June 7–10Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill

The Industry

mental health

The Attendees

more than 450 folks who don’t believe “it’s all in your head”

The Issues

•Celebrity Postpartum Depression: Brooke Shields received both the William Styron Award and a forWARD™ for educating the public through her book, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression. Boos greeted a mention of antidepressant critic Tom Cruise. Neither attended the awards event.

•Cognitive Impairment Repair: Studies indicate that nicotine helps normalize schizophrenia patients’ prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex response (i.e., restores the inability to screen out irrelevant internal and external stimulation). “Since those with schizophrenia smoke at a higher rate than the general population, they might be self-medicating,” suggested a National Institute of Mental Health researcher. “But that’s not a healthful regimen.”

•Trends in Mental Health Marketing: The “Don’t Duck” campaign features I.C. Hope, “the Ambassador of Mental Health and Wellness.” Sporting a life preserver and a bandage on his forehead, the cartoon duck recommends a free online screening to see if you’re depressed. And in a new PSA for New Jersey’s “Speak Up When You’re Down” campaign, one new mother asks another, “Don’t you just love being a mom?” The companion replies, “No,” and confesses a litany of problems.—Rob Tierney