Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Final Report to the President: President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
The New Freedom Commission today issued its long-awaited final report, and this page at their web site indexes a variety of related documents, including a web-based version of the final report (with an executive summary) and an Adobe Acrobat version of the full report. The executive summary notes that "To achieve the promise of community living for everyone, new service delivery patterns and incentives must ensure that every American has easy and continuous access to the most current treatments and best support services. Advances in research, technology, and our understanding of how to treat mental illnesses provide powerful means to transform the system. In a transformed system, consumers and family members will have access to timely and accurate information that promotes learning, self-monitoring, and accountability. Health care providers will rely on up-to-date knowledge to provide optimum care for the best outcomes. .... Transforming the system so that it will be both consumer and family centered and recovery-oriented in its care and services presents invigorating challenges. Incentives must change to encourage continuous improvement in agencies that provide care. New, relevant research findings must be systematically conveyed to front-line providers so that they can be applied to practice quickly. Innovative strategies must inform researchers of the unanswered questions of consumers, families, and providers. Research and treatment must recognize both the commonalities and the differences among Americans and must offer approaches that are sensitive to our diversity. Treatment and services that are based on proven effectiveness and consumer preference - not just on tradition or outmoded regulations - must be the basis for reimbursements."
See also National Council on Disability Applauds Presidential Mental Health Report, the NMHA press release, President’s Commission Offers Prescription for Broken Mental Health System, the initial statement by SAMHSA Director Charles Curie, the AP story reprinted at PsycPORT, New Ways Sought to Treat Mentally Ill, and President's Commission Reports on America's Crumbling Mental Health System and Mental Health Commission Report Underscores Need for Mental Health Parity (both from US Newswire). Links to additional follow-up stories will be posted as they appear.
Aripiprazole Safe, Effective in Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder Medscape Medical News Story - "Aripiprazole is safe and effective for the treatment of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, according to the results of a four-week, double-blind trial published in the July issue of the
Archives of General Psychiatry." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Kelso: State waivers for mental health center likely (Wisconsin) Green Bay Press Gazette story - "Brown County Executive Carol Kelso said Monday she is confident the state would continue to waive costly upgrades for the county’s mental health center, even after a proposed replacement building was scrapped. The Brown County Mental Health Center is operating under six federally approved waivers of codes that deal with life safety, according to the state Bureau of Quality Assurance. Supporters of the $32 million building that the County Board rejected last week have said the state granted the waivers on the understanding that a permanent solution to the obsolete center, built in 1934 and added onto in 1966, was in the works."
Budget cuts forcing scaled back services at mental health centers (Colorado) Rocky Mountain News story - "Money woes are hitting home at another Colorado mental health agency: The Pikes Peak Mental Health center says it will probably end up serving 250 fewer patients as it tries to trim $2 million from its budget. Sharon Raggio, the agency’s chief operating officer, said the 10 percent budget cut will affect low-income and indigent patients. It will also force 43 staff positions to be left unfilled, cut or continue with reduced hours, she said."
