Category Archives: Mental Health News

Dr. Ron Groat speaks about depression and medication on WCCO

by:  Ed Eide, Executive Director MHAM

Dr. Ron Groat, psychiatrist and MHAM Board Member, answered questions about medication on Don Shelby’s afternoon radio show on WCCO yesterday afternoon.  Dr. Groat, who has practiced in the field of psychiatry for 30 years, shared his insight on how the use of medication, primarily by people with depression, is now being used for other sysptoms.  Doctors are prescribing some medications for people without a diagnosis in order to provide relief of other physical ailments.

Here is a link to the discussion between Dr. Groat and Shelby.  You can hear how diagnoses have changed over the years.  In fact how terminology has shifted along with a de-stigmatization of depression.

Elsewhere on our website is information about an upcoming event where Dr. Groat will talk about stress and how to maintain a healthy balance in your life for good health.

Workplace Webinars Provide Guidance For Addressing Mental Health In The Workplace

The MHAM Workplace Education department hosted a series of webinars in spring 2009 as part of our ongoing effort to provide mental health guidance for employers and employees in the workplace. These are no-cost educational workshops available to everyone online through our website.

We give a big thanks to the professionals and supporting individuals that participated in the process and the Minnesota Department of Human Services who made these presentations possible.

The Spring 2009 Workplace Webinar Series:

Topic: Psychiatric Disabilities and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA)

This session discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), which is expected to significantly expand the ADA’s protections for employees and job applicants in cases which arise after the ADAAA’s effective date of January 1, 2009.

Topic: Ask the Doctor: Mental Health and Your Employees

This session provides you with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of mental health and how it can affect your employees.

Topic: A Practical Approach to Accommodating Persons with Mental Health Impairments

This session provides practical solutions for providing accommodation for workers with psychiatric impairments.