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I’ve been sitting on this Joaquin Phoenix thing since it started, mostly because I didn’t know how to approach it, but partly because…well, I don’t know that I’m in agreement with the masses.

Yes, he made a sudden and unexpected career change. Yes, he went from kind of hot to Grizzly Adams’ stunt double. And yes, his behavior on Letterman last week was awkward and uncomfortable.

But do I think the man has serious mental problems? Do I think he’s on some kind of alcoholic binge or using drugs? Not yet.

Loss of interest in things once enjoyed, drastic changes in appearance, and overall behavior that’s out of character are all often considered warning signs of various mental health problems.

But – and when it’s all said and done I could just be playing devil’s advocate – what if Phoenix really just doesn’t want to act anymore? What if he’s just interested in going au natural with the facial fuzz? What if, as this ABC commenter pointed out, Phoenix’s ill-at-ease behavior was just in response to Letterman being rude? (And you have to admit – Letterman was being rude.)

Would any of that be so unbelievable? I don’t think so. Especially given Phoenix’s comments a couple of years ago about how movies made him feel:

“[…] the actor revealed he doesn’t like watching himself and also stated that the end of filming “Johnny Cash” movie threw him in a big depression: ‘I hate watching myself. I went through confusion and depression. After a film like this, I lose those things that help define me and make me comfortable. I go through this thing of, ‘What am I? What do I do?’’”

Dr. Neil Bernstein is a nationally recognized psychologist and speaker. He’s authored several books, he hosts speeches and workshops across America, and he’s the Teen Parenting Examiner for Examiner.com.

It’s the latter credit that brought Bernstein to my attention – well, it was his latest article for Examiner.com, rather. A required class for celebrities consisted of very basic, bottom line words of wisdom regarding celebrity behavior, their mental health issues, and how it all affects those of us watching from the sidelines – particularly children. It wasn’t groundbreaking information (I mean, we all know how off course celebs get sometimes), but it wasn’t meant to be. It was simply a poignant reminder.

And Bernstein had me in his corner, right up until…

But if we want the majority of the celebrated to be poster boys/girls for mental health (and I think they should be), we had better set a new standard for acceptable behavior [...]

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So, ol’ Steve-O is going to grace us with his – um, grace? moves? two left feet? I guess time will tell – during the eighth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

I was kind of surprised to hear this. I mean, Steve-O? Really? Don’t get me wrong – it’s not like I haven’t cracked up at some of his Jackass and Wildboyz stunts. But, are those kinds of antics really going to fly on Dancing with the Stars? Is the ABC show looking to spice up its performances or increase its ratings or…what?

Apparently, none of those are issues. Not when it comes to Steve-O’s motives, anyway.

Steve-O, whose friends had the good sense to “physically force” him to seek inpatient treatment at Thalians Mental Health Center last year when his ideas that bipolar disorder and drug abuse were good things finally got the better of him, has seemingly been walking the straight and narrow since his extended stay at the hospital and felony arrest related to cocaine possession. He’s been pretty candid, blogging about both his history with and feelings toward drugs and alcohol and his second trip to a treatment center and even writing letters to various troubled kids.

And now, according to an OK! source, Steve-O might just be using Dancing with the Stars as a way to launch his new clean and healthy living:

“Steve-O is taking his dancing very seriously,” a source tells OK!. “He’s committed to leading a healthy, wholesome life, and that includes mastering the classic moves of dance!”

Dancing with the Stars definitely doesn’t lend itself to the same kinds of entertainment as Jackass and Wildboyz, and it seems like participants really have to spend a good amount of time working on “mastering the classic moves of dance,” so, who knows? Getting involved with the show might be beneficial for Steve-O’s recovery.

I definitely hope so, and wish him the best of luck with it.

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“The media have an important role they can play in helping the public to better understand mental health issues, to help them see that people with mental illnesses can lead productive lives when they get the right diagnosis and treatments, and to help reduce the stigma of being mentally ill and seeking out help for it.” – Actor John Noble at Picture This: Mental Health in Los Angeles.

Wow. As if I needed another reason to include you on my list of favorite actors, Mr. Noble.

John Noble (Denethor on The Two Towers and The Return of the King, and currently portraying Fringe‘s Dr. Walter Bishop, the most endearing “mad scientist” you’ll ever meet) sat on a media panel that presented at Picture This: Mental Health in Los Angeles. The event, which was geared toward bringing together “Southern California-based organizations that are stakeholders in the mental health arena to develop priorities for Los Angeles media outlets in covering mental health and mental illness issues,” was the combined effort of KTTV FOX 11, the Entertainment Industries Council and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and also featured congressional representatives and various mental health professionals.

Now, the mention of Big Pharma like AstraZeneca may have a few of you suspiciously cocking your eyebrows, but the event seemed to be focused more on discussing how the media can help bring awareness about mental illness and treatments than on which drugs we can take for which disorders (this is good, yes?).

Of course, Noble wasn’t the only participant with important things to say. Kevin Hale, KTTV FOX 11′s Vice President and General Manager, said of his station:

“We at FOX 11 are honored to play a role in helping to bring viewers consistent reporting of issues associated with mental health and mental illness. I’m proud of our news team for helping to raise awareness in our community and ensure that individuals know who they can turn to in order to get diagnosis and treatment for themselves, friends or family members.”

Seeing as how I live on the other side of the country, …

I’ve talked about Izzy. I’ve talked about Denny. I’ve even thrown in a comment or three about Alex.

But the confusion, and sometimes the aggravation, over the ghostly love affair and the “maybe, but maybe not!” brain disorder surrounding the exhausting Izdennex storyline on Grey’s Anatomy has nothing on the public awareness and education actor Kevin McKidd’s character, Major Owen Hunt, has the potential to bring.

Although I don’t think anyone’s clearly stated it onscreen just yet, Hunt – Seattle Grace’s newest Mc-something (“Badass”? “Manly”? “Kill-a-pig”? I’ve read so many) – certainly seems to be bringing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to the charts. Where some GA storylines have left a bit to be desired (Rebecca/Ava and her borderline personality disorder) and some have flat out flopped (anyone remember that chainsaw-wielding emergency room patient a few seasons back, the one who got a quick prescription before he promptly removed his own leg?), Major Hunt’s character could very well be poised to successfully blend entertainment and mental health awareness.

To get a good grip on just how important it is for us to understand PTSD (as if the current state of so many of our soldiers and war veterans isn’t enough), I’ve solicited the help of PTSD survivor and seriously passionate advocate, Michele Rosenthal.

Read on!

~*~

Alicia Sparks: All right Michele, you don’t watch Grey’s Anatomy (gasp!) but surely you know what kind of buzz it generates each Thursday night. When it comes to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness and education, what do you hope Shonda Rhimes and the rest of the GA writers do – or don’t do – with Major Owen Hunt’s character?

Michele Rosenthal: Don’t hate me because I’m not a GA junkie! I used to be, but then life got in the way: I was deep in my own PTSD experience when the series began and the hospital drama just wasn’t something I could continue to watch. I applaud Rhimes and the crew, though, for incorporating this growing mental health issue into the show.

Did you know that of the 1.64 million service members deployed by October 2007 approximately 300,000 veterans now suffer from PTSD? And that’s just the diagnosed cases. Add that number to the civilian estimate that suggests up to 20% of people will experience some form of PTSD in their lifetime and the number jumps to over 30 million, so this is an extremely timely topic for GA to explore. My greatest hope is that they show the variety of symptoms that manifest as PTSD, including re-experiencing traumatic events through flashbacks and nightmares; avoidance of memories through diminished emotions and efforts to avoid any reminiscent or triggering details; emotional numbing; hyperarousal: irritability, anger, insomnia, exaggerated startle response; and finally, the deep sense of isolation that PTSD experiencers suffer as a result of their symptoms and traumatic experience.

What I hope GA does not do is show exaggerated symptoms without exploring the thoughts, feelings and struggling psychological motivations behind the erratic actions. GA has a unique opportunity here to educate viewers about PTSD. I hope they approach that aspect of the storyline with great honor and care.

AS: Oh, Michele, like I could blame you for avoiding the abuse! Moving on, in a recent Times Online article, Kevin McKidd stated it was “brave to put a character who’s suffering from post-traumatic trauma and is talking about a war that is still ongoing in a prime-time show.” Why do you believe McKidd thinks it’s “brave” to include such characters and themes?

MR: First, I think because PTSD is a hot topic right now. As McKidd says, this character’s history is in relation to the ongoing war – a war that is singlehandedly bringing PTSD to incredibly high levels in the military. A show must tread carefully in how it presents this topic when there are real people and their families for whom this subject is going to hit very close to home.

Second, recently the Pentagon decided to award Purple Heart medals only to soldiers who do not have PTSD. There’s been a huge outcry in the media on both sides, so stepping into the PTSD camp and supporting the reality and honor of PTSD is a courageous act. (Actually, it would be interesting for the show to pick up on this ‘invisible wounds’ debate.)

Finally, I think PTSD – any mental health issue – invites stigma. The challenge is to portray a character with such subtlety and nuance that viewers see the humanity and say, I get that. That’s how I would feel. In order to do this topic justice, GA must introduce a character whose emotions and behavior are such that an audience immediately feels compassion. PTSD is a complex psychological (and often physiological) entity; you’d have to have courage to think you could write and inhabit a character who remains plausible in reality even while his experience is exactly driven by a complete disconnect from that reality!

Amy Winehouse supposedly pulled a very wise Spears-esque move recently and signed over control of her millions to her parents Mitch and Janis.

“Supposedly” because I can’t find any non-tabloid references to it (so, you’ve been warned). “Wise” because if it’s working as well for Spears as it seems, it may just work as well for Winehouse.

According to the Mirror, Winehouse’s father Mitch convinced her to give up control of her fortune in light of a montage of personal and professional events including looming divorce from Blake Fielder-Civil, a big fat check for album sales in 2008, a new album potentially on the horizon, and her claims of being drug-free since before Christmas.

Given these positives, including her new attitude, it only makes sense for Winehouse to ask for help when it comes to spending her loot, doesn’t it? After all, a few bad decisions could send her reeling back to square one.

And Winehouse isn’t just finding support from her parents, either – Saving Amy, a Web site with the same name as the UK documentary NY Daily News is reporting will air in March, is offering fans a place to leave messages for Amy to be included in what site owners are saying will be “the biggest ‘get well soon’ card in history.”

So, lesson learned, kids? Sometimes people – celebrities included – just have to suck it up and hand the reigns to someone who can help them. Admitting you’re out of control and need help isn’t a bad thing, and despite how low you think you’ve hit, there are people out there who care and want to help.

Awe, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Image Source: Wikipedia

While I’m usually a pretty regular American Idol viewer, I don’t normally get into the swing of things until the auditions are over and I can start obsessively punching redial to get a vote through for my favorite contestants.

Sure, I catch an audition episode here and there, but I can only handle watching so many poor souls set themselves up for such abuse and degradation before I’m overwhelmed by the need to just give someone a hug and vow never to watch the show again.

So, that’s why I’m just now touching on this. I missed the Louisville, Kentucky audition at which one failed auditionee, Mark Mudd, bid the judges a pretty innocent farewell – well, pretty innocent by some standards, though not quite innocent enough for Paula Abdul:

“You don’t say that to people, ‘Be careful,’” Abdul scolded.

Well, yes, Paula honey, here in Appalachia, we do. We say it a lot. To everyone. I’ve already said it twice today and it’s not even noon.

I don’t know who was quick to point out Abdul’s mistake, but fortunately the AI crew issued a public apology, though it seems to just be for viewers who were offended. I would have focused more on Mr. Mudd, but, that’s just me. Maybe they did at some point and I just haven’t seen it. Too, the apology seemed to be intent on getting some personal defense in: “We had not heard that phrase from any other contestants during the day [...].” To me, that just means he deserves a nice “thank you,” too.

Of course, given everything Abdul’s been through regarding potentially dangerous fans, we can’t really blame her for being on edge, can we? I don’t think so. Paranoia probably runs pretty deep after an 18-year run of dealing with a stalking fan tragically ends in suicide. Combine that with unfamiliarity with the regional phrases and you’ve got a pretty honest mistake.

Last month I posted some resources for dealing with stalkers. Reading through those resources helps put …

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This past weekend may have brought Americans the forty-third Super Bowl (and the Steelers a surprise last-minute win), but for former Oakland Raiders center Barret Robbins, this past weekend marked six years since his uncontrolled addiction and bipolar disorder – and, of course, his infamous trip to Tijuana – effectively kicked into overdrive his long and winding path of an ended football career, police shootout, jail time, various stints in rehab facilities and probation violation.

However, despite a ruined football career and public scrutiny and ridicule, all is not dark and hopeless for Robbins. According to an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Robbins is doing well in the Houston substance-abuse treatment facility where he currently resides.

Going from big-time football star – going from big-time anything – to just another patient at your local rehab clinic can carry a crippling blow to the ol’ self-esteem. Yet, this time around, Robbins seems to be using the time away to make the most of his treatment. The San Francisco Chronicle article shows a Robbins who is aware of his mental illness and addiction problems and is working hard toward learning how to manage them and regain control of his life. He’s even thinking about possible plans for the future, such as coaching football and maybe even writing a book.

The man who took two shots to the torso and was charged with attempted murder isn’t curled up in the fetal position willing Death to make a speedy entrance. He’s considering plans for the future.

Whether it stems from uncontrolled drug or alcohol addiction, undiagnosed or untreated mental illness, or just plain bad judgment, we all lose our balance at some point. It may be a tiny stumble or a collapse of colossal proportions, but at some point in your life – I don’t care who you are – you’re going to trip up. We all do. We’re humans, and we’re a seriously imperfect lot.

Welcome to life.

Yet, these mistakes – however titanic they may be – can turn from roadblocks …