For over 55 years, the Astor Home for Children has been providing topnotch care for children and families, both in New York City and Upstate New York communities. It is sponsored by the
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.Speech and language pathologists and audiologists are a profession that often works with people who have mental conditions: problems in communication can in themselves cause mental-health problems, or can magnify those already present. The goals of speech and language pathologists are to advocate on behalf of persons with communications and other disorders, advance communication science, […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.The American Mental Health Foundation (AMHF) has and continues to support all effective models of group therapy. It was the wish of our long-time executive director, Dr. Stefan de Schill, that this mission be carried out and that his own pioneering work in this modality be further developed and made available to those who need […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.Afraid of spiders and snakes? A continuing goal of the AMHF is to continue to bring to everyone’s awareness difficulties that may rob us of happiness. New therapies continue to be developed and older ones improved. There is, indeed, cause for hope. In the words of our long-time director, Dr. Stefan de Schill, exiles from […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.After many legislative proposals and actions since at least 1996, the US House of Representatives finally passed a Mental Health Parity Bill. This will be good news for the 35 million Americans who experience mental illness and emotional problems, and for whom our foundation is dedicated. Please see the New York Times, March 6, 2009. […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.Have you ever been summoned by a baby who is crying in another room? If you have, here is a book for you. Natalie Angier, winner of a Pulitzer Prize as a New York Times science beat writer, has hit another home run in her column of March 3, 2009, wherein she offers reflections on […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.Likely we have all seen the terrible story out of Connecticut of the friend that was mauled by the pet chimpanzee of the other friend. It obviously reminds us of the mysteries of the brain. Why would a docile creature suddenly turn? But there is another dimension to the story. This has to do with […]
By: Evander LomkeThere is a handy paperback to help those with depression: Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns. It is not the typical self-help book in that it is based on cognitive therapy research. There are many types of charts and plans that can be done as the book is read. All of these are intended to […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.Parents of special-needs children know this, but others might not. Viz., there is a continuum of care and interventions for special-needs children. During the past 32 years, since the enactment of Public Law 94-142 (PL 94-142), different programs of different intensities (and expense) change, depending on the political or economic climate of the times. For […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.The New York Times recently reported on cutting-edge research with direct implications for mental health. Genetic researchers discovered a variety of gene mutations in the genes affecting the enzymes produced by the liver: chemicals that are the first step in changing psychiatric drugs into other chemicals that can then influence the brain. (The variety of […]
By: William Van Ornum, Ph.D.
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