Mental Health

Like its companion video, Bulimia: The Vicious Cycle, this program examines an eating disorder in-depth, the causes, symptoms, and treatment. A former anorectic is interviewed, giving a glimpse into the effects this eating disorder can have on a person. Issues of psychological and physical health are detailed to give an insightful, informative picture of anorexia, giving students not only knowledge of the disorder, but also a view of its symptoms and the help that is available to anorectics. A Meridian Production. One 16-minute video.

Anorexia and other eating disorders exert a frightening degree of control over millions of teenagers, especially young women. Manifested in so-called Pro-Ana" websites, which actively promote anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, the mental and physical grip of these sicknesses can prove impossible to break. This program represents a powerful weapon in the battle against eating disorders, pinpointing their origins in body image and self-esteem issues, illustrating their grim consequences in crystal-clear terms, and offering students, parents, teachers, and counselors a rich source of information and support. Hosted by The Sopranos' Jamie-Lynn Sigler, herself a survivor of teenage anorexia, the video explains how to recognize eating disorders, how friends and loved ones should communicate their fears and concerns, and how those who suffer from these often fatal illnesses can find professional help. Special emphasis is placed on identifying anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating as actual diseases, not as misguided lifestyle choices-a realization necessary for effective treatment. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to National Health Education Standards: Achieving Health Literacy and state standards. A Meridian Production. (29 minutes)"

This program explores the debilitating eating disorder of bulimia-causes, symptoms, and treatment. Also included are interviews with an expert clinician and a former bulimic who describes how bulimia affected her entire life and her road to recovery. The video enables students to understand bulimia, be able to recognize symptoms they may see in others suffering from bulimia, and know what treatment methods are available to combat it. A Meridian Production. One 14-minute video.

Four to eight percent of American children experience bouts of major depression. Among teenage girls, that rate can be as high as sixteen percent. This program from The Doctor Is In emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to avoid potential patterns of repeated depression later in life-and to prevent substance abuse and suicide. Children suffering from depression talk about how they cope with it, while child psychiatrist David G. Fassler, author of Help Me, I'm Sad, and Steven Atkins, a psychologist at Dartmouth Medical School, provide authoritative insights. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (29 minutes)

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. today, with an economic cost exceeding $44 billion. What are the symptoms? How do biological, genetic, and psychosocial factors affect mood-regulating neurotransmitters? And are women at special risk? In this program, Martin Keller, of the Brown University School of Medicine, and other experts answer questions about the pathology of depressive disorders and current treatment options such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. (23 minutes)

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa-two conditions rooted in the desire to be slim-are the focus of this program. While the first deprives the body of food, the other causes its victims to compulsively purge food through vomiting. Two women who suffer with these conditions tell poignant stories of how these compulsive behaviors have nearly destroyed their lives and the lives of their respective families. An expert explains the specialized approach used in treating both disorders. (15 minutes)

Anorexia. Bulimia. Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric conditions. After defining eating disorders from a clinical point of view, this three-section program explores possible underlying biological bases for eating disorders; considers sociocultural influences on young adults that equate thin" with "good"; and questions to what extent eating disorders may originate within the family structure. The program concludes with a look at treatments of eating disorders. A part of the series Applied Psychology. (28 minutes)"

Eating disorders are not just about food, but about the struggle with loss of emotional control. This program from The Doctor Is In examines the use of antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy to combat these dangerous illnesses. Russell Marx, M.D., of the eating disorders program at the Princeton Medical Center, and Marcia Herrin, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.D., of the Dartmouth College Health Service, explain what is being done to prevent and treat one of the most lethal categories of mental illness. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center production. (28 minutes)

Eating disorders are not about the desire to be thin. Eating disorders are severe psychological illnesses that usually take years to overcome and can be accompanied by devastating and sometimes deadly physical side effects. In this powerful program, four young women and men from a variety of ethnic backgrounds share their stories of the physical pain and emotional torment caused by eating disorders. Medical, psychological, and nutritional experts explain the types of eating disorders, their causes, and who is most at risk, as well as treatment options. A Cambridge Educational Production. (30 minutes)

Sarcastic and rude statements to children can leave as deep a wound as a cigarette burn or welts from a belt. This important program looks at both physical and emotional child abuse, and the lifetime effects they may have on children. We touch on what you can do if you recognize abuse of someone you know. A Meridian Production.One 23-minute video.

This program thoroughly describes the concept of self-esteem: what it is, where it comes from, and how to build it, maintain it, and protect it. The power of positive thinking, the importance of a supportive home environment, and the harmful effects of advertising are considered, along with the negative impact of a poor attitude, destructive comments, and unrealistic thoughts of one's own worth. A Cambridge Educational Production. (30 minutes)

Grade Level: 5-8. One out of five teenagers becomes depressed as a result of serious school, family or social problems. In some cases these teens can become suicidal. For some youngsters, feeling they are a social outcast or an academic failure can precipitate depression.

This program teaches the causes and effects of stress along with specific techniques for controlling it. With clear language it covers the psychological, physiological, and emotional effects of stress. Utilizing drama and humor, the video covers a variety of stress control techniques including breathing, muscle relaxation, exercise, as well as a variety of cognitive approaches. Emphasis is placed on accepting and expressing feelings, developing communication, and setting realistic goals. A Cambridge Educational Production. (21 minutes)

Stress, when carefully managed, can actually facilitate academic achievement. Reinforced by on-screen lists and a review segment at the end, this program first defines stress and then promotes three core strategies for dealing with it: a positive attitude, a healthy lifestyle, and relaxation techniques. The harmful aspects of unmanaged stress, which include an increased susceptibility to physical illness, clinical depression, and substance abuse, are also discussed. (10 minutes)

Every year, more than 30,000 American men, women, and children take their own lives-an average of one every 17 minutes. Drawing on the experiences of law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, psychologists, neurologists, hotline counselors, family members of suicides, and survivors of suicide attempts, this emotionally charged program offers approaches to understanding and preventing suicide while exploring the anguish that accompanies it. Groundbreaking brain research, graphic death scene photos, and actual 911 recordings add powerful support to the case studies and treatment options documented. Viewer discretion is advised. An HBO Production. (59 minutes)