Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Minnesota Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Treatment Utilization Trends: 1998 to 2002
Report in Adobe Acrobat format, called to our attention at the Open Minds web site - "In a recent task force report, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society (MPS) describes a shortage of psychiatrists in the state, especially among child and adolescent specialists, and an accompanying decrease in the number of mental health beds available for state residents."  
  

Recommendations of the Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid
A report, in Adobe Acrobat format, adopted by the Commission on December 13. This report was called to our attention at the Open Minds web site.  
  

Government incapacity on mental health (UK)
Opinion column at Spiked Health - "The Mental Capacity Bill, which was debated in the UK House of Commons earlier this month, has the stated aim of protecting the interests of those with mental incapacity. It is an attempt to clarify who has the right to make choices and decisions for those unable to do so for themselves. ... Mental incapacity should not be equated with mental disorder. The diagnosis of mental disorder, defined in the Mental Health Act 1983 as meaning mental illness, mental impairment and psychopathic disorder, is a medical one. The decision over mental capacity, or rather whether someone lacks capacity, is a legal one. While medical opinion will be sought, it is the court that will make the judgement over mental capacity. The decision over whether or not someone lacks capacity is not a straightforward one; it depends on the nature of the decision to be made..."  
  

Vetoes put Granholm in hot seat (Michigan)
Detroit News story - "Gov. Jennifer Granholm struck down with her prolific veto pen Tuesday bills that set up an independent mental health authority for Wayne County and create an incentive for couples to seek premarital counseling. Granholm Her vetoes are likely to rankle influential political forces in the state, including Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who supported the mental health board legislation... Granholm, who is setting records for use of the governor's veto power, scuttled legislation that would have created a 12-member independent governing board to oversee Wayne County's trouble-plagued mental health system, which is currently controlled by county government."