Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Few disabled kids with psychosocial problems receive mental healthcare
Northwestern University press release at EurekAlert - "A study by a Northwestern University researcher has found that less than half of disabled children with psychosocial problems receive mental healthcare services. Moreover, the study found differences by age, race/ethnicity and insurance coverage that suggest inequalities nationwide in access to treatment, underidentification of need and substantial variability in the mental health treatment for children with disabilities. According to Whitney P. Witt, assistant professor of medicine and researcher at the Center for Healthcare Studies at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, receipt of mental healthcare services was most strongly related to children's poor psychosocial adjustment; communication and social and learning-related functional impairments; public health insurance; and financial family burdens."  
  

Public Awareness Programs Can Reduce The Duration Of Untreated Psychosis
JAMA press release at InteliHealth - "People experiencing their first symptoms of a psychotic mental illness, such as schizophrenia, sought treatment sooner if they lived in areas with public programs to raise awareness of psychotic illnesses, symptoms and treatment, according to an article in the February issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals."  
  

Ottawa warns of suicide risk for teens on anti-depressants (Canada)
Story in the Toronto Globe and Mail - "Mounting concerns over the safety of prescribing a new generation of anti-depressants to children and teenagers has prompted Health Canada to issue a rare public warning to reconsider their use because the popular drugs may actually increase the risk of suicide. In an advisory on its website, the health watchdog said all Canadians under the age of 18 who are taking one of seven suspect prescription drugs should immediately 'consult their treating physician to confirm that the benefits of the drug still outweigh its potential risks.'" See also the advisory at the Health Canada web site.  
  

Medicaid costs drive proposed $1.4 billion increase in Public Welfare budget (Pennsylvania)
AP story at NEPA News - "Gov. Ed Rendell's budget calls for an increase of about $1.3 billion in spending for the Department of Public Welfare, to pay for new programs and plug a $570 million gap caused mostly by the loss of federal Medicaid subsidies. The worsening economy is expected to add 56,000 Pennsylvanians to the Medicaid rolls during the coming fiscal year, officials said. ... 'I think it's continuing the crisis in the system,' said George J. Kimes, executive director of the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association, which represents 200 mental health, mental retardation and drug and alcohol treatment agencies."  
  

Buncombe County to see mental health care costs soar (North Carolina)
Citizen-Times story - "A new mental health care plan mandated by the state will cost Buncombe County at least $100,000 this year, and officials predict the cost could rise to $1 million within three years. The money for medications and social workers for inmates at the Buncombe County Detention Center, coupled with costs from the county Health Center, will be taken from Buncombe County's $465,000 budget for mental health care services. With the state reducing the number of available beds in health centers under the new plan, more people have turned to the county for help. And use of county facilities could continue to drive up costs..."