Tuesday, January 28, 2003

Commission's Report Could Catalyze Year of Reforms
Article from the "Special 2003 Preview Issue" of Mental Health Weekly at Medscape - "The event with the most potential for influencing the direction of the mental health field this year - and perhaps for decades to come - will be the work of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. The commission, the first presidential commission on mental health in a quarter-century, is to present its findings and recommendations before it dissolves. Its end date is April 29, unless President Bush extends it." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

A Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with Your Employer or Private Health Plan
A new guide from the Kaiser Family Foundation intended to "help you navigate your employer or private health plan's internal grievance procedure, as well as any external review program your state may have. The guide is not applicable, however, for resolving disputes if you have Medicare or Medicaid coverage." The guide is available both as a web document and an Adobe Acrobat file.  
  

Field Leaders Seek Consensus on Public-Policy Agenda
Feature article at JoinTogether - "The addiction field can and should speak with a single voice on issues of mutual concern, such as the need for prevention and treatment services and the fight against stigma, leaders of 15 major field organizations agreed at a Jan. 13 meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting was called to discuss both message development and collaboration on a broader public-policy agenda, and was convened as the result of informal talks among the leaders of groups like the Legal Action Center (LAC), the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)."  
  

New Survey Reveals Stereotypes and Misconceptions Still Shape Americans’ Understanding of Bipolar Disorder
An NMHA news release - "To address the alarmingly high rates of misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the National Mental Health Association today launched the “Bipolar Disorder: Do You Know It?” national public service campaign. The campaign aims to encourage Americans to recognize the illness and urge those experiencing its symptoms to seek help. The need for Americans to “know it” is bolstered by a new NMHA survey revealing that while more than 60 percent of people can identify bipolar disorder as a mental illness, more than two-thirds of those surveyed said they had limited or no knowledge of it, pointing to gaps in public awareness of the illness." A variety of related resources are avilable from the NMHA, such as a fact sheet on bipolar disorder and brochures on the disorder among African Americans and among children .  
  

Health Groups Publish ''Learning from Each Other: Success Stories and Ideas for Reducing Restraint/Seclusion in Behavioral Health''
US Newswire story on a 42-page publication intended "to capture the good ideas that are in use throughout the country to lessen the need for restraint and seclusion with psychiatric patients." The document is published jointly by the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, with support from the American Hospital Association Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services. Although the press release says the document can be downloaded from any of those organizations' web sites, it was difficult to find at several. The best source is the APA, where the publication and an appendix are available separately, both as Adobe Acrobat files.  
  

Study Cites Health Woes of WTC Workers
AP story at Firehouse.com - "A majority of ground zero workers screened for health problems 10 to 11 months after the terrorist attacks still showed lung, throat or mental ailments, according to preliminary findings released Monday." The story notes that 52 percent reported such mental health problems as post-traumatic stress disorder.  
  

Audit says restructuring health care system would save money (South Carolina)
Brief WISTV story - "An audit of South Carolina's health agencies released Tuesday says restructuring the state's health system could save the state money and make it easier for residents to get health care."  
  

Local mental-health care may take $187,000 hit (Colorado)
Durango Herald story - "Mental-health care is another victim of the state’s budget cuts this year, and Southwest Colorado Mental Health Center in Durango is preparing to take a hit of as much as $187,000."  
  

Mental health cash crisis sparks cuts (UK)
Evening News story - "Care for the mentally ill in Norfolk face serious cutbacks as the true extent of a financial crisis gripping the service was revealed in a damning report. Management at Norfolk Mental Healthcare Trust need to do 'everything possible' in the next three months to balance the books, according to the study by auditors Price Waterhouse Coopers."  
  

Homes for mentally ill at risk (Canada)
Edmonton Journal story - "Operators of approved homes that house mentally ill people could be forced out of business because of a huge increase in the price of home insurance."