IN THIS ISSUE:
A note from Jack Hirose | Skills vs. Pills - A free public presentation
4th Annual WCCAMH 2007 | Directory Service from Jack Hirose & Assoc.
Winners annouced - free tuition draw

A Note from Jack Hirose

Welcome back from summer vacation! I hope you had some time to relax and unwind from your hectic schedules.

As we get back to our regular scheduled work routines, I find myself reminiscing about my own experiences this summer travelling with my wife and children. I hope all of you had some time to undergo rejuvenating and uplifting activities as well.

During the summer I was able to take short trips to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Orcas Island and take on small renovation assignments such as landscaping.

I'm really excited about the upcoming fall schedule my staff and I have put together for you. I hope you are able to partake in some of the many events we have planned.

Feel free to provide me with any feedback or ideas you may have as we are always striving to meet your continuing education needs.

I hope to see you this year at one, or several, of my events!

Best wishes,
  Jack

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Skills vs. Pills - A free public presentation

Was Tom Cruise right?

Skills, Not Pills, for Depression & Anxiety
Recent Controversies about the Causes, Treatments, and Politics of Depression and Anxiety

A free public presentation by
internationally-acclaimed Dr. David Burns, MD

This event is free and open to the public. No registration required. There is limited seating, so arrive early if you want to attend.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Best Western Richmond Inn & Hotel
7551 Westminster Highway, Richmond, British Columbia

Sponsored by Jack Hirose & Associates in partnership with Dr. Ray Baker, M.D. & HealthQuest, with community sponsors Coast Foundation Society, The Canadian Mental Health Association - Richmond Branch, and Richmond Addiction Services

Recently, a number of highly respected researchers have raised extremely troubling and controversial challenges concerning the causes, treatments, and politics of depression and anxiety. These experts have stated that:

• There is no persuasive or convincing evidence that depression or anxiety result from a chemical imbalance in the brain.
• A fair and honest assessment of all the published and unpublished research on antidepressant medications clearly indicates that these drugs are barely better than placebos, if at all.
• Antidepressant medications appear to trigger large increases in suicide rates.
• Much psychiatric drug research conducted by drug companies is badly flawed and misleading.
• Powerful financial and political interests, rather than scientific considerations, dominate the field.
• Many of the so-called "mental disorders" that psychiatrists diagnose are largely mythical.
• Psychotherapy represents the most effective treatment for depression and the anxiety disorders—both in the short-term and in the long-term.

Other experts insist that these claims are outrageous. They insist that depression and anxiety do result from a chemical imbalance in the brain, that mental illnesses are real and beyond challenge, and that medications represent the only truly effective treatments for these problems.

Who's right? What does the latest research show? Is the truth important? Where does science end and promotion / marketing begin? Come and hear a top expert discuss issues of vital importance to mental health professionals and to the general public alike!

Following this presentation, there will be Q and A from the audience and dialogue.

Join us for a dynamic evening of frank dialogue!

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4th Annual WCCAMH 2007

Jack Hirose & Associates with Dr. Ray Baker MD and HealthQuest are pleased to present the 4th annual Western Canadian Conference on Addictions and Mental Health.

The Conference takes place from Wednesday, November 14th to Friday, November 16th, 2007, in Richmond, British Columbia.

The following experts will be presenting at the Western Canadian Conference:
Dr. Ray Baker, M.D.; Neal Berger, M.S.W.; Dr. David Burns, M.D.; Dr. Tian Dayton, Ph.D.; Dr. Paul Farnan, M.D.; Dr. Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D.; Dion Menser, M.S., LMFT; Jane Middelton-Moz, M.S. ; Dr. J. Scott Tonigan, Ph.D.; Dr. George Vaillant, M.D.; and Dr. Mel Vincent, M.D.

In addition to these speakers, we are pleased to announce that the Western Canadian Conference will also have 1 full-length afternoon session on each day dedicated solely to treating youth. Rob Axsen, B.A.; Dr. Joe Solanto, Ph.D.; and Wedlidi Speck will be leading these workshops, and topics covered include treating aboriginal youth, the links between trauma and substance use, and client-directed tools for working with youth.

Gold sponsors for the Conference include the Sunshine Coast Health Centre, Cedars at Cobble Hill, Bellwood Health Services, and Edgewood Treatment Centre.

For more information, or to register for the Western Canadian Conference, please visit the website at www.jackhirose.com/wccamh2007/ or contact HealthQuest at 604.718.6929 or toll-free at 1.800.877.4777.

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Directory Service from Jack Hirose & Associates

Coming soon from Jack Hirose & Associates:
Directory of Mental Health Professionals and Treatment Programs

We will be offering a directory service listing your professional practice or treatment program online. For further information regarding advertising possiblities, please contact Jack Hirose & Associates at jackhirose@shaw.ca.

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Some time ago, Jack Hirose & Associates announced a random draw amongst E-News subscribers for free tuition at our workshops. Congratulations to Barbara Morrison of Prairie Therapists and Trainers, George-Ann Collins of Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Mitzi Dean of Pacific Centre Family Services Association, and Mary Lou Schroeder of the Eden Mental Health Centre. Barbara and George-Ann have won free tuition at any 2-day workshop offered by Jack Hirose & Associates occuring in the Fall of 2007 or Spring of 2008, and Mitzi and Mary Lou have won free tuition at any 1-day workshop for the Fall of 2007 or Spring of 2008.

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