Friday, December 17, 2004

A Flood of Troubled Soldiers Is in the Offing, Experts Predict
December 15 fron page New York Times story - "The nation's hard-pressed health care system for veterans is facing a potential deluge of tens of thousands of soldiers returning from Iraq with serious mental health problems brought on by the stress and carnage of war, veterans' advocates and military doctors say. An Army study shows that about one in six soldiers in Iraq report symptoms of major depression, serious anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, a proportion that some experts believe could eventually climb to one in three, the rate ultimately found in Vietnam veterans. Because about one million American troops have served so far in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Pentagon figures, some experts predict that the number eventually requiring mental health treatment could exceed 100,000..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

State Pocketbooks Are Fuller, but Health Costs Stall Recovery
New York Times story - "The fiscal condition of the states improved this year, but soaring health costs have made it difficult for them to recover from the worst fiscal crisis in six decades, the National Governors Association said Thursday. States ended the 2004 fiscal year with balances totaling $25.3 billion, equal to 4.8 percent of state spending. That represents a significant increase from the previous year, when balances totaled $16.4 billion, or 3.2 percent of state spending..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free]. See also the full report, The Fiscal Survey of States (Adobe Acrobat format), released by the National Governor's Association and their related press release.  
  

$2.4 Million Available to Build Behavioral Health Service System Capacity for American Indian/Alaska Native Children and Their Families
SAMHSA press release - "The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the availability of FY 2005 funds to increase the capacity of mental health and/or substance abuse service systems for American Indian and Alaska Native children and their families. It is expected that approximately $2.4 million will be available to fund 7-9 Circles of Care III: Tribal Infrastructure grants. The annual award amount will range from $250,000 to $350,000 for up to 3 years. The actual award amount may vary, depending on the availability of funds. The grants will be awarded by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)..."