Voices In The Family

December 2009

12/07/09
In-Laws and family relationships
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President Obama's mother in law lives in the White House, and it seems like the first family is happy with this arrangement. For many families, though, the topic of in-laws is a lightning rod that conducts strong sentiments. As family dynamics get more intense around the holidays, how can couples navigate their relationship with each other's families? And what about parents and siblings in-law who feel rejected or misunderstood? Dan Gottlieb and his guest will talk about being the in-laws, dealing with the in-laws.

Our guest is Terri Apter, a psychologist at University of Cambridge in England. She is also the author of What Do You Want From Me: Learning to Get Along With Your In-Laws.

12/14/09
Recovery and Mental Health
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Mental Health care is moving toward a recovery-based model. Rather than focusing on managing symptoms, this approach aims to allow people affected by mental illness to lead the best and most fullest life possible. Recovery is also based on self-determination, respect, and the reduction of discrimination. Some experts are concerned though that "recovery" not well-defined and that different groups have different ideas about what it means. We'll discuss recovery-based mental health care, how it works, how consumers view it, how communities approach it, and how it is changing mental health policy.

Host Dr. Dan Gottlieb is joined by:
Dr. Arthur Evans - Director of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation.
Dr. Mark Salzer - He is the Principal Investigator and Director of the University of Pennsylvania Collaborative on Community Integration.
Dr. Harold Schwartz, - Psychiatrist, and Medical Director of the Institute of Living in Connecticut.
We will also hear from people in recovery.

Also join us on 12/15/09 at 12 noon for WHYY's weekly online forum Digest This when we explore the issue of recovery further in a live web chat. To log in and participate visit: whyy.org/healthscience.

12/21/09
Family Resilience
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When we hear about a family experiencing loss, tragedy, suffering - our gut reaction is: I could never survive that. But the thing is, we can and do survive, and often thrive in the face of adversity. On this Voices in the Family, we'll hear from families who are facing formidable odds - and have pulled together - with the help from their communities - to make it through. We'll speak with Liz Scott of Alex's Lemonade Stand, Robbie and Rob Wunder, and family resilience expert Froma Walsh.

12/28/09
2009 in Review
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2009 has been a year of change in our country with great implications for mental health. On the next Voices in the Family, we'll discuss the fallout of financial crisis and focus on what's happened this year in research, what's changed in policy affecting mental healthcare, and what's new in autism research. We'll be joined by Psych Central's John Grohol and Jim Coane, and Craig Newschaffer.