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May 2009 Fast Help: Panic Surrounding Swine Flu Quote of the Month: "You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can
have an impact on a life." ~ Zig Ziglar Fast Help: Panic Surrounding Swine Flu Due to the recent news sweeping the world about human infections of the Swine Flu (H1N1), public anxiety has soared surrounding the illness. As news of the flu virus spans the globe and cases are reported, the public is rightfully concerned about the possibility of contracting the disease. In order to put concerns into proper perspective, it is important to be aware of the facts surrounding the Swine Flu as discussed by the medical community. In a Science News article published on 4/30/09, entitled "Swine Flu: To Panic Or Not -- That Is The Question," William Sutker MD, of Baylor University Medical Center of Dallas, discusses the facts. Dr. Sutker works as Chief of Infectious Diseases at Baylor. He states that it is important "first and foremost"...to "remain calm." He states that it is still unknown if the outbreak of Swine Flu will reach a full pandemic. He states that the Swine Flu is treatable with medication. He goes on to note that in the U.S., far fewer people have been infected with the Swine Flu compared to 5-20% of the population who are infected each year from human strains of the flu virus, quoting statistics from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Dr. Sutker reports that Swine Flu symptoms are actually milder in comparison to symptoms of the regular flu. Lastly, he notes that humans cannot contract the Swine Flu from eating pork products. In terms of prevention, Dr. Sutker advises people practice appropriate measures such as hand washing, covering your face when coughing or sneezing, and visiting your doctor if you think you may have the flu in order to begin proper treatment. Lastly, he advises that if you have been infected, to avoid public places to prevent spreading the flu and recommends getting proper rest. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
(CDC) website, more cases are anticipated. However, their website
states "It's uncertain at this time how severe this novel
H1N1 outbreak will be in terms of illness and death compared with
other influenza viruses." Further information about the symptoms,
prevention and treatment of Swine Flu can be found on the CDC's
website at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ Therapist Q&A: Wisconsin Youth at Higher Risk for Suicide Therapists are often asked about ways to identify depression and suicidal signs in teenagers. This is an important topic as springtime is the season when suicide occurs most often. According to recent literature from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin youth are at a greater risk of suicide than the national average. Their statistics state that Wisconsin has the 13th highest suicide rate overall, and the 5th highest in the nation for youth between the ages of 10-14. Boys have a higher rate of completing a suicide than girls (4:1), however, the study states that, among high schoolers, girls more commonly report symptoms of depression (1/3) vs boys (1/5) and about 10% of high school girls have reported making a suicide attempt, compared with 5% of boys of the same age. The full statistics can be viewed on the Wisconsin DPI webpage at: http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sspw/suicideprev.html You might ask, what can I do as a parent, friend or loved one? Watch for signs of depression in your child or teen. Common symptoms include changes in peer network, sleep or appetite changes, feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, drop in grades, refusal to participate in activities once enjoyed or with family activities and sometimes suicidal threats. If you suspect your child may be at risk, talk with your child. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. Talk with them about their feelings and assure them that there is help available. Do not let your own fear get in the way of your child getting help. If you feel your child is an immediate threat to him/herself, contact 911 or your local emergency room. Professional counselors are available in agency and school settings to talk with you about your concerns and to get your child the help that he or she needs. Psychology News In Brief According to a study online in Biological Psychology, adolescent
boys diagnosed with aggressive conduct disorder enjoyed witnessing
videos of pain being inflicted on a person by someone else. Brain
scans from eight boys between the ages of 16 and 18 with this
diagnosis showed an increase in activity in the "areas of
the brain associated with rewards." Researchers state that
if bullies are more sadistic or daring, the more these brain areas
were activated. (From Monitor on Psychology, January 2009). Programs to Help You In addition to the traditional counseling services we provide, Clinical Psychology Associates also offers the following: · Depression Screening For information regarding any of these programs or to schedule a confidential consultation, please contact our programs coordinator, Chris Lerner, LCSW, at lernerc@hotmail.com or 262-251-1112, ext 8. For a full listing of the services we offer, please go to http://www.clinical-psychology-associates.com/services.htm FREE CONSULTATIONS THERAPIST BLOG Staff therapist Gary Breuer, MA, LPC recommends: Simplify Your Life: A Step-By-Step Guide to Better Living by Odette Pollar. In this practical book, the author discusses how to manage time, set priorities, learn to say "no," as well as ways to organize yourself and your possessions. Provides tips on how to assess where you are currently and where you want to be in the future. As Someone Dies: A Handbook For the Living by Elizabeth A. Johnson. Johnson discusses death as well as the grieving process people go through when faced with the death of a family member or a friend, or when faced with their own death as a terminally ill patient. The author also discusses special circumstances such as the death of a child or a pet. The author offers insight and hope as well as spirituality surrounding the subject of death. About Clinical Psychology Associates Clinical Psychology Associates is a state-certified outpatient
counseling center providing a high level of care to its clients
for over 25 years. To read previous editions of this newsletter, please visit our archived newsletter section on our website at: http://www.clinical-psychology-associates.com/newsletter.htm Written by Gary Breuer, MA, LPC
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Clinical
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