Month: October 2012

WHO Videos: Depression and World Mental Health Day

by ihsection, posted in Information and Social Media

This post was written by Sarah M. Simpson.

Do you or someone you know have a big black dog following them? The World Health Organization recently collaborated with illustrator Matthew Johnstone, author of “I Had a Black Dog”, to mark the 20th anniversary of World Mental Health Day as designated by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). Initiated in 1992, World Mental Health Day signifies a day to encourage public discussion of mental disorders and to bring awareness to investments in mental disorder prevention, promotion and treatment services. This year’s theme is “Depression: A Global Health Crisis”. In the book “I Had a Black Dog”, Johnstone chronicles his struggle with depression through narrative and illustrations. Interestingly, the “black dog” reference was popularized by Winston Churchill, a long-time sufferer of depression and mental illness. Using Johnstone’s illustrations, WHO has come up with the series of videos, featured below that highlight symptoms of this illness along with ways to prevent and treat it.

Depression is one of the world’s most widespread illnesses, often co-existing with other serious illnesses. It also doesn’t discriminate and anyone from men to women, adults to children, the rich to the poor can be affected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common mental disorder with more than 350 million people suffering from this “hidden burden” world-wide.

As these videos show, depression is different from one’s usual mood fluctuations. Depression not only makes you feel sadness for long periods of time, but it also interferes with your ability to function and perform everyday activities at work, school or home. Effective treatments include psychosocial treatment and medication. The active involvement of depressed people and those who are close to them in addressing depression is key. The first step in treating this illness is to recognize the depression and seek support. The earlier the treatment begins, the more effective it is in treating this illness that affects so many people.

Volunteers Needed for the International Welcome Booth

by ihsection, posted in APHA IH Section

The following message is from Dr. Gopal Sankaran, Governing Councilor and Chair of the Global Health Connections Committee.

Dear Friends,

I am happy to share with you the good news that Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of APHA and Mr. T. J. McCabe, Director of Convention Services, have kindly agreed to our request and arranged for a Welcome Booth for overseas attendees at the upcoming Annual Meeting (October 27-31, 2012) in San Francisco.

The Welcome Booth is a great opportunity for us to greet, meet and network with attendees from overseas and make them feel at home at the conference and the city. For some this may be their first annual meeting (and you know how overwhelming that could be) or their first visit to San Francisco, or both. I am hopeful that we all would be able to contribute an hour or two or more to staff the Welcome Booth to ease their transition.

Christine Tronson Benner, our Section Councilor, has set up a sign-up sheet on Doodle. Please visit http://www.doodle.com/ddz274p5qdrytv54 and sign up for days and times when you are available to help. If, for some reason, you are unable to sign up online, please forward your day and time preferences to Christine at Christine[dash]benner[at]ouhsc[dot]edu. Kindly sign up at your earliest convenience.

All shifts meet at the Welcome Booth on the first floor lobby of the Moscone West Convention Center on the corner of 4th and Howard streets (near the Annual Meeting registration counters).

The hour or two or more that you spend at the Welcome Booth will be spent on greeting our overseas colleagues, learning about them, providing them with a special ribbon, directing them to appropriate conference rooms, and answering their questions. Serving at the Welcome Booth has always helped me to learn more about the conference venues and the host city.

Thank you! I look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!