Monday, February 02, 2004
Webcast: The Road To RecoveryInformation on a webcast scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, 3:00-3:30 EST that "...demonstrates successful awareness-raising strategies employed by communities - large and small - throughout the Nation and provides helpful tips for replicating those successes where you live." See also the related flier (
Adobe Acrobat format).
Prescription For Suicide?Feature article in
Time - "For years a small but vocal group of patients and doctors have insisted that certain antidepressants, including Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac and other medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), carry an unacceptable risk of antisocial behavior and suicide in kids who take them. Many clinicians and most pharmaceutical companies disagree. Major depression is a dangerous illness that in itself can lead to suicide, and they insist that the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks. But drug firms also refuse to release all their research... The issue is coming to a head. By last December, the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the equivalent of the FDA, had declared Celexa, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil and Zoloft (but not Prozac) too risky for kids under 18. Two weeks ago, a task force of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology fired back, saying that despite the risk of potentially serious side effects, it's riskier to withhold the drugs. Now comes the FDA probe, which began with an investigation of Paxil launched in the fall of 2002..."
More Youth Entered Substance Abuse Treatment in 2001SAMHSA press release - " More youth entered substance abuse treatment facilities in 2001, with most of the increase due to abuse of marijuana, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced today. The data is part of the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) for 2001, the most recent complete year of data on admissions to substance abuse treatment at facilities that receive public funding."
Gov. Johanns Unveils Report Confirming Feasibility of Mental Health Reform (Nebraska)Southwest Nebraska News story - "Gov. Mike Johanns and State Senator Jim Jensen presented a report today compiled by a prominent health care expert which concludes that the proposed mental health reform plan, introduced by Sen. Jensen as LB 1083, can be achieved. The Lewin Group report is titled
Balancing New Adult Behavioral Health Community Supports. The Executive Summary of the report concludes that, 'Lewin not only believes that the Road to Recovery is a highly principled plan
we believe that the Road to Recovery is achievable on the timeline, and for the budget, laid out by Governor Johanns and Senator Jensen.'
Mental health agency $84 million in black (Arizona)Story in the
Arizona Republic - "The Virginia-based company hired to provide mental health services to the Valley's poor and uninsured has made a total before-tax profit of $84 million, a 6.5 percent profit margin, in this state since getting the contract in 1998, an analysis by The Arizona Republic shows. The company, ValueOptions, is one of two bidders for a new state contract, which is expected to be awarded later this month. Its profitability is likely to be reviewed as the state evaluates competing bids from ValueOptions and Phoenix-based Schaller Anderson Inc., also a for-profit company. Mental health advocates are divided about whether the profits are reasonable..."
Official indifference to mental health crisis (Virginia)Story in the
Virginian-Pilot on waiting lists for services - "...The list for adults with serious mental illnesses stands at 5,030, with little direct relief in sight. The waiting list for children with serious emotional disturbances is 1,314 people long, with equally bleak prospects. Only three states spend less per capita than Virginia on community care for the mentally ill and the mentally retarded. In 2002, Virginias per-capita spending on community service for the mentally ill was $1.58, barely half the national average of $3.07."
