Call Me Crazy: You Are Not Alone in this Fight

Cast of Call Me Crazy

Lifetime is premiering a new film this Saturday at 8 PM:  

 

Call Me Crazy – and I can’t wait to see it. I hope you will watch it too.

 

Here is the description from Lifetime:

Through the five shorts named after each title character — [...]

Why Be Open About Schizophrenia?

Let’s talk about the question I get quite often, via reader e-mails, keynote Q & A, or sometimes in the form of a critical tweet or two accusing me of “exploiting” my son Ben by being open about out family’s experience with his illness: schizophrenia.

Am I  ”Exploiting” my Son by Sharing Our Family Experience [...]

“Silver Linings Playbook” and Meds: Why the Secrecy?

At the end of the movie Silver Linings Playbook, when main character Pat Peoples is about to embark on the next, happier, more stable part of his life, I think he says something to his ex-wife about doing much better because he is focused, determined, physically fit – and (shhh!)taking his meds.

I think he says [...]

The Mental Illness Family Experience:More Reader Stories

Letters, we get letters….and each time it reinforces the fact that mental illness affects the whole family – and that many – too many – families are left to guess at proper treatment and cope alone, especially if their family member is a “legal adult.”

at a recent NAMI conference, I spoke about the truth [...]

The Tragic Newtown Shooting: Attention Must Be Paid

The horrors of 9/11 got us into wars overseas, and the memories continued to be used to justify our involvement there. Will the tragedy in Newtown get us into a war against easy access to assault weapons, underfunded mental health services,  stalled research, and lack of support?

Never Forget. Act to Prevent.

Details continue [...]

Ben Behind His Voices: One Year Into a Book’s Life

Hard to believe that the book launch party for Ben Behind His Voices was over a year ago now. The “new book smell” is gone. How are we doing?

Perhaps writing a book is like being pregnant: you’re changing your life, making plans, working hard – yet have no real idea of what is coming [...]

Living, and Sharing, with Mental Illness

Sharing Can Shape Our Lives

“For what we are, we are by sharing…and it is by sharing that we move toward the light.” These words come from my temple’s prayerbook for the Jewish New Year, and they never fail to re-ignite my sense of purpose each year.

Before Ben Had a Job, He Took [...]

Depression out of the Closet: The Boss too

Add Bruce Springsteen to the list of celebrities willing to talk about their mental issues.

Springsteen talks about his lifelong battles with depression in a 16,000-word New Yorker profile hitting the stands this week.

Every time someone in the public eye is willing to talk about mental illness, the door opens to acceptance just a [...]

Schizophrenia and “Perception”: Will it be Accurate?

Tonight TNT unveils a new series called “Perception” , in which Eric McCormack plays a brilliant neuroscientist with a full-blown case of schizophrenia.

According to the NY Times, here is the premise:

Colorful characters that only Pierce can see pop up to help him solve murder cases he consults on for his spunky F.B.I. buddy, [...]

Book Tour Continues: Trains, Planes, Automobiles

Catching a train to Boston today, then a drive to Marlborough,Massachusetts to participate in the Parent / Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) 2nd Annual Conference & Celebration as keynote speaker, then a car to Logan Intl airport and a plane to Los Angeles for a US Psych Congress regional event. Presenting about partnering for best recovery [...]