Doctor Mauskop is the founder and director of the New York Headache Center. He is a Professor of Clinical Neurology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. Dr. Mauskop has conducted groundbreaking research on the role of magnesium, Botox, vagus nerve stimulation, and herbal supplements in the treatment of migraine headaches. He has given lectures at institutions such as Cornell, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Dartmouth Medical Schools, and both the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics. He has published four books, dozens of scientific articles, many book chapters, and reviews. He also writes a popular blog at nyheadache.com/blog.
Topic: Health & Wellness
Mental health, therapy, nutrition, fitness, self-care, parenting, and suicide prevention resources.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Resources
There are many organizations that have been created to help and bring more awareness to people who have been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. Different & Able has compiled a list of several organizations that exist to serve individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder.
“Founded in 2010, the OCD New York is a non-profit affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). OCD New York is a locally based group made up of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders, as well as their families, friends, professionals and others. The mission and goals of OCD New York are to:
- Educate the public and professionals about OCD in order to raise awareness and improve the quality of treatment provided in the state of New York
- Improve access to resources for those with OCD and their families in the state of New York
- “Advocate and lobby for the OCD community in the state of New York.”
“The mission of the International OCD Foundation is to help those affected by obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders to live full and productive lives. Our aim is to increase access to effective treatment through research and training, foster a hopeful and supportive community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them, and fight stigma surrounding mental health issues.”
Rethink Mental Illness is an organization that fights for fair rights for people who suffer from any mental illness. Their website states “Our vision is for equality, rights, the fair treatment and maximum quality of life for all those affected by mental illness, their carers, family and friends. As one of the largest charitable providers of services for people living with mental illness, we are well placed to make a direct impact on the care people receive.” Their website has an area where individuals with OCD share their stories.
“At ORCHARD we believe that breakthrough happens when collaboration and information exchange is granted. In order to facilitate and foster an open and collaborative platform, we build a community of interdisciplinary professionals and work with them closely to progress together in developing new and better treatments for patients suffering from OCD, both medication and psychotherapy. Our VISION is a world where all patients suffering from OCD receive effective treatment for their condition. Our MISSION is to build that world by advancing collaborative translational research and driving the quest for new and better treatments for OCD.”
“OCD-UK has been working for children and adults affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder since 2004. We provide advice, information, and support services for those affected by OCD, and campaign to end the trivialization and stigma of OCD. Uniquely, the charity is completely service-user led, everyone involved in the organization have personal experience of OCD, either directly or through a loved one.”
OCD Challenge is an on line, interactive, behavioral program designed to help people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The program was built by psychologists who are leaders in the field of behavior therapy and have a specialization in the area of OCD. OCD Challenge has four Modules: Assessment, Gaining Awareness, Intervention, Maintenance. Users will be guided through the Modules and taught skills and strategies for managing their OCD behavior. OCD Challenge uses the principles of exposure and response prevention (the treatment of choice for OCD) to help the user to confront and challenge their OCD. OCD Challenge is not therapy and there is not a therapist on the other end of the computer telling you what to do. Instead, OCD Challenge is a program built to interact with the user in a way that is interesting, useful, and moves the user toward change.
“Founded in 2010, the OCD Mid-Atlantic is a non-profit affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). We are a locally based group made up of people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, as well as their families, friends, professionals and others. The affiliate services Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern and Central Virginia.”
To read more about obsessive compulsive disorder, check out this article: What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
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Mental Health Organizations
Coping with a mental illness or watching a loved one cope with a mental illness can be extremely difficult. You are not alone. There are many organizations throughout the nation that are dedicated to help individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and their caregivers.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Mission Statement: “NAMI provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.”
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Mission Statement: “ADAA, as a membership organization, values the inclusion of diverse groups from a variety of professional and educational backgrounds, and honors their views across all areas of the organization. We recognize that when people across identity groups are regarded and engaged as full participants in leadership, decision making and programs, we are able to provide resources and programs that best meet the needs of our members and the public. As such, ADAA leadership embraces diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a core value for all members, staff, and volunteers. We are committed to fostering an environment that supports cultural equity and models diversity and inclusion. ADAA is committed to practicing DEI principles to ensure that everyone feels safe, seen, valued, respected, and welcome.”
Mission Statement: “To end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning young people.”
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Mission Statement: “Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.”
About: “Bring Change to Mind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, and to raising awareness, understanding, and empathy.”
About: “HelpGuide is a small independent nonprofit that runs one of the world’s top 10 mental health websites. Over 50 million people from all around the world turn to HelpGuide each year for trustworthy content they can use to improve their mental health and make healthy changes.”
National Institute of Mental Health
About: “The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).”
Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
Mission Statement: “DBSA provides hope, help, support, and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders.”
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders
Mission Statement: ANAD’s mission is to relieve suffering by providing support & education to those struggling with disordered eating and body image.
National Eating Disorders Association
Mission Statement: “NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.”
National Institute of Alcoholism & Alcohol Abuse
Mission Statement: “The mission of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is to generate and disseminate fundamental knowledge about the effects of alcohol on health and well-being, and apply that knowledge to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems, including alcohol use disorder, across the lifespan.”
Mission Statement: “We’re dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.”
Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance
Mission Statement: Our mission is to create a movement for systemic change to improve care, support, and equity for the millions of people living with schizophrenia and psychosis spectrum disorders.
This is not an exhaustive list. If none of these organizations provides the support you are looking for, reach out to us. We will help you find mental health organizations that are suited for you.
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March 1st: Self-Injury Awareness Day
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is when an individual engages in behavior where they intentionally hurt themselves. Many times, the individual is feeling immensely overwhelmed and does not know how to cope with their intense emotions. These individuals may feel an immense amount of pain and may engage in self-harm to gain a sense of control. The act of self-harm may also add to intense negative feelings an individual is experiencing, fueling the cycle. Many people who engage in self-harm are not suicidal (though some may be); they are looking for a release for their emotions.
Types of self-harm
- Cutting
- Scratching
- Burning
- Banging head against wall/surface
- Pulling out hair
- Picking scabs
What can I do instead of self-harming?
There are many activities that can be done instead of self-harming. Different coping mechanisms may be utilized at different times, depending on what is going on at that moment.
- Breathing techniques
- Grounding techniques
- Change triangle
- Distract yourself
- Exercise
- Call a friend
- Arts and crafts
- Watch television
- Scream really loud
- Scribble on paper
- Click here to read more
Where can I go for help?
- To Write Love on Her Arms
- “To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.”
- Self-injury Outreach & Support
- “As part of a collaboration between the University of Guelph and McGill University, we are a non-profit outreach initiative providing information and resources about self-injury to those who self-injure, those who have recovered, and those who want to help.”
- Adolescent Self-Injury Foundation
- We are a non-profit organization created to offer hope in the recovery process for adolescent and young adult self-injurers and their families. We strive to raise awareness and create positive outcomes for this hard-to-reach population. We provide resources to navigate the journey towards wellness and recovery.
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World Bipolar Day: Resources and Support
According to www.rethink.org, the vision of World Bipolar Day (March 30th) is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma. Through international collaboration, the goal of World Bipolar Day is to bring the world population information about bipolar disorders that will educate and improve sensitivity towards the illness.
Living with bipolar disorder can be overwhelming. Bipolar disorder does not get better on its own. Getting treatment from a mental health professional with experience in bipolar disorder can help one get their symptoms under control. Different & Able is here to assist in finding resources to support the community and below is a list of resources that one may find helpful.
To learn more about World Bipolar Day, please visit World Bipolar Day (rethink.org)
To educate/explore the types, signs, symptoms of bipolar disorder, visit What are the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder? (rethink.org).
This website explains some ways to help a loved one with bipolar disorder. How to Help a Loved One With Bipolar Disorder (verywellmind.com).
This article explores living with a spouse or partner with bipolar disorder. Living With a Bipolar Spouse: Patterns, Realities, Support (verywellhealth.com)
Having bipolar disorder is likely to be impacted by diet and nutrition. This website lists several links to articles and blog posts about bipolar nutrition and exercise regimes. Food & Exercise | Treatment for Bipolar Disorder | Hope & Harmony for People with Bipolar (bphope.com)
Children can also be affected by bipolar disorder. This website provides information about pediatric bipolar. Pediatric Bipolar Disorder – CHADD
Learn how bipolar disorder can affect a person in everyday life. If you suspect that bipolar tendencies may be affecting your quality of life or the life of someone you care about, this resource and the links within may help with managing daily tasks. How Does Bipolar Affect a Person’s Everyday Life? | PCH (pchtreatment.com)
If you have any symptoms of depression or mania, see your doctor or mental health professional. If you or a loved one are experiencing bipolar symptoms that may lead to thoughts about harming yourself or suicidal ideation, tell someone who can help right away.
- Call 911 for emergency services.
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to be connected to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.
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World Health Day 2022 “Our Planet, Our Health”
World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO, as well as other related organizations. The WHO has built the agenda for April 7, 2022 World Health Day and the theme for 2022 is “Our Planet, Our Health.” Different & Able will be providing World Health Day resources and social media posts throughout the month or April.
“In the face of the current pandemic, a polluted planet, and an increasing incidence of diseases, This call from PAHO, the WHO, and partners, presents a unique opportunity for a green and healthy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that puts the health of individuals and the planet at the center of actions and fosters a movement to create societies focused on well-being.”
Agenda: World Health Day 2022 “Our Planet, Our Health” – PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization