Public Television Series "Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein" Humanizes Common Psychiatric Conditions Through Inspiring Personal Stories and Latest Research on Diagnosis and Treatment

Season four offers 14, half-hour episodes airing on public television stations across the nation. It is produced by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, presented by Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), and distributed by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA). Its staggered release began on October 2^nd with episode 401 on Suicide Prevention, featuring Donna Morgan, mother of G.R.L. pop Star Simone Battle, speaking publicly for the first time about her daughter's suicide. Other topics include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and the mental health issues faced by veterans. 

"One in five people has a diagnosable mental disorder, but fear and shame often prevent them from seeking help," says Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., president and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the largest private funder of mental health research grants, who developed the series and serves as its host. He also is Editor-in-Chief of Psychiatric News, the newspaper of the American Psychiatric Association, and an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. "Our goal is to provide a starting point for personal conversations and to provide hope and resources to people who suffer with psychiatric disorders and their families."

Guests include Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson on his lifelong struggle with mental illness; a two-part episode with mental health advocate and Former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy on living with bipolar disorder; a discussion on supporting the mental health of veterans with NY State Senator Thomas D. Croci, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs' senior advisor Matthew J. Friedman, M.D.; The Honorable Steven Leifman, Criminal Division, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, on Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System; Herbert Pardes, M.D., former director of the National Institute for Mental Health, on the future of psychiatry; and Nobel Prize winner Eric R. Kandel, M.D., discussing his research on memory.

Markets that have already scheduled the episodes include KAWE, Bemidji (Minneapolis), MN; SCETV, Charlotte, NC; WYCC, Chicago, IL; WOSU, Columbus, OH; Colorado PTV, Denver, CO; WNIN, Evansville, IN; CMU, Flint, MI; WUFT, Gainesville, FL; WGVO, Grand Rapids, MI; KTOO, Juneau, AK; KCPT, Kansas City, MO; KRWG, Las Cruces, NM; KVCR, Los Angeles (San Bernardino, CA); WKNO, Memphis, TN; Milwaukee PTV, Milwaukee, WI; WLIW, New York, NY; WEFS, Orlando, FL; KAET, Phoenix, AZ; KENW, Portales, NM; Oregon Public Television, Portland, OR; KWSU, Pullman, WA; UNC-TV, Raleigh Durham, NC; KVIE, Sacramento, CA; KUEN, Salt Lake City, UT; WUSF, Tampa, FL; NJTV, Trenton, NJ; KPTS, Wichita, KS; WVIA, Wilkes Barre, PA; and KTNW, Yakima, WA. Additional markets are in the process of scheduling the series.

For a full list of Healthy Minds stations and airdates and to view the series trailer and photos visit: https://bbrfoundation.org/healthyminds.

The program airs in conjunction with National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month in October, 2016; Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 2-8); National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 6); World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10);. Veterans Day (Nov. 11); International Survivors of Suicide Day (Nov. 19); and Mental Wellness Month in January 2017.

Episodes topics are as follows:

• (401) Suicide Prevention: featuring Donna Morgan, mother of Simone Battle of pop group G.R.L. speaking publicly for the first time on her daughter's suicide.
• (402) Living with Bipolar Disorder: Super Bowl XLI champion linebacker Keith O'Neil shares his personal story, and world renowned bipolar expert Robert M.A. Hirschfield, M.D. discusses treatment.
• (403) Brian Wilson, Love & Mercy: Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson speaks about his lifelong struggle with mental illness.
• (404) Patrick Kennedy: A Common Struggle Part One: The mental health advocate and former U.S. Representative discusses living with bipolar disorder, addiction, and recovery.
• (405) Patrick Kennedy: A Common Struggle Part Two: The mental health advocate and former U.S. Representative discusses his memoir A Common Struggle and the stigma of family secrets.
• (406) Supporting the Mental Health of Our Veterans: NY State Senator Thomas D. Croci, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, joins Matthew J. Friedman, M.D., a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD, and PTSD expert Marianne Goodman, M.D. on how to better assist returning service members with PTSD, depression and suicide prevention.
• (407) Schizophrenia and Youth (Part One): A young man with schizophrenia shares his experiences, and schizophrenia expert Patrick McGorry, M.D., Ph.D., discusses his groundbreaking work on safe, effective treatments for young people with psychotic and severe mood disorders.
• (408) Schizophrenia and Youth (Part Two): NY State Mental Health Commissioner Ann M. Sullivan, M.D. discusses efforts to improve state health systems with mental health advocate Ian Boeckh, president of the Graham Boeckh Foundation.
• (409) Schizophrenia--Potential Breakthroughs in Treatment and Prevention: Leading brain researcher Robert Freedman, M.D. discusses new treatments and methods of prevention, including medical trials for nutritional supplements in utero.
• (410) Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System: The Honorable Steven Leifman, Criminal Division, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, discusses programs helping people who become involved in the criminal justice system because of a psychiatric condition.
• (411) Violence and Mental Illness: Exploring the relationship between mental illness and violence, and how science and public perception differ, with noted experts Lloyd Sederer, M.D. and Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D.
• (412) Depression and Motherhood: Dr. Myrna Weissman's groundbreaking research on the impact of a mother's depression on her child's mental health and how to prevent depression in the next generation.
• (413) Psychiatry: Past, Present and Future: Herbert Pardes, M.D., former director of the National Institute for Mental Health and former president of the American Psychiatric Association, shares his unique perspective.
• (414) Memory: Nobel Prize winner Eric R. Kandel, M.D., shares his most recent findings about age-associated memory loss and discoveries that may lead to new treatments for post-traumatic stress.

About the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation:
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is committed to alleviating the suffering of mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. The Foundation funds the most innovative ideas in neuroscience and psychiatry to better understand the causes and develop new ways to treat brain and behavior disorders. These disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $360 million to fund more than 5,000 grants to more than 4,000 leading scientists around the world. This has led to over $3.5 billion in additional funding for these scientists. The Foundation is also dedicated to educating the public about mental health and the importance of research including the impact that new discoveries have on improving the lives of those with mental illness, which will ultimately enable people to live full, happy and productive lives. For more information, visit www.bbrfoundation.org.

About Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network:
The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN) is home to CPTV, WNPR and the Learning Lab. CPTV is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including original documentaries, public affairs and educational programming. WNPR is an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. The Learning Lab serves high school seniors through a partnership with Hartford Public Schools and the Journalism and Media Academy Magnet School. It is also home to the Institute for Advanced Media, a program that provides the men and women of our armed forces and adult learners an opportunity to learn skills necessary for the 21st century digital media workplace. For more information, visit cpbn.org.

About The National Educational Telecommunications Association:
The National Educational Telecommunications Association is a professional association that serves public television licensees and educational entities in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.  Since 1967, the Association's reason for existing has been to connect public television people and ideas, by providing quality programming, educational resources, professional development, management support, and national representation.

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SOURCE Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Related Links

http://www.bbrfoundation.org