MHA's Blog: Chiming In

When Mental Health Is a Laughing Matter

By David Granirer, Counselor, Stand-Up Comic, and Founder of Stand Up For Mental Health (David Granirer will present during Mental Health America's 2013 Annual Conference at The Clifford Beers Awards Dinner).

Most people think you have to be nuts to do stand-up comedy. I offer it as a form of therapy. And it’s not as crazy as it seems. Stand Up For Mental Health is my program where I teach stand-up comedy to people with mental health issues as a way of building confidence, promoting recovery and fighting public stigma.

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Mental Health America today honored 16 journalists, producers and writers for outstanding coverage and portrayals of mental health issues during the previous year at a Media Awards luncheon being held during its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

"The Media Awards bring together the very best mental health stories in print and broadcast media during 2008," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America  "Informative and thought-provoking journalism is a powerful form of education and we applaud these journalists for helping shape public understanding of these critical issues." 

You can view list of winners and links to their work here

This morning, MHA Annual Conference attendees had the opportunity to hear from three federal officials who are living and breathing Health Reform implementation.  MHA’s board chair John Morris moderated a session with Jeff Crowley, director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and senior advisor on Disability Policy at the White House, Barbara Edwards, director of the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group at CMS, and John O’Brien, Senior Advisor for Health Finance at SAMHSA.  Each panelist highlight how important this new legislation will be for the behavioral health community, and are working very hard in fast paced offices to begin the implementation process.

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It’s Capitol Hill Day at Mental Health America’s Annual Conference. Attendees are now meeting with their federal legislators, urging they support issues such as an increase in Medicaid Funding and legislation that would prevent and reduce the use of seclusion and restraints in schools.

This morning, Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) spoke to attendees and received Legislators of the Year awards in recognition of their longtime advocacy and work on mental health and substance use issues. Both were strong supporters of mental health parity legislation and have worked together to raise the importance of the prevention of mental health conditions among children and youth.

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Mental Health America's 2010 Annual Conference kicked off today. One of today's highlights was the Advocacy Training session, which gives advocates key messages for Thursday's Capitol Hill Day, when attendees visit their federal legislators.

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