Alternative Mental Health News -- Issue 50

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--- Safe Harbor <ezine

wrote:

 

> Safe Harbor

> <ezine

 

> Alternative Mental Health News -- Issue 50

> Sun, 5 Sep 2004 15:41:27 -0400 (EDT)

>

---------------------------

>

> THE ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH NEWS

> Issue 50, September 2004

>

> An ezine brought to you by

> AlternativeMentalHealth.com and Safe Harbor, a

> nonprofit corporation.

>

> Dan Stradford, Editor

> Alan Graham, Assistant Editor

>

> SafeHarborProj

> www.AlternativeMentalHealth.com

>

> Feedback: We'd like to hear your comments and views.

> Please forward them to the e-mail address above.

> Contact information is below.

>

> Did someone forward this ezine to you? You can

> receive your own copies of the Alternative Mental

> Health News directly. Use the sign-up form at

> http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/signup.htm

>

> You can also e-mail your request to...

> ezine

> or contact us in any of the ways listed in this

> newsletter.

>

> Complete management instructions are located at the

> end of this e-mail.

>

> All PAST ISSUES of the Alternative Mental Heath News

> are available at

>

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/Ezine/EzineArchive.htm.

>

>

=====================================================================

> TABLE OF CONTENTS

>

=====================================================================

>

> 1. ABOUT SAFE HARBOR

> 2. EDITOR'S NOTE

> 3. ANNOUNCEMENT: DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, DR. DORIS

> RAPP

> HEADLINE SAFE HARBOR EVENT, OCT. 7

> 4. ANNOUNCEMENT: SAFE HARBOR LOS ANGELES TALK AND

> SUPPORT GROUP, SEP. 8

> 5. ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE PFEIFFER SEMINARS ON MOOD,

> LEARNING

> AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

> 6. ANNOUNCEMENT: 6-WEEK WORKSHOP IN CHINO,

> CALIFORNIA

> TO DISCUSS PHYSICAL CAUSES UNDERLYING MENTAL

> DISORDERS

> 7. ANNOUNCEMENT: SAFE HARBOR TO PRESENT AT

> ALTERNATIVES 2004 CONFERENCE, DENVER, OCT. 14

> 8. ARTICLE: GRANT AWARDED FOR NATUROPATHIC MENTAL

> HEALTH TREATMENTS

> 9. ARTICLE: CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN PHARMACEUTICAL

> COMPANIES

> HITS NEW LOW

> 10. ARTICLE: STUDY CORRELATES HYPERACTIVITY

> WITH FOOD COLORINGS, PRESERVATIVES

> 11. ARTICLE: FDA FOLLOW-UP STUDY CONFIRMS CHILD

> SUICIDE RISKS

> 12. ARTICLE: EAT TO BEAT DEPRESSION

> 13. ARTICLE: CHILDREN+VITAMINS=INCREASED SCHOOL

> ATTENDANCE

> 14. ARTICLE: MERCURY TO BE BANNED FROM BABY VACCINES

> IN BRITAIN

> 15. ARTICLE: PROZAC FOUND IN BRITAIN'S DRINKING

> WATER

> 16. TESTIMONIAL: BIPOLAR RECOVERY THROUGH SAFE

> HARBOR

> 17. HELP THROUGH SAFE HARBOR

> 18. ABOUT ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM

>

>

=====================================================================

> ABOUT SAFE HARBOR

>

=====================================================================

>

> Safe Harbor was founded in 1998 in the wake of

> growing public dissatisfaction with the unwanted

> effects of orthodox psychiatric treatments such as

> medication and shock therapy. Seeking to satisfy he

> desire for safer, more effective treatments, Safe

> Harbor is dedicated to educating the public, the

> medical profession, and government officials on

> research and treatments that, minimally, do no harm

> and, optimally, cure the causes of severe mental

> symptoms. Our primary thrust is education on the

> medical causes of severe mental symptoms and the use

> of nutritional and other natural treatments.

>

> CONTACT INFO:

>

> SAFE HARBOR

> 1718 COLORADO BOULEVARD

> LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90041

> U.S.A.

>

> (323) 257 7338

> SAFEHARBORPROJ

> WWW.ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM

>

> WE WELCOME YOUR DONATIONS. AS A NONPROFIT

> ORGANIZATION, SAFE HARBOR IS SUPPORTED SOLELY

> THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE PUBLIC. DONATIONS CAN

> BE MADE ONLINE AT OUR WEB SITE OR MAILED TO THE

> ABOVE ADDRESS. WE ALSO ACCEPT VISA/MASTERCARD BY

> PHONE. THANK YOU

>

>

=====================================================================

> EDITOR'S COMMENT

>

=====================================================================

>

> At the end of this month's issue you will find two

> testimonials about two people whom Safe Harbor has

> helped. It makes my day every time one comes across

> my desk because it let's me know that we are

> fulfilling our slogan of " Changing lives every day. "

>

> On many a call that I receive, it is not uncommon

> for me to ask the person to keep me posted on his or

> her progress as the person walks that sunlit road to

> wellness. Months go by. Then the call or email

> comes in, commonly beginning with, " You may not

> remember me, but... " And, yes, I do remember them.

>

> I have often told my children that I believe it is

> incumbent upon all of us to contribute more to life

> than we take out of it, so that at the end of our

> days, we can look back and know that the world is

> better off for us having passed through.

>

> For those of us at Safe Harbor, our way of making

> that better world is to do all we can to point the

> way to recovery for so many who suffer from deep

> emotional and mental turmoil.

>

> We donate our time, sometimes our evenings and our

> weekends, and often from our own pockets to keep

> this work robust and to reach as many as we can with

> our message of hope.

>

> But running a nonprofit requires more than just hard

> work and good hearts. In our society, we have bills

> to pay for our phones, postage, stationery, travel

> costs, printing, equipment, and a host of other

> small and large items. In short, we require money.

>

> We make one annual effort at fundraising and that

> time is now, culminating in our Fourth Annual Awards

> Benefit (see below). Many individuals have donated

> their time and talent to make this event happen.

> All of those who will be presenting want to see Safe

> Harbor's efforts prosper in the world.

>

> You can help by buying your tickets early, buying

> them for someone else, helping us cover the cost of

> the event or by generously donating to our cause in

> general. Our target is to raise $250,000 because

> there is so much more work to do.

>

> The next time we publish one of those emails that

> starts, " You may not remember me, but... " I hope

> that it can bring a smile to your face, knowing

> that, through your donations, you too are changing

> lives every day.

>

>

=====================================================================

> ANNOUNCEMENT: DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, DR. DORIS RAPP

> HEADLINE SAFE HARBOR EVENT, OCT. 7

>

=====================================================================

>

> Mark your calendar for October 7, Safe Harbor's

> remarkable Fourth Annual Awards Benefit - this year

> featuring three internationally-recognized authors

> who are legends in their fields.

>

> Dr. Doris Rapp, author of the blockbuster books Is

> This Your Child? and Is This Your Child's World?

> plus the recent Our Toxic World, is the world's

> leading spokesperson on how allergies affect child

> behavior. Her work on Donahue, Oprah, and through

> lectures around the world has dramatically impacted

> a generation of children. One television appearance

> alone prompted over 100,000 letters from viewers.

>

> Safe Harbor is privileged to honor Dr. Rapp with our

> 2004 Lighthouse Award, presented annually to men and

> women who benefit humanity by forwarding truly safe

> and effective mental health treatments.

>

> Dr. Laura Schlessinger, America's top radio

> therapist with over 10 million weekly listeners, has

> generously agreed to donate her time as our keynote

> speaker. Dr. Laura finds common ground with Safe

> Harbor as a champion of children, a public voice

> encouraging the use of psychiatric drugs only as a

> last resort, and a promoter of the philosophy that

> full recovery comes from taking responsibility for

> one's health and one's life.

>

> Dr. Laura, author of seven New York Times

> bestsellers, including her recent mega-hit The

> Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, will answer

> questions from the audience.

>

> Also honored will be Melvyn Werbach, M.D., renowned

> nutritional psychiatrist and editor of numerous

> internationally popular texts such as Nutritional

> Influences on Illness and Nutritional Influences on

> Mental Illness.

>

> Ticket prices: $95 in advance; $125 at the door

>

> Special seating at Dr. Laura's or Dr. Rapp's table:

> $500

>

> SEATING IS LIMITED - THIS EVENT IS GENERATING A LOT

> OF BUZZ SO BOOK EARLY!

>

>

> THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE VIDEOED - THIS IS A ONE-TIME

> OPPORTUNITY!

>

>

> Where: Glendale Hilton, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd.,

> Glendale, California

>

> When: 7:30 PM, Thursday, October 7.

>

> Prizes, including jewelry made by Dr. Laura, will be

> raffled off.

>

> Tickets can be purchased online at

>

https://nt7.corpsite.com/secure_alternative/conference.htm

> or at (323) 257-7338 or mail checks to Safe Harbor,

> 1718 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041.

>

>

=====================================================================

> SAFE HARBOR LOS ANGELES TALK AND SUPPORT GROUP, SEP.

> 8

>

=====================================================================

>

> Come see a showing of " Underlying Physical Causes of

> Mental Disorders " by Dan Stradford, president of

> Safe Harbor. This talk was originally delivered and

> taped in Boston.

>

> We also meet for an hour for our support group.

>

> The Los Angeles monthly Support/Educational Group is

> held on the second Wednesday evening of each month,

> from 7 to 9 pm at the Safe Harbor office, 1718

> Colorado Blvd in the Eagle Rock section of Los

> Angeles. Parking is available on Colorado Blvd. or

> on side streets. Various health practitioners

> present topics related to alternative treatments for

> mental health with time for questions and sharing

> among the group participants. This group is a forum

> for persons interested in alternative mental health

> to gather, learn, and share. It is open to the

> public, and all are welcome.

>

> An RSVP phone call or email is appreciated to give

> us a idea of attendance. One can call the Safe

> Harbor office at (323) 257-7338, email Safe Harbor

> SafeHarborProj; or contact Jeri Marston, RN

> (310) 822-2895, jerimarston

>

>

=====================================================================

> ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE PFEIFFER SEMINARS ON ROLE OF

> NUTRIENTS IN MOOD, LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

>

=====================================================================

>

> Learn about the benefits of nutrient therapy for

> ADD/HD, Autism, Behavior Disorders, Depression,

> Anxiety, and Schizophrenia.

>

> Two Free 2-hour seminars

>

> Monday and Tuesday, September 20th and 21st, 6:30 pm

> to 8:30 pm

>

> Embassy Suites Hotel

> 150 Anza Blvd.

> Burlingame, CA

> 650-342-4600 (for directions only)

>

> Dr. Bill Walsh and his team from the Pfeiffer

> Treatment Center will share their work on the

> Peninsula. The Pfeiffer Treatment Center

> (Naperville, Ill.) has treated over 18,000 children

> and adults with nutritional therapies for a wide

> range of behavioral and mental health disorders.

> Dr. Walsh will speak at the Embassy Suites Hotel in

> Burlingame, CA (150 Anza Blvd.) on Monday and

> Tuesday evenings, Sept. 20th and 21st from 6:30 p.m.

> to 8:30 p.m. His seminar, " The Role of Nutrients in

> Mood, Learning and Behavior Disorders, " is free.

> Monday's seminar will focus on mental health and

> behavioral disorders, while Tuesday's seminar will

> be on Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

>

> For more seminar information call 630-505-0300.

>

>

=====================================================================

> ANNOUNCEMENT: 6-WEEK WORKSHOP IN CHINO, CALIFORNIA,

> TO DISCUSS PHYSICAL CAUSES UNDERLYING MENTAL

> DISORDERS

>

=====================================================================

>

> Learn the science behind nutritional treatments for

> mental disorders in a series of Saturday morning

> workshops with:

>

> * Nancy Mullan, MD, Burbank psychiatrist

> * Stuart Shipko, MD, Pasadena psychiatrist

> * Prof. James Croxton, educator, physiological

> psychology

> * Dan Stradford, President of Safe Harbor

>

> Week 1: Stress and Neurological Structures and

> Processes

> Week 2: Nutritional Factors Relative to Brain

> Structure and Function

> Week 3: Hormonal Issues, Cerebral Allergies, and

> Food Intolerances

> Week 4: How Pollutants and Toxins Affect Brain

> Function

> Week 5: Medical Causes of Mental Disorders

> Week 6: Resources for Alternative Mental Health

> Care

>

> PLUS hear the personal stories of people who have

> recovered from mental disorders through nutrition,

> diet changes, and other natural means.

>

> Presented by NAMI (National Alliance for the

> Mentally Ill) Chino Valley (formerly NAMI Chino

> Hills), in partnership with Safe Harbor, the

> nation's leading nonprofit agency for

> non-pharmaceutical mental health education.

>

> Schedule: Each Saturday, Sept. 25 through Oct. 30,

> 2004, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM.

>

> Location: 6251 Schaefer Ave., Unit G, Chino,

> California.

> Fee (all six weeks): $38 / two attendees together:

> $58.

> Each additional family member: $10.

> Seating is limited, so register early!

>

> Phone numbers:

> NAMI: (909)923-7517

> Safe Harbor: (323) 257-7338

>

> Make checks payable to " Safe Harbor " or " NAMI Chino

> Valley " and send to Safe Harbor, 1718 Colorado

> Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041

>

> VISA, MasterCard, AMEX accepted.

>

> For more information contact

> www.alternativementalhealth.com or call the above

> numbers.

>

>

=====================================================================

> SAFE HARBOR TO PRESENT AT ALTERNATIVES 2004

> CONFERENCE, DENVER, OCT. 14

>

=====================================================================

>

> Safe Harbor New York chapter president Dana Barnes

> and Safe Harbor founder Dan Stradford will present a

> workshop at the Alternatives 2004 Conference in

> Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, October 14, from 2:00

> PM to 3:15 PM. The topic will be " Natural

> Alternatives for Mental Health Recovery. "

>

> Alternatives 2004 is a national mental health

> conference organized by and for mental health

> consumers. This year's theme is " Achieving the

> Promise of Recovery: New Freedom, New Power, New

> Hope. " For more information on the conference, go

> to http://www.mhselfhelp.org/alt2004.html

>

>

=====================================================================

> GRANT AWARDED FOR NATUROPATHIC MENTAL HEALTH

> TREATMENTS

>

=====================================================================

>

> The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester was

> recently awarded a $40,000 Ittleson Foundation grant

> designated to support the agency's efforts to

> integrate naturopathic medicine among the array of

> treatments available for behavioral and mental

> health concerns. The two-year grant will support

> efforts to develop a program model, treatment

> protocols and educational materials that can be

> replicated by other mental health programs

> throughout the country.

>

> A year ago, The Center became one of the first

> community mental health centers in the United States

> to offer naturopathic medicine as a treatment

> option. At a time when more people are seeking

> alternatives to traditional medical care and, in

> particular, looking to rely less on medication to

> manage their symptoms, the demand for complementary

> therapies like those provided by naturopathic

> medicine is growing.

>

> According to The Center's Medical Director, Daniel

> P. Potenza, MD, " The Ittleson Foundation grant

> affords us an exciting and unique opportunity to

> establish a first-of-its-kind program model. Dr.

> Jeffrey Sager, the naturopathic doctor on our staff,

> will be developing the program model, treatment

> protocols, educational and program development

> materials that will be an invaluable tool for other

> mental health organizations locally and nationally

> who want to replicate the program. "

>

> Dr. Sager, a licensed doctor of naturopathic

> medicine, joined the staff of The Center's Bedford

> Counseling Associates one year ago. He is also on

> the staff of the Center for Life Management, the

> community mental health agency located in Derry.

>

> Since 1932, The Ittleson Foundation has been serving

> the needs of the underprivileged and providing

> resources for not-for-profit organizations. Today,

> The Foundation continues a commitment to bringing a

> " venture capital " approach to philanthropy and is

> particularly interested in the areas of mental

> health, AIDS, and the environment.

>

> For more information regarding Naturopathic Medicine

> services, contact The Mental Health Center of

> Greater Manchester at (603) 668-4111 or visit

> www.mhcgm.org.

>

>

=====================================================================

> CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HITS

> NEW LOW

>

=====================================================================

>

> Pharmaceutical companies were ranked in the bottom

> half of industries considered to be doing " a good

> job of serving their consumers, " 11th out of 15 in a

> recent Harris Poll; only health insurance companies,

> oil companies, managed care companies, and tobacco

> companies had a worse ranking. The annual poll, of

> 978 adults, shows that the proportion of respondents

> saying they have a positive attitude towards the

> pharmaceutical industry fell from 79% in 1997 to 44%

> in 2004 - a bigger drop than for any other industry.

> See www.harrisinteractive.com/.

>

>

=====================================================================

> STUDY CORRELATES HYPERACTIVITY WITH FOOD COLORINGS,

> PRESERVATIVES

>

=====================================================================

>

> The results of a double blind, placebo-controlled

> study of the impact of artificial food colorings and

> benzoate preservatives on hyperactivity in preschool

> children by B. Bateman et al, University of

> Southampton, UK, were published in the June 2004

> issue of " Arch. Dis. Child "

>

(http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/506,

>

http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/89/6/506.pdf).

>

> After a baseline assessment for allergies and

> hyperactivity symptoms, a sample of 1,873

> 3-year-olds were given a benzoate-free and

> artificial coloring-free diet for one week, followed

> by periods of either a placebo or a drink containing

> 20 mg daily of artificial colorings and 45 mg daily

> of sodium benzoate.

>

> Behavior was assessed by parents' ratings. There

> were significant reductions in reported hyperactive

> behavior during the one-week withdrawal phase, with

> significantly greater increases in hyperactive

> behavior resulting from being fed the chemicals than

> from the placebo.

>

> The researchers concluded that artificial food

> coloring and benzoate preservatives have a general

> adverse effect on the behavior of 3-year-old

> children, detectable by parents though not by a

> simple clinic assessment. These results held true

> for the whole population regardless of history of

> atopy (allergic reactions), hyperactivity, both, or

> neither.

>

>

=====================================================================

> FDA FOLLOW-UP STUDY CONFIRMS CHILD SUICIDE RISKS

>

=====================================================================

>

> Six months ago the Food and Drug Administration

> withheld an internal finding that antidepressant

> medications were associated with an increased risk

> of suicide among children, pending the results of a

> second staff analysis. Those results are in, reports

> the Wall Street Journal, and the news is not good.

>

> Agency officials continued to withhold publication

> of the data pending a scheduled meeting in

> September. By then, the FDA will have dragged out

> its deliberations nine full months after British

> authorities warned physicians not to prescribe

> Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and similar drugs to

> depressed children.

>

> Steven Hyman, former director of the National

> Institute of Mental Health, reviewed both FDA

> internal analyses at the request of The Washington

> Post and voiced " concern about the risk-benefit

> ratio of antidepressants in children. " Prior to

> reviewing the documents, Hyman had thought the

> British authorities were overreacting.

>

> " It would be premature to discuss any conclusions

> and results, " said FDA spokeswoman Kathleen Quinn.

> " Other people are going to have an opinion about it,

> but we are still reviewing it. "

>

> The new analysis does little to allay the concerns

> of district attorneys and other public officials

> that crucial information about the safety and

> effectiveness of the drugs has been withheld from

> public scrutiny. Two-thirds of the trials conducted

> by drug manufacturers found that the medications

> performed no better than sugar pills, but details of

> the negative trials were kept from doctors and

> parents under the claim of safeguarding drug

> companies' trade secrets.

>

> Joseph Glenmullen, a Harvard psychiatrist and author

> of Prozac Backlash, a book about the side effects of

> antidepressants, said one company, Wyeth, had itself

> warned doctors not to prescribe its antidepressant

> Effexor for children, adding: " The companies are

> coming to this conclusion, and the British came to

> this conclusion, and the Canadians and the rest of

> Europe and the FDA's own reviewer have come to this

> conclusion; why have they dragged their feet for

> over a year? "

>

> The new " interim review " by FDA medical reviewer

> Tarek A. Hammad is a compilation of data with no

> narrative or interpretation. But both Hyman and

> Glenmullen said it showed an increased risk for

> children taking the drugs similar to that found in

> February by another FDA scientist, Andrew Mosholder.

>

> Hammad's review found that compared with depressed

> children who got placebos, children under

> antidepressants were 1.78 times as likely to attempt

> suicide or prepare for suicide. Mosholder found that

> children getting antidepressants had 1.9 times the

> risk of " serious suicide-related events. "

>

> In a memo dated Feb. 18, Mosholder warned the new

> analysis would waste time: " In my view, it is

> unlikely that the new information will alter the

> basic finding of an association of ... serious

> suicide-related events with active treatment. "

>

> Given the risks, he urged the agency to take the

> interim step of officially discouraging the use of

> antidepressants other than Prozac for children. The

> FDA declined to do so but called for stronger

> warning labels to remind doctors to be vigilant

> about suicide. For more than a decade, the agency

> has said that depression, not antidepressants,

> causes suicidal behavior.

>

> Multiple congressional investigations are underway

> into the controversy. The chairman of the Senate

> Finance Committee, Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa),

> said in August: " ...it's fair to ask if the Food and

> Drug Administration is taking too much time to draw

> a conclusion. "

>

> Glenmullen pointed out that no antidepressant apart

> from Prozac had demonstrated superiority to placebos

> in treating children's depression. This may be why

> the British authorities excluded Prozac from their

> warning to doctors. The subject of their warning was

> that drugs, despite the billions being spent on

> them, did no measurable good at all - and increased

> suicidal behavior significantly.

>

> All the company-sponsored trials, according to

> Hyman, excluded children who were suicidal to begin

> with. Thus the negative impact of these drugs -

> Prozac included - could be a great deal worse than

> disclosed in the reports that prompted British

> authorities to act.

>

>

=====================================================================

> EAT TO BEAT DEPRESSION

>

=====================================================================

>

> Almost half of adults in the UK eat to stifle

> feelings of loneliness, boredom and stress, finds a

> recent survey of 2,000 people. Yet, ironically,

> eating the right foods, plus appropriate

> supplementation, may be the very answer to beating

> the blues.

>

> America's CBS News recently reported on the

> breakthroughs being made in the treatment of

> depression by Patrick Holford's Brain Bio Centre at

> the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London. This

> short film follows the success story of a

> 21-year-old girl who experienced severe side-effects

> and withdrawal effects on anti-depressants and has

> found incredible improvement through the Brain Bio

> Centre's diet and supplement strategy.

>

> You can download the film and see it for yourself at

> www.mentalhealthproject.com.

>

> Also see the new and expanded

> www.patrickholford.com.

>

>

=====================================================================

> CHILDREN + VITAMINS = INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

>

=====================================================================

>

> Murrieta, CA - Teacher Johnnie Hill of Haworth, OK

> has been distributing Vitamin Relief USA

> vitamins everyday in her classroom for three years.

> She reports, " We had a very severe flu outbreak in

> our area this [past] winter. Some schools in our

> area closed due to high absenteeism. But because of

> the vitamins, not a single student in my classroom

> became ill. The students also seem to learn

> better...[which] may be related to the fact they are

> here every day. "

>

> Ms. Hill is just one of hundreds of teachers and

> parents praising Vitamin Relief USA, a national

> initiative of The Healthy Foundation, which provides

> free daily multi-vitamins to thousands of at-risk

> children throughout the country. In fact, half of

> all parents participating in this year's Vitamin

> Relief USA observational survey reported that

> their children were sick less often since taking

> daily vitamins. Almost one-third said their children

> earned higher grades. But the good news didn't stop

> there. Marked improvements in the behavior, energy,

> appetites, and self-image of almost 2,900 children

> were also reported.

>

> " Though this is only an observational survey,

> reports from teachers and parents indicate that many

> children taking our daily vitamins show noticeable

> improvements within 30 days. In addition, children

> who have taken our daily vitamins for three years

> exhibit even greater improvements - particularly in

> immune strength. " states Michael Morton, Executive

> Director of The Healthy Foundation.

>

> In December 2002, Congress awarded The Healthy

> Foundation an earmarked appropriation of $500,000 to

> conduct a scientific research study to measure the

> impact of vitamin intake on at-risk youth and their

> school performance. " Next year, we look forward to

> presenting the conclusive results of this study

> which will substantiate through formal research the

> impact that daily vitamins have on at-risk children

> and their academic performance. "

>

> The Healthy Foundation provides daily vitamins to

> nearly 17,000 at-risk children at over 500 sites in

> 40 states. Its national initiative, Vitamin Relief

> USA - Children First, is a public/private

> partnership that distributes daily children's

> chewable multivitamin/mineral supplements to

> children at risk for malnutrition and nutrient

> deficiency. Other Vitamin Relief USA programs

> include Senior Support which provides daily

> multi-vitamins to 1,000 low-income seniors in

> Riverside, CA. and Healthy Families which

> provides daily vitamins to almost 2,400 at-risk

> teens and adults.

>

> The Healthy Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit

> foundation, is committed to improving the health

> status of children, seniors and adults through

> vitamin supplementation. To support The Healthy

> Foundation or for further information, please call

> 877-935-5348 or visit www.vitaminrelief.org.

>

>

=====================================================================

> MERCURY TO BE BANNED FROM BABY VACCINES IN BRITAIN

>

=====================================================================

>

> Mercury will be banned from vaccines given to

> babies, Britain's Department of Health announced

> Aug. 6, responding to fears of links between the

> metal and autism.

>

> Doctors nationwide are being contacted over changes

> to the infant vaccine program for eight-week-old

> children. They are also being told to switch from a

> live polio vaccine taken orally to an injection to

> avoid rare cases of contamination. The injection, to

> be administered at two months of age, will combat

> diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hib and polio.

>

> The whooping cough vaccine had contained a form of

> mercury called thiomersal.

>

> John Hutton, a health minister, said: " I can confirm

> that later this year we will be introducing a new

> form of childhood vaccination for diphtheria,

> tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae

> type b) and polio. "

>

>

=====================================================================

> PROZAC FOUND IN BRITAIN'S DRINKING WATER

>

=====================================================================

>

> Britain's Environment Agency has revealed that

> Prozac is building up both in river systems and

> groundwater used for drinking supplies, The Observer

> reported Aug. 8.

>

> Environmentalists are calling for an urgent

> investigation into the revelations, characterizing

> the antidepressant accumulation as " hidden mass

> medication. " The government's chief environment

> watchdog recently held a series of meetings with the

> pharmaceutical industry to discuss any repercussions

> for human health or the ecosystem.

>

> The discovery raises fresh fears that GPs are

> overprescribing Prozac, Britain's antidepressant of

> choice, according to The Observer article. In the

> decade up to 2001, overall prescriptions of

> antidepressants rose from nine million to 24 million

> a year. Prozac was the only leading antidepressant

> not covered by the British government's warning to

> doctors not to prescribe these mind-altering

> chemicals to children due to suicide risks.

>

> A recent report by the Environment Agency concluded

> Prozac could be potentially toxic in the water

> table. Whether or not it has reached toxic levels

> remains unknown. The government's Drinking Water

> Inspectorate (DWI) was optimistic that the drug

> would be too " watered down " to be toxic.

>

> Dr Andy Croxford, the Environment's Agency's policy

> manager for pesticides, told The Observer: " We need

> to determine the effects of this low-level, almost

> continuous discharge. "

>

> Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' environment

> spokesman, said the revelations exposed a failing by

> the government on an important public health issue.

> He added that the public should be told if they were

> inadvertently taking drugs like Prozac.

>

> " This looks like a case of hidden mass medication

> upon the unsuspecting public, " Baker said. " It is

> alarming that there is no monitoring of levels of

> Prozac and other pharmacy residues in our drinking

> water. "

>

> Experts say that Prozac finds its way into rivers

> and water systems from treated sewage water.

>

> European studies have also expressed disquiet over

> the impact of pharmaceuticals building up in the

> environment, warning that an effect on wildlife and

> human health " cannot be excluded. "

>

> " Advanced treatment processes installed for

> pesticide removal are effective in removing drug

> residues, " a DWI spokesman said.

>

>

=====================================================================

> TESTIMONIAL: BIPOLAR RECOVERY THROUGH SAFE HARBOR

>

=====================================================================

>

> I feel that I have been extremely blessed by finding

> the nutritional information on

> AlternativeMentalHealth.com. My life was a wreck of

> constant chaos and drama before I figured out I

> could use a healthy diet and nutritional supplements

> to heal my mental problems. I couldn't finish school

> and constantly ran from one interest to another, not

> finishing anything. I couldn't get into healthy

> long-lasting relationships - I had drama

> relationships. For many years I dropped most of my

> classes in junior college every semester, and then

> started again the next semester. I couldn't

> concentrate or focus. I had mood problems. I got

> suicidal thoughts for two days right before my

> period every month. One cup of coffee could send me

> into a elevated rush where I couldn't fall asleep

> all night. I was hospitalized five times in the

> county mental health system, about once a year.

>

> My family gave up on me and finally kicked me out of

> the family. They made me go to a special residential

> program - which I don't recommend because they cost

> $5,000 a month and don't use nutritional medicine.

> That program, despite the huge cost, didn't work. I

> then became homeless. Then I was put in the system

> and was put on SSI. I was diagnosed first with ADD,

> then as bipolar, and then bipolar with

> schizoaffective. I was aimless in the system on

> medication. I still had problems with life, and had

> major food and internet and shopping addictions. My

> life was going nowhere and I felt the huge burden of

> stigma from society. I felt like an outcast and that

> no one would love me or understand me because I was

> not well on meds and I was going nowhere. At least

> at this point I did have a roof over my head, and

> less stress because I didn't have to go to school or

> work.

>

> Then one day I decided to use Google to search for

> alternative treatments for mental illness. I found

> this website and started to research the

> information. Also, by chance, an acquaintance

> recommended that I read Julia Ross's book The Diet

> Cure. I read The Diet Cure cover to cover in a

> period of one or two days really thoroughly. I

> decided that it sounded a little too good to be

> true, but I thought I would go out and buy the

> supplies and give it a chance. I already knew I had

> a gluten allergy because I had been tested in grade

> school. And my mom fed me organic veggies as a kid.

> So part of it already made sense. I took out a loan

> and bought all of the food and supplements I thought

> I would need. There were a lot of them. I went to

> work and started following the diet exactly. I cut

> out all sugar, wheat, dairy, chocolate, and

> caffeine. Incidentally, I never do alcohol or drugs

> so I didn't have to quit those.

>

> After that my whole life changed around. I started

> being much more friendly and out-going. I started

> going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. I had

> control of going to sleep when I wanted to for the

> first time in years. The drugs never quite

> accomplished that. This was a major victory for me

> because I know that one of the major precursors to

> having my manias with delusional features was losing

> a night of sleep. I was always scared to lose sleep

> because I feared going nuts the next day. The next

> major thing I noticed, besides being in a good mood

> most of the time and being able to focus much, much

> better, was that I lost about 40 pounds. I went from

> a pants size of 13 down to a size seven or 10,

> depending on the brand. I had much, much more energy

> and constantly just felt exuberant and joyful about

> taking very long walks outside. I started working

> part-time to pay for my organic food and

> supplements. This was also a miracle because I had

> always been too apathetic to really hold down a job.

> I'm an artist and I started painting big acrylic

> paintings on canvas. I had always been encouraged in

> the arts by my family, but had never actually made

> much artwork. I drew maybe one picture a year at the

> most, most of my life. After I changed my diet I

> started painting all the time on a regular basis and

> I've shown my work twice since. I've painted at

> least 30 full paintings and some of them are quite

> large, around 30 by 40 inches. I started studying

> nutrition at an accredited nutrition college, but I

> plan on studying it in a independent study style to

> give me more free time and flexibility to make more

> artwork and develop my creative talents.

>

> My relationships have blossomed and I have held onto

> and maintained many real friendships with people who

> are my good friends in good times and bad. I have

> completely changed my role in my family from the

> " problem child " to the supportive, happy,

> enthusiastic-about-life grown woman that I am now. I

> actually get along with my family now, which is a

> total miracle. I never could get along with my

> mother very well my whole life.

>

> We actually can have a good time with each other and

> laugh now. I've had one long-term relationship that

> was meaningful and lasted around a year.

>

> All in all, I feel that I've worked hard to create a

> state of wellness for myself in most aspects of my

> life. I feel that wellness is a process that one has

> to work on every day. I still work on my nutrition,

> my relationships, and my work every day. And I

> don't take it for granted. I'm very thankful and

> grateful that I found this information about

> nutrition that I feel saved my life. I feel very

> happy and fulfilled in many ways and it wouldn't be

> possible with out AlternativeMentalHealth.com.

>

>

=====================================================================

> HELP THROUGH SAFE HARBOR

>

=====================================================================

>

> Dear Safe Harbor,

>

> We have a patient who came to us after looking us up

> on your site. He was depressed, anxious and on

> several psychiatric medications. In the last 21/2

> months, he is off his medication. He is doing so

> much better emotionally. He is happier, less

> anxious, sleeps better and has hope for the future.

> Thank you for being there and referring others to

> get help.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> The office of Dr. Anita Pepi, DC, Los Angeles

>

>

=====================================================================

> ABOUT ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM

>

=====================================================================

>

> ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST

> WEB SITE DEVOTED exclusively to alternative mental

> health treatments. It includes a directory of over

> 300 physicians, nutritionists, experts,

> organizations, and facilities around the U.S. that

> offer or promote safe, alternative treatments for

> severe mental symptoms. Many of the physicians

> listed do in-depth examinations to find the physical

> causes behind mental problems.

>

> Also included on the site is an array of articles on

> topics ranging from the medical causes of

> schizophrenia to the effects of toxic metals on

> mental health.

>

> Special AlternativeMentalHealth.com T-shirts and

> bumper stickers are available at our online store.

>

> A bookstore page lists top books that cover many

> areas of alternative treatments with titles like

> " Natural Healing for Schizophrenia and Other Common

> Mental Disorders " and " No More Ritalin. "

>

> AlternativeMentalHealth.com has been created to

> educate the public, practitioners, and government

> officials on the medical conditions that create

> " mental illness " and the many safe resources

> available for addressing and often curing severe

> mental symptoms.

>

>

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>