Depression is a significant global problem, affecting the lives of approximately 280 million people and contributing to more than 47 million disability-adjusted life years in 2019 (WHO, 2023). 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depression (WHO, 2023). Its consequences extend beyond mental health, with increased risk of suicide and premature death from other diseases. Effective…

Knowing how to stand up for yourself at a doctor's appointment can be difficult. I've had this for years and still struggle sometimes. However, creating a patient-physician alliance where you work together is part of a comprehensive health plan. To participate in this work, you must be able to advocate for your own needs and…

Can Finland have statutory mental health incarceration rates nearly 20 times higher than Italy? (Zinkler and Priebke 2002) Is it just the law or the context in which the law takes place? And how can we even begin to compare frames? These are all questions that have been lurking for some time; they concerned the…

There are many myths about what it's like to live with bipolar disorder. People constantly make assumptions about it based on media portrayals, but life is not a movie or a news report. Living with bipolar disorder is complex and varied, and what happens to some is not necessarily common to everyone. So let's dispel…

I told you there was a new book coming out about bipolar disorder. I've been working on it for months, and while it's not here yet, here is the title and cover. I hope you enjoy this Natasha Tracy bipolar book title and cover image. 'Bipolar Rules! Tips for successfully living with bipolar disorder Bipolar…

Don't ask me how I am. Just don't do it. Asking me how I'm doing will only do one of two things: a dishonest answer or sincere tears. I don't particularly care for either outcome. It's because I'm unhappy. I am very depressed and have had a few unfortunate situations recently. I try my best…

As an Elf Economist, research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often escapes my attention. As the authors of a recent article Comprehensive Psychiatry Note that there is relatively little economic evidence on OCD. Indeed, a quick search of PubMed reveals that 5 papers in total Published in 2023, tagged with MeSH terms for OCD and Economyalthough…

I am very excited to announce the release of my second book. For those of you who don't know, I released a book in 2016, The Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression and Bipolar. This a combination of memoir and self-help. It has been very well received by people with bipolar disorder and…

When I started working in acute mental health units in the mid-1990s, the ward doors on my unit were never locked, nurses were sometimes placed over the door if there was a particularly high risk of a patient wanting to leave the ward. self-injury, the rest of the time staff were anxiously alert (Bowers et…