Hot Topics

In the Hot Topics section, we will examine various issues and ideas that are highly relevant to current events and to mental health matters.  For each of these topics, reference information and links to authoritive sources will be provided to allow you to gather further insight and identify resources.

We welcome your comments and suggestions regarding these topics.

Our current hot topics are:

1. Suicide

The National Institute of Mental Health calls suicide a, "a complex behavior usually caused by a combination of factors." It is also the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and outnumbers homicides by a 3 to 2 ratio.

Research has shown that more than 90 percent of people who kill themselves have depression or another diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder. Suicide is not a normal response to stress or negative life events.

More on suicide...

2. School Violence

Recent occurrences of school violence have again thrust this issue into the forefront of national and local news coverage. Although not directly a mental health issue, a correlation has been drawn by both experts and the media between the issue of youth violence and mental health.

The Surgeon General released a comprehensive report on youth violence on January 2001.

More on school violence...

3. Medication

Among the most frequent questions posed to the MIRA staff and board are questions regarding psychiatric medications. These questions are best posed to your doctor, but we recognize that additional information is sometimes necessary so that you know what to ask.

We have found a few web sites and organizations that have information on these medications. Please remember, they are no substitute for medical advice provided by a licensed medical professional.

More on medication...

If you have a question or comment for the MIRA staff, please complete the online request form or call us at 800-896-MIRA.