Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Current Issues in Addictions and Mental Health (Canada)
"Advice from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) directed to all levels of government and all political parties about how to address the needs of people with mental illness and addictions. Reforming health care funding and delivery in Canada is high on the public and political agenda. Unfortunately, mental illness and addictions remain largely absent from these debates despite the fact that twenty percent of Canadians in any given year suffer from a broad range of mental illness or addiction, and 3% suffer profound and persistent disablement." The paper is also available in Adobe Acrobat format.  
  

Minorities Feel Cheated in Health Care Brief
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "U.S. blacks and Hispanics feel they get worse health care than their white compatriots, according to a study published on Monday. The study, published in Health Affairs, found that blacks and Hispanics are up to three times more likely than whites to feel that minorities receive a lower level of care..." "med"  
  

Fears over elderly mental health care (UK)
BBC story - "An investigation into mistreatment of elderly mental health patients in Manchester has led to wider concerns about levels of care. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) investigation condemned standards at Withington Hospital's Rowan ward. The watchdog said it was the third investigation into the care of vulnerable elderly patients, raising fears about practices across the country." See also the related story, Anger over 'institutional abuse' - "Charities working with the elderly and people with mental health issues have reacted strongly to a report which condemned a mental health ward for older people in Manchester."