Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Governor tells sheriffs he backs changes in mental health law (Florida)
AP story at the Miami Herald - "Gov. Jeb Bush told Florida sheriffs and deputies on Monday that he backs legislation to change mental health laws and allow for more court-ordered outpatient treatment. The reform, led by the Florida Sheriffs Association, would give judges authority to order outpatient treatment for mental illnesses such as schizophrenia."  
  

Bill would help mental health care (Washington)
Seattle Post Intelligencer story - "Counterintuitive as it may seem, health care insurance often stops short of covering disorders and diseases of one of the human body's larger and certainly its most important organ: the brain. The Legislature is again being asked to see the moral and fiscal light on parity for mental health care..."  
  

Child psychiatrist doubts drug safety
Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont) story - "A prominent Vermont psychiatrist is calling for more funding and research into the effects of antidepressants such as Prozac on children, amidst a growing national debate on the safety and ethical concerns of prescribing such drugs for youth. Dr. David Fassler, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Burlington and a clinical associate professor at University of Vermont's College of Medicine, testified before the Food and Drug Administration in Bethesda, Md., on Monday. At the hearing, Fassler, a trustee of the American Psychological Association, called for increased research into the use of antidepressants on children, adding that 'the biggest risk for a child with depression is to be left untreated.'"