Mental Health Weekly articles from March 2009

Mental Health Weekly archives from March 2009

N.J. officials, advocates pleased that budget preserves mental health funding.(State Budget Watch)
March 30, 2009... The New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies (NJAMHA) and state officials are hailing Governor Jon Corzine's budget support of the state's vulnerable populations, which preserves overall mental health funding and proposes no major cuts...

Report on mentally ill in nursing homes calls attention to gaps in MH system: some states question article's numbers.
March 30, 2009... A press report this month suggesting a substantial increase in some states in the number of young and middle-aged adults with serious mental illness residing in nursing homes has led to some criticism and varying interpretations of the numbers....

Texas telemedicine project for youth addresses access to care.(Report)
March 30, 2009... A telemedicine program in Texas, involving a collaboration of key partners, is working with families and educators in local school-based settings to increase access to care and improve mental health outcomes for adolescents. The Telehealth...

BH organizations can manage reduced budgets.(FROM THE FIELD ...)(Report)
March 30, 2009... The recession we're all experiencing is, unfortunately, having a dramatic impact on individuals with mental illness, who are traditionally underserved in even the best of times, as well as on the community behavioral healthcare organizations...

APA phases out industry-supported symposia.(Report)
March 30, 2009... The American Psychiatric Association (APA) Board of Trustees announced last week that it voted to phase out industry-supported symposia along with industry-supplied meals at its annual meetings. The move, according to the APA, is part of a...

FDA approves first drug for treatment-resistant depression.(BRIEFLY NOTED)
March 30, 2009... U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 20 the approved a new indication for Eli Lilly's drug Symbyax [a combination of olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)], now the first drug...

New research: mental health plan purchasing behaviors.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Brief article)
March 30, 2009... American companies today invest about three cents of every health care dollar in employees' mental health, compared with 10 cents 20 years ago, reported Florida State University (FSU). "Not a lot, considering 32 percent of Americans have a...

New York City to cut mental health programs, jobs.(STATE NEWS)
March 30, 2009... New York City's public hospital system has announced it will cut 400 jobs and close several mental health programs and community clinics, due in particular to the rapidly increasing numbers of uninsured patients, the New York Times reported...

Nebraska launches behavioral health web site.(STATE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 30, 2009... Nebraska residents with behavioral health concerns can visit a newly launched web site (www.dhhs.ne.gov/networkofcare) to find service providers in their area; to learn about diagnoses, legislation, and insurance options; or to connect with a...

AACAP releases guide on oppositional defiant disorder.(RESOURCES)(Brief article)
March 30, 2009... The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has released a new guide, "Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Guide for Families," available for free download in the resource section of the site (www.aacap.org). The guide was...

Carol A. Bernstein, M.D.(NAMES IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 30, 2009... Carol A. Bernstein, M.D., has been appointed president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Bernstein, current APA vice president, is an associate professor of psychiatry, vice chair for education in the department of psychiatry...

Tim Mathern.(NAMES IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 30, 2009... Tim Mathern, a North Dakota state senator, has been awarded the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) Grassroots Leadership Award. Mathern is the public policy and nonprofit development director at Fargo's Prairie St. John's...

Coming up ...(Calendar)
March 30, 2009... The American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists and the journal Current Psychiatry will hold the bipolar and ADHD conference, "Solving Clinical Challenges, Improving Patient Care," on April 2-4 in Chicago.For more information and to register,...

In case you haven't heard ...(traditional model of therapy )
March 30, 2009... A therapist in Somerville, Mass. says he has always derived mental health benefits from playing sports, reported Wicked Local on March 22. Now, he has combined sports with traditional therapy as a new way to address mental health issues. Felix...

NAMI report cards: budget crisis severely affecting state mental health systems.(National Alliance of Mental Illness)
March 23, 2009... At a time when state budget cuts are threatening mental health care overall, mental health leaders in some states weighed in with mixed reactions to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) report released this month. While some states...

Vermont advocates maintain momentum as Senate approves pharm disclosure: transparency gets resounding OK.
March 23, 2009... An attempt in Vermont to toughen disclosure requirements surrounding financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and prescribers is showing no sign of losing momentum. The state Senate last month overwhelmingly passed disclosure...

Mich. budget cuts would end funding for MH courts.(State Budget Watch)(mental health)
March 23, 2009... Michigan mental health advocates and other stakeholders are urging lawmakers to continue funding the state's mental health pilot courts, saying it would be unfortunate if the newly established court programs were brought to a halt before they...

The safety net: a plea to Congress.(FROM THE FIELD ...)
March 23, 2009... The National Council has an ambitious healthcare reform policy agenda that spans the continuum from prevention to the design and implementation of effective services for people with serious mental health and addiction disorders. But we thought...

Schizophrenia study: researchers examine brain wave responses.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Report)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... A study finds that brain wave activity in response to hearing certain tones is reduced in individuals with schizophrenia compared with healthy individuals, reported McClean Hospital on March 17. The study originated from the idea that...

Grants promote follow-up services for those at high risk of suicide.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded six grants totaling $1 million to promote follow-up services for people at high risk of dying by suicide. Six National Suicide Prevention Lifeline...

Iowa legislators in standstill over expanded mental health parity.(STATE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... A proposed mental health parity bill now before the Iowa House (House File 234) would expand coverage well beyond the 2005 mandate, requiring coverage of a much more extensive list of mental health conditions. The law would apply to all Iowa...

Minnesota studies surge in child autism rates in Somali refugees.(STATE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... The Minnesota Department of Health will conduct an investigation of a heightened rate of autism diagnoses among the children of Somali refugees in Minneapolis, reported the New York Times on March 17. Health experts are unclear whether this...

Coming up ...(Calendar)
March 23, 2009... The American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists and the journal Current Psychiatry will hold the bipolar and ADHD conference, "Solving Clinical Challenges, Improving Patient Care," on April 2-4 in Chicago. For more information and to register,...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... Gender stereotype plays an important role in moderating mental illness stigma, according to a study in the February issue of Psychological Science, conducted by James Wirth from Purdue and Galen Bodenhausen from Northwestern University. In a...

Annual summit promotes behavioral health in health and wellness arena.(Exclusive Conference Report: ACMHA Santa Fe Summit)
March 16, 2009... While the push for health care reform tops the nation's agenda, the American College of Mental Health Administration (ACMHA) last week convened its annual Santa Fe Summit with a focus on behavioral health's role in the health and wellness...

Second grading: NAMI sees hopeful signs, but economy could sabotage progress: state systems' grade stays at D average.(Exclusive Conference Report: ACMHA Santa Fe Summit)(national alliance on mental illness)
March 16, 2009... Three years after its pioneering report that exposed serious flaws in the consistency and comprehensiveness of state mental health service systems, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is back to say that states still have a long way...

ACMHA meeting addresses peer support practices, innovations.(american college of mental health administration)
March 16, 2009... Peer support services and programs are helping people with psychiatric disabilities move toward recovery and live a full life in the community, Harvey Rosenthal, executive director of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation...

Offspring of bipolar parents at higher risk of developing the disorder.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... Children with two bipolar parents are at a 14-fold increased risk of developing a bipolar spectrum disorder and a two-fold increase of a mood or anxiety disorder, compared with offspring of healthy parents, according to a study in the March...

Minimal exposure to secondhand smoke increases risk of depression.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Report)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... Confirming and expanding upon earlier Japanese research, a new study suggests that non-smokers regularly exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke at work or at home are more than twice as likely to have major depression. Frank Bandiera, M.P.H., and...

First survey examines mental health of Iraqi population.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Survey)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... "Virtually nothing is known about the mental health of the Iraqi population," according to a new study to appear in the journal World Psychiatry in June (available now at www.wpanet.org). In 2007-8 the Iraq Ministry of Health and the World...

ACMHA presents awards during annual summit.(American College of Mental Health Administration)
March 16, 2009... The American College of Mental Health Administration (ACMHA) handed out a variety of awards during its March 12-14 conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. King Davis, Ph.D., professor and Robert Lee Southard Chair in Mental Health and Social...

Montana's Yellow Ribbon program sets standards for MH care of troops.(STATE NEWS)(mental health)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... With funding from the National Guard Bureau, the Montana National Guard plans to spend about $500,000 this year on its Yellow Ribbon program, an initiative expected to set national standards for the mental health care of returning troops. The...

Program to address co-occurring MH, SA in criminal justice system.(STATE NEWS)(Mental Health)(Substance Abuse)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... The Centerstone Research Institute (CRI) reported March 3 it has secured a $1.2 million federal grant to create and evaluate an evidence-base substance abuse treatment program serving Tennessee adults in the criminal justice system living with...

Guide to implementing comfort rooms.(RESOURCES)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has released a new guide entitled, Comfort Rooms, A Preventative Tool Used to Reduce the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Facilities that Serve Individuals with Mental Illness: Ideas &...

New guidelines provide direction on MH care of youth in foster care.(RESOURCES)(mental health)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... New guidelines to ensure quality care and accountability for mental health services provided in the child welfare system are available on the website of the REACH Institute (Resource for Advancing Children's Health): www.reachinstitute.net....

Coming up ...(Calendar)
March 16, 2009... The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute (NRI) will hold the 19th annual State Mental Health Research Conference on April 14-16 in Washington, D.C. with a theme of "Integrated Health Care: Physical and...

In case you haven't heard ...(Research robots used in mental health)(Brief article)
March 16, 2009... "Robots will never replace human interaction, but they can augment it," said Martha E. Pollack, Ph.D., dean and professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information. The Washington Post reported March 10 that roboticists have the...

Georgia stakeholders object to agreement over state hospital conditions: more discharge planning, community supports needed.
March 9, 2009... A coalition of Georgia stakeholders last week formally filed an objection asking the U.S. District Court to withhold final approval of a settlement that would end a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit challenging abuse and neglect of...

Facing legal challenges, Wisconsin seeks to improve care for female inmates.
March 9, 2009... Against a backdrop of both existing and potential legal challenges, Wisconsin officials find themselves compelled to forge ahead with improvements to mental health treatment for female prison inmates despite the significant budget challenges the...

Bipolar disorder linked to risk of early death from mental illness.(Report)
March 9, 2009... Individuals with bipolar disorder appear to be at significantly higher risk of premature death from a medical illness compared with the general population, according to a study appearing in the February issue of Psychiatric Services. ...

Emmet discusses MH reform at Obama's health summit.
March 9, 2009... President Barack Obama last week launched his push for health care reform with the goal to bring down medical expenses and improve the quality of care for everyone. During the summit, William Emmet, director of the Campaign for Mental Health...

Bill seeks to amend law to terminate parental rights due to MI.(mental illness)(Report)
March 9, 2009... Citing the discrimination of parents with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities, a New York lawmaker last week introduced legislation that would eliminate the termination of parental rights on the basis of mental illness or mental...

Report on failures of CMS consumer programs drafted.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid )(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... The Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service organization, has called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to overhaul its "inadequate" counseling and consumer education programs, the Center announced March 3. According to...

Diabetes increases women's risk for postpartum depression.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Report)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... In the first study to examine the relationship between diabetes and depression in the context of pregnancy and new motherhood, Katy Backes Kozhimannil, M.P.A. and colleagues found that pregnant women and new mothers with diabetes had nearly...

NJ university pilots treatment for PTSD in patients with serious MI.(STATE NEWS)(New Jersey)(post traumatic stress syndrome)(Myocardial infarction )(Report)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) are in the second year of a four-year clinical trial of the first behavioral therapy designed for individuals dually diagnosed with post traumatic stress syndrome...

West Virginia to extend reach of Medicaid benefits.(STATE NEWS)(West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources plans to extend Medicaid benefits to working adults with incomes up to 50% of the federal poverty level, reported the AP/Charleston Daily Mail on February 23, including childless adults....

Kathleen Sebelius.(NAMES IN THE NEWS)(President Obama)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) is President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). While she has accepted the nomination, Sebelius must be confirmed by the Senate. She is in her second term as Governor. Nancy-Ann...

Coming up ...(Calendar)
March 9, 2009... The American College of Mental Health Administration (ACMHA) will hold its annual Summit on Behavioral Health, "Behavioral Health: Embracing Health and Wellness," March 12-14 in Santa Fe, N.M. Visit www.acmha.org for more information. The...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... "We celebrate the power of the mind to make hard choices and keep us on course," reads a February 6 editorial at www.psychologicalscience.org. The writer describes a recent study finding that giving up some of this "power of the mind" might...

California voters to consider two-year raid on Prop. 63 money to balance budget: $460 million at stake in May election.(State Budget Watch)
March 2, 2009... In just over two months, California voters will go to the polls to consider a state funding shift that will at least temporarily hinder the effort they themselves launched five years ago to inject new services and a fresh approach into the...

Federal court decision could aid integration for New York psychiatric consumers.(Disability Advocates, Inc. )
March 2, 2009... Disability rights advocacy groups are lauding a decision last month by a New York federal court to proceed to trial with a lawsuit they filed nearly six years ago seeking the community integration of New York adult home residents with...

Early intervention key to prevent MH disorders in young people.(mental health)(Report)
March 2, 2009... Early interventions can be effective in delaying or preventing the onset of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders (MEB) among young people and the federal government should make such prevention and the promotion of mental health for young...

House Votes to Pass Fiscal 2009 Appropriations Bill
March 2, 2009... The House last week by a vote of 245-178 passed the fiscal 2009 $410 billion omnibus appropriations bill that would fund a range of mental health programs and agencies that have been a continuing resolution in this current fiscal year. The...

Anti-social behavior in young girls predictive of adolescent depression.(BRIEFLY NOTED)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... A study from the University of Washington finds that anti-social behavior in young girls predicted depression in early adolescence. Lead author James Mazza and colleagues studied a group of children for seven years, starting in the first and...

House Passes Bill to Address Child Abuse in Residential Programs
March 2, 2009... The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 (H.R. 911) with strong bipartisan support. The House Committee on Education and Labor reported February 23 that an investigation of...

Maine bill would increase mental health awareness for middle school students.
March 2, 2009... Legislation introduced last month would direct the Maine Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to require the teaching of mental health awareness in middle schools based on a national curriculum. "The Science...

Mass. seeks funding to address growing number of autistic students.(STATE NEWS)(Massachusetts)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... This school year marks the end of a Massachusetts state grant designed to address growing numbers of students on the autism spectrum, reported the Boston Globe on February 15. "We are going to be required to do more with less," said Kim...

NAPHS updates design guide for behavioral facilities.(RESOURCES)
March 2, 2009... The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) has made available the Design Guide for the Built Environment of Behavioral Health Facilities: Edition 3.0. NAPHS wrote on February 4 that since the last edition, new products have...

Rakesh Jain, M.D., M.P.H.(NAMES IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Rakesh Jain, M.D., M.P.H., has been appointed program chair of Psychiatric Congress 2009, which will take place November 2-5 in Las Vegas, Nev. Jain, a leading expert in mental health, is director of psychiatric drug research at the R/D Clinical...

The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF).(CALL FOR APPLICATIONS)
March 2, 2009... The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF) are accepting applications for the 2009 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards, recognizing "individuals and health care organizations that are making significant...

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).(CALL FOR APPLICATIONS)
March 2, 2009... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for FY 2009 grants for the Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who are Homeless program....

Coming up ...(Calendar)
March 2, 2009... The Anxiety Disorders Association of America will hold its annual conference, "Anxiety and Health: Translating Research into Practice," on March 9-15 in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. For more information, visit www.adaa.org. The American College of...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Today people tend to endorse the theory that talking through the experience of trauma is the only way to heal. However, in the context of a collective trauma like the recent crash of Continental Flight 3407, Mark Seery, Ph.D., believes that some...