Thursday, August 07, 2003

US Immigrants Face Obstacles When Dealing with Mental Health Issues
Voice of America story, focusing on a Mexican-American neighborhood in Chicago - "...Although one in six people will experience a major episode of depression in their lifetime, fewer than half will seek treatment. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, stigma prevents many from seeking care. But among American immigrants, poverty and language barriers also stand in the way.... "  
  

Mental health reform plan needs more participation (Washington)
Story at the Star-News - "As the state reforms its mental health system, it needs interested citizens to evaluate the plan, provide guidance and generally ride herd on the process. The aim of the reform, as I understand it, is to give consumers – that's the word for people who get help with mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems – more say in how they're treated. We'll try to see them as whole, real people, not just a cluster of interesting symptoms. As much as possible, consumers will be moved from large state mental hospitals to smaller, more flexible facilities in the towns they came from..."