In 2003, Craig Carey, 47, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  As was reported in a Boston.com article, he became one of the first members of a new fitness program called In SHAPE. Now, years later, In SHAPE, which stands for “Self Help Action Plan for Empowerment,” is so successful that New Hampshire just won $10 million in federal grants to replicate the program in the rest of NH’s community mental health centers.

Idaho teen, Jordon Edwards, has made it her mission to raise $2000 for our upcoming Strides Against Stigma walk event. At Edwards’ private high school, seniors are given the opportunity to pursue a senior project.  As a teen who had struggled with depression, Edwards knew that she wanted to do something to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental illness.

In her Oscar-nominated role, Glenn Close portrays a 19th century Irish woman who disguises herself as a man, Albert Nobbs,  in order to find work and survive. Close has said about the film: "People think it's all about gender but I don't think it is; it's about how people survive and about how human beings need to feel safe." Close is no stranger to the complexities of the human psyche; her sister suffers from bipolar disorder, her nephew from schizophrenia, and during her career, she has portrayed characters with various psychological disorders.

As we gear up for our Spring event, Strides Against Stigma, the entertainment committee is hard at work planning a fun-filled, active, and inspiring day.  We hope to attract individuals from far and wide who will come together to build a community that will erase the stigma of depression.

My name is Lisa Sonnenberg.  I am a 32-year-old woman, wife of 10 years, and a mother of 4 children under 8 years old. I suffer with anxiety and depression. I have suffered for as long as I can remember.

In a recent Huffington Post article, Emmy-Award-winning science writer Victoria Costello tells the story of her son who, at seventeen, began to suffer “psychotic symptoms.” When she brought him to the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, doctors recommended he stay there for one month for careful observation so that they could make a proper diagnosis. After all of the paperwork was done and her son was settled in his room, Costello sat down to speak with the psychiatrist about her family’s health history.

Statistically, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than white Americans. A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry asserts that psychiatric bias and diagnostic standards may be to blame.

Whitney Houston, the legendary singer and multiple Grammy-winner, was found dead in her hotel room on February 11, 2012.  Although we do not know what Whitney Houston's difficulties were beyond drug addiction, it is important for us to remember that drug problems and depression often go hand in hand.

On Monday, February 6^th, 2012, Leah and I, interns here at FFDA, had the privilege of attending the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention’s 13^th Annual State House Event. It was our first time at the State House and we were both very excited.