January is Stalking Awareness Month

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime that affects 3.4 million victims a year. 1


This year’s theme—“Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.”—challenges the nation to fight this dangerous crime by learning more about it. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, yet many victims and criminal justice professionals underestimate its seriousness and impact.  In one of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims,2 and stalking is one of the significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships.3


Victims suffer anxiety, social dysfunction, and severe depression at much higher rates than the general population, and many lose time from work or have to move as a result of their victimization.4


Stalking is difficult to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear.  Stalking may take many forms, such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary, or animal abuse, as well as unwanted cards, calls, gifts, or visits. One in four victims reports that the stalker uses technology, such as computers, global positioning system devices, or hidden cameras, to track the victim’s daily activities.5


Stalkers fit no standard psychological profile, and many stalkers follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another, making it difficult for authorities to investigate and prosecute their crimes. 
  
For additional resources to help promote National Stalking Awareness Month, please visit 
http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org and www.ovw.usdoj.gov. 

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1 Baum et al., Stalking Victimization in the United States, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/svus.pdf  (accessed September 29, 2009).
2 Ibid.
3 Jacquelyn C. Campbell et al., “Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results from a Multi-site Case Control Study,” American Journal of Public Health 93 (2003): 7.
4 Ibid.
5 Baum, Stalking Victimization in the United States

Making the Most out of the Holiday Season

From APA's Help Center:

APA offers the following tips:

1. Take time for yourself – There may be pressure to be everything to everyone. Remember that you’re only one person and can only accomplish certain things. Sometimes self-care is the best thing you can do—others will benefit when you’re stress- free. Go for a long walk, get a massage or take time out to listen to your favorite music or read a new book. All of us need some time to recharge our batteries—by slowing down you will actually have more energy to accomplish your goals.

2. Volunteer – Many charitable organizations are also suffering due to the economic downturn. Find a local charity, such as a soup kitchen or a shelter where you and your family can volunteer. Also, participating in a giving tree or an adopt-a-family program, and helping those who are living in true poverty may help you put your own economic struggles in perspective.

3. Have realistic expectations – No Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, or other holiday celebration is perfect; view inevitable missteps as opportunities to demonstrate flexibility and resilience. A lopsided tree or a burned brisket won’t ruin your holiday; rather, it will create a family memory. If your children’s wish list is outside your budget, talk to them about the family’s finances this year and remind them that the holidays aren’t about expensive gifts.

4. Remember what’s important – The barrage of holiday advertising can make you forget what the holiday season is really about. When your holiday expense list is running longer than your monthly budget, scale back and remind yourself that what makes a great celebration is family, not store-bought presents, elaborate decorations or gourmet food.

5. Seek support – Talk about your anxiety with your friends and family. Getting things out in the open can help you navigate your feelings and work toward a solution for your stress. If you continue to feel overwhelmed, consider seeing a professional such as a psychologist to help you manage your holiday stress.

October 10th: World Mental Health Day

How This Works

On October 10, PsychCentral will post all the blog posts related to increasing awareness or people’s understanding of treatment for mental health issues and concerns.

The blog post can be about anything related to mental or emotional health, or its treatment. You can tell your story about how you first learned about your condition, and what kinds of challenges you faced to get treatment for it.

Use the hashtag #mhblogday on your tweets and Tweet @psychcentral to let us know about your blog entry, or email: blogparty at psychcentral.com. 

Honoring Older Workers

In celebration of National Employ Older Workers Week, Experience Works, the nation’s largest organization serving older workers through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), announced today that Hedda Bolgar Bekker 102, and Mazerine Wingate 101, are America’s Outstanding Oldest Workers for 2011.

Hedda Bolgar Bekker was born on August 19, 1909.  She received her PhD in psychology at the University of Vienna.  She fled to the United States in 1938 on the day Hitler marched into Austria.

In the 1970s Bolgar co-founded the Wright Institute of Los Angeles, a nonprofit mental health training and service center and co-founded the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psycholanalytic Studies. The Hedda Bolgar Psychotherapy Clinic offers affordable service to limited income people.

Bolgar is dedicated to improving women’s roles especially poor women and those living in underdeveloped countries. She says, “Women must be agents of their own lives.”

With no plans to retire, Bolgar sees patients from 16 to 20 hours a week and gives lectures, appears in videos and writes.

A great-grandson of slaves and son of a sharecropper, Mazerine Wingate was born on September 20, 1910 in Lamar, S.C.  He quit school after completing the sixth grade to work on a farm.  Later he helped build roads during the Great Depression.

When Wingate began his career 40 years ago at the U.S. Post Office in Lexington Park, Maryland, most Americans were ready to retire.  He still drives to work, where he spends four hours a day, six days a week.

Mr. Wingate has lived to see the effects of segregation and the election of Barack Obama.   His secret to a long life is not smoking or drinking alcohol, attending church every Sunday and eating good food.  His secret to success in his career is ‘be nice to people – everyday’.

In these difficult economic times, the number of older workers who are going back to work is increasing.  The Experience Works SCSEP operates in 30 states and Puerto Rico, providing community service, training, and employment opportunities for low-income adults 55 and older.  The program helps older workers maintain self-sufficiency, and age with dignity. Source: Retirement Living.

Inequity to Equity: Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities

Inequity to Equity: Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities

We hope that you are aware of the upcoming conference, "Inequity to Equity: Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities", sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Howard University Women's Health Institute, and Gallaudet University, and taking place in Washington, DC on October 17-18, 2011.  We invite psychologists, other health care providers, researchers, educators, policymakers, women and girls with  disabilities, and advocates to join us as we work to develop an integrated health care agenda that will improve health outcomes for women with disabilities.  For more detailed information, see the email included below, or visit the conference website at: http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/disabilities-conference/index.aspx. 

Register online at: https://cyberstore1.apa.org/cyb/cli/casinterface1/women/ to attend, so that you can be involved in the development of research, practice and policy recommendations on behalf of women with disabilities

Thank you for your interest and your assistance in this worthy effort.  Questions regarding registration or donations should be emailed to Shari Miles-Cohen (smiles@apa.org) or Kari Hill (khill@apa.org).  Donations should be mailed to: Ms. Kari Hill, American Psychological Association, Public Interest Directorate, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.

9/11 Anniversary: APA teams with Nickelodeon to talk to kids

With the impending 9/11 anniversary, APA wanted to provide free resources and activity ideas for APA members and SPTAs to use within their communities if they so choose to engage in local public education activities.

As part of 9/11 Anniversary recognition activities, the APA partnered with Nickelodeon Channel to develop children’s curriculum materials to accompany the Nick News TV special, What Happened? The Story of September 11, 2001, scheduled to air on September 1st at 9 p.m. ET on the Nickelodeon channel.

The APA/Nick News curriculum materials will give parents, caregivers, and educators tips to understand and support children as they learn about the events surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which happened a decade ago. It will provide information about common reactions, including worries and anxieties, and ideas for helping children cope and build resilience when confronted with this difficult historical event. Psychologists can use these materials in local activities.

The following materials are available
· APA/Nick News curriculum materials
· Tip sheet on hosting community discussions
· List of additional online resources available on APA’s website
The TV special will be available online at the Nick News website following the initial air date, http://news.nick.com/.

The curriculum materials are only available electronically. They will be available on both the APA and Nick News websites prior to September 1st. We will notify you once they are posted and provide the direct URLs.

If you have any questions on how to use the materials, please contact Kathleen Ashton at ashtonk@ccf.org

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walks

The COPA/OPA Team at a past walk

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is holding their annual suicide prevention walks across the nation! 50% of all the proceeds raised in each walk stay locally for suicide prevention programs, and the other 50% go to support suicide prevention research. Please consider starting a team or getting involved! Here is a list of the Ohio walks.

08/20/2011	3rd Annual Suicide Prevention Poker Run, Quaker Steak & Lube - Milford, Ohio
09/17/2011	Toledo OOTD Community Walk, Centennial Quarry & Terrace - Sylvania, Ohio
10/08/2011	Youngstown Walk, Mill Creek Park Wick Recreation Area - Youngstown, Ohio
10/16/2011	Cincinnati Walk, University of Cincinnati’s McMicken Com, - Cincinnati, Ohio
10/22/2011	Cleveland Walk, Wendy Park - Cleveland, Ohio
10/23/2011	Columbus Walk, Fred Beekman Park , 2200 Carmack Rd - Columbus, Ohio
10/29/2011	Fremont, OH Community Walk, Birchard Park - Fremont, Ohio

If you are in Central Ohio, please consider joining the COPA/OPA team or providing financial support for a good cause!

Back to School Blues?

August marks the start of the school season and can be stressful for both kids and parents. Changes in routine, new sleep schedules, and coping with new people can be a challenge for kids and parents alike. Consider some of the following tips from the American Psychological Association:
1. Practice the first day of school routine: Getting into a sleep routine before the first week of school and organize lunches and bookbags the night before. Visit the school in advance to ease anxiety of the unknown.
2. Get to know your neighbors: If your child is starting a new school, walk around your block and get to know the neighborhood children
3. Talk to your child: Asking your children about their fears or worries about going back to school and also what they liked about their previous school or grade.
4. Empathize with your children: Nerves are normal, but highlight that not everything that is different is necessarily bad. Encourage your children to face their fears instead of falling in to the trap of encouraging avoidance.
Get involved and ask for help: Knowledge of the school and the community will better equip you to understand your child’s surroundings and the transition he or she is undergoing and seek expert advice from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, if you are having trouble coping.

Links: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/school-rush.aspx

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This observance provides the opportunity to remind the community of the importance of immunization. Make sure that your family and friends are up-to-date on their immunizations.


In August, parents are enrolling children in school, older students are entering college and adults and the health care community are preparing for the upcoming flu season. This makes August a particularly good time to focus community attention on the value of immunization. 


Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that once routinely killed or harmed tens of thousands of infants, children and adults.The viruses and bacteria that cause vaccine-preventable diseases and death still exist and can infect people who are not protected by vaccines.


Source: National Partnership for Immunization (www.partnersforimmunization.org)


A 2006 Study by Chapman & Coups found that worry and regret were stronger predictors for receiving vaccinations than perceived risk in preventative health decisions. Psychologists can help work through emotions that may be preventing you from making the best health decisions!

For more information about immunizations, please visit the CDC's Immunization Information Page

The Debt Crisis—How to control your own stress when the government stresses out!

Kathleen Ashton, Ph.D.

The Debt Crisis—How to control your own stress when the government stresses out!

Five Tips for Debt Crisis Stress Relief.

1. Focus on what is in your control. Write, e-mail, or tweet your senator, congressperson, or the President. Let them know what your priorities are for spending and your opinion on tax breaks.
2. Avoid information overload. Constant watching of 24 hour news channels, listening to pundits argue, reviewing internet articles can be overwhelming. Gather information in a small chunk from a reputable source. 
3. Don’t look too far ahead. Some people tend to think about all the worst case scenarios. Take one step at a time and don’t predict the future—unless you have psychic abilities!
4. Maintain your usual coping strategies. Get outside, exercise, eat right, and socialize with your friends. 
5. Make one small step to balance your own budget. Taking action helps people to feel positive. Make a meal instead of going out tonight, skip the designer coffee, have a small amount taken out of your paycheck each week and automatically deposited into a savings account. You’ll be doing your own small part to be financially responsible.