Friday, October 25, 2002

Improving Work Organization to Reduce Injury and Illness: Social Services, Stress, Violence, and Workload (Canada)
This report from the McMaster University Labour Studies Programme (in Adobe Acrobat format) outlines symptoms of "a looming crisis among workers who care for the developmentally disabled in Ontario" - and clearly identifies the source of the problem: "chronic government underfunding, which has led to fewer workers caring for more and more clients." The report was called to our attention by Networks, the weekly newsletter of the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario Division.  
  

Depression
A four article symposium in the September issue of Postgraduate Medicine coordinated by Stephen A. Young, MD. The link above goes to his introduction to the symposium. Also included are A Fresh Look At Management of Depression, Depression in Women of Reproductive Age, Depression in Children and Adolescents and Principles of Suicide Risk Management.  
  

Management and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in the Older Patient
Clinical Geriatrics review in which the clinical presentation of anxiety in older adults is out-lined, and various approaches for the management of anxiety within the primary care setting are discussed. [Adobe Acrobat format]  
  

Attorney General weighing fraud charges in mental health flap (Iowa)
Story in the Gazette (Cedar Rapids) - "The Iowa Attorney General's Office will take over an investigation of whether criminal charges should be filed because of falsified time cards in the county Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Department."  
  

Conference on inmate care criticized for drug emphasis (Oklahoma)
Story in The Oklahoman - "A state Corrections Department psychiatrist was critical of a Tuesday night forum on the care of state inmates who are mentally ill. Dr. Stan Ardoin said the event was little more than a commercial to use a drug produced by the company that paid for the gathering."  
  

Report highlights cost of mental illness (Florida)
Daytona Beach News-Journal story on a report released earlier this week by the Volusia Health Alliance on services in Volusia and Flagler counties that finds "too much money is spent treating the most severe mentally ill and too little on prevention and intervention."