S.A. eLetter (1-28-12)
John P.
Greetings S.A. Family on the Internet,
Michigan State University did a study of S.A. about twelve years ago. We'll discussing the results of this study in the coming months.
The Michigan State University study of Schizophrenics Anonymous
has some interesting statistical data on S.A. members. Below is some
of this information, presented with the assumption that the survey
results of the sample are representative S.A. members as a whole.
Data designated as "S.A. members" represent combined data for S.A.
members and S.A. leaders, unless otherwise noted.
* 67 percent of S.A. members have never been married, while 11
percent are currently married.
* 7 percent of S.A. members have full-time jobs, and another 22
percent have part-time jobs or are in sheltered employment. (Another 3 percent are retired.)
* 17 percent of S.A. members have a bachelor's degree or graduate
degree, and another 10 percent have an associate's degree; among S.A. leaders, 44 percent have college degrees.
* 50 percent of S.A. members belong to Protestant, Catholic, or
Jewish faiths, 28 percent belong to no organized religion, and 22
percent belong to "other" spiritual faiths or belief systems.
* 45 percent of S.A. members have own house or apartment, another 9 percent live in supported apartment programs, and 21 percent live with family members.
* 73 percent of S.A. members receive Social Security disability
benefits or Veteran Administration benefits. (Editor's Note: It's
unknown from the data how many more receive benefits from any other public assistance programs, e.g., AFDC or GA. Because only 10 percent of S.A. members are working full-time or are retired, it is likely that 90 percent of S.A. members are receiving some kind of benefits, though some may not be aware of it, for instance, those in state hospitals or in group homes.)
* 26 percent of S.A. members are African-American, 3 percent are
Hispanic, and 3 percent are of some other non-Caucasian ethnicity.
* Average age of S.A. members is 41 years old.
* 60 percent of S.A. members are male, while 66 percent of S.A.
leaders are female.
SOURCE: Michigan State University final report, April 20, 2000
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--Stress Management, part #62
Stress Overload from Modern Living
Andrew Weil, M.D., a well-known university-based health expert, presented an article recently suggesting that the stresses connected with modern-day living are a cause of much of today’s incidence of clinical depression. He produces two bits of evidence. First depression rates are much lower in less developed countries that do not have the demands of modern living. Second, even in this country, the Amish have much lower rates of depression--they live withour modern conveniences and expectations.
Martin Seligman, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was studied the Old Order Amish. It turns out that they have a clinical depression rate that is one tenth of that of other Americans. Says Seligman--"There seems to be something about modern life that creates a fertile soil for depression."
Stephen Ilardi, professor at the University of Kansas, states, "The more 'modern' a society's way of life, the higher its rate of depression. It may seem baffling, but the explanation is simple: the human body was never designed for the modern postindustrial environment."
Dr. Weil feels that its the unprecedented demands of modern life that is resulting in this level of stress. He suggests five tips for dealing with the stresses of modern life--
1. Mindfulness training--a type of mediation that increases a sense of focus and concentration.
2. Sleep well and in complete darkness.
3. More social interaction--make it a priotity.
4. Avoid disturbing sounds--choose to listen to things that have a positive effect on the mood; try to cultivate silence.
5. Reduce information overload--the computer and twitter-living may need to be limited in order to well attend to the rest of your life.
Dr. Weil also suggests exercise, eating fish for omega-3 fatty acids, and not dwelling on negative thoughts.
SOURCE: Newsweek--Nov. 7, 2011
Stress Management Series Prior Editions
Below are links to the first 40 parts of the Stress Management Series to date. The more recent parts are at the S.A. eLetter site at Google.
Stress Management Series I (Parts #1 to #16):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/584aa4af7b45c502
Stress Management Series II (Parts #17 to #29):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/f240f7bad9902a81#
Stress Management Series III (Parts #30 to #40):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/e0f98e3ce6dafc7f
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--Our Suffering in Perspective
The suffering of schizophrenia patients is real. And other people
suffer too. We wish to also recognize the struggles of other
suffering people. For instance:
Deadly Famine
The famine last year at the Horn Africa was devastating. International aid organizations report that as many as 100,000 people died from the effects of starvation. The country most affected was Somalia. Over half the deaths were malnourished children.
We do not suffer alone.
SOURCES: Time magazine (Jan. 30, 2012)
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--Website of the Week
Schizophrenia Bulletin
This publication seeks to review recent developments and empirically based hypotheses regarding the etiology and treatment of schizophrenia.
http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/
For other helpful links to websites related to mental illness, check out our SARDAA webpage at this address:
http://www.sardaa.org/resources/
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--Quote of the Week
"Laughter is one of the keys that opens the door to serenity."
-12-step group adage
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Bye for now, and everyone have a great couple of weeks.
--John P., member of S.A.
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For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
The new S.A. website is at:
http://www.sardaa.org
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For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
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For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
NOTE: Earlier editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia News
Links are posted at the Google information group for S.A. (link given
above). Also, the S.A. eLetter will come
to your e-mail inbox when published by signing up at the S.A.
Information Group at Google.
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Fact Sheet Information about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective
Disorder--
* National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
----------------------
* Mental Health America ( formerly the National Mental Health
Association):
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/schizophrenia
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* National Alliance for the Mentally Il
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
--description of schizoaffective disorder:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
(Organization now called National Alliance on Mental Illness)