Wednesday, April 09, 2003

Substance P Antagonists (SPAs): New Class of Drugs Show Promise in Treating Depression
Article from Brown University Psychopharmacology Update at Medscape. [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Budget Plans Threaten Our Most Vulnerable Citizens
From the NMHA, a statement by Michael Faenza, NMHA President and CEO, on proposed budget cuts and "who is most likely to bear that burden: children, people with disabilities and lower-income Americans."  
  

To deal with mentally ill, cops act as 'social workers'
Article in the Christian Science Monitor - "As police increasingly encounter the mentally ill across US, efforts are under way to instill a softer touch...."  
  

Tennessee company plans to buy Ramsay for $78M
South Florida Business Journal story - "Ramsay Youth Services (Nasdaq: RYOU) said it has signed a definitive agreement to be purchased by Franklin, Tenn.-based Psychiatric Solutions (Nasdaq: PSYS) for about $78 million. Once complete, the buy would increase capacity at PSI facilities by more than 82 percent."  
  

Mental health workers denounce proposed budget cuts (Colorado)
Aurora Sentinel story - "Mental health care advocates and some lawmakers decried a proposed $14 million budget cut contained in the budget bill introduced last week in the Legislature. The proposed 2003-04 budget was introduced last Monday, and calls for the elimination of more than 100 beds in hospitals at Ft. Logan and Pueblo."  
  

Mental health services trust loses taxpayers' money (New Zealand)
New Zealand Herald story - "A $2 million Government-funded trust that provides mental health services in Northland has poured $100,000 of taxpayers' money into a business that has folded. Northcare Trust bought an almost 15 per cent share of Siterite, a Whangaparaoa-based cable laying firm which is now in liquidation. The deal was done last September on the grounds that the company created jobs for the trust's mental health clients."  
  

Mental health court? (Illinois)
Daily Herald story - "DuPage County could have the state's first court program aimed at helping the mentally ill - if officials can find the money. State's Attorney Joe Birkett Tuesday asked the county board to earmark $500,000 to fund a mental-health court. The program, now in the testing stages, offers defendants counseling and probation services instead of jail time."  
  

Mental health center plans to build hospital (Indiana)
Indianapolis Star story - "A mental health center serving four northern Indiana counties plans to build a psychiatric hospital. Northeastern Center is raising bonds for the $2 million project and plans to begin construction this year on property it owns next to one of its outpatient offices. Northeastern is based in Kendallville and serves DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben counties."  
  

Advocates rally for more money for child mental health (Massachusetts)
Boston Globe story - "Mental health advocates called for an end to what they say is the erosion of mental health services at a rally Tuesday at the Statehouse. Demonstrators called for a more efficient system to deliver service and to oppose a proposal to cut $1.5 million to mental health services for uninsured children."