Friday, October 18, 2002
Substance Abuse Policy Research Program Seeks Proposals Robert Wood Johnson Foundation request for "proposals for research projects that will produce policy-relevant information about ways to reduce the harm caused by the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs in the United States. The Call for Proposals (CFP) is intended to encourage experts in public health, law, political science, medicine, sociology, criminal justice, economics, psychology and other behavioral and policy sciences to address issues related to substance abuse, the nation's number one public health problem."
Antidepressant use skyrockets in Canada Globe and Mail on the work of three University of Toronto researchers who analyzed prescription habits in Canada between 1981 and 2000, who found that "taking drugs to treat depression has become a national pastime in Canada, and the trend is likely to continue."
Augmentation With Atypical Antipsychotics Article in the October
Psychiatric Times - "Clinical observations have shown that patients who do not respond to antidepressants may show dramatic improvement if atypical antipsychotics are added to their regimen. How can successful patient outcomes be maximized?"
The Patient as Parent: Family Matters Article in the October
Psychiatric Times - "Today, a person diagnosed with mental illness is as likely as anyone to be a parent or plan on becoming one. Public perceptions and the mental health care system have not always kept up with this reality, however, and research shows that the impact of mental illness on the patient and family is rarely acknowledged in the clinical setting. Ignoring that aspect of a patient's life can undermine treatment."
Concern grows as funding cut for mentally ill (Tennessee) GoMemphis story - "Tennessee is slashing services to mentally ill adults to balance its under-funded mental health budget, and state lawmakers fear the situation will only worsen as thousands of seriously mentally ill people are likely to be removed from the TennCare program."
$3 Million for Jail Diversion Awarded to Ten Communities SAMHSA press release - "Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced new grants to help 10 communities build capacity to divert persons with mental illness from the criminal justice system to community-based mental health and supportive services such as health care, housing and job placement. Also announced today was a new grant for a national Technical Assistance and Policy Analysis (TAPA) Center. This Center will provide information and assistance to the 10 grantees and other communities implementing jail diversion. It will also establish a national database on diversion program evaluations."
Mental health workers near breaking point (Canada) Toronto Star story on a new study by the Workers Safety Insurance Board which found that "government underfunding is behind rampant stress, illness and injury among workers who look after the developmentally disabled in Ontario."
Task force makes recommendations on mental health (Arkansas) Arkansas Democrat-Gazette story - "After months of meetings, an area task force developing treatment options for the mentally ill was prepared to pitch a variety of recommendations, including adding a 12-bed inpatient facility, to area legislators Wednesday. Just one showed up to hear them. State Representative Jan Judy, D-Fayetteville, was the sole state legislator to hear the final presentation of the Northwest Arkansas Mental Health/HIV Crisis Stabilization Task Force. The lack of legislators at the presentation may mirror the apathy for mental health-system problems that, Judy said, exists at the state level."
