracelet at all times, (4) Involve your loved one in enjoyable activities to divert attention away from the catastrophic event, (5) Don’t argue or try to reason with your loved one, and (6) Don’t let your loved one walk or drive away from home. If the power is still out, try to let sunlight in the house in order to reduce confusion and agitation brought on by shadows and darkness. Caregivers should resume their participation in support groups as soon as possible to regain some normalcy for themselves.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI): A small corps of researchers is thinking intently about gestures, and they have found a clear link between the way teachers gesture and how students learn. Their goal is to learn more about which gestures are most effective and how to make teachers more aware of their power. "If teachers know what might be effective, they can use it as part of their tool kit," said Martha Alibali, a professor of psychology and educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research into gestures offers other tantalizing clues about what works and what does not in the classroom. Alibali and others found that preschoolers were more likely to correctly identify objects as symmetrical or asymmetrical when the teacher pretended to point and trace with her hands. Another study that focused on a middle school algebra teacher found that the teacher tended to gesture more when introducing a concept than when reviewing it. Susan Goldin-Meadow, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, found in a recent study that Chicago schoolchildren learned math best when the gestures of teachers enhanced their words rather than simply repeating them.

University of Maryland/School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD): To address the growing mental health needs of today’s youth, the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for School Mental Health Analysis and Action will bring together mental health experts, educators and policy makers at a two-day conference to discuss ways to bring mental health services to youth in the school setting. The 10th Annual Conference on Advancing School-Based Mental Health will be held Oct. 28-29 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Renaissance Hotel. “The purpose of this conference is to share knowledge and promote networking to enhance mental health programs in schools across the country,� says Mark Weist, Ph.D., director of the CSMHA and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “There is a national movement toward more comprehensive mental health programs in schools because of increasing evidence that these programs help to bridge the gap between youth who need and youth who receive mental health services. Evidence is growing that these programs help achieve outcomes important for schools and society, such as improved school behavior and achievement.�

StaffNurse.com (UK): Mental and sexual health are the key issues for students, a conference heard. The conference on student health was organized by the Royal College of Nursing and the lecturers’ union NATFHE in Exeter. The National Union of Students welcomed the conference which, it said, reflected its own view that student health should be a priority this year. The NUS said sub-standard housing was aggravating mental health problems among students. And it called for greater provision for diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted infections. NUS Vice President Welfare Veronica King said: "The health and welfare of students has never been such an important issue: over a million of our membership suffer from mental ill health and sexual health problems are highest amongst 18-24 year olds. She added: "Too many students still live in sub standard housing."

The Free Lance Star (Fredericksburg, VA): Children with special needs aren't taking music and dance therapy in school to learn how to play an instrument or do the cha-cha. These students are using the creative therapies to improve their cognitive development, motor skills, communication or social skills. "If I engage a student with severe disabilities in a musical experience that involves holding a mallet and striking a drum, I am addressing a functional motor skill such as grasping ability," explained Allyson Zadnik, music therapist for Spotsylvania County Schools. "Hopefully, the student who improves her grasping ability by holding a mallet will then transfer that increased strength to other functional activities during the school day such as holding a fork or a pencil," she added. When offered in schools, these types of therapy fall under the category of related services--supports that a child receiving special education may need to help them in their education goals. While most children enjoy music, not every child requires music therapy to make progress on an educational goal, explained Zadnik. To receive it, a child has to have a specific goal on the Individualized Education Plan that can be addressed in a music or dance therapy setting, explained Zadnik. Dance therapy services have been in Spotsylvania County since 1989 and music therapy since 1997. Stafford County Schools also offers music therapy.

Show Notes: Are Katrina teens' needs being overlooks? Plus, are academic institutions changing their opinions on play therapy? And what should be a part of your first-line of therapy for teens with depression & anxiety? Finally, six Saratoga Springs High School juniors and seniors get suspended....for what? You'll have to listen to the podcast. And, as always, this week's featured Bookmark of the Week!

Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME): Despite stepped-up efforts by law enforcement, underage drinking, tobacco and other drug use continues to plague Piscataquis County, according to a recently completed survey. It appears to some that these substances are an accepted use among the county's youth, a mind-set that Mayo Regional Hospital's Counseling Program and the Piscataquis Public Health Council hope to change. The two organizations have joined efforts to look at the problem and find solutions. "How to translate what we know about the problem and what we know about possible solutions to that and make a difference is a very difficult thing to get one's arms around," Tom Lizotte, Mayo Regional Hospital's director of marketing and development, said Thursday. What the local organizations have learned is that adult role modeling is key to changing attitudes, but they have found that some adults are reluctant to help, according to Lizotte. The hospital's counseling program has approached community residents to serve as role models, but have found few takers, he said. In a recent survey done funded by Maine's Office of Substance Abuse, seven out of nine residents interviewed in Piscataquis County said that underage drinking is a serious problem, and eight out of nine people said that youth tobacco use is a serious problem. Some suggestions made by those who participated in the survey to help prevent alcohol and tobacco use by youth included confronting people about their behavior, creating stronger consequences for people who provide alcohol to youth, stricter enforcement and that children need to be taught to be reflective and analytical of personal behavior.

WebMD: Cognitive behavioral therapy helps children and teens suffering from anxiety disorders. That's the judgment of a Cochrane review, widely considered the gold-standard rating system for medical treatments. Cochrane reviews evaluate whether clinical studies provide enough first-rate evidence to say a treatment truly works. Cognitive behavioral therapy -- or CBT -- is a brief form of psychotherapy. Using specific, step-by-step techniques, it teaches patients skill sets that allow them to change the ways they think and act. CBT treatments for anxiety, for example, teach patients skills to help them deal with anxiety-provoking situations. Patients are then gradually exposed -- either in imagination or in real life -- to the things that make them anxious or fearful. Psychiatrist Anthony James, MD, senior lecturer at the University of Oxford in England, and colleagues analyzed 13 clinical studies of CBT in children and teens with mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders. The results: (1) 56% of children and teens got better, vs. 28% of kids in untreated groups, (2) Children and teens treated with CBT averaged 58% fewer symptoms of anxiety, (3) Three kids must be treated with CBT to cure one case of anxiety disorder. "Cognitive-behavioral therapy does work for children with anxiety disorders. It probably compares favorably with the effects of drug treatment. CBT probably should be offered as a first-line treatment where therapists are available to deliver it."

National Institute of Mental Health Press Release (Bethesda, MD): In the U.S., Latinos are the largest ethnic minority -- a population of over 40 million. Of this group, 40 percent reported that Spanish is their preferred language, according to a report by the Surgeon General. The new Real Men Real Depression materials were created to help Spanish-speaking people across the country and from all over the world to understand more about depression, a serious illness. "Depression and other mood disorders cross all national, cultural, ethnic, and gender boundaries. NIMH developed Real Men Real Depression to inform the nation that depression can strike men just as it can strike women. Lack of awareness about depression is a serious concern in the Latino community. Through these new materials we hope to teach Latino men that depression is a medical condition that affects both the mind and the body, but there is hope," said Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director, NIMH. "Effective treatments are available and the success rate is very high for people who seek help and remain in treatment." According to the National Latino and Asian American study, 54 percent of Latino men with at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime do not recognize having a mental health problem. Latinos also report reluctance to getting treatment for depression. Latino men are afraid that seeking treatment will endanger their jobs. However, there is no evidence to show that people do lose their jobs once they go into treatment. In fact, treatment may be essential to improve work performance.

ABCNews (Australia): The New South Wales Government has allocated extra funding to the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council. Health Minister John Hatzistergos says the organization will be given an additional $750,000 towards research into the particular issues facing the Aboriginal community. He says that the funding will help provide appropriate services for treating mental health problems. "We know that Aboriginal people see a higher rate of distressing experiences such as serious illness, deaths in families and unemployment," he said. "There is a need to ensure that when treating Aboriginal people that cultural differences are taken into account and that mainstream services are culturally sensitive."

Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL): Suicide takes more than 30,000 lives a year in the United States, twice as many as AIDS. Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, suicide kills more people than war and homicide combined. The tragedy in those numbers, experts say, is that most suicide deaths are preventable. An estimated 90 percent of victims suffer from mental illness, and "mental illness is treatable," said Michael Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. But three years ago, the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, appointed by President Bush, concluded that mental illness was under-recognized as a health threat and that the mental health care system was "in chaos." "The system is not oriented to the single most important goal of the people it serves - the hope of recovery," the commission found. One problem is a worsening shortage of medical professionals specializing in mental health care. Hospital space is also in short supply. Administrators blame managed care, which sets reimbursement limits for treatment. Since psychiatric care is complicated, it often requires more time than HMOs allow. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the surgeon general have developed the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, which outlines ways to improve mental health care and reduce suicide. The bill provides money to schools and grass-roots groups trying to reduce youth suicide and mental health problems. It is in schools, mental health officials say, that they have the best chance of identifying at-risk kids and steering them to help.

San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Federal drug regulators have agreed to consider allowing a Pennsylvania company to sell the first rapid at-home HIV test. It would make testing for the virus about as easy and accessible as a pregnancy screen. The move could put to rest 18 years of controversy. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration and AIDS patient advocates long worried that people who received an HIV-positive diagnosis would panic and even consider suicide. So for years, federal drug officials have insisted that counseling and professional support accompany HIV tests. This requirement has complicated proposals for at-home tests. But improved medicines now mean that AIDS can be viewed as a chronic disease, often manageable for years. As a result, the fear that a diagnosis might lead to thoughts of suicide has subsided. Having tried many other strategies, federal health officials are now increasingly open to the idea that an at-home HIV test could finally prompt thousands to change their behavior and stop infecting others. "If we're going to win the war against AIDS, we need to make HIV testing as easy as pregnancy testing," said Dr. Freya Spielberg, a researcher in the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Washington.

Show notes: Ever wonder how to live in the Now? Find out how. And in Polk County School District, the focus is on addressing peer pressure. Meanwhile, the Toledo Catholic Diocese was accused of failing to live up to its promises this week. And students at Highland Acres in North Dakota learn a valuable lesson from Police Youth Bureau liaison Travis Rau. Plus, this week's featured "Website of the Week".

Canton Journal (Needham, MA): Elders who are alone at a nursing home can find a wonderful new companion - a dog. Beyond relieving depression and loneliness, medical tests have proved petting a dog reduces a person's blood pressure. "I like you very much. I like the dog, oh yeah. You come back again," said a Greek woman who couldn't stop chuckling. Buddy kissed her on the nose. Yet just 10 years ago, almost no nursing home allowed animals in. Now, after hospitals have documented the emotional and physical benefits, about half of them in the U.S. and Canada have some kind of pet therapy program. Not just any dog can nose its way into the noble career, however. Evaluators at registries around the country assess their suitability to the work over three weeks. After passing a Canine Good Citizen Test, the evaluator then accompanies the dog and handler on a few nursing home visits. Therapy Dogs International was the founding group. TDI has 14,000 dogs and about 11,000 volunteers available to visit disaster sites, domestic abuse centers, prisons and special ed classes as well as nursing homes. Chickens, birds, rabbits, cats, even potbellied pigs have made nursing home visits, but dogs are the most common and favored helpers.

WBAY-TV (Green Bay, WI): Just this week the state legislature passed a bill to make huffing illegal. Huffing is when someone gets high off the vapors of household products like markers or aerosol cans. It was named after Aaron Wake, a Door County man who died huffing butane. Wake's picture is on his sister's mantle in Ephraim. For her, having lawmakers recognize huffing is a serious problem is a big step. "We're thrilled that the bill went forward and that people find it important for us to be able to regulate the inhalant abuse that's going on in our state and in our country, but Aaron's not around," said Amie Kissel, Aaron's sister. "The goal of the law is to help the police, so if they catch someone inhaling, they actually have the authority to do something about it, or at the very least, tell the parents." "They had no recourse. When they would find kids inhaling, what they would find is that they had no recourse to go to the parents, or to do anything about it because it wasn't illegal," said Kissel. The bill passed unanimously in Madison and is headed for the governor's desk.

Palm Beach Post (Palm Beach, FL): Karen Sharp has listened to her daughter and her daughter's friends talk about their problems. She knows it's important that teens have someone teach them about issues such as suicide prevention, depression and dependency. And she knows it's important for someone to listen to those concerns. "I have met many teenagers who are unwilling or unable to go to their parents," said Sharp, of suburban Delray Beach. "They need to have resources where they feel safe... Teens are aware they can go to Planned Parenthood to get birth control without a parent knowing, but they don't know how they can get mental health assistance." Sharp's daughter is a member of the community service council for Boca Raton's Promise — the Alliance for Youth, which is starting a mental health alliance. The group is hoping the alliance will make resources such as counselors more accessible to teens by working with the Mental Health Association and nearly 50 other organizations. The mental health alliance plan calls for school-based teams to uncover the needs of the community's youth and provide resources. It also outlines the need for the nonprofit to hire a youth health program coordinator, and expand its community service council to create a youth development program.

Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, ND): Members of the community joined hands Monday, stretching all the way across the front and around either side of the Grand Forks County Office Building. It was their way of honoring the unique struggles and achievements of people with mental health disorders around the world. The "Hands of Hope" rally also serves to reduce commonly held misconceptions about mental illness. Keynote speaker Dr. Steven Hill is a clinical associate professor of neuroscience at the UND School of Medicine and a psychiatrist at the Northeast Human Service Center. He pointed out that people with mental illnesses look no different than anyone else. He encouraged mental health providers to allow their patients to have a say in their treatment, and for agencies and the public to work together so people with mental illnesses can achieve their goals and dreams. More than 54 million Americans, or 20 percent of the general population, experience symptoms of a mental disorder in any given year, according to a 1999 Surgeon General's report on Mental Health.

Daily Mail (UK): Scottish Mental Health week gets under way with a new report on the role played by the arts in combating the problem. The publication celebrates the work being done by artists to challenge the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental ill health. It will be launched in Dundee by local arts and mental health group Luna. Culture minister Patricia Ferguson and deputy health minister Lewis Macdonald also joined forces to highlight the role artists and industry organizations have in improving mental health. The Scottish Executive-backed report will reveal projects ranging from a mobile galley space touring Scotland to a work by an elderly, long-term psychiatric patient at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital which ended up as a film. Ms Ferguson said: "These projects are both inspirational and challenging - proving that art can make important statements and bring communities closer together." Mr. Macdonald added: "If we are to achieve a mentally healthy Scotland, we need to use every means we have to support and improve mental health and well-being.

PRNewswire (Cheshire, England): Most people with bipolar disorder believe that successful treatment would significantly improve their quality of life and that treatment satisfaction is achieved by efficacy and tolerability, according to final results from the large scale Thinking Ahead survey. The survey conducted in eight countries revealed that bipolar disorder had a major negative impact on sufferers' lives and that of their family and friends. The final survey data were announced today to commemorate the 13th World Mental Health Day (WMHD) and to raise public awareness of the impact of this under-diagnosed condition. Each year the WMHD is drawing attention to the often neglected issues of mental health. This year the campaign is dedicated to emphasize the link between mental and physical health across the life span. The Thinking Ahead global survey is highly relevant to illustrate this topic as bipolar disorder can be a serious condition that frequently begins in late adolescence or early adulthood and lasts the entire life. “The public has to understand more about mental disorders such as bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder deserve the best possible treatment allowing them to enjoy life to the fullest,� said Dr Jamie Mullen, MD, Senior Director Clinical Research, AstraZeneca. It has been estimated that bipolar disorder affects between 0.3 percent and 3.7 percent of people. Up to half of the people with bipolar disorder may undertake at least one suicide attempt. Bipolar disorder is frequently treated with a combination of drugs, including antipsychotics such as seroquel.

Show Notes: Love In Action is at it again! And in Ohio, some schools will be starting a new mental health program. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin the talk is about cuts in school counseling. Finally, learn about a new form of therapy--brain music therapy. And find out this week's Bookmark of the Week!

Guernsey Weekly Press (Vale, Guernsey, UK): MENTAL health services are in such a critical state locally that ‘a tragedy is waiting to happen’, doctors have warned. One family has already linked a lack of continuous psychiatric care with the suicide of a relative, said GP Chris Monkhouse, president of the local branch of the British Medical Association. In an unprecedented move, the doctors’ group has written to every States deputy expressing its ‘extreme concern’ at the state of psychiatric services, hoping this will lead to ‘investigation and action’. The key problem is the long-term lack of full-time psychiatric consultants to run the service and a reliance on locums, said Dr Monkhouse. The BMA is also worried about standards of care and Dr Monkhouse said he was aware that the family of a suicide case felt they were let down by the mental health service. Public-Sector Remuneration Committee chairman Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said that he expected the dispute to be settled by an industrial tribunal. He claimed that the doctors were using the problems of the psychiatric service as a smokescreen for negotiating better contracts for themselves.

Brisbane Courier-Mail (Queensland, Australia): A surge in childhood autism is forcing some Australian parents to mortgage their homes and seek early access to superannuation to pay up to $60,000 a year for therapy they say can work miracles - but which governments won't pay for. Sydney accountant Sam Lo Ricco will spend about $50,000 this year on therapy for his four-year-old son James, convinced Applied Behavioral Analysis is giving the boy a chance at a more normal life. While no national register is kept, experts say the number of autism diagnoses in the past decade has leapt tenfold, with about 2000 new cases a year. Parents lobby group A4, using Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, say there are now more than 20,000 children under 15 with autism-related disorders. A4 argues that the once-rare condition hits about 1.2 per cent of boys and 0.4 per cent of girls aged 10-14. But few parents have the money to pay for the ABA or other intensive therapies some doctors say can significantly reduce the communication, social and intellectual disabilities if applied for up to 20 hours a week in preschool years.

Newswire (Press Release): The last child in the house has left for college and you are now alone with your partner, or all by yourself. What can you do to make this transition as successful as possible? St. Lawrence University Director of Counseling Services Bill Burns has advice and tips for parents struggling with an "empty nest.": (1) Realize that a change has occurred and that you are probably going to have feelings to deal with that you have not had in the past, (2) Recognize that having strong feelings about your child's leaving home are normal - allow yourself to feel whatever emotions arise, (3) Talk to someone about your feelings, (4) Single parents may feel especially alone. Plan on having someone to lean on for a few weeks, (5) Take care of yourself. Develop a "wellness" goal, (6) Find a new creative outlet for yourself, (7) If you have been putting off dealing with problems in your marriage until the children left home, start dealing with these problems now and (8) Finally, if after several months you are still feeling unhappy, anxious, and not able to do things up to your normal standards - it might be time to seek professional help. Talking about your feelings with a mental health professional could be just what you need to move on to a happy and successful future.

Not sure what happened with the site, but I'm just now able to log in and post today's entry: Mental Health Changes Become Law BBC News (World Edition): A new law has come into force aimed at improving the care of thousands of people with mental health problems. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act replaces legislation which dated back to the days when people were locked up in asylums. Its legal framework, which is designed to put the patient first, will place greater demands on the NHS. The British Medical Association said it was the most fundamental change in mental health law in 40 years. Psychiatric care has been considered under-resourced compared to other parts of the NHS. New rights and safeguards include measures which will prevent children from being admitted to adult psychiatric wards. Patients will have the right to ask for an independent advocate, who will make sure the right decisions are made if they are ill and cannot speak for themselves. The act will also allow patients who are sectioned - but who pose no risk to others - to be treated in the community, rather than having to go to hospital. "From today onwards, people experiencing mental health problems, their careers and families will benefit from legislation which offers them more rights and greater protections," said Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald.

Wellesley Hills, MA: Hundreds of facilities in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will offer residents and evacuees free mental health screenings on Thursday, October 6. The NDSD/Mental Health Screening program (National Depression Screening Day), in its 15th year, is a nationwide outreach that provides screening, referral, and education about depression, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. There are more than 600 screening sites in Hurricane affected states and thousands more across the nation. Those interested in participating in the free screening event on October 6th can find a nearby site by visiting http://www.MentalHealthScreening.org.

National Mental Health Association (Press Release): The Food and Drug Administration is warning that a study has suggested that the antidepressant Paxil may be associated with birth defects. Paxil's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, said it will include the results of the study in the drug's list of precautions. A retrospective study found increased numbers of babies born with birth defects to women who were taking Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy, as compared with women on other antidepressants, according to the FDA and the company. This included an increase in heart defects, according to a letter from GlaxoSmithKline to health care professionals. Doctors are advised "to carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of using paroxetine therapy in women during pregnancy. It is recommended that health care providers discuss these latest findings ... as well as treatment alternatives, with their patients," GlaxoSmithKline said. Based on the study, the company said it has not concluded there exists a definite, causal link between the drug and the increased incidence of birth defects. GlaxoSmithKline cited another survey of births that it said does not note a comparable increase.

The American Journal Of Psychiatry: (October 2005): OBJECTIVE: Time-limited manualized dynamic psychotherapy was compared with community-delivered psychodynamic therapy for outpatients with personality disorders. METHOD: In a stratified randomized clinical trial, 156 patients with any personality disorder diagnosis were randomly assigned either to 40 sessions of supportive-expressive psychotherapy (N=80) or to community-delivered psychodynamic therapy (N=76). Assessments were made at intake and 1 and 2 years after intake. Patients were recruited consecutively from two community mental health centers (CMHCs), assessed with the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders, and included if they had a diagnosis of any DSM-IV personality disorder. The outcome measures included the presence of a personality disorder diagnosis, personality disorder severity index, level of psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale score, and number of therapy sessions. General mixed-model analysis of variance was used to assess group and time effects. RESULTS: In both treatment conditions, the global level of functioning improved while there were decreases in the prevalence of patients fulfilling criteria for a personality disorder diagnosis, personality disorder severity, and psychiatric symptoms. There was no difference in effect between treatments. During the follow-up period, patients who received supportive-expressive psychotherapy made significantly fewer visits to the CMHCs than the patients who received community-delivered psychodynamic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Manualized supportive-expressive psychotherapy was as effective as nonmanualized community-delivered psychodynamic therapy conducted by experienced dynamic clinicians.

Shownotes: Allegations against New York teachers have doubled over the past five years. Why? And is new age medicine an effective form of treatment for drug abuse? Educators: listen up! Is it important to invite parents into the classroom? Finally, a new feature to the podcast--Bookmark of the Week! Enjoy the podcast.

The New Hampshire (Durham, NH): People say college is supposed to be "the time of your life." You make friendships that last a lifetime, and have the freedom to do whatever you want. But for many, adjusting to college life can be difficult. Many students are left feeling stressed, anxious, disconnected and alone: 1) Have you lost pleasure in things you used to enjoy? 2) Do you have trouble sleeping or eating? 3) Does your mood fluctuate between overly "high" to sad and hopeless? 4) Are you keyed up and anxious all the time? and 5) Are you having nightmares about something that happened in the past? In order to help students cope, the UNH Counseling Center is offering screenings for a range of common emotional concerns that often go undiagnosed and are misunderstood. If you are feeling sad and angry, weepy and tired, can't stop worrying, are having nightmares, yo-yo between being elated and being down, or know someone who is, National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) can help you figure out what is going on. "Students need to understand that depression and anxiety are not character flaws or personal weaknesses. They are highly responsive to treatment. If you have not been feeling like yourself lately, you should come and take a free, confidential screening," said Linda Guttman, clinical director of the Counseling Center.

Mainichi Daily News (Niigata, Japan): The number of elementary and junior high school students who still require counseling for the mental stress they suffered following last October's Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake remains practically the same as the number of children who received counseling the month after the quake, it has been learned. A survey conducted by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education found 1,150 children still needed counseling, almost as many as the 1,214 who received counseling in November last year. The survey questioned about 72,000 students from 322 elementary schools and junior high schools, and asked their families to describe their behavior at home. Education officials found that 951 elementary school students and 199 junior high school students -- a total of 1,150 -- needed counseling, with some parents saying that their children did not seem to be able to sleep well at night or had become more uptight.