Preventable physical illness in people with mental illness
University of Western Australia School of Population Health - "This unique study has examined the health experience of 240,000 Western Australians who have used mental health services during 1980-98 (representing about 8% of the population at any one time). Using de-identified data, their hospital admission rates, cancer incidence rates and death rates have been examined. People with mental illness are among the most marginalized people in our community. The consequences of mental illness often extend beyond the direct symptoms of the illness to affect people’s social and economic well being and all aspects of their lives. The aim of this study was to examine the physical health of people with mental illness. The purpose was to provide data that can be used to improve health services and design health promotion activities that can be specifically targeted at people with mental illness." There are three documents that can be downloaded and may be slow depending on the speed of your connection. We suggest that you read the two summaries first. If you have any comments, you can contact one of the authors at D'Arcy Holman [darcy@dph.uwa.edu.au]
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Patients with mental disorders may develop cancer at a younger age and may be at increased risk of certain malignancies, according to a report in the September/October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. In a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data, Dr. Caroline P. Carney, of Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, and colleagues examined the relationship between insurance claims for mental disorders and risk of cancer..." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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A new handbook (in Adobe Acrobat format) bublished by NAMI New York State in a joint project with the Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project. See the related page at the NAMI web site - " In this handbook you will find general advice as to what procedures to follow when a person with mental illness is arrested. This handbook covers information that will answer questions such what to do, how to find a person who has been arrested, working with a defense attorney, practical tips on dealing with defense attorneys, laws relating to people with mental illness, advocating for a defendant to be sentenced to treatment, advocating for discharge planning, advocating for someone on probation or parole, clearing up a warrant, and so much more...:
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A "Tracking Report" from the Center for Studying Health System Change - " Overall health insurance rates changed little among nonelderly black, Latino and white Americans between 2001 and 2003, according to new findings from the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). But sources of coverage shifted—especially for Latinos—from employment-based insurance to public coverage, suggesting the economic downturn took a greater toll on Latinos. Low-income Latinos and whites were particularly hard hit by declines in employer coverage. Shifting sources of coverage had little effect on access to medical care. With the sole exception of decreased access to specialists among blacks, access to care did not change between 2001 and 2003. Significant gaps in access to care among Latinos, blacks and whites persisted, with Latinos and blacks consistently reporting lower levels of access than whites."
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Seattle Post Intelligencer story - "A new online medical journal will make its research articles available to the public free of charge and accessible through the Internet. The Public Library of Science Medicine (PLoS Medicine) was launched earlier this month and will be available to physicians, patients, scientists and anyone with Internet access. ... Readers will be able to copy and distribute the articles for teaching or personal purposes and thereby further expand the reach of the research. The directors hope that people in poor countries or scientists at small research colleges will be able to benefit from medical research that otherwise would be unavailable without an expensive subscription." See also the PLoS Medicine web site.
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HHS press release - "HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced 21 grants totaling $230 million over five years to implement the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants to advance community- based programs for substance abuse prevention, mental health promotion and mental illness prevention. HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will administer the grants. The funds will be used to implement a five-step process known to promote youth development, reduce risk-taking behaviors, build on assets, and prevent problem behaviors. The five steps are: (1) conduct needs assessments; (2) build state and local capacity; (3) develop a comprehensive strategic plan; (4) implement evidence-based prevention policies, programs and practices; and (5) monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, sustaining what has worked well."
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Copyright 2003 © Bill Davis.
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