Reduce Mental Health Stigma

Comment

Comment by Rebecca Berndt-Downen on June 18, 2009 at 10:55am

Congrats on being close to achieving your degree in Counseling! I will be graduating myself in August 2009. I understand the difficulties being faced by veterans, as I am one myself. I hope that, through this group, we can start to reduce stigma of seeking counseling services.

Comment by Claire Power Murphy on June 16, 2009 at 6:07pm

Hi Ann, My son was hyper and retarded. My daughter had cerebral palsy. I was diagnosed with dementia and am improving daily! All has been removed by a high level of nutrition. My daughter graduated from LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts with a brown belt in karate! Check out www.selfrej.com 'under construction'.

Comment by Ann Campbell Durbin on June 16, 2009 at 5:32pm

This is very interesting to me as I will be graduating with my Masters in Counseling, May 2010, I too have heard of wonderful things about food helping the mind, body, and spirit through many challenges in life. Although I am not familiar with your book, it sounds very interesting. I am very open to all ways of helping others, especially in this day and time when there are so many different adversities we are all facing in our lives.
My husband is a 26 year vet who has been through many challenges in his life, including PTSD. I would like to hear more about your book.

Comment by Claire Power Murphy on June 16, 2009 at 3:46pm

Hi Rebecca, There are MANY Vietnam vets in my area. It is sad the types of PTSD they're suffering. It's also sad for we ladies who are often depriveed of their balanced company due to these mental problems. It is now possible to rid ourselves of many problems through balancing blood chemistry. My Mom was a severe paranoid-schizophrenic confined to solitary and so I was depreived of her love and attention all through my formative years. In my book Preserved to Serve I chronicle my own improvement along with that of my children - from hyperactivity and retardation and from cerebral palsy to the head of the class in school performance and in karate. Claire

Comment by Rebecca Berndt-Downen on June 16, 2009 at 3:33pm

Sounds good! I myself am a service-connected veteran (30%) through the VA, having Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). I also work with various veterans who are dealing with PTSD, etc. Therefore, I know the stigma that is attached with having a mental health diagnosis. I look forward to "checking out" your group!

Comment by Claire Power Murphy on June 15, 2009 at 9:36am

Hi Rebecca, I invite you to take a serious look at my group - being advertised right now on the frontg page of cwwconnect - along with yours. My award-winning book, Preservd to Serves, chronicles that I HAD dementia.
Let's talk about it. Claire Power Murphy Group: "Let Food Be your Medicine"

Comment by Rebecca Berndt-Downen on June 5, 2009 at 9:12am

This group was started by myself, due to my interest in reducing the stigma of individuals who seek counseling services. I am getting ready to graduate with my Master's Degree in Counseling as a LLPC (Limited Licensed Professional Counselor). I was also a mental health specialist in the Army. Due to these positions, I have witnessed many soldiers who were worried about seeking counseling services due to the fact that they would be viewed as weak, or might be kicked out of the military. I am an advocate for reducing the stigma that society dictates, and am looking for other like-minded people who feel the same way.