Thursday, December 16, 2004

Many FDA Scientists Had Drug Concerns, 2002 Survey Shows
Washington Post story - "Almost one-fifth of the Food and Drug Administration scientists surveyed two years ago as part of an official review said they had been pressured to recommend approval of a new drug despite reservations about its safety, effectiveness or quality. The survey of almost 400 scientists also found that a majority had significant doubts about the adequacy of federal programs to monitor prescription drugs once they are on the market, and that more than a third were not particularly confident of the agency's ability to assess the safety of a drug. The results of the survey, conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general, appear to support some portions of the controversial Senate testimony last month by FDA safety officer David J. Graham." [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.]  
  

Guide helps locate mental health programs for kids (Massachusetts)
Pembroke Mariner story - "Parents, teachers, doctors and mental health workers in Massachusetts now have a comprehensive guide, billed as the first of its kind in the nation, to help them locate mental health services for children. Officials from Children's Hospital and Boston Bar Association, who developed the 'How-to Guide to Children's Mental Health Services in Massachusetts' over three years, announced its completion on Dec. 8 calling it an 'interim accomplishment' that is the beginning of more projects to help children in need." The full How-to Guide to Children's Mental Health Services in Massachusetts (Adobe Acrobat format) can be downloaded from the Boston Bar Association web site.  
  

Communities must meet juvenile mental health needs (Virginia)
Fauquier Times-Democrat editorial - "With over 400 prisoners per 100,000 citizens, the imprisonment rates in the United States today have never been approached before in history. One major reason for the major growth in prison rates since 1990 is that we have reached a recidivism rate of 60 percent. This is largely due to the hugely inexcusable failure of Virginia and other states to require a mental health discharge plan for the vast majority of youth in Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facilities who suffer from serious mental health needs."  
  

County mental health bill climbs, case worker added (Iowa)
Storm Lake Pilot Tribune story - "Despite state funding cuts for care of the mentally ill programs, Buena Vista County is finding itself still in the black in that area due to careful case management and leveraging of federal dollars. That's despite an increased caseload which will likely require hiring an additional caseworker. Dawn Mentzer, Buena Vista County CPC, reviewed caseload numbers with the board of supervisors Tuesday. For fiscal 2004, Mentzer said there were a total of 173 children and adults served in the county for mental illness, mental retardation, and other mental disabilities. Mentzer said that while she was concerned about state funding cuts, her department was able to leverage federal dollars to keep its head above water."  
  

Group brainstorms mental health needs (California)
Ft. Bragg Advocate-News story - " A community workshop about mental health brought out ideas for using up to $3 million in state funds to better suit local needs and create programs. The workshop was held Dec. 4 at Fort Bragg Town Hall. Beth Robey, director of the county Department of Mental Health in Ukiah, said it was possible that $2 million to $3 million may come to the department from the states Proposition 63 funding. However, the dollar amount for the funding has yet to be determined. Robey said that even with the increased funding, the additional amount would not go very far, especially if new programs are added."  
  

LMH officials wary of reopening mental health unit (Kansas)
Lawrence Journal-World story - "Lawrence Memorial Hospital officials are willing to talk about reopening the hospital's inpatient mental health unit, but on Wednesday they stopped far short of saying the idea was a good one. advertisement At a monthly board meeting on Wednesday, LMH President and CEO Gene Meyer told board members that he had met with community activist Alan Miller, who has begun organizing an effort to reopen the unit that was closed in May amid staffing and financial concerns. Meyer said the meeting went well but told board members that the hospital needed to work to educate the community that the hospital had good reasons for closing the mental health unit, which served about four patients a day..."  
  

County grapples with mental health funding (Georgia)
Franklin County Citizen story - "Franklin County's low contribution to mental health services could put local residents in a bind and the county jail in a mess. At the December meeting of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Laura Tyler, representing Georgia Mountains Community Services, stressed the need for both services and funding. According to Tyler, more than 400 people in Franklin County utilize the mental health services. Additionally, the mental health staff visits the county jail where it offers services to inmates as mandated by law..."  
  

Mental health care deal reached (Arizona)
Arizona Republic story - "The state has reached an agreement to try to end an almost 25-year-old lawsuit aimed at improving care for people in Maricopa County who have serious mental illnesses. The plan requires the state Department of Health Services, which oversees mental health care for the poor and needy, to meet 49 requirements over four years. The requirements include improving housing and crisis care, making sure clients get appropriate treatment, improving state monitoring and seeking more funding."