Thursday, July 15, 2004

FDA Safety Labeling Changes: Celexa, Lexapro, Premarin, and Others
Medscape Medical News story - "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved revisions in April to drug safety labeling, informing healthcare professionals of the following changes: citalopram hydrobromide and escitalopram oxalate adversely interact with linezolid, 8% amino acid injection can cause aluminum toxicity in patients with impaired kidney function, and conjugated estrogens, alone or with medroxyprogesterone, are associated with malignant neoplasms..." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

FY 2005 Budget Proposal: Overview and Briefing Charts
Adobe Acrobat document from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured - "The overview and briefing charts present information on the President's FY 2005 budget proposal to Congress beginning with federal surplus/deficit spending historical data and a summary of the overall composition of the Administration's budget request. The charts then detail information on the President's funding proposals for major health programs. "  
  

School-Based Mental Health Services
A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (also available in Adobe Acrobat format) - "More than 20% of children and adolescents have mental health problems. Health care professionals for children and adolescents must educate key stakeholders about the extent of these problems and work together with them to increase access to mental health resources. School-based programs offer the promise of improving access to diagnosis of and treatment for the mental health problems of children and adolescents. Pediatric health care professionals, educators, and mental health specialists should work in collaboration to develop and implement effective school-based mental health services."  
  

NAMI: Carol Carothers testimony
At the NAMI web site, the Statement of Carol Carothers of Augusta, Maine on behalf of NAMI before the Governmental Affairs Committee, United States Senate on Juvenile Detention Centers: Are They Warehousing Children with Mental Illnesses?  
  

Primary Project has bipartisan support on Hennepin County Board (Minnesota)
Sun Newspapers story on "a unique program called the Primary Project. The Primary Project has been implemented in 26 Hennepin County schools — at least one school in each of the county’s 16 districts — during the last few years. The Primary Project is an early detection and prevention program that seeks to enhance adjustment skills to reduce social, emotional and adjustment difficulties in early school-age children..." See also So how is the Primary Project funded? at the same source.  
  

Judge Rules State May Not Defer Payment to Counties For Mental Health Costs of Disabled Children (California)
Metropolitan News-Enterprise story - " A decision this month by a Sacramento Superior Court judge could shift as much as $36 million in annual costs of mental health services for disabled students from Los Angeles County to the state, a county lawyer said yesterday. In a case brought by San Diego County, Judge Jeffrey L. Gunther ruled July 2 that the state’s policy of deferring reimbursement for services mandated under legislation adopted in 1984 and 1990 was unconstitutional. Article XIII A of the state Constitution, added by Proposition 13 in 1978, and Article XIII B, added by Proposition 4 the following year, limit property taxes and require the state to reimburse local governments for newly mandated programs and services."  
  

First Recovery-Based Program for Serious Mental Illness Saves State $4.9 Million in Less Than Two Years (Oregon)
Press release at PR Newswire - " 'I feel a rekindling of hope that through the Recovery Center I may indeed call myself recovered.' During the past two years the words of this resident have been echoed by dozens of alumnae from Oregon's first recovery-based treatment program for individuals with serious mental illness. The Telecare Recovery Center (TRC), a unique 16-bed facility located in Gresham, Ore., saved the state approximately $4.9 million in 17 months during treatment of its first 134 residents. A TRC resident's care costs the state a little more than half the price per day than care delivered in a traditional hospital setting..."  
  

Suicide and Mental Health Association International Announces New Organization and Comprehensive Website
Press release at eMediaWire - "SMHAI, founded in February 2004, is dedicated to suicide and mental health related issues. Our main goal is to prevent suicidal behavior and to relieve its effects on all who maybe affected by it. We also promote and advocate education, awareness and treatment in regards to mental health. Our membership is comprised of and we provide this service to mental health professionals, public health professionals, researchers, medical doctors, crisis workers, volunteers, caretakers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention staff , school districts, suicide survivors, and others who may have a general interest..." See also the SMHAI web site.  
  

Training to help mental health patients on bus (Michigan)
Muskegon Chronicle story - "Muskegon County Community Mental Health is volunteering its expertise and services to help Muskegon Area Transit System drivers best serve mental health patients. Community mental health officials hope training drivers will make them more aware of the needs of individuals with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities..."  
  

Schuylkill officially ends 53 mental health jobs (Pennsylvania)
Morning Call story - "Schuylkill County commissioners and the county Salary Board on Wednesday eliminated all jobs in the county Mental Health-Mental Retardation program except its administrator. A total of 53 county jobs were eliminated, though the county may create up to five positions to oversee the work of Service Access Management Inc. of Reading, which has been running the program on behalf of the county since July 1 under a three-year contract. County Human Resources Director Thomas White said the positions had to be eliminated to meet state and federal guidelines for operating the program and so positions can be created when needed..."