Celebrity Mental Health Musings Take Center Stage as Psych Central Add...( Alicia Sparks to Set Mental Health Bl...),Health

Alicia Sparks to Set Mental Health Blogging on Fire with 'Celebrity Psychings'

NEWBURYPORT, Mass., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Sex, drugs, and rock & roll was only the beginning. Today Psych Central(R) (www.PsychCentral.com) announced the addition of "Celebrity Psychings," a new blog discussing mental health issues and psychology topics with celebrities. Musicians, actors and other members of the media take center stage as professional blogger Alicia Sparks tackles issues head on while she adds her own flair and injects a dash of humility into what are often sensationalized topics.

"Alicia has been a creative, insightful voice in mental health blogging for some time now," said Dr. John Grohol, Psy.D., founder and publisher of Psych Central. "I'm honored to have her join our team to focus on the intersection of mental health and celebrity because it offers a unique opportunity to help reduce the stigma of mental disorders."

As the former writer for Mental Health Notes, Sparks doesn't choose topics on the basis of what's going to garner the most attention. Instead, she attacks issues as they unfold from a grounding of dignity and appreciation. She builds upon current events in the media as an entree to the serious mental health concerns celebrities often face. This invites a new kind of exposure while dispelling stigma about the issue.

"Every now and then, a celebrity will come forward about his or her mental health problem and, honestly, I feel gratitude," wrote Sparks in an introductory post. "I feel proud of that particular person for choosing to face the issue head on rather than try to sweep it under the rug like a dirty secret. Like them or not, celebrities are in the spotlight. Why not learn a thing or two from them?"

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