Are you in recovery from an addiction or mental health disorder – or do you know someone who is?  The theme for National Recovery Month 2012, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is “Join the Voices for Recovery: It’s Worth It!”

There are several different ways to participate in this annual event, which promotes the societal benefits of prevention and treatment for mental and substance use disorders:

• You can find or sponsor a community event
• Add an awareness widget to your website
• Enter pictures in the Flickr challenge
• Order a customizable PSA for local TV

Now in its 23rd year, National Recovery Month was founded on the belief that we should celebrate the gains made by those in recovery, just as we would with those who are managing other health conditions.  The goal is to spread the positive message you can live a healthy and rewarding life with the aid of treatment and mental health services.

Are you looking to start on the road to recovery?  Reclaim your life by calling SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP), where you can be assisted in both English and Spanish.  If you’re already in recovery, find solidarity and support by connecting with others like you at PatientsLikeMe.  We have thousands of patients sharing their experiences with numerous disorders, including:

• Alcohol addiction
• Bipolar disorder
• Drug addiction
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Major depressive disorder
• Phobic disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Exchange stories and tips – as well as in-depth treatment evaluations – with those who can truly relate today.

Check out some of the media outlets that have highlighted health social networks recently – including PatientsLikeMe and our members.

Social Media a Godsend for Patients with Rare Diseases
PatientsLikeMe is highlighted as a good example in this Chicago Tribune article.

Medical Innovation Needs Silicon Valley Speed, Stat
Fast Company cites us for providing “unprecedented levels of feedback on side effects.”

How Social Networks Enable Patients to Be More Involved in Their Healthcare
PatientsLikeMe is “at the heart of this shift,” according to this Guardian (UK) article.

Telemedicine Tackles Mental Health Treatment
Our InstantMe survey of how you’re feeling is called out in this Information Week piece.

Match.coms of Clinical Trials Make It Easier to Connect Patients, Researchers
We’re spotlighted as one of the “matchmaking” services that could expedite research.

To see more PatientsLikeMe media coverage, visit our Press page.   To read other articles about Health 2.0 and join the discussion, follow this Twitter hashtag.

Every September, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) observes Recovery Month.  The goal is to promote the societal benefits of treatment for substance use and mental disorders, celebrate people in recovery, recognize treatment providers and spread the message that recovery is possible.  As the SAMHSA slogan says, “Prevention works, treatment is effective and people recover.”

Recovery Month also inspires millions of people to raise awareness about addiction, share their stories of recovery and assist others who are still struggling. As one person writes, “Since I have attained recovery, I have accomplished all of my dreams – something I never would have imagined 26 years ago, when my dependence to alcohol and narcotics had created a hopeless life.”

Do you have a recovery story of your own?  Add your voice to this month-long celebration.  Or if you’re still struggling – or know someone who is – you may want to consider downloading SAMHSA’s free mobile app for iPhones/iPads/iPods. It’s a Treatment Locator that helps connect people with the services they need, whether it’s for mental health services or substance abuse.

Here at PatientsLikeMe, thousands of patients are sharing experiences, support and data regarding their mental health conditions and addictions.  For example:

• 7,619 patients report generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• 3,894 patients report tobacco addiction
• 3,027 patients report obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• 2,046 patients report alcohol addiction
• 1,917 patients report drug addiction
• 1,416 patients report bipolar II disorder

If you are affected by a mental health condition or addiction – either as a patient or a caregiver – we encourage you to join our growing community. Learn about the path to recovery for others and connect with those who can relate.

Launched earlier this year, the PatientsLikeMe Epilepsy community now has more than 3,000 patients.  In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, here’s a snapshot of what patients like you are sharing and learning about in this community.

Did you know…

• You can search for patients by more than 10 seizure types, such as simple partial, myoclonic, atonic, and tonic-clonic.
• You can also search by 19 different epilepsy types, including temporal lobe, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, juvenile myoclonic, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and epilepsy with grand mal seizures on awakening.
• Others in the community have indicated a causative comorbidity for their condition, such as:
  • Head injury (242 patients to date)
  • Brain tumor (70 patients to date)
  • Stroke (38 patients to date)
  • Encephalitis (34 patients to date)
• 543 patient members were diagnosed recently (5 years or less) and 823 were diagnosed 20+ years ago.
• Nearly 500 patients have completed the first in a series of surveys that measure their mental, physical and social well-being. (See “Manage your epilepsy like a PRO”)
  • As part of this first survey, members told us the top issues most important to them – indicating the top three as overall quality of life, seizure worry (i.e., impact of seizures) and mental activity (i.e., thinking, concentrating, memory).

How are our members treating their condition?

• Patients are using thousands of treatments, including prescription drugs, supplements, over-the-counter medications, life-style modifications, procedures, and more.
• The top procedure reported by our patients is vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
• The most widely used prescription drugs reported by members are Levetiracetam (Keppra, Keppra XR), Lamotrigine (Lamictal, Lamictal XR) and Topiramate (Topamax, Topamax Sprinkle); the top 3 supplements are Folic Acid, Calcium plus Vitamin D, and Multivitamins.

What are their major symptoms?

• The 5 most common symptoms reported include: Memory problems, problems concentrating, fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) and depressed mood.

What are they talking about?

• Some of the top topics “tagged” in our forum discussions to date include specific treatments (like Keppra, Lamictal, Vimpat and Topamax), as well as seizures, seizure triggers, driving, and doctors.
• Members share a lot about their experiences switching medications and managing side effects.
• Members motivate each other to make the most out of their doctor visits by encouraging you to ask certain questions and be proactive in seeking care.

What else do you know?  Learn and share with PatientsLikeMe today.