Thompson's candidacy got a huge boost today when a board of Dauphin County residents was sworn in and tallied the Republican write-in votes. Mayor Reed failed to overtake GOP nominee Nevin Mindlin, leaving Mindlin and Thompson to square off in the General Election this fall.

We'll also delve into President Barack Obama's call for a new tone of civility in the abortion debate with Pastor John Trigilio of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a Catholic parish in Marysville, and Carol Petraitis, Director of the Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. They'll also weigh in on the maelstrom swirling in Scranton between Catholic Bishop Joseph Martino and Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. over Casey's voting record on abortion issues.

And, with the weather finally turning so beautiful this spring, have you thought of taking a "Mental Health Day?" We joke about it but it's absolutely critical to find ways to cope with mounting stress so you can stay physically and emotionally well.
Just as the economy began to seriously nosedive last fall, a national report indicated that a majority of Americans ... an increase of 22 million people from earlier in the year ... reported they were struggling in their lives. A recent spate of recession-related violence, including incidences of familicide, give testament to the shaky economy's devastating toll.

It's not surprising. The demands of family, a full-time job or uncertainty about employment, dwindling finances, plus ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan put tremendous pressures on all of us. National studies show that suicide rates rise when the economy dives. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta report that every 16 minutes someone commits suicide in the United States. One in 4 Americans will experience a mental illness and 30% of those will have a diagnosable drug or alcohol addiction.

We thought it would be a good time on Smart Talk to examine our national and state approach to mental health treatment. Among our guests, Dale Brickley, Ph.D., an educational psychologist at Philhaven in Mt. Gretna, and Joan Erney, deputy secretary of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Servicesat the state Department of Public Welfare will offer her insights into mental health care. DPW's OMHSAS website lists a mission statement that makes a bold promise, "Every person with serious mental illness and/or addictive disease, and every child and adolescent who abuses substances and/or has a serious emotional disturbance will have the opportunity for growth, recovery and inclusion in their community, have access to services and supports of their choice and enjoy a quality of life that includes family and friends."

However, critics say recent budget cuts announced by Gov. Ed Rendell and Senate Republicans put that promise in serious jeopardy. Supporters of the OMHSAS's programs warn that thousands of Pennsylvanians currently getting services and thousands more who might seek mental health treatment in the next year will be turned away unless funding is restored. We'll talk about the budget battle surrounding mental health care. In the meantime, the non-profit group Mental Health America has put together a Top 10 list of tools to soften the effects of stress and help all of us stay calm.

And we'll track plans for Pennsylvania to secure some of the $8 billion in federal stimulus money earmarked for high-speed rail. President Obama last month talked about creating a Keystone Corridor that would traverse Pennsylvania and allow trains traveling more than 100 mph to connect folks from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh faster than a speeding bullet. One of the key champions of high-speed rail, Rep. Rick Geist,will stop by the set for an update. Geist, an Altoona Republican, is minority chair of the House Transportation Committee. When he's not pushing trains, he's pedaling a bike. Please join us and let us know what you think at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .