Tuesday, November 04, 2003

Ziprasidone, Olanzapine Improve Cognitive Function in Schizophrenics
Medscape Medical News story - "Ziprasidone (Geodon) produces full standard deviation improvements in clinical cognitive responses for 62 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in a study assessing long-term effects of treatment. Olanzapine (Zyprexa) also produced significant cognitive improvements, although not as large, for 71 patients in the six-month continuation of the randomized, double-blind study comparing the two atypical antipsychotics." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Lawmakers to probe allegations against Corrections (Vermont)
Rutland Herald story - "Vermont lawmakers will investigate charges that Department of Corrections supervisors retaliate against inmates and staff who file complaints and that policy failures have led to suicides by inmates with mental health problems. The problems are said to be greatest at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, where inmate advocates say there are a high number of complaints about programming issues, coercion and inadequate medical and mental health care."  
  

County receives $9.2M grant for children's mental health (California)
Story in The Californian - " The Monterey County Health Department is the only agency in the state to receive a grant from the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, county officials announced Monday. The $9.2 million grant will be parceled out over a span of six years. The money will go toward the department's behavioral health division, which helps families deal with children who have a mental illness or deficiency."  
  

HHS head lays groundwork for $20 million cut (New Hampshire)
Concord Monitor story - " New Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen has come up with $20 million in departmental cuts, as required by the Legislature in the most recent state budget. But several legislators say a final savings plan for the department is still several weeks away. ... Last week, Stephen met with a handful of state senators to review his proposed cuts. Yesterday he briefed a half-dozen House members, offering a broad range of proposed savings. They include a nearly $800,000 reduction in training funds at community mental health centers..."  
  

Granholm: All programs will get cut (Michigan)
Traverse City Record Eagle story - "Gov. Jennifer Granholm got a few surprises when she polled community leaders Monday on where cuts should be made to eliminate a $920 million state budget deficit. The governor did a quick poll of the 71 invited guests at the Traverse City stop of her budget road tour that asked which of 19 categories in state spending should be cut... Granholm said one message she would be taking back to Lansing was that there is little support in northwest Lower Michigan for cutting mental health funds ($20 million), or aid to low-income seniors and people with disabilities ($35 million) nor was their much taste for cutting Medicaid programs that cover 70,500 seniors, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities, which cost $140 million."  
  

$500K will help people with communications (Wisconsin)
Capitol Times story - " The state Public Service Commission has awarded $500,000 in grants to organizations across the state to help them provide low-income individuals with access to the Internet, telecommunication services and communications training. A total of $140,595 is going to nonprofit groups in the Madison area." Cornucopia, a mental health arts and activities center, received $2,100 "to provide telephone and Internet services to members so they can seek employment and transportation, develop personal vocations and establish and maintain personal communications skills."  
  

Record numbers seek mental health care in Christchurch (New Zealand)
Story at Stuff - "Christchurch's acute psychiatric services are under pressure as record numbers of patients in crisis seek help. Admissions to Hillmorton Hospital's acute adult inpatient service have increased "relentlessly," and in September hit 149 admissions, the highest number recorded and up 12 per cent on the previous six months, Canterbury District Health Board mental health service chief psychiatrist Phil Brinded told the Health Advisory Committee yesterday. The surge comes after a big rise in admissions in the last two years. "