Discovery Life Channel Commemorates Mental Health Awareness Month with Psych Week

Each year, Discovery Life Channel opens a meaningful dialogue on mental health with PSYCH WEEK, a programming event running in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. From May 25 - May 29, PSYCH WEEK profiles individuals dealing with a spectrum of afflictions and addictions, from agoraphobia, sexsomnia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, hoarding, OCD, Tourette's syndrome, childhood attention deficit disorder and more.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI), nearly one in five adult Americans -approximately 43.7 million people-suffers from some form of mental illness in any given year. "The numbers are staggering, the concern is rising and it's time to elevate the conversation," said Jane Latman, general manager for Discovery Life Channel. "This year's slate of PSYCH WEEK programming offers incredibly unique access into the personal lives of people suffering from various kinds of mental health conditions. Hopefully this personal perspective will help shift the public's PERCEPTION on mental health issues."

This year, Discovery Life Channel has partnered with Bring Change 2 Mind a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the stigma associated with mental illness. Throughout PSYCH WEEK, public service announcements will air featuring celebrity ambassadors that call for the end of mental health discrimination.

Actress and participant Mädchen Amick's (Twin Peaks, Witches of East End) son is living with bipolar disorder. She explains, "When we got my son's diagnosis it was a hard thing to hear, it was scary and there was a lot of stigma and fear we had to deal with. We need better education and resources to help families identify early warning signs, how to recognize the symptoms and where to go to get help." The challenges she faced raising him have inspired her to become a Bring Change 2 Mind advocate and honorary spokesperson for PSYCH WEEK.

On Monday, May 25 at 10/9c PSYCH WEEK kicks-off with KIDS WITH TOURETTE'S, an unflinching one-hour special that looks at the neurological condition best known for its ability to cause involuntary tics. Cameras follow the lives of three young boys and their families over a six-month period as they share the reality of living with this incurable condition and the pioneering treatment they are undergoing to maintain it.

The powerful two-part special KIDS ON SPEED?, premiering Friday, May 29 at 8/9c and 9/8c shines a light on childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Working together for the first time, a team of experts led by dynamic clinical Psychologist Professor Mark Dadds, put families with children suspected of having ADHD through a cutting edge, evidence-based INTERVENTION program. The stakes are high as the families and experts seek new treatments for one of the most stigmatized, misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorders affecting children today.

The full PSYCH WEEK schedule is as follows:

Monday, May 25:
8/7c: BORN SCHIZOPHRENIC: JANI'S NEXT CHAPTER
9/8c: BORN SCHIZOPHRENIC: JANI & BODHI'S STORY
10/9c: KIDS WITH TOURETTE'S

Tuesday, May 26:
8/7c: HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE: DIAGNOSIS PTSD
9/8c: HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE: MANIC & DEPRESSED
10/9c: HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE: DIAGNOSIS OCD

Wednesday, May 27:
8/7c: ADDICTED: MEGAN
9/8c: ADDICTED: JOSH
10/9c: SLEEP SEX

Thursday, May 28:
8/7c: DIAGNOSIS AUTISM (wt)
9/8c: KIDS WITH TOURETTE'S (encore)
10/9c: I'M PREGNANT AND OCD/ I'M PREGNANT AND POLAR

Friday, May 29:
8/7c: KIDS ON SPEED? - PART 1
9/8c: KIDS ON SPEED?- PART 2
10/9c: HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE: DIAGNOSIS BIPOLAR

ABOUT DISCOVERY LIFE CHANNEL
On January 15, 2015, Discovery Fit & Health became Discovery Life Channel - a network that embraces all of life's unplanned moments. Discovery Life brings viewers a kaleidoscope of human emotions and experiences through the true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. From critical turning points to unexpected moments, Discovery Life tackles life's surprising twists and turns. The network is under the purview of Henry Schleiff, Group President of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel, Destination America, Discovery Family Channel, and Discovery Life Channel, with Jane Latman as General Manager. Discovery Life Channel is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 pay-TV provider reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.

About Bring Change 2 Mind (BC2M)

BC2M is a national non-profit organization dedicated to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness through widely distributed Public Education Materials and programs based on the latest scientific insights and measured for effectiveness. BC2M also acts as a portal to a broad coalition of organizations that provide service, screening, information, support and treatment of mental illness. To join their vibrant and growing community or for more information, please visit bringchange2mind.org or follow @BC2M on Twitter or visit the BringChane2Mind Facebook page.

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