Baylor University researchers built upon a 2008 study that found nearly a third of those who approached their local church in response to a personal or family member’s previously-diagnosed mental illness were told they really did not have mental illness.

he implication from this study are profound. since clergy are more sout out by members of their community for personal problems than are Doctors or therapist the number of individuals who my go untreated with a mental disorder is frighting. rather than point blame i would suggest that those who are clinical trained in the community and naberhoods work with the clergy becoming a referral source for them and some one that they can contact for consultation. also to work with the clergy in providing education to the congregation members. I think it is also important to point out that this study was done on only one religious group and may not reflect all groups.

A new report suggests individuals who consume a diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish — the so called Mediterranean diet pattern — are less likely to develop depression.

Yet another reason to eat your fruits and vegetables. with its almost undeniable fact that a diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish is healthy for us. We as a nation still have the highest obesity rate in the world, increased incidents of type two diabetes found in younger kids, and poor food options for the poor.

what we’ve found is that while money may be able to make people lead more comfortable lives, it won’t necessarily contribute to life’s pleasant moments that come from engaging with people and activities rather than from material goods and luxuries.

To all those A personality type and workaholics, I heard a long time ago that what a shame to spend your life working 60 hr a week climbing the corporate ladder only to find at the end that it was the wrong latter against the wrong wall. I have spent 45 years learning this lesions and glad it was not to late.

9 out 10 gay middle school kids face abuse! More than 9 out of 10 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender American middle school students have said they experienced harassment at school in the past year simply because of their sexual orientation.

This report makes me think of what it was like when I was in high school, back in the day. Just starting to understand my feeling towards other boys, fearing to talk to my parents or school personal about the harassment because it would cause me to exposé my self and my “evil” feelings. I am sad to say that the more things change the more they stay the same. These children are at a developmental stage where they are forming there self image and self esteem, and have little support or even access to resources that high school students now have. No child should have to face harassment or physical assault in our schools.

Depression has been found in several studies to negatively affect the ability of people living with HIV to take their medications on time and as directed. Not all studies have been able to quantify the effect of depression on adherence, however….It is critical to strengthen referral systems to ensure appropriate treatment… for patients with HIV and depression, not only because it may improve adherence and HAART outcomes, but also because of its potential impact on quality of life overall.

An interesting point in this article was that of all the study was that of the 225 participants none started the study with depression. During the study 22% developed depression and of that 22%, 45% developed poor adherence with their treatment. When dealing with a new diagnosis or on going treatment depression is a significance co factor in treatment. it is vital to talk to your health care professional about how you are feeling about your diagnosis and over all moods.

In recent years, our happiness levels have not risen. We are experiencing what researchers call “static happiness.” In the 1940s, when people were asked, “How happy are you?” the average score was 7.7 out of 10. Most recently, the average score was 7.2 out of 10.

Our never-ending drive to “find happiness”. But do we really know what we mean when we say we want to be happy? Is it some elusive state out side of us that we some day will achieve. When we have the right job, the right body, the right partner… this article presents 10 concrete steps that we can take to experience happiness right now and expand that happiness in to all aspects of our life.
1. Define Happiness
2. Accept happiness
3. Follow your joy
4. Chose Happiness
5. Free happiness
6. Love someone
7. Forgive Now
8. Vocal gratitude
9. Beware Martyrdom
10. You will have to read the article to get this one

The fear that your penis looks too small or is too small to satisfy your partner during sex is a common fear. But a number of studies have shown that most men who think their penis is too small actually have normal-sized penises.

Come on admit it. We have all gotten out the measuring tape at one point in our life. Society continues to bombard us with messages that we are what we should be and is always willing to offer us a solution for a fee. We need to continue to be aware of the messages we get as men and challenge them. And remember that we are perfect in just who we are. This article makes you wonder what is really going on with all those gay dating web sights.

Many of the risk factors that are associated with suicide are the same symptoms associated with coming to terms with sexual orientation or gender identity.

Risk factors associated with suicide:

+ Feeling alone
+ Feeling hopelessness
+ Alcohol and drug abuse
+ Guilt
+ History of depression

For any out their who may be experiencing any of these symptoms. Please know that you can get help and that you are not alone. Their are many effective therapies that treat these symptoms and you can get your life back.

If we are lucky, we get to be older. Previous generations of our brothers and sisters didn’t make it to midlife, because of AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. Let’s be grateful we’re still alive and use our 30s, 40s or 50s to learn from past mistakes. Set the course for our future – a future based on more than unwrinkled skin – a future based on wisdom and self-acceptance.

Please take a moment and read this article. It does a good job of framing in a very healthy way, what the mid life process can be and also challenges the fear that we have as gay men growing older and I hope wiser.

we argue that depression is in fact an adaptation, a state of mind which brings real costs, but also brings real benefits.

While I do believe there is some merit to this theory. Some of the symptoms that go along with depression can lead to problems resolution, such as rumination that causes a person to think intensely about the problem that they are facing. I believe that every thing that we do is adaptive and supports our growth. When that adaptive process gets stuck it becomes maladaptive. Rumination is disabilitating when there is the lack of energy to follow though with the implementation of the solutions. Also with depression individuals are not aware of the problem that brought the depression on or they have been depressed so long that their thinking patters do not return too normal.