FIRST AID FOR ANXIETY ATTACKS is the headline on a RedOrbit piece today. The piece mentions:
- The fact that at any given time around 13 percent of Americans may have a type of anxiety disorder
- An organization called Mental Health First Aid, which we had not heard of, that provides a 12-hour certification enabling non-professionals to respond to several mental health issues, including depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance abuse disorder, before professional help is involved.
The MHFA program originated in Australia but has been exported to other countries. Find out more information about it at the organization's website.
ATTENTION RESEARCH UPDATE. The February issue of this e-newsletter has been posted, and in it David Rabiner reviews a study of children's perspectives on living with AD/HD. Among the interesting conclusions in the study was one that indicated the youngsters with AD/HD may feel better about their quality of life than their parents perceive them as having. In addition, very few (23 percent) of the subjects regard AD/HD as an illness. Find out more.
AAEGT ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The 14th Australian National Conference on Giftedness and Talent is scheduled to be held in Adelaide, South Australia from July 12th to 15th, 2012. The theme of the conference is "Equity and Excellence for All." The event is sponsored by the Australian Association for the Education of Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) whose website is here.
MINNESOTA GT FORUM. The third annual Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Education Symposium, scheduled from June 12-16, is billed as "an opportunity for educators, counselors, administrators and parents to gain greater understanding of the unique needs of gifted and high potential learners." Held in Austin, Minnesota, the event features an opening night reception at the SPAM Museum. Presenters include several familiar to readers of 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter, and some of the sessions deal with twice-exceptional topics. Session descriptions are posted at the conference site.
JAY MATHEWS offered an interesting column in Sunday's Washington Post about a family in which the parents did not let the kids know their SATs, and who pointedly did not pressure the kids achievement-wise. Oh, and while the kids evidently have LDs such as AD/HD, all three seem to be thriving. Mathews brings up the family's situation as a counterpoint to "Race to Nowhere," the movie about pressure and achievement we mentioned in this blog a bit ago. Find the column.
AND FINALLY, THIS -- ON HAPPINESS. We read about a Gallup poll that tries to measure the components of a high-quality, happy life. Gallup has identified certain traits that seem to be associated with happiness, and The New York Times asked Gallup to do a composite of "the happiest person in America." According to the polling company, "he’s a tall, Asian-American, observant Jew who is at least 65 and married, has children, lives in Hawaii, runs his own business and has a household income of more than $120,000 a year." Right, we thought; good luck finding that person. Well, The New York Times did -- except maybe for the tall part -- and he evidently is really happy. Read more.