Health Programs

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships For Mental Health Journalism 1998-1999

Rita Baron-Faust, CHES

Medical Journalist/Health Educator
Medical editor, City Health Information (CHI) publication for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Brooklyn, New York

TOPIC: Defining cultural barriers to seeking mental health care and how to overcome them

Cultural Psychology in an Urban Setting
It may come as no surprise that the stresses of immigration and poverty can determine how and when a person gains access to mental health care. But did you know that a person's racial or cultural background could influence the manifestation of symptoms and affect the outcome of psychotherapy? Or that a patient's race or ethnicity could affect even the metabolism of psychoactive drugs? 

A New Consciousness
Biofeedback trains your brain to treat diseases.It looks like a scene from a 1950s science fiction flick: Patients with electrodes attached to their skulls sit deep in concentration, focusing their minds to control the beeps and squiggly lines produced by an electronic monitor.

Culture & Mental Health
It has been an extremely busy year, attending conferences, meetings, doing site visits and interviews (a listing starts at the end of the article). Everything has been so interesting! I am extremely grateful for this fellowship, which allowed me to turn down some freelance work so I could spend more time on my research project and do some traveling. I again thank the Carter Center for making it possible.

Me, Myself & Irene
Movie Review.

The Many Faces of Depression

Most people associate the word "depression" with sadness. But for many women, unexplained pain may be their major symptom.  This is especially true later in life, when aches and pains are often blamed on aging.

When Worry Becomes Worrisome

Are you constantly worried, distressed, and on edge? If so, you may be among the 4 million people a year who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).  While some anxiety is a normal part of life, GAD is different.

Joint Pain, Fatigue, and Depression: The Three Symptoms that May Signal Autoimmune Disease

If you've been experiencing problems including joint pain, fatigue, and mild depression, it could be an early warning sign of an autoimmune disease.

How Sadness Affects Your Heart

Doctors have long wondered whether depression is a result of coronary heart disease (CHD) or a risk factor that contributes significantly to its development.  Now new research confirms that major depressive disorder (MDD) is indeed as serious a risk factor for CHD as high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, and a positive family history.

When Alcohol Becomes Troublesome

For some women, older age is a happy, fulfilling period—for others, it's a lonely experience.  The loss of a spouse or friends may leave women feeling isolated and depressed.

Notes of Emotion and Early Schizophrenia

The emotional nuances of conversation are like notes played on a piano. When we are happy, excited, or angry, the pitch of our voice rises; when we are sad, the pitch falls.  People with schizophrenia cannot hear the emotional tones in a conversation.

Detecting and Treating Depression in Adults