http://www.gohomeontimeday.org.au/
Mark and then sync all your calendars – Wednesday 20 November is this year’s national Go Home on Time Day. Go Home on Time Day is an annual initiative of The Australia Institute, in partnership with beyondblue. The Day is a light-hearted way to start a serious conversation about work-life balance.
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL : Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. You can get even out of the deepest well.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a yearly item of awareness on the agenda since 1992. A few links:
On this day, I would like to draw your attention to an article (in the Vancouver Sun) this week on Dr Gary Greenberg, about the American Psychiatric Association‘s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the leading authority on mental health diagnosis and research. This document is used in the US, (Canada?) and UK for assessment/diagnosis.
Dr Greenberg makes the point that in recent times in particular, the number of classified “disorders” has skyrocketed, in general but also in particular in the realm of young children. A small child having a temper tantrum can now be classified as a disorder!
This in itself is of course already a problem. Obviously, not diagnosing something is detrimental. But from my perspective, lowering the bar too far and casting the net too wide has the potential to do a great deal of harm to the wellbeing of lots of people. I’d suggest that beyond not being helpful, it’s counterproductive.
Dr Greenberg also notes that with DSM regarded as authoritative, and diagnosis increasingly resulting in medication, the problem is exacerbated. When other organisations use DSM diagnoses as a reference point for policy, things go bad. Take for instance the forced medication of children based on ADHD diagnoses – it’s forced because the medication is a prerequisite for schools accepting them. Of course there will be kids with issues that merit some form of support and treatment. But you can see how the aforementioned trail from DSM to school authorities forces the child on medication, even though medication might not be the (most) appropriate avenue. Medicating everything is not the way – life is not a disease, and what’s considered “normal” has a pretty broad spectrum. Demanding narrow conformity and medicating everything outside that boundary is scary.
On the other hand, other support mechanisms (including education) hinges on diagnoses as well – so when a threshold is effectively raised, this might remove some people from the medication realm, but it also removes other support. So there it goes wrong again. Complicated matters.
http://www.hungryforchange.tv/article/could-diet-sodas-be-making-you-depressed
We now know that sugary sodas aren’t good for our bodies but a recent study has found that they may not be good for our mind or our mood either. Find out more about the link between consumption of sweetened drinks and depression.
http://www.madinamerica.com/2012/02/why-anti-authoritarians-are-diagnosed-as-mentally-ill/
In Bruce Levine’s career he as spoken with hundreds of people diagnosed with ODD & ADHD. An astonishing number of these people are also anti-authoritarians.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/10/asperger_syndrome_beneficial_effects_for_it_clients/
[…] my prejudices matter because what I recommend to my clients must be the absolute best solution for their needs. Point blank, no excuses, period. […]
I will design for you, and assist you in implementing, the best IT infrastructure that I can. This is what you pay me to do. Just please don’t be too upset if I forget little Johnny’s name.
A resource link you may find useful:
http://www.onlineeducation.net/2013/04/05/autism-and-online-learning-a-guide-for-teachers
Online learning environments present an opportunity to better serve autistic students that teachers can learn to use effectively.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/1/4279674/im-still-here-back-online-after-a-year-without-the-internet
I was wrong.
One year ago I left the internet. I thought it was making me unproductive. I thought it lacked meaning. I thought it was “corrupting my soul.”
It’s a been a year now since I…
tothisdayproject.com – addressing violence and bullying in schools, through a poem by Shane Koyczan.
Here’s one of the visualisations, with Shane’s spoken word:
but Texas Chainsaw 3D gets props for at least positing the questions
tube8 Risks Involved In Tattoo Making
Geeks & Depression BlueHackers BoF Wed 8.30pm – it’s happening!
A number of people have asked the LCA organisers to do something on the topic of depression at the conference. It’s an important topic close to the heart of many LCA attendees. LCA and BlueHackers had a chat, and we decided to run a BlueHackers BoF on Wednesday evening from 8.30pm in MCC2 (large room).
Suggested agenda:
There won’t be any taboo topics, however it is important to maintain a safe environment for everybody. A meeting like this is not therapy or a substitute for any form of professional help. It has however been found very beneficial to hear from others about their experiences and to discuss what tips and tricks work for them.
To facilitate all this, LCA has offered assistance for Arjen be in Canberra for the Wednesday, as he is unable to attend all of LCA.
BlueHackers has one key objective: to remind you that if you are a geek dealing with depression or a related disorder, you are not alone. Depression is fairly prolific in the geek community, and it is important that we don’t hide the subject away. Talking about it is one of the most positive and helpful things we can do for each other.
Email: l i f e (at) b l u e h a c k e r s (dot) o r g if you have any questions or want to tell us you’re coming along (but you’re most welcome regardless!) – please also help spread the word through any medium, to ensure that everyone knows the event is happening.
At the event, you’re welcome to sit quietly in the back if you prefer. Some people are comfortable talking in public on this, others are not. Your mere presence will already be positive for other attendees, and possibly for you too.
Naturally, if you want to help with this, have ideas, would like to do one of the lightning talks, or anything else related, write to the above email address. Thanks!
Cheers,
Arjen Lentz (BlueHackers) & Lana Brindley (LCA 2013 Team)