Wednesday, March 05, 2003
Kaiser Study Refutes Notion That Young Children Are Over-Prescribed Mental Health Weekly article at
Medscape - "In a study released in this month's issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers at Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., found that most preschoolers cared for by Kaiser Permanente who receive psychiatric medication have severe behavioral problems." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Political science Article in the new
APA Monitor - "Allegations of politicization are threatening the credibility of the federal government's scientific advisory committees."
Family Members Matter The most recent newsletter from Canada's Community Mental Health Evaluation Initiative focuses on "...the largest group of community caregivers for people with serious and persistent mental illness. They play an essential role in the community mental health system, yet very little research has been done to fully understand the nature and importance of their contribution. A Longitudinal Evaluation of Family Initiatives in Community Mental Health in Ontario is a five-year study that aims to fill part of this gap. Now in its final year, the study examines the impact of self-help/mutual aid organizations on families of people with mental illness and on the mental health system." (
Adobe Acrobat format).
Oregon cuts off prescriptions to mentally ill in bid to save cash New York Times story reprinted at the
Seattle Post Intelligencer - "...Oregon took a drastic step this week to cover budget shortfalls: It cut off medications to thousands of schizophrenics, manic-depressives, drug addicts and other mentally ill people. A decade ago, Oregon was widely hailed as a pioneer in providing health insurance, including prescription drug coverage, not only to the poor, but also to people who make just enough money that they do not qualify for federal Medicaid. Now, in a reversal that has stripped a once-ambitious program to its core, Oregon has pared back the insurance, and removed prescription drug coverage for things such as mental illness and drug addiction. About 100,000 poor people are suddenly scrambling for the basic medications that allow them to function."
Patients, advocates criticize plan to close Lowell mental health center (Massachusetts) Lowell Sun story - "Advocates for the mentally ill yesterday sharply criticized the Romney administration's planned closing of the Solomon Mental Health Center outpatient clinic, saying the decision leaves more than 500 mentally ill adults with few alternatives for services. The closing of the Varnum Avenue facility, which Gov. Romney's staff claims will save the state $1 million annually, also will leave 20 therapists out of work."
Mental-Health Bill Comes With Warning (Arkansas) Story in
The Times Record - "An $11.5 million price tag for mental health care is far cheaper than a likely lawsuit against the state, the sponsor of a bill warned Monday. The money in House Bill 1760 would pay for community-based acute mental illness services for patients who today wind up in local jails because hospitals have closed beds for such patients, advocates said at a news conference."
Mental health panel considers budget cuts (South Carolina) Story at
The State - "The S.C. Mental Health Commission met for more than four hours Tuesday in Columbia to sketch out about $15 million in potential budget cuts. Furloughs of "nonessential" administrative staff are among the constraints being considered, said Geoff Mason, the commission's chief of staff."
Yale Symposium Addresses Recovery from Mental Illness Yale press release on a March 29 event - "Speakers at the symposium, which is titled, 'Towards Recovery from Mental Illness: How the Brain Develops and Adapts,' will explain how recent research holds promise for revolutionary advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness. The presentations will be directed at a lay audience and will be non-technical in nature."
Riley proposes spending cuts (Alabama) Crimson White story - "Gov. Bob Riley proposed both immediate spending cuts and fundamental financial reforms in an effort to remedy the state's budget crisis in his first State of the State address in Montgomery on Tuesday.... Riley cited the consolidation and closure of several mental health facilities...."
County health system to cut more services (California) Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal on the largest cuts to health services since 1980 - "Mental health services will suffer $7.6 million in cuts. Emergency mental health services will remain, while follow-up outpatient services will be scaled back."
