Archive for April, 2009
MACHS Presentation: The Impact of Technology on Mental Health
I am honored to have been a part of the Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Human Services. The 2009 Annual Conference was held at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ. I am adjunt faculty at the college teaching Introduction to Psychology. The focus of the conference: Improving the Health and Wellness of Human Services Receipients and Providers: Thinking Globally and Acting Locally.
Yesterday I presented a 90-minute workshop entitled The Impact of Technology on Mental Health. The presentation offered an overview of the impact of technology on mental health ranging from online counseling, self-help websites, wikis, podasts and blogs, gaming, virtual worlds, social networks and other related information. We had a lively discussion ranging from ethics to internet addiction! I offered a handout of various links that embodied the available resources and interventions online.
Here is a sample of some of the website links I offered:
Self-Help and Information
www.psychcentral.com www.mentalhelp.net
Self-Help Support Groups and Peer Support
www.dailystrength.org www.addictiontribe.com
Podcasts
http://www.softconference.com/dbsa/slist.asp?C=1382
Wikis
www.wikipedia.org www.onlinetherapy.wikispaces.org
Blogs
www.mentalhealthonthewebblog.com www.onlinetherapyinstituteblog.com
www.graceuncensored.blogspot.org
Social Networks
www.ning.com www.social.realmentalhealth.com
www.onlinetherapyinstitute.ning.com
Online Therapy
www.helphorizons.com www.deeannamerznagel.com
Therapist Directories
www.psychologytoday.com www.goodtherapy.org
www.twitter.com http://wefollow.com
www.twitter.com/therapyonline @therapyonline @kateanthony
Delicious
www.delicious.com www.delicious.com/onlinetherapyinstitute
Hotlines
www.befrienders.org www.deeannamerznagel.com/id65.html
Virtual Worlds
www.secondlife.com www.clubpenguin.com
I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely spring day! DeeAnna
Why Join the Online Therapy Institute?
We have had several inquiries lately about membership at the Online Therapy Institute; particularly- what are the benefits of joining?
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Advertising
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Networking
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Media Opportunities
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Case Consultation
OTI offers several ways for people to collaborate, network and gain knowledge about mental health and technology. We have free discussion groups through Linkedin, Facebook, Second Life and our own social network. We blog and we tweet to keep everyone up-to-date on the latest happenings in the field. Membership is not necessary through these groups and many are satisfied with the affiliation they currently have with us. Becoming a member however, brings additional benefits.
When a person, business, organization, educational institution or charity joins OTI we spread the word about their cause, services, products, or training. Beginning in 2009, all members who join receive a dedicated blog post which is fed to many blog directories and social networks such as Linkedin and Twitter. We also create a listing in our Web Directory and the new listing is then fed to Twitter and other networks. We create another way to advertise through social media and we promote our members by assisting with research projects, networking and offering media connections. We promote member workshops and trainings related to mental health and technology through our blog and events calendar.
For qualified clinical members, we offer a secure and encrypted forum for peer supervision and one-off case consultation regarding online and face-to-face cases. The forum is facilitated and feedback is offered by Kate Anthony and DeeAnna Merz Nagel.
If you interested in joining, access the membership form here. Come grow with us!! And please do not hesitate to ask any questions of us.
Annual Membership Fees
$ 50.00 USD INDIVIDUAL Clinical and Professional
$ 75.00 USD ORGANISATIONAL Non-profit/Charity/Educational Institution/Association
$100.00 USD ORGANISATIONAL Business/Corporate
World Autism Awareness Day is Today!
Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Recently I interviewed Dr. Sandra Chapman, Chief Director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas. The Center is conducting cutting edge intervention and research with people who have Asperger’s Syndrome, a syndrome that falls within the spectrum of autism disorders. What sets this intervention apart from is that it occurs in a virtual world. The work is fascinating and the possibilities are far reaching! If you would like to read the rest of the story from the spring issue of Telehealth World, the article can be found here: People with Asperger’s Syndrome Learn Social Skills in Second Life.
One simple way to support World Autism Awareness Day is to become a “fan” on Facebook!
Best to all,
DeeAnna