Monday, December 13, 2004

Immigrants Enjoy Better Mental Health
Story at Ivanhoe's Medical News - "Common sense may suggest immigrating to a new country like the United States would increase stress levels and put people at risk for psychiatric disorders. But that’s not the case, report researchers in this month’s Archives of General Psychiatry. In fact, their study finds immigrants to this country are actually in much better mental health than people born in America. Researchers analyzed data from a national survey on alcohol use disorder and related conditions conducted from 2001-2002..."  
  

Mental health board voices concern about bill not reaching vote (Ohio)
Advertiser-Tribune story - "The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties is mourning the death of House Bill 225, the Mental Health Parity Law which would have benefited those whom the board serves. The bill, sponsored in the Ohio House of Representatives by Lynn Olman, R-Maumee, was designed to require heath insurance providers to grant equal coverage for treatment of the mentally ill, and had a built-in cap to prevent the cost of coverage from sky-rocketing. The bill did not go to a vote before the state senate."  
  

Law targets mental health (Michigan)
Detroit News story on Kevin's Law, "named for a college student in Kalamazoo killed by a person who had been in and out of mental health care, will allow judges to order treatment for people who are mentally ill and not following a treatment regime recommended by a metal health professional. The Senate unanimously passed the bill, and only two members of the House voted against it. Liz Boyd, a spokeswoman for Granholm, said the governor will sign the bill into law. Michigan joins 24 other states in arming courts, police officers, mental health professionals and families with a means of forcing the mentally ill -- many of whom have no idea they are sick, precisely because of their condition -- into treatment rather than jail."