I am very proud and honored to introduce a moving video, produced and donated by Steve and Wendy Sefcik of Sefcik Productions, New Jersey. The Sefciks experienced one of the worst kind of tragedies any parent can imagine. They lost their 16-year-old son, T.J., to depression. The Sefciks discovered The Balanced Mind Foundation after their son’s death, and offered their story to help other parents find the help they need to prevent such tragedies.

Whew, it's been a busy year so far! Just now catching up with our blog posts? Check out our five most popular entries of the year to date. Please share your thoughts in the comments, and let us know which *you* like best! We'd love to hear from you. 

1. New Partnership to Help Teens With Depression
by Susan Resko, Executive Director

In "Perfect Chaos", mother and young adult daughter Cinda and Linea Johnson have teamed up to write a memoir about Linea's journey to survive bipolar disorder, and Cinda's struggle to save Linea from herself. 

by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) launched its pioneering website, www.bpkids.org, in 1999 when childhood bipolar illness awareness was in its infancy. Since then, scientific research from the past decade has fundamentally changed the understanding of bipolar disorder in children.

The August 13, 2011 Nickelodeon ("Nick") episode of the popular adolescent show, iCarly, is entitled "I Lost My Mind". The character Sam kisses a boy she hates, so she assumes she has "lost her mind" and checks herself into a "mental hospital." While there, she "finger-paints." Her friends try to "break her out." The promo suggests their plan is "crazy" and "insane."  

Jean D. Meister,
Outgoing The Balanced Mind Foundation
Board President 

by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

Late spring is a time of celebration for most parents with a graduating child. For The Balanced Mind Foundation parents, however, this can be a time of angst, sadness and even dread.  Transitions are a time when people reflect upon the milestones of the completed journey and look forward towards new pathways.

by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

 As a parent, I know how desperate we are to help our struggling children. As an advocate for families living with mood disorders, I also know that this desperation can make us vulnerable to costly and unproven treatments and technologies.

Many parents have spent thousands of dollars on brain scans to diagnose or identify treatment options for their child’s bipolar disorder. Time and time again, The Balanced Mind Foundation parents report about a clinic that is doing ”cutting edge” research.

I want to set the record straight: