Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Suicide Prevention and the Internet New alert (in
Adobe Acrobat format) from the Centre for Suicide Prevention, a program of the Canadian Mental Health Association - "In the last decade, the Internet has experienced a phenomenal growth as technology costs continue to fall and more and more people have mainstream access to the network. Statistics show that the Internet represents an increasingly important medium, especially among adolescents and young adults who use it as a source of information and communication. A recent study by Statistics Canada (2001) showed that 90% of 15-19 year old teenagers had used the Internet in 2000, compared to 53% for the overall population. Since the younger age group is characterized by high suicide rates, it would be wise for the suicide prevention community to capitalize on new Internet-based prevention opportunities while anticipating potential new challenges."
Mania switching and rapid cycling unaffected by antidepressant use Story at
Psychiatry Matters - "Study findings suggest that antidepressants do not influence the risk of switching from depression to mania or rapid cycling in bipolar patients. While previous evidence has suggested that the use of antidepressants for the treatment of depression in bipolar patients can induce mania or rapid cycling, some experts feel that some of the switches from depression to mania can be explained as the natural course of bipolar disorder, or other factors such as sleep deprivation."
Housing Update, Action Needed: Deep Cut Sought for HUD 811 Program, New Housing Production Proposed for Elimination A NAMI alert - "As was reported in a NAMI E-News Alert last month, the Bush Administration’s FY 2006 seeks to cut funding for a key housing resource for people with severe mental illnesses and their families by 50% and completely eliminate funding for production of new units of supportive housing. NAMI is currently working with colleague disability organizations to oppose this unprecedented assault on a critical source of permanent supportive housing for non-elderly adults with severe disabilities. NAMI advocates are strongly encouraged to send a letter to both their U.S. Senators and their House member urging them to reject this proposal..."
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy May Be Helpful in the Primary Care Setting for Panic Disorder A new CME unit at
Medscape - "In the primary care setting, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with pharmacotherapy is better than usual care for the treatment of panic disorder, according to the results of a randomized study published in the March issue of the
Archives of General Psychiatry." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Navigating Medicare and Medicaid: Resource Guides for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates Page at the Kaiser Family Foundation web site with links to two new resource guides - "These guides explain the critical role Medicare and Medicaid have come to play in the lives and the futures of roughly 20 million children, adults, and seniors with disabilities - and give people with disabilities new information to help them get the most from these programs." The two guides,
Navigating Medicare and Medicaid, 2005 and
Keeping Medicare and Medicaid When You Work, 2005 are available in
Adobe Acrobat format.
Our view: Mental health services are in a time of transition (Wisconsin) LaCrosse Tribune editorial - "The problem with suicide in La Crosse County came to the attention of officials in a big way when they saw several suicides of people who were not identified as high risk in the mental health system. Last November La Crosse County Human Services held a suicide prevention conference in La Crosse. A La Crosse Area Suicide Prevention Task Force was formed. On Tuesday, it released its recommendations. ... Having suicide addressed in a high-profile way is a very positive step for La Crosse County. In addition, county officials are in the middle of a redesign of mental health services, designed to make services more consumer-oriented and more focused on recovery. "
Mental health advocates wary of TennCare cuts plan (Tennessee) Story in
The Tennessean - "The state's mental health commissioner said yesterday that impending TennCare cuts make it difficult to foresee the future of mental health care in the state. 'We, as a group, need to figure out if we're not going to have more resources, then how do we spend what we have more wisely,' Commissioner Virginia Trotter Betts told a group of more than 350 mental health advocates. The advocates are part of an effort by the Tennessee Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Abuse to raise awareness and erase stigmas of people dependent on the state for adequate health coverage."
Mental health services at UK's largest HIV clinic face massive cuts Aidsmap story - "Mental health support for patients attending the largest HIV treatment centre in the UK is facing a drastic reduction after funding cuts of 60% were announced. Cuts amounting to almost £500,000 over two years will substantially reduce the amount of psychological support given to patients attending the Kobler Centre at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital..."
Panel OKs bill to improve mental health insurance for state workers (Idaho) Story at
Pocatello Idaho State Journal - "Advocates for Idaho's mentally ill have been trying for more than a decade to get the Legislature to pass legislation to bolster mental health insurance coverage in the state. It appears they'll be writing letters, providing research for lawmakers and lobbying for the cause for yet another session. State Reps. Elmer Martinez, D-Pocatello, Margaret Henbest, and Nicole LeFavour, both D-Boise, introduced a bill on the issue Tuesday that passed the House Health and Welfare Committee 7-5. The bill would start a three-year pilot program in which better mental health insurance would be offered to state workers."
Mental Health Care for Students at Risk (California) Los Angeles Times story - "Mental health care for about 30,000 of California's most troubled schoolchildren has emerged as a highly charged issue as the state continues to struggle with budget shortfalls. Already, counseling providers say, lack of state financial support has forced them to turn away an increasing number of students in need of treatment. And they fear more cuts could be ahead. ... At issue is a recent proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to shift responsibility for providing treatment from counties to school districts." [Viewing
Los Angeles Times stories requires registration, which is free].
Feds hit on mental health help for kids AP story at
AZCentral.com - "Critical mental health services for children are threatened because the federal government misinterprets Medicaid law, one Democrat and one Republican said Tuesday. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said state Medicaid programs were audited on the premise that the federal government is not permitted to fund the medical care of children in mental institutions. As a result, California, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Virginia have been asked to repay more than $10 million, the lawmakers said. 'Because the loss of these funds could threaten the viability of institutions that provide critical mental health services, these audits are a direct threat to the health of needy children,' the pair said in a letter to Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Dan Levinson, the acting inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services."
