Do I tell my boss? If and when to disclose a mental health condition at work
One of the questions an individual with a mental illness may find themselves dealing with is, should I disclose my disability at work? To whom, and when? Typically, an individual discloses this (or any type of health issue) when an accommodation is needed to help perform assigned job duties. The University of Massachusetts Medical School […]
Self-advocates ask comedian to stop mocking people with intellectual disabilities
Self-advocates from across the country have been protesting and calling for comedian Gary Owens to stop mocking people with intellectual and developmental disabilities on his Showtime comedy special. Towards the middle of his routine, Mr. Owens begins mocking his cousin, who has an intellectual/developmental disability. This link will take you to that part of the routine: https://youtu.be/y8arl3izldo Julie […]
The Minimally Conscious State: Is this the new civil rights battle of our times?
If you are of a certain age, you probably remember the landmark 1976 right-to-die case involving Karen Ann Quinlan. Karen had been left in the vegetative state after a presumptive drug overdose, and expert testimony to the effect that her brain state was hopeless led the New Jersey Supreme Court to rule in favor of the removal […]
Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act signed into law this year, aim is to prevent veteran suicides
President Obama signed into law the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) bill in a ceremony at the White House on February 12, 2016. The bill not only had bipartisan support as it made its way through the House and the Senate, it passed unanimously in both chambers. The Act, named after a […]
President Obama proclaims May as National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2016
Noting that nearly 44 million American adults, and millions of children, experience mental health conditions each year, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress, President Obama issued a proclamation recognizing May 2016 as National Mental Health Awareness Month. The proclamation references the Affordable Care Act, stating the Act “prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against […]