Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Study Urges Screening of Newborns AP story at
PsycPORT - "Technology that allows the screening of newborns for several rare genetic diseases at once can help prevent mental retardation and other complications more effectively than conventional tests done after symptoms develop, researchers say. A study found that because the technology allows earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment, retardation among infants was much less common and hospitalization was less frequent. All states require testing of newborns for phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism, which can cause retardation if untreated, but not all use the newer method. States differ on the other diseases for which testing is required. The new technology, called tandem mass spectrometry, uses a single drop of blood to screen for at least 20 diseases and is either in use or under consideration in about 25 states.."
Mental Health Services for the Rural Aged Psychiatric Times article - "Given the expected astronomical rise in the number of elderly over the next 15 years and the increase in mental health services that will need to be provided, it is of utmost importance to start planning now. Rural areas in particular present difficult challenges in providing mental health services to elderly patients. What are these challenges and how can health care providers overcome them?"
International Research Presented at WPA ConferencePsychiatric Times article - "A collection of research from the World Psychiatric Association's International Thematic Conference in Austria. Various symposia covering topics ranging from eating disorders to addiction treatments and depressive disorders were presented."
Current Issues in Addiction and Mental Health (Canada) A September report available in the
public policy papers section of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health web site - "The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has prepared this report at a time when health care issues are prominent in public debate at the national, provincial and local levels. At the federal level, the Romanow Commission released its final report on the Future of Health Care in Canada a little less than a year ago. In the province of Ontario, the recommendations of nine regional Mental Health Implementation Task Forces are being considered by the provincial government as they determine the next phases of mental health care reform. This fall, Ontarians are being asked to elect provincial and municipal governments that will set critical health and social policy priorities in the province for the foreseeable future. This will be followed by a federal election that will do the same at the national level for the remainder of this decade and beyond..."
Suicide rate soars on campuses Herald-News story - "Second only to automobile accidents, suicide is the leading killer of college students -- claiming the lives of an estimated 1,100 each year, according to the Jed Foundation. The American Association of Suicidology reports on its Web site that the suicide rate for 15-to-25 year olds is 300 percent higher than it was in the 1950s. In the aftermath of three apparent suicides this fall at New York University, nearly 100 colleges and universities contacted the Jed Foundation about offering the nonprofit’s services to their students. The Jed Foundation also recently joined with Columbia, Harvard, Yale and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to begin developing more effective suicide prevention programs on campuses. "
Government Mapping Out a Strategy to Fight Autism
New York Times news service story reprinted at the
Ocala Star Banner (Florida) - " Propelled by the skyrocketing number of diagnoses of the perplexing brain disorder autism in children, federal officials have for the first time mapped out a long-term, interagency plan to deal with the problem. The plan includes objectives like the development of teaching methods that will allow 90 percent of autistic children to speak; the identification of genetic and nongenetic causes of the condition; and adequate services for all afflicted children in the next 7 to 10 years. The plan, which is to be unveiled at a major autism conference in Washington that begins today, signals the start of the push-pull process over financing. Such a plan was required by the Congressional appropriations committee that controls the budget for scientific and medical research and education programs of all kinds...."
Mental health requires advocacy (Alaska)
Story in the
Fairbanks News-Miner by Beth Corven of the Healthy Families Fairbanks Program on parental involvement when a diagnosis is made for a child with mental-health issues.
Two mental health services merging (Connecticut) New Haven Register story - "Birmingham Group Health Services and Griffin Hospital plan to merge their outpatient mental health services. The two facilities have filed a letter of intent with the state Office of Health Care Access to merge Griffin’s Cochran Outpatient Psychiatric Service with the Birmingham Group’s Valley Mental Health Center. The merger, which requires state approval, is expected to take place early next year. "
Audit delayed for mental health agency (Michigan) Detroit News story - " Until a series of troublesome financial issues are addressed, an independent audit of the Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency should not be conducted, according to an auditor hired by the county. Plante & Moran, a certified public accounting and management firm with offices in Michigan and Ohio, also advised county officials that the unaddressed issues threaten the finances of both the troubled mental health agency and the county. "
Fresh blow to mental health bill (UK) BBC story - " In an unusual alliance, NHS management and psychiatrists have combined to attack proposals to reform mental health legislation. In a report, the NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggested the plans are unworkable and could trigger a workforce crisis. The report adds to growing criticism of the draft Bill, published last year. ..."
