Tuesday, November 12, 2002
MHAC Welcomes President's New Freedom Commission to California PR Newswire press release on a response today to the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health's interim report and review of California systems of care. In the release, Rusty Selix, Executive Director of the MHAC, is quoted as saying ""The Commission's visit to California comes at a pivotal time. California's mental health community remains concerned about the pressing need for enhanced services, while looming budgetary cuts threaten an already fragmented system."
Minister questioned over mental health plans (UK) BBC story - "UK Health Minister Jacqui Smith is to face questions at a charity conference in Cardiff over plans to extend powers to detain mental ill people. The proposals in the draft Mental Health Bill - published in June - have raised serious concerns among mental health care professionals."
Features: Wheedle, Leverage, Organize Feature story in the
Village Voice by David Brauer on the late Paul Wellstone, author and sponsor of federal mental health parity legislation. Subtitled "Paul Wellstone's Lesson for the Overwhelmed Dems," the focus of the article is the politcal savvy and experience of someone who was "so often the sole progressive voice."
SafeHaven offers new way to treat mental illness (Florida) Sidney Daily News Online story - "SafeHaven, with facilities in Piqua and Greenville, is a place where mental-health-care consumers can go to be part of a community. Part social club, part support center, it is a place where members can go for meals, interaction and learning about their illnesses." SafeHaven is funded by the the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services, the program serves residents of Shelby, Miami and Darke counties.
Men and Women Respond Similarly to Most Antidepressants Reuters Health story at
Medscape - "Men and women with depression demonstrate similar response rates when treated with tricyclic antidepressants or fluoxetine, according to a recent report. Although the response to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) among women was better than that seen among men, the difference does not appear to be clinically relevant." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
A World of Endless Ritual, Paralyzing Anxiety Washington Post story on obsessive compulsive disorder, focusing on a Virginia woman which notes that advocates indicate "community mental health programs are being cut back sharply, have long waiting lists and lack specialized help for OCD patients..."
Book highlights struggles with mental illness Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story on Pitsburgh-area families featured in a new book
Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family to be published this month in connection with a traveling photo exhibit. The book features profiles of 44 U.S. families and can be ordered
at Amazon.com.
Virginia Counties Warned of Downturn in State Support Washington Post story - "Virginia Gov. Mark. R. Warner (D) today warned local elected officials to expect a sharp decline in support from state government, even as county supervisors from across the commonwealth vowed to launch a public relations war to blame the state's General Assembly for fewer county services and higher local taxes....Citing what he called the largest single revenue drop in the 40 years tracked by the state tax department, Warner said the local governments will have to rethink the way they provide mental health services, libraries, services for the elderly and other programs that have traditionally been supported by both state and local money."
