Stop The Bleeding

Artist's Comments

Love is the Movement. Stop the Bleeding.

"The truth is that according to the World Health Organization, depression is one of the leading causes of disability, with approximately 121 million people suffering with depression worldwide. The National Institute of Mental Health states that approximately 18 million people suffer from depression in America alone. Depression does not discriminate across age, race, gender, or class. Among teenagers it is estimated that 20 percent will suffer from depression at some point by the time they reach adulthood. There are also as many as 8.3 percent of teens suffering from depression for at least a year at a time, compared to 5.3 percent of the general population.

Insprired by the work of TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms), an organization created to spread awareness for teen depression, self-injury, and suicide, we are coming together to make sure the whole world knows. We are not directly affiliated with TWOLHA, but are in great support of their work To find out more about TWLOHA visit their Facebook Group here: [link]

During the time of year that suicide rates are at their highest, we chose February 13, the day before Valentine's Day, as our opportunity to start showing people how much they are loved. We will physically write the word LOVE on our arms (with a sharpie, or whatever other ink suits you best). If someone asks you what it’s for, tell them about TWLOHA. Tell them they are loved, that they are important. And ask if you can write LOVE on their arm as a symbol of that. Don't be afraid to reach out to those who need love, those who you often walk right by every day. They need our care.

There is NO set time, there is NO set location. Where you are, when you are there, speak out.

Some of us may choose to share the love of God, but we want you to share whatever love is strongest for you. Depression has no boundaries, but neither does our love.

Stop the bleeding. Rescue is possible."

Artist: Gypsy Magic

Stop The Bleeding by ~gypsymagick

Photomanipulation > Conceptual">

Drag and Drop to Collect

Promote this Deviation

On deviantART

• Send it in a Note...

On the Web

• Put it on digg.com
• Put it on livejournal.com
• Put it on myspace.com...

To [friends]

Message

Photomanipulation > Conceptual">

1. Right click & Copy this text:

<embed src="http://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" flashvars="id=77276796&width=1337" height="610"></embed><br/><a href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/77276796/">Stop The Bleeding</a> by ~<a href="http://gypsymagick.deviantart.com/">gypsymagick</a> on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant</a><a href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART</a>

2. Open myspace.com

(and on the "Edit Profile" page, Paste where
you want to show the art)

3. Then come back to deviantART!

<3>

©2008 ~gypsymagick

Artist's Comments

Love is the Movement. Stop the Bleeding.

"The truth is that according to the World Health Organization, depression is one of the leading causes of disability, with approximately 121 million people suffering with depression worldwide. The National Institute of Mental Health states that approximately 18 million people suffer from depression in America alone. Depression does not discriminate across age, race, gender, or class. Among teenagers it is estimated that 20 percent will suffer from depression at some point by the time they reach adulthood. There are also as many as 8.3 percent of teens suffering from depression for at least a year at a time, compared to 5.3 percent of the general population.

Insprired by the work of TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms), an organization created to spread awareness for teen depression, self-injury, and suicide, we are coming together to make sure the whole world knows. We are not directly affiliated with TWOLHA, but are in great support of their work To find out more about TWLOHA visit their Facebook Group here: [link]

During the time of year that suicide rates are at their highest, we chose February 13, the day before Valentine's Day, as our opportunity to start showing people how much they are loved. We will physically write the word LOVE on our arms (with a sharpie, or whatever other ink suits you best). If someone asks you what it’s for, tell them about TWLOHA. Tell them they are loved, that they are important. And ask if you can write LOVE on their arm as a symbol of that. Don't be afraid to reach out to those who need love, those who you often walk right by every day. They need our care.

There is NO set time, there is NO set location. Where you are, when you are there, speak out.

Some of us may choose to share the love of God, but we want you to share whatever love is strongest for you. Depression has no boundaries, but neither does our love.

Stop the bleeding. Rescue is possible."

Artwork: Gypsy Magic

Study: Most Depressed Kids Get Antidepressants But NoTherapy

By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY

At least half of U.S. children who take antidepressants aren't in therapy, a large study suggests, and that delays recovery while greatly increasing the number of kids on the medication who are suicidal.

"Therapy with antidepressants is the standard of care. But is it what's going on in the real world? No," says Sheila Marcus, child and adolescent psychiatry chief at the University of Michigan Medical School.

The report tracks insurance claims for antidepressants from a database of 6.8 million children and teens from 2002 to 2006. The analysis was done by the health care business of Thomson Reuters, a research firm.

BETTER LIFE: U.S. kids more likely than Europeans to take drugs for mental disorders

In the six months after getting at least one new prescription for antidepressants in 2006, just over 40% of children had insurance claims for one or more therapy sessions, says Tami Mark, the Thomson study leader.

The Food and Drug Administration has put the strongest safety warning on antidepressants, saying they could increase suicidal behavior in people 24 or younger.

A government study last year found that depressed kids recover most rapidly with antidepressants and counseling that teaches problem-solving and stress management. Also, 15% of children on Prozac only were suicidal — either thinking about killing themselves or trying to — compared with 8% on Prozac plus therapy and 6% receiving therapy alone.

The low therapy-claim rates in the new study could be partly a result of some parents paying out-of-pocket or not taking children for counseling because of poor insurance coverage, Mark says.

A federal law passed last week requires employers with more than 50 workers to provide comparable benefits for mental health and medical care. "Lack of insurance has been a big barrier for kids with mental illness," she says.

There's also a great shortage of child psychiatrists, Marcus says.

Some children probably went off antidepressants because of side effects or because they improved, so they weren't referred for counseling, says Kevin Kalikow, a child psychiatrist in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Many parents are embarrassed to take their kids for therapy, says Jana Martin, a child psychologist in Long Beach, Calif.

"If kids take a pill, the parents don't feel it's as bad a reflection on them. The pill helps, but if kids get bullied on the playground, it doesn't teach them how to respond and not get depressed, while therapy does. You can't go take another pill every time someone bullies you."

Your Brooding Teen-Could There Be A Problem

Attentive parents are a bipolar child’s best chance at getting vital treatment. If you answer yes to the majority of the following questions, consider having your child evaluated by a child psychiatrist or clinical therapist who specializes in bipolar disorder.

Does your child have rapidly alternating moods that fluctuate numerous times a day from being elated to being extremely irritable? Is your child incredibly hard to wake up and equally hard to get to sleep? Have other parents warned you that your child tends to be aggressive with their children or does your child get into fights? Is your child explosive at times? Would you describe your child as unstoppable once he or she gets a notion to obtain something? (i.e. Have you ever gone out to pick up pizza, ice cream or a video just to stop the tension your child is causing in the home?) Does your child often describe activities that are enjoyable to most children as boring or not stimulating enough? Have others described your child as withdrawn? Is your child often sad without a reason? Does your teen drive erratically or engage in other highly risky behavior (i.e. Promiscuity or substance abuse)? Has your child been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depression, but doesn’t seem to respond well to treatment? Does your child have trouble maintaining friendships? Has your child been in trouble numerous times at school? Has your child ever been in trouble with the law? Is there any family history of mood disorders and/or substance abuse?

* Remember, no one of these symptoms by itself constitutes bipolar disorder. And, most importantly, in order for any problem to reach the level of a psychiatric disorder, it needs to be interfering with the child’s life. The bottom line is that parents must ask themselves if their child’s behavior is causing him or her not to function at home, at school or with friends.