Obama addressed the health exception to abortion

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (Illinois), in an interview last week with Christian magazine said that "mental anguish" should not be used as an excuse for "late term abortions, AP / Google.com reports.

In an interview, Obama said: "Well, I do not believe that" mental anguish "qualifies as a mother of health. I think it is still a serious problem that is a natural during pregnancy, when there are real important questions for parents on child complete. " Last year, after the United States - The Supreme Court confirmed the decision that the ban on federal (PL 108-105) in the so-called "partial birth" abortion, Obama said that "totally rejects" the decision because "radically different from previous precedents, the health of pregnant women. " According to AP / Google.com, the health exception is "vitally important" for abortion-rights supporters and is considered a "loophole" opponents of abortion. By limiting health exception "serious physical problems," Obama, among other supporters of abortion rights, AP / Google.com reports (Kuhnhenn, AP / Google.com, 7 / 4).

January Crawford Green Castle - correspondent for ABC News, includes the Supreme Court, and provides legal analysis on the blog, ABC News "legal" - Obama stated that the declaration of perspective ", in contrast to 35 years of Supreme Court rulings on this issue, which always requires That the ban on abortion contain exceptions to permit procedures for the protection of women "mental health", as well as their physical health. "She said that Obama is the support of that law said - and away from support of freedom of choice of law, rights, it is one of the sponsors ", provides a much broader definition of mental health, he explained that this week." Green Castle notes that the Dow concentration problems against Bolton, the leading Supreme Court case decided on the same day in Roe v. manager in 1973, said a doctor may decide to conduct an abortion on the basis of "all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, family and woman, age - in terms of well-being of patients. After Green Castle, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia ", expressed the view that" mental health "exception was not necessary. "(Green Castle," legitimacy ", ABC News, 7 / 5).

The official position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, which was approved in May, Obama said that "except for medical psychiatric problems that may occur during pregnancy. Tyazhesti fetal anomalies, for example, can exact a huge emotional in the pregnant woman and her family." V recent statement in response to interview Obama, the group, said Obama views that are consistent with Roe v. Wade, and added that Obama "has serious statements against President Bush's Federal banning abortion, have no exceptions to protect women's health." Tommy Vietor, Obama press, said: "Obama argued that laws which restrict contain exceptions for abortions, should be health and life of the mother." (AP / Google.com, 7 / 4).

Obama on Saturday to clarify its position and said: "I said that you should have a health exception in many important restrictions or bans on abortion, abortion later date." He added: "My only point is that in an area such as partial birth abortion, mental [or] Health exception can be determined with precision. It can be defined by physical health [and] may be determined by clinical serious mental Diseases. "He said:" Now I do not believe that "mental anguish" qualifies as a mother of health ", adding:" I think it is still a serious problem that is a natural during pregnancy, when there are real problems for mother Child allowances. " Obama campaign representative Linda Douglas, said Senator makes a difference in an interview with the relevant medical diagnosis of mental illness and the nature of mental anguish that is not planned pregnancy can cause. "Fear is not a mental illness," said Douglas, adding: "zero Cree and always said there should be no exception for physical health and serious mental illness" (James, "swamp", Chicago Tribune, 7 / 5).

Green Castle writes that makes Obama so that the comments as "surprising" that the senator is trying to limit abortions after 22 weeks for those women who have serious illness or disease. But today, the law also covers some women are "mental anguish", these women may be affected emotionally and psychologically, without prejudice to abortion "(" legal ", ABC News, 7 / 5).

Rove attacks Obama stand against abortion

In related news, former Bush administration chief of staff Karl Rove on Friday during the speeches members of the National Council the right to life Obama attack from their positions on abortion, while praising Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (Arizona) for their values , New York Times "In Conclave", reported. During his speech said that Rove Obama threatened "to strike all the good deed that has [NRTL] Done for decades" in the framework of its support for freedom of choice Law and other measures , An abortion rights.

Obama is a man who receives and said that brings Republicans and Democrats together to great things for the country ", Rove said, adding:" How can [Obama] argue that to do if he [is] at the same time support the separation of practice the use of U.S. taxpayer funding of abortion? You can not. You can not square circle ". Rove also noted that Obama has a zero rating NRTL and 100% rating from NARAL. Rove also attacked Obama recent efforts to court" for the lives of leaders and values "and try to" convince them that it is reasonable person ". Rove said:" I understand that you are trying to do ", adding:" But there is a difference between talk and act. "Obama" actions over many years are much more important than any words he could, in private conversation. "

In response to comments made by Rove, Vietor, said that "Obama is working for the presidency, the country together and end kind of political division perfection by Karl Rove" (Falcone, "The Conclave", "New York Times, 7 / 4 ).

Reprinted with permission type http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You see, all Report Daily Women's Health Policy, search archives, or subscribe for delivery by e-mail here. Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Association of Women and Family Affairs, published by the Advisory Board Company.

adapted from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

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Meditation is good for psychiatrists' mental health

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Meditation sessions proved to be a success for the members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists at its annual meeting at Imperial College, London - the growing number are on the argument that the spiritual discipline against anxiety and burnout.

Meditation workshops under the guidance of college spirituality 2000 - a strong group of special interests, are overbooked. "How to be a reference to the need for spiritual food, that the members of the College not so easily to the outside world," said Dr. Sarah Eagger, Chairman of the Group of spirituality.

Dr. Eagger, consultant psychiatrist at St. Charles Hospital, London, said that his daily practice of meditation is so important in their daily work, as their medical training. "The strength of spiritual practice really happening in his own when the patient is in distress himself, while dealing with pressure of work in groups with a huge burden, and then have to spend time filling forms that you think are not reliable. I have enough . Without the practice of meditation to cultivate the area was still inside, I want to suffer burnout. "

Dr Andrew Powell, founder Chairman of the Group of spirituality, said: "There is the degree of concern in the profession to be caught up in a culture of measurement and in the box score. The result is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to practice Psychiatry, anxiety and concern for our patients to maintain human values and not caught up in "us and them" mentality. "

Nevertheless, many psychiatrists struggle to understand the importance of spirituality to their work, the meeting was told. Julia Head, a specialist chaplains in the Maudsley Hospital in London, told the conference that spirituality is increasingly recognized as an important part of good mental health.

"National Institute of Mental Health in England, is only the latest body to recognize the limits of modern medicine with the recommendation that experts in the field of spiritual support and physical therapy, including drugs," said Dr. chief, coordinates "the exploitation of training programmes for mental health 300 Specialists in areas of London Southwark and Lambeth.

"Experts should encourage hope and desire for change and the possibility of recovery. Nevertheless, the idea of healing, in contrast to clinical treatment, is that alien to many experts," he said. "You feel trapped in a culture where measuring clinical activities is a priority. It is time to realize that in order to support their patients recover, they must feel the assessment and allow time for their own growth."

The meeting also said that the evidence for the therapeutic benefits of meditation for a wide range of health problems was significantly stronger than most drugs. The new meta-analysis of 823 randomized controlled trials of meditation in which the United States - the National Institute of alternative and complementary medicine, showed clinical benefits of meditation through a wide range of physical and emotional disorders.

"Meditation is a way of life, not a rapid solution achieved through the payment of eight sessions or to use tricks, such as smoking, music and light", Dr Avdesh Sharma, former president of Psychiatric Association of India, he said. "It does not work immediately. We need to practice for several weeks before the consequences will be felt gradually."

Dr. Sharma added: "If meditation is a drug that we all want to see it in action. He has a positive influence on most of the problems of physical health and very effective for mental health significantly reduce depression and improve Fear relaxation, oxygen to the brain, insomnia and energy. "

Reference:

The Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Imperial College, London, 1 - 4 July 2008

adapted from www.rcpsych.ac.uk

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Variety At Breakfast Linked With Better Mental Health For Teens

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Adding a banana to a bowl of cereal and milk could be the key to better mental health in teenagers, according to Australian researchers who have found that a variety of foods at breakfast is linked to mental functioning.

Presenting her research at the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) national conference, dietitian Therese O'Sullivan from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research said a high quality breakfast, with foods from at least three different healthy food groups, was linked with better mental health in 14 year old boys and girls.

And she said that for every extra food group eaten at breakfast, the associated mental health score improved.

'Eating a breakfast of toast with a glass of milk and some fruit seems to be better than just a large serve of toast alone. This may be because mental functioning is affected by the absorption of a variety of nutrients, including calcium, iron and B group vitamins,' said Ms O'Sullivan, an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

The researchers asked more than 800 teenagers what they ate for breakfast, and scored this based on their intake of the core food groups. Mental health was assessed using a child behaviour checklist.

They found that just one in four teens ate a high quality breakfast, and the two most common core food groups eaten at breakfast were breads/cereals and dairy products.

Disturbingly, a small proportion of teens did not eat any items from the healthy core food groups for breakfast over the three day study period.

Research has already shown that students who eat breakfast pay more attention in class, retain more information and are more interested in learning, but this is the first study to show that variety at breakfast is also important.

According to Australia's last national nutrition survey, high school-aged girls were more likely to skip breakfast than boys. The report found that around one in three girls aged 12 to 15 did not eat a regular breakfast, compared with 13 per cent of boys.

Ms O'Sullivan suggests trying the following ideas to increase variety of nutrient intake at breakfast:

• Add a spoonful of sunflower seeds to your cereal


• Top your toast with a sliced banana


• Sprinkle diced dried fruit over your cereal or add some canned fruit


• For a quick breakfast on the go, prepare a whole grain sandwich with baked beans and cheese the night before and toast it in the sandwich maker the next morning.

The DAA 26th national conference will be held from May 29 - 31 at Conrad Jupiters at the Gold Coast. The conference is titled 'Improving nutrition - a social responsibility'.

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is the professional body representing dietitians nationally. Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is the only national credential recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and most private health funds as the quality standard for nutrition and dietetics services in Australia. For more information visit http://www.daa.asn.au

Taken from : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

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Tips on Taking Care of Mental Health

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Mental health issues affect nearly 15% of the population. This data can be alarming, considering that 2/3 of those diagnosed with mental disorder remains untreated. While mental disorders are sometimes caused by chemical imbalance in the brain, some of these are caused by the experiences that we need to deal with, such as death of a loved one or some other tragic or traumatic experience. Hence, the goal is to maintain a good or positive mental health, where one is able to take control of his life and able to cope with any and all situations that come his way. Here are some tips on taking care of mental health.

Always stay happy. This may sound vague, but there are many ways to stay happy. Remain positive and optimistic. Look at the bright side of life always.

So how do we stay happy? First, we must learn to balance our time. After a busy day or week, take time to relax. Do something pleasurable with your friends or family. It can be a hobby, sport or a simple activity. Aside from balancing our time, we must also manage time well. To minimize stress, make a schedule of the things you will do, and stick to it.

Be tolerant of others. All of us are different in many ways, so we must learn to accept each other�s ideas and opinion, even if it differs from our own. Learn to accept the weaknesses and shortcomings of others. Once we learn to accept, there is a lesser chance of conflict, which can be stressful and frustrating.

Spend time with your family and friends. Find time to talk to someone, even if you don�t make sense at all! What is important is the act of sharing your experiences, worries or problems with somebody. You must also learn to listen to their worries for them to feel better. In effect, not only have you helped yourself but you�ve helped your friend too.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. You know the basics. Eat healthy food always. Exercise regularly. Sleep well. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Quit smoking. Avoid doing strenuous activities. Take time to rest.

Sadly, though, depression and other mental disorders affect children and the young. Parents have an important role in the child�s mental health. Parents must learn to communicate with their kids and at the same time listen to them. In their dealings, let the kid feel appreciated always. Acknowledge their strengths instead of focusing on their weaknesses.

Their coping abilities must also be developed. If they commit mistakes, explain so they will learn from them. Allow them to develop a sense of responsibility by letting them solve problems as well as make decisions. Teach them the importance of discipline and self-worth. Discipline them without making them feel unloved or unworthy.

Lastly, accept them for who they are. With acceptance comes love, respect, and everything else.

The key to taking care of mental health is being happy and in control of our lives. Once we know how to take control, we are able to cope with any and all situations that come our way. Being happy is not just a one-time event � it is a lifestyle. Stay positive always. Learn to find joy in the simple miracles of life. And be grateful for each wonderful day.

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Tips on Online Researching for Mental Health Articles

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Researching on a very broad topic is work enough. Consolidating your research later is another story.

It is common to encounter a bulk of scattered and non-linear resources when researching through mental health articles, both online and off line. But the truth is, even when these articles came from different authors with different ideas and issues in mind, the researcher should still be able to crop out the best ideas and consolidate them to make a decent and productive research. Here are some advices:

a. Choose a single idea and expound it

It is usually the case of scattered ideas for a personal research. The researcher would pick a random idea on mental health. This is a common practice but not really a good one. Picking an idea that popped out from nowhere indicates the lack of sufficient direction in your research. If you are using the keyword "mental health", it is best to skim through the topics first then take note of those which interested you most. Then research for the articles having the particular keyword on their titles.

b. Research for online sites that are niched to article directories.

Usually, some have free services while others require membership fees. However, you must not get stuck on using these directories alone. It is also best to make use of the large sources from individual websites. Psychological websites and websites advocating mental health normally have huge inventories of psychological articles that could support your research. There are also websites dedicated to individual disorders under the umbrella of mental illness.

c. Validate your research

Wikipedia or any academic websites are good places to start your research with. But research must not start and end on a single website. Try other websites and click on the links and suggested sources on each webpages that are relevant to your research. Take note of any recommendations on each web page. Searching through various resources would give you a comprehensive perspective for your research. Also, websites vary in their approach on hosting information.

d. Try experimenting on keywords and keyphrases

You can start with a simple keyphrase such as "mental health disorders" for your initial research. But as you advance in your study you will find that this topic is written in various articles adopting issues on different mental heath disorders. Take note of the general topic surrounding these articles. If you are looking for a specific idea such as changes in personality, you could look up personality disorders. This will then branch out to sub-categories that would direct your focus of research.

Additionally, you will find, as you skim or read, on mental wellness articles pieces of ideas that would either broaden or narrow your research.

e. Digest each information one at a time

It is impossible to arrive at a decent research if you are tackling all information at once. Get sufficient sense of the topic on the articles then outline the ideas that interest you most.

f. Don�t get lost

When researching for online articles, it is easy to get lost through the mass of available articles by clicking irrelevant links and suggested resources. This could be prevented by organizing your ideas first after some research and consciously tying all research to a single common thought.

There is no discounting the fact that online research is tricky since it only takes some efforts to put up a professional-looking website that hosts mental health articles. But following the above advices could lighten the load of your research.

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