The Fantasy Bond

- A presentation about the “fantasy bond,” defined as an illusion of a close relationship with a parent that is replayed later in life with romantic partners. Idealizing partners reinforces negative self-image formed early on. Firestone lists ways it manifests in a relationship, such as withholding emotions, polarizing, denigrating, and/or idealizing partners, and having form instead of substance, not really relating to each other. She describes three states of fantasy involvement, discusses personal differentiation, and looks at types of healthy and unhealthy interactions. Finally, she explores separation theory.

Psychology Experiment: Invisible Rope

- A simple, light-hearted prank by college students using a cognitive illusion. Two men appear to be holding a rope above the ground. People move around them, jump the rope, and even stop their cars to avoid it. But is it real? Set to an energetic soundtrack, this is an easy-to-view video for all ages.

What BETTER Feels Like

- A project featuring three stories of recovery from depression. Here, Deanna talks about noticing signs of recovery from depression and what did and didn’t help her. With family support and advocacy she worked with clinicians and her workplace. Now she says, “Feeling better is noticing the beautiful things in life.” Useful inspiration for those who wonder if there is hope for recovery, along with giving information about what to look for, from the perspective of a person with lived experience of depression. Watch all three videos and learn more about recovery here.

Dr. Pamela Collins on Global Mental Health Challenges

Dr. Collins discusses the Grand Challenges meeting to prioritize research needs from countries around the globe, as well as emerging ways of delivering mental health services with mobile phones, and modeling other successful health care models. She describes one solution, task shifting, as extending the reach of specialists into the hands of communities in need of basic care. She also talks about opportunities with the World Health Organization and other global agencies joining together. Video accompanied by a full transcript.

National Database for Autism Research

Demonstrating the adage “power in numbers,” the National Database for Autism Research pools valuable data collected from 169,846+ sources. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have participated in many types of clinical and basic research, in studies ranging from molecules to genes, to behavioral, social, and environmental factors, and this database aggregates the results to make their contributions even more relevant to a larger group of scientists. If you would like to contribute to the database as a person with ASD (or parent of one), you can start by connecting with a researcher in your area. Video features a full transcript, useful for people who are hearing impaired.

Could You Pick Me Out of a Crowd

Another great entry in the 2012 Neuro Film Festival contest, hosted by the American Academy of Neurology, this five minute video explores the concept of invisible disability from traumatic brain injuries. A very informative and nicely crafted video. View all the entries in a single YouTube playlist, and vote for your favourites here. Public voting is open until March 8 for the Fan Favorite prize, and then judges will choose their picks as well. Winners will be announced April 22 at the AAN’s annual meeting in New Orleans, in front of 10,000 neurologists. Visit The Neurocritic this week to view more frontrunning entries.

ADHD After Anaesthesia

A doctor describes a risk analysis of ADHD following anaesthesia for surgery in young children, from an epidemiodogical, observational study. They found a correlation with two or more exposures to anaesthesia, but prudently don’t point to any one cause. Good video, with an excellent explanation for the public. Reported in the new free journal article Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder After Early Exposure to Procedures Requiring General Anesthesia, Sprung et al, Mayo Clinic Proceedings Feb. 2012.

Inspiration Through Empathy: Peer Support

A short documentary by a student filmmaker about a peer support group in Kelowna, BC, Canada. A group of mental health consumers meets weekly, views a presentation on a topic of their choice, then breaks into smaller groups to talk about their mental health issues and building wellness. Peer support is different than other support services (not a replacement, it’s complementary to professional services) because it’s a space for people to come together with others who truly understand what it’s like to live with a mental illness, providing empathy, reassurance, and connection that can’t be found any other way.

Come out, Come Out Wherever You Are

A call to shake off shame, come out of the closet and be open about mental health issues in order to fight social stigma. Compelling and well-written narration by Michael Kimber of the Colony of Losers blog, along with slick edited images including examples of famous people known to have psychiatric labels.

Click here to view with English subtitles

Mentally Ill Seek Afghan Shrines, Not Hospitals

With only 80 mental health treatment beds for an entire country of (an estimated) 29 million people (in 2009), desperation and superstition thrive in Afghanistan. An alternative “treatment” program in a religious shrine involves chaining people by the ankle for 40 days, allowing them to eat only bread, water, and black pepper, forbidding bathing, toilets, or changing clothes, wearing necklace amulets, and heavy doses of Islamic prayers. “The philosophy is, God can heal you or make you ill if he wants.” Although Afghan officials, medical personnel, and some consumers condemn the practice, devotees continue to visit the shrines to be chained up (or force their relatives to be chained), hoping for a miraculous cure. This video features the Mia Ali Sahib Shrine near Jalalabad.