Friday, November 08, 2002

Communicating in a Crisis: Risk Communications Guidelines for Public Officials
A brief SAMHSA publication (Adobe Acrobat format) that "describes basic skills and techniques for clear, effective crisis communications and information dissemination, and provides some of the tools of the trade for media relations. It can help you prepare for meeting the important responsibility of communicating with the public both directly and successfully during a crisis." See also the page at the SAMHSA site about the brochure and the related SAMHSA press release.  
  

Addict High: School Enrolls Only Teen Addicts
ABC News story on Minneapolis' Sobriety High, one of only 18 so-called "sober schools" or "dry highs" set up across the country specifically for teens who are addicted to drugs or alcohol.  
  

Officials consider creating senior agency (Oklahoma)
NewsOK story on discussions of a proposal to consolidate services for senior citizens into an Oklahoma Department of Aging with its own Cabinet-level administrator. Included in the consolidation would be services administered presently by the state Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department.  
  

Schizophrenia Drugs Linked to Heart Attack Risk
Reuters story on research by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania who found that "schizophrenics who had been prescribed drugs were more likely to have experienced heart problems than patients with other illnesses."  
  

Mental health levy on hold (Ohio)
Story in the Marietta Times on the ballot defeat of a levy in Washington County and the impact it will have on decisions about services.  
  

Mental Health Services Feel State Cuts (Virginia)
Story at The County Line - "...several programs that offer such services as social rehabilitation for mentally ill adults, in-home care for emotionally troubled children or transportation to work sites or other appointments will either have to be scaled back or have to start charging user fees."