Monday, November 10, 2003
Effects of the Vermont Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Law The full text of a SAMHSA report (in
Adobe Acrobat format) first
noted here in September - "...This evaluation sought to determine how implementation of parity in Vermont affected major stakeholders: employers, health plans, providers, and consumers. The evaluation included an implementation case study, an employer survey, and an analysis of health plan claims/encounter data. Much of the analysis focused on the experiences of two health plans—Kaiser/Community Health Plan (Kaiser/CHP) and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT). These plans covered nearly 80 percent of the privately insured population at the time parity was implemented." Be patient when downloading - the full report is 117 pages.
Rutgers awarded $6 million grant to develop innovative drug abuse prevention programs
Rutgers University press release at
EurekAlert - "Rutgers University has received a five-year, $6 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a component of the National Institutes of Health, to establish a center to develop innovative drug abuse prevention programs targeted to young people. The Transdisciplinary Prevention Research Center will be integrated with the Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and will focus on developing methods of intervention during a student's key developmental transitional periods. "
Women's Health Surveillance Report: A Multidimensional Look at the Health of Canadian Women This page indexes resources related to this new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information - "The Women's Health Surveillance Report provides information and descriptive statistics on determinants of health, health status, and health outcomes for Canadian women. To the extent possible, each chapter presents new, gender-relevant information on a health condition or issue identified as important to women's health during national expert and stakeholder consultations in 1999." All documents are in Acrobat format at no charge, but require that you first submit contact information.
Approaches to the Treatment of Mania
A new CME from Medscape covering Mania in the Adult Population, Bipolar Mood Disorder in the Pediatric Population, Various Approaches to the Treatment of Mania, Suicidality in Bipolar Disorder and including references - "Mania is frequently associated with behavioral disturbances that can have serious consequences for patients and those around them. Rapid control is important and as behavioral problems decrease, the type and intensity of treatments change, as do the goals for therapy. Other factors come into play, including the involvement and education of family." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Geographic Disparities in Children’s Mental Health Care Journal article (in
Adobe Acrobat format) that originally appeared in
Pediatrics and is now available through the
Open Minds web site - " It is widely believed that only a minority of vulnerable children and adolescents receive any mental health services. Although health care disparities associated with socio-demographic characteristics are well known, almost no information exists about another potentially important source of disparity for children: How does state of residence affect mental health service use?"
Massachussets coalition maps strategy to prevent suicides
Berkshire Eagle story - "A coalition of Massachusetts mental health advocates is putting the finishing touches on a plan that outlines recommendations for preventing suicide, a problem that takes more lives than homicide each year. Suicide prevention efforts were stepped up nationally and statewide in 1999 with results starting to show over the past year through the development of strategic plan for suicide prevention and a first-ever resource guide. Draft copies of the plan will be distributed at a Statehouse event Wednesday promoting suicide prevention..."
Mentally ill find safe haven (Colorado)
Denver Post story on the Capitol Hill Action and Recreation GroupResource Center - "CHARG, a nonprofit, helps the mentally ill by operating a treatment clinic and a drop-in center where people gather to socialize. ... CHARG is one of the only organizations of its kind, allowing consumers to take leadership roles and depending more on private grants than government subsidies. Experts in the mental-health care field laud CHARG's model of involving consumers in their own care and in providing a place for the mentally ill to socialize and interact with others."
Regional centers anticipate mental health reform draft (Nebraska)
Sioux City Journal story - " Concern is high as Gov. Mike Johanns and the chairman of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee prepare to unveil a draft of legislation designed to reform mental health care in Nebraska. Johanns and Omaha Sen. Jim Jensen want to spread community-based mental health care across the state, rather than concentrate it in regional health centers in Norfolk, Hastings and Lincoln. One or two of those centers could close -- probably in Norfolk or Hastings -- while there is talk of establishing a center in Omaha because the state's largest city has seen three psychiatric hospitals close in recent years."
Mental health 'needs more money' (UK) BBC story - "Government plans to improve mental health services will fail unless more money is made available, a report says. Ministers published a National Service Framework for Mental Health four years ago pledging to modernise care. But a report by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health says many trusts are struggling to maintain services because of a lack of money. The Department of Health has dismissed the claims saying millions of extra pounds..." See also
Mental health 'losing out' despite extra cash for NHS at
The Guardian.
