Friday, September 06, 2002

Psychology in education
Special section in the September APA Monitor, featuring articles on "scientifically based research," research collaboration, school reform, the APA Education Advocacy Project and other subjects.  
  

Sept. 11: A Year Later
Special section in the September issue of the APA Monitor on "what psychologists have learned," bioterrorism, trauma and other research on America's response.  
  

New type of health plan stalls
Atlanta Journal-Constitution story - "Despite the talk about consumer-driven health plans as the next step to alleviate runaway health care spending, employers have not embraced the trend as quickly as some industry analysts had hoped. ...according to some estimates, fewer than 100,000 U.S. workers are covered by such plans this year."  
  

Health-Care Costs Rising
ABC News story - "Employees are shelling out more for their health insurance even though their benefits are shrinking as employers struggle with family premiums that jumped 12.7 percent over the last year. It was the second straight period of double-digit growth and the highest hike in 12 years, a new survey said."  
  

U.S. Government Says Drug, Alcohol Abuse Up in 2001 New York Times story - "More Americans abused illegal drugs and alcohol in 2001 than in the previous year, the U.S. government said on Thursday, citing a rising acceptance of marijuana as a major cause." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Injunction averts strike by Saskatchewan health-care workers (Canada)
CNEWS story - "A strike by 2,500 health-care workers in Saskatchewan was averted Thursday after the provincial labour board granted their employers an interim injunction preventing the job action."  
  

Davis signs state's latest budget ever in low-key ceremony (California)
AP story at the Daily News on Gov. Gray Davis signing a state budget that makes $9 billion in cuts. The story notes that, "The loss will affect the county's Medi-Cal health program for low-income patients, food stamps, mental health care for children and adults, and a children's adoption program."  
  

Early Mental Health Intervention Reduces Mass Violence Trauma
NIH news release - "Early psychological intervention guided by qualified mental health caregivers can reduce the harmful psychological and emotional effects of exposure to mass violence in survivors, according to a national conference report released today. Experts emphasized that although more research is needed, existing data, including studies of other kinds of traumatic events, as well as clinical experience, provide useful guidance to the mental health community in responding to mass violence."A full report will be available in the future at the NIH web site.Please see also Single Session Trauma Therapy Shown Ineffectual at the Doctor's Guide site on the work of Dutch researchers which indicates that "critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) interventions and non-CIDS intervention following traumatic events is ineffective and does not improve natural recovery."  
  

Vilsack says MHI treatment center will remain open (Iowa)
Mt. Pleasant News story on the Mt. Pleasant Mental Health Institute, a substance abuse treatment center that Governor Tom Vilsack is trying to keep open in the wake of legislative budget cuts.  
  

Dallas jail psychiatrist resigns amid controversy (Texas)
Reporter-News Online story - "The psychiatrist in charge of the Dallas County jail' mental health care system has resigned following reports critical of inmate treatment" by local media, which alleged that "mentally ill inmates often had only cursory psychiatric exams and often went without needed medication" - allegations which the psychiatrist adamantly denies.  
  

Family of group home resident says state was evasive, insulting at meeting (Rhode Island)
Story in The Standard Times on a family whose son is a resident at the group home Blueberry Lane, which the state has targeted for closure.