By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
About half of Americans will experience some form of mental health problem at some point in their life, a new government report warns, and more must be done to help them. Mental health issues run the gamut from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder to suicide, and many of those suffering presently do not get help, experts say.

The new report, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tallied the national burden of mental illness based on country-wide surveys.  » More

First reactions to news that Erie residents suffer from a high rate of depression might be to either dismiss the findings or jest about the results. After all, many of us have so much affection for our hometown that thousands of people flocked to a new Facebook group, "You might be from Erie Pa IF," to share fond memories about Erie's special foods, beautiful peninsula, quirky characters and endearing traits. » More

Author: Jerrilyn Zavada, jzavada@mywebtimes.com, 815-673-6371
When Jennifer, Jake and Jordan Shepard died in a rural Streator fire recently, the ripples were felt throughout the community. After authorities said the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide and the mother had been under a doctor's care for an undisclosed mental illness, friends, neighbors and strangers were in shock and a state of collective grief. » More

Conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and ADHD are common in the young, but how do parents know when their child is at risk?
By Carol Yeh-Garner, Ray Pearson, Genevieve Suzuki, Jennifer Zeglen, and Edie Sanchez

Would you know if your child was sick? You’d likely notice a runny nose or fever, but what about a change in emotional state or a concentration problem?

According to Mental Health America, mental health issues affect one in five young people at any given time, and an estimated two-thirds of all young people are not getting the help they need.  » More