Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: Nearly a Lifetime Without Treatment
from The Chicago Tribune
By age 7, Anthony Barone was already descending into a confusing world of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that would dominate his life. As a boy, he recalled, he felt driven to do things over and over. He would obsessively run his hands across his school desk. He would constantly move his pencils and pens in and out of his desk. He would complete his schoolwork and then erase it, repeating the ritual endlessly. He could not stop tapping, touching and counting things. More

Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans - Wheaton, Ill.
from NASW IL
This morning I was in Wheaton, Ill., to visit the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Larson Home for Veterans. I was invited by Bob Adams, LCSW, a social work clinician. Bob served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam, and he returned home to witness the obstacles, addictions and prejudices veterans faced. More

St. Charles Cancer Survivor Opens Her 'Healing Garden' to Others
from The Chicago Tribune
When Deborah Marqui of St. Charles planted the first flowers in her garden more than 30 years ago, she envisioned it as a place her family would enjoy in the years to come. But instead it flowered into a 2-acre "healing garden" that helped her through two bouts of cancer and now offers a peaceful escape to anyone looking for a quiet place. "I needed to heal my body, mind and spirit," said Marqui, a licensed clinical social worker. "Cancer has a way of waking you up." More

Mariah Carey Talks Dressing Down for 'Precious' Role
from MTV
Mariah Carey is undeniably a very glamorous person, never one to shy away from elaborate clothes, hair and makeup (well, except for dressing up as a male stalker in her "Obsessed" video!). But for her role in the film "Precious" — formerly titled "Push" — which won her critical praise at the Sundance festival earlier this year, the singer eagerly transformed from glamorous pop star into dowdy social worker Mrs. Weiss. More

In My View: Government’s Role as Protector of Disabled at Issue
from The State Journal-Register
Every year, I tell myself, "It can't get worse." Well, I've clearly been proven wrong by this year's budget, and politics. We are in the throes of a massive dismantling of Illinois' human services system — some might say "right-sizing government," while others refer to the current budget as doomsday. From my perspective, it is clearly the latter — draconian cuts threatening the very existence of many services and organizations. More

After Combat, Victims of an Inner War
from The New York Times
For almost a year, the soldiers of the 1451st Transportation Company had been escorting trucks full of gasoline, building materials and other supplies along Iraq’s dark, dangerous highways. There had been injuries, but no one had died. Their luck evaporated less than two weeks before they were to return home, in the spring of 2007 … The losses followed them when they returned home. More
Related story: Troops' Families Feel Weight of War ( USA Today )

Study: Doctors Don't Always Spot Depression
from TIME magazine
Although the stigma once associated with mental illness has receded in recent years, most of the 12 million Americans who have clinical depression still don't get treated for it, partly because many are too embarrassed to go to a psychologist. In fact, according to mental-health professionals, the majority of depressed people who seek professional help turn first not to a psychologist but to their primary-care physician. More

New Campaign Aims to Promote Black Child Adoption
from USA Today
Rosemary Armstrong fondly recalls the first time she met her daughter Micayla, then 2, at her foster home. The African-American toddler screamed when the caseworker tried to pick her up, but she happily sat on Armstrong's lap and smiled. More

Upcoming Events NASW IL Statewide Conference Mark Your Calendar...It's now 34 days away! (9/9/09-9/11/09)