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First Look: Mental

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:30:59 -0700

A troubled, roguish doctor takes on tough cases with unconventional methods and a heavy dose of sexual tension with his female colleagues - sounds like a Fox medical show, all right. But I'm not talking about House. I'm talking about Mental, a new Summer series that premieres May 26.

The show stars Chris Vance as Dr. Jack Gallagher, a psychiatrist who takes over the mental health services at a major Los Angeles hospital. Gallagher is unorthodox and has a spotty past himself, but he uses that understanding to connect to patients - whom, he believes, have a lot more in common with their doctors than the doctors typically choose to admit.

Of course - not unlike the situation on Fox's more famous medical show - Gallagher often finds himself running up against a female administrator (in this case it's Nora Skoff, played by Annabella Sciorra) with whom he shares a sexual chemistry and a mysterious past. Among the others on the team are a cocky first-year resident, an opinionated doctor who believes a residency in psychiatry is beneath her, and a nurse who pulled himself out of poverty to pursue his medical career.

It doesn't necessarily look or sound like anything new or different - but it just might fill a void if you're really missing House in the next couple of weeks. To check out a promo and a clip from the first episode, just read more.

Photo courtesy of Fox

Buzz News Roundup, 3/11

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:47 -0700

Universal Pictures is headed to Austin this weekend to give South by Southwest attendees a sneak peek at Sasha Baron Cohen's movie, Bruno, at the event's Fantastic Fest. - ComingSoon
Ridley Scott has cast Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, and Alan Doyle as the Merry Men in his Robin Hood movie. - The Hollywood Reporter
Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams will join the cast of The Cabin in the Woods, a movie written and produced by Joss Whedon. - ComingSoon
CBS is reportedly considering canceling Cold Case and Without a Trace. - TV.com
Police said Monday they confiscated about $1.2 million in illegal drugs and more than $68,000 in cash, and arrested 194 Phish fans during last weekend's three-night celebration of the band's return to the stage. - Billboard
Sean Penn is in talks to star in the gritty drama Cartel. - Variety
Fox will air an internationally produced medical series called Mental this Summer. - The Hollywood Reporter
Disney has moved up the nationwide release of The Princess and the Frog from Christmas Day to Dec. 11. - Variety
Danny Devito is planning to direct Crazy Eddie, the biography of electronics salesman Eddie Antar. - Zap2It

Source

Do Tell: Do You Know Anyone With Mental Illness?

TresSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Earlier this week actress Glenn Close spoke up about her sister's bipolar disorder and her family's struggle to understand it. Glenn and her sister Jessie have started a public service campaign hoping to create awareness and acceptance of people with mental illness.

One in four adults deal with a diagnosable mental disorder in the US, and about one in 17 lives with a serious mental illness. Do you know anyone living with a mental illness?

Say What? Glenn Close Speaks Up About Sister's Mental Illness

TresSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0700

"We didn't know that it wasn't Jess just being wild, there was something going on there. . . We come from the tradition that you hardly ever went to a psychiatrist - it just wasn't done. You certainly don't talk about depression, or alcoholism, or any mental illness. It's just not done, and I think a lot of people still feel that."

- Glenn Close went on Good Morning America today to discuss her family's struggle to understand her sister Jessie's mental illness. Jessie was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 47-years-old. The actress and her sister have filmed a public service announcement with hopes of challenging the stigma attached to mental illness.

Group Therapy: I'm Concerned About My Mental Health

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I feel like I've been mildly depressed for the last few years, but I'm not sure. A few times a year, I always hit a super low point where I constantly cry. Eventually the sobbing turns to hyperventilation, and I end up a wreck on the floor having terrible thoughts. During these episodes, I can hardly control myself. I've never sought help before because I figured most of the time I'm OK; I don't want to make a big deal out of nothing. I also feel like a perpetual adolescent because I can't deal with things like an adult (I'm 21, and I'm sure I've been acting this way since I was 13), and I'm afraid my problems will just be dismissed if I do go to the doctor.

How is one diagnosed with clinical depression or other mental health conditions? Do they recommend therapy? Drugs? Or if I go to my school counselor, what advice could they possibly give me that I haven't already heard? Does anyone who's been through this before have advice on overcoming it?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

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Daddy Issues: Depressed Fathers Affect Kids Too

TresSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Blame the mother? Not so fast. Turns out, depression in dads can be just as bad for kids as having a mother with mental health issues. According to experts from the University of Oxford, doctors have been focusing far too much on the mothers' problems. Kids, especially boys raised by alcoholic or depressed dads, are far more influenced by troubled fathers than previously thought. But until recently, no one was paying much attention:

The Oxford team said it was not surprising much of researchers' emphasis had focused on mothers as, in most societies, it is mothers who provide the majority of childcare - particularly when children are very young. But they said the role of men had been "underemphasised" . . . In addition, the peak age for men to be affected by psychiatric disorders is the same as the peak age for becoming a father - between 18 and 35.

As a result, young kids can develop behavioral problems, while teens are at a higher risk of depression and other mental-health issues. Do you think daughters are more affected by their mothers' mental health, while boys are more impacted by dads?

Source

Virgin Atlantic Eases Flying Fears With a New App

GeekSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:33:59 -0800

I wouldn't go as far to say that I'm one of those people with a fear of flying, but when I hear a weird sound under the wing, or there's a loud clunking noise right before take off, I can't say I easily shake it off.

During a family trip once, my dad ended up sitting beside a woman who was beyond terrified to fly. She was not only crying uncontrollably, but she also clenched both of my dad's hands during takeoff. . .a relaxing way to start the trip for him! Well Virgin's Richard Branson has decided it's high time (ha ha, get it?!) that he fixes this anxiety to fly problem and in doing so, Virgin has just launched a new Flying Without Fear app. The app costs $5, but it's said to include relaxation exercises and fear therapy, and a customized program to prepare you for future flights. It also comes with a fear attack button for emergencies and you get 2,000 bonus Virgin points, just for signing-up!

I'm a bit of a skeptic, but for $5 it's worth taking for a test flight. I can just see it now - everyone being calm and collected until the flight attendant says, "You must now turn off all wireless devices, including iPod Touches and iPhones." Yikes!

Is Your Fearless 3-Year-Old Destined For a Life of Crime?

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:30:20 -0800

Mamas of fearless children often encourage their wild child's eager behavior, but a new study may have them trying to instill a lil fear factor into their lives. Results from a 20-year study show that children who lack the ability to fear may have a dysfunction with their amygdala - the part of the brain linked to fear conditioning, emotions, and one's mental state. Researchers found children who showed no fear were often more likely to go against authorities and find themselves in trouble later in life. In cases where children may show a lack of respect for rules or even the law, parents can help coach their child into a more stable state. According to the study's research associate Yu Gao:

Some at-risk children between the ages of 3 and 5 who have benefited from those programs, which include sound nutrition, adequate physical exercise, and cognitive brain stimulation, had shown an improvement in brain functioning by age 11 that reduced the chances of criminal behavior by 35 percent 20 years later.

While it is not a black and white determining factor, it does bring some interesting insight into the workings of lil brains and what we can do to help steer them clear of harmful habits.

Danger: Clean Up Baking Soda (or Baking Powder) Immediately

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:25 -0800

When hinting at a handy, DIY cleanup alternative, I stressed that North was nowhere near the baking soda sprinkled out and that it was cleaned up before he got a sneak sniff.

To understand why these substances are dangerous, I've gotta get a little scientific here so bear with me. Baking soda is another name for sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder, on the other hand, combines that sodium bicarbonate with an acid such as cream of tartar, sodium aluminum sulphate or calcium acid phosphate. Both function as leavening agents in baked goods; they create a gas which causes doughs to rise.

If you're not yet getting a mental image of the dangers, if your dog eats a large amount of these powders, it creates mayhem in the tummy with an electrolyte imbalance which can result in muscle spasms or even congestive heart failure. To be safe, keep both the containers of baking soda and baking powder out of pups' reach (although baked in small amounts into treats is less dangerous), and immediately clean up if spilled near a nosy nose.

Source: Flickr User JOE M500

Relax Already: Get Out of Your Brain

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:30:25 -0700

Sometimes stress brings with it a never-ending tape loop of worries. Once the litany begins, it's hard to quiet it down. I find the best way to battle my tireless tape loop is to get out of my brain or change my focus. It is said that depression-prone women tend to ruminate over their problems, mentally picking them apart repeatedly. The best defense against rehashing the situation is to stimulate another part of your brain. Challenging exercises, be they multitasking moves or short and speedy interval workouts, are a great way to distract a busy brain and release some much-needed endorphins. Stop the worrying by saddling your brain with a creative project or try a new recipe. Engaging other parts of your gray matter is a great way to stop obsessing, and maybe you will even be able to solve your problem by letting it go for a bit.