On May 19, 2009, Mel Thompson will be dipping his wheels in the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver and starting a hundred-day journey across the country to raise awareness for mental health and much needed funds to support mental health programs.

Mel Thompson, a 60-year old senior business executive with Xerox Canada, is taking this ride with great seriousness. As the loving father of a daughter diagnosed with Bipolar and Schizoaffective Disorder, Mel has learned first hand the devastating effects and stigma associated with mental illness. In support of his daughter and the many others affected by mental illness, Mel decided to make a difference by putting his efforts towards ‘The Ride for Mental Health.’

Come and be part of this incredible journey by showing your support and sending him on his way with a true Vancouver send off.

Tuesday, May 19

11:00 am – Vanier Park. Mel will dip his wheels in water and cycle up to the Vancouver Art Gallery, where the party awaits him.

Local cyclists can join Mel – to join him on this short ride all you need to do is 1) email Andy to RSVP 2) show up with your bicycle. 3) sign a waiver (available on site)

Click here to email Andy

12:00 (noon) – Vancouver Art Gallery, Georgia Street Side. Celebration Central

· Live music by RadioPlay featuring former Soul Decision Band Member Michael LeBlanc

· Interactive Booths and Tables that feature lots of great tips to promote your own wellness

12:30 pm Fun talk by Dr. Art Hister of CKNW and Global TV on mental health promotion

Mel Thomson takes a moment to reflect on his motivation and inspiration.

Xerox presentation of community fundraising to CMHA Vancouver Burnaby Branch

1:00 pm – Mel’s journey begin.

More information is on the site http://www.therideformentalhealth.org.

Thank you everyone for your support. Please take the time to join us and help us collectively send a message of the importance of mental health and how we can all create change!

Image by singsing

Impact of changing the Japanese term for “schizophrenia” for reasons of stereotypical beliefs of schizophrenia in Japanese youth

Hidehiko Takahashia, Takashi Idenoc, Shigetaka Okuboc, et al.

Abstract

The old term for schizophrenia, “Seishin-Bunretsu-Byo” (Mind-Split Disease), has been replaced by “Togo-Shitcho-Sho” (Integration Disorder) in Japan. Stigma research requiring individuals to report personal beliefs is useful but is subject to social desirability bias. Using the Implicit Association Test, a measurement designed to minimize this bias, we assessed the impact of this renaming on the stereotype of schizophrenia held by a younger generation. The old term was strongly associated with “criminal”, and this association became significantly weaker with the new term. The strategy of renaming holds considerable promise for tempering negative bias toward this disorder in Japan.