Mental Health Information Center: Support

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Consultation on new ways to provide services in the field of mental health, the British Psychological Society

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The British Psychological Society launches online public consultation on its proposals for access to mental health, on Thursday, 16 October. These proposals were developed as part of the company in response to negotiations with the Ministry of Health (MOH) on future plans for mental health. Psychologists call for stronger emphasis on the psychological well-being through the NHS. They call services, taking into account the people of the broader social needs, as well as his medical diagnosis.

The company also supports the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for psychological therapy and offers a new national network of health centers and psychological well-being.

The centers, services in the field of mental health through the NHS. In addition, similar services are currently separated from the other agencies - including the Social Welfare Education, Job Center Plus and services offender management.

* Professor Peter Kindermann, president of the Society of Psychologists in the Commission of Health and Human Services, said: "Our report serves to illustrate some of the ways in which the psychologist can help put the latest government policies. We welcome the Government continues to invest in services in the field of mental health. But demand is growing as professionals and members of the public benefits of psychological therapy.

"Psychologists are now an important contribution in many areas of life, including health, employment, education and sports. Our proposals for the declaration of trust in science and psychological therapy can help people come back from mental problems, better performance and to improve their welfare.

"Mental health problems covers four adults in their lives. We have this advice because I think it is important to the audience the opportunity to express their opinion."

source : The British Psychological Society [http://www.bps.org.uk ]

In general, cancer patient care

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Statistics speak for themselves: more than 40% of Americans will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lives. Fortunately, advances in medical technology and understanding, we often can be an effective treatment for cancer. Nevertheless, in general, less successful in the care of mental and social needs of cancer patients. Cancer patients often need assistance in learning skills and knowledge to manage their disease. They and their loved ones, also need assistance to deal with emotional problems, find transportation and other resources and the fight against interruptions in the work, school and family life.

These unmet needs, could cause more suffering and the patient may prevent full payment of debt. In treating illness rather than the entire people, our health care system to ensure efficient and quality care.

The Institute of Medicine report, for the treatment of cancer patients of all: meeting mental health, [1] suggests the level of provision of psychosocial services at regular assistance biomédica.

This level of attention processes include:

Identify psychosocial health needs;
Connect patients and families to needed services;
Support them in managing the illness;
Coordinate the psychosocial and biomedical healthcare; and
Follow-up on care delivery to evaluate the effectiveness of the services.

Successful implementation of this plan, all stakeholders in the process - from cancer specialists for health insurers - must act independently and collectively.

That vision attention not only for patients with cancer, but for all people with the disease. Redefine care for all patients, we can help ensure high-quality medical care.

That is my opinion. I am Dr. Harvey Fine Berg, president of the Institute of Medicine.

Source : http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/580158?src=rss

20 drug FDA Watching

Thursday, September 11, 2008

2007 federal law requires the FDA to disclose all its investigations into allegations of drugs, possibly associated with side effects. Today, the list of the first of this series of quarterly reports. The list includes the adverse events reported between 1 and 31 January in March 2008. FDA officials said that they would be "several weeks or months" before the recent reports are accepted.

All reports from the FDA on the list of early warning systems for drugs already on the market. This Adverse Events Reporting System (AERS) collects reports of patients, hospitals, doctors and pharmaceutical companies, the suspects may have problems - or not - in connection with drugs.

The fact that drugs in the list does not mean that it is not safe - or even suspicion that causes problems. No one should stop receiving the drug just because it is on the list, said, FDA.

"If the drug on the list, it means that we have already begun to analyse see if there is security gap, further evaluation", Gerald Dal Pan, MD, MPH, director of FDA surveillance and epidemiology, said in a press conference.

If the evaluation, FDA without any further warnings or all-clear, Dal Pan said.

Here is a list of drugs and "adverse events" - side effects - reported to the AERS database:

Product Name: Active Ingredient (Trade) or Product Class	Potential Signal of Serious Risk/New Safety Information
Arginine Hydrochloride Injection (R-Gene 10)	Pediatric overdose due to labeling / packaging confusion
Desflurane (Suprane)	Cardiac arrest (heart stops working)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)	Urinary retention
Etravirine (Intelence)	Hemarthrosis (blood in a joint)
Fluorouracil Cream (Carac) and Ketoconazole Cream (Kuric)	Adverse events due to name confusion
Heparin	Anaphylactic-type (life-threatening allergic) reactions
Icodextrin (Extraneal)	Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Insulin U-500 (Humulin R)	Dosing confusion
Ivermectin (Stromectol) and Warfarin	Drug interaction
Lapatinib (Tykerb)	Hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity)
Lenalidomide (Revlimid)	Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a deadly drug reaction)
Natalizumab (Tysabri)	Skin melanomas (deadly skin cancer)
Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)	Overdose due to labeling confusion
Octreotide Acetate Depot (Sandostatin LAR)	Ileus (bowels not moving)
Oxycodone Hydrochloride Controlled-Release (OxyContin)	Drug misuse, abuse, and overdose
Perflutren Lipid Microsphere (Definity)	Cardiopulmonary reactions (lung/heart problems)
Phenytoin Injection (Dilantin)	Purple glove syndrome (discoloration, pain, and swelling of the hand that may lead to amputation)
Quetiapine (Seroquel)	Overdose due to sample pack labeling confusion
Tebivudine (Tyzeka)	Peripheral neuropathy (tingling or numbness in the extremities)
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers	Cancers in children and young adults

Report did not say how many people were affected by the possible reaction of drugs, and did not give any indication of its seriousness.

"Our security measures, experts see the seriousness of the case, when we see more than a certain type of event, we should not expect, if there is anything new and did not know about drugs, or whether it is known, but may require refinement of our Knowledge ", Dal Pan said.

"This expands our commitment to the public and health care in the community abreast of what we appreciate," Paul Seligman, MD, MPH, FDA deputy director of security policy and communications, said at a press conference.

Source : http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/580145?src=rss

Obama addressed the health exception to abortion

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (Illinois), in an interview last week with Christian magazine said that "mental anguish" should not be used as an excuse for "late term abortions, AP / Google.com reports.

In an interview, Obama said: "Well, I do not believe that" mental anguish "qualifies as a mother of health. I think it is still a serious problem that is a natural during pregnancy, when there are real important questions for parents on child complete. " Last year, after the United States - The Supreme Court confirmed the decision that the ban on federal (PL 108-105) in the so-called "partial birth" abortion, Obama said that "totally rejects" the decision because "radically different from previous precedents, the health of pregnant women. " According to AP / Google.com, the health exception is "vitally important" for abortion-rights supporters and is considered a "loophole" opponents of abortion. By limiting health exception "serious physical problems," Obama, among other supporters of abortion rights, AP / Google.com reports (Kuhnhenn, AP / Google.com, 7 / 4).

January Crawford Green Castle - correspondent for ABC News, includes the Supreme Court, and provides legal analysis on the blog, ABC News "legal" - Obama stated that the declaration of perspective ", in contrast to 35 years of Supreme Court rulings on this issue, which always requires That the ban on abortion contain exceptions to permit procedures for the protection of women "mental health", as well as their physical health. "She said that Obama is the support of that law said - and away from support of freedom of choice of law, rights, it is one of the sponsors ", provides a much broader definition of mental health, he explained that this week." Green Castle notes that the Dow concentration problems against Bolton, the leading Supreme Court case decided on the same day in Roe v. manager in 1973, said a doctor may decide to conduct an abortion on the basis of "all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, family and woman, age - in terms of well-being of patients. After Green Castle, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia ", expressed the view that" mental health "exception was not necessary. "(Green Castle," legitimacy ", ABC News, 7 / 5).

The official position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, which was approved in May, Obama said that "except for medical psychiatric problems that may occur during pregnancy. Tyazhesti fetal anomalies, for example, can exact a huge emotional in the pregnant woman and her family." V recent statement in response to interview Obama, the group, said Obama views that are consistent with Roe v. Wade, and added that Obama "has serious statements against President Bush's Federal banning abortion, have no exceptions to protect women's health." Tommy Vietor, Obama press, said: "Obama argued that laws which restrict contain exceptions for abortions, should be health and life of the mother." (AP / Google.com, 7 / 4).

Obama on Saturday to clarify its position and said: "I said that you should have a health exception in many important restrictions or bans on abortion, abortion later date." He added: "My only point is that in an area such as partial birth abortion, mental [or] Health exception can be determined with precision. It can be defined by physical health [and] may be determined by clinical serious mental Diseases. "He said:" Now I do not believe that "mental anguish" qualifies as a mother of health ", adding:" I think it is still a serious problem that is a natural during pregnancy, when there are real problems for mother Child allowances. " Obama campaign representative Linda Douglas, said Senator makes a difference in an interview with the relevant medical diagnosis of mental illness and the nature of mental anguish that is not planned pregnancy can cause. "Fear is not a mental illness," said Douglas, adding: "zero Cree and always said there should be no exception for physical health and serious mental illness" (James, "swamp", Chicago Tribune, 7 / 5).

Green Castle writes that makes Obama so that the comments as "surprising" that the senator is trying to limit abortions after 22 weeks for those women who have serious illness or disease. But today, the law also covers some women are "mental anguish", these women may be affected emotionally and psychologically, without prejudice to abortion "(" legal ", ABC News, 7 / 5).

Rove attacks Obama stand against abortion

In related news, former Bush administration chief of staff Karl Rove on Friday during the speeches members of the National Council the right to life Obama attack from their positions on abortion, while praising Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (Arizona) for their values , New York Times "In Conclave", reported. During his speech said that Rove Obama threatened "to strike all the good deed that has [NRTL] Done for decades" in the framework of its support for freedom of choice Law and other measures , An abortion rights.

Obama is a man who receives and said that brings Republicans and Democrats together to great things for the country ", Rove said, adding:" How can [Obama] argue that to do if he [is] at the same time support the separation of practice the use of U.S. taxpayer funding of abortion? You can not. You can not square circle ". Rove also noted that Obama has a zero rating NRTL and 100% rating from NARAL. Rove also attacked Obama recent efforts to court" for the lives of leaders and values "and try to" convince them that it is reasonable person ". Rove said:" I understand that you are trying to do ", adding:" But there is a difference between talk and act. "Obama" actions over many years are much more important than any words he could, in private conversation. "

In response to comments made by Rove, Vietor, said that "Obama is working for the presidency, the country together and end kind of political division perfection by Karl Rove" (Falcone, "The Conclave", "New York Times, 7 / 4 ).

Reprinted with permission type http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You see, all Report Daily Women's Health Policy, search archives, or subscribe for delivery by e-mail here. Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Association of Women and Family Affairs, published by the Advisory Board Company.

adapted from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

New scholarships for leaders of the bipolar life

Monday, July 7, 2008

What do you do if you want to know about bipolar community scholarships for people with bipolar disorder, but soon found that support for students is still too rarely bipolar? Why sacrifice a scholarship course.

Bipolar disorder, lives fellowship is the new scholarship, created when the journalist Sara Freeman added web pages in scholarships for bipolar manic-depressive illness, lives site, but found only a handful of acceptable prices does not exist. "I was shocked and sad about the lack of support and realized that I could do something right." According to scholarship donors Sara Freeman, "bipolar disorder constantly in the news at the moment. This is a lot of good in terms of awareness and destroy some myths about bipolar. However, this new understanding must be accompanied by practical measures to promote and support the bipolar community. Many people with bipolar disorder are very talented, but did not realize their potential. tertiary education seems the ideal place to concentrate. "

Bipolar disorder, lives scholarship is the annual price, as well as materials for the first prize was signed on July 4, 2008. Fellowships support research, reflection and creativity in communicating important information about the manic-depressive illness. According to organizers http://www.Bipolar-Lives.com scholarships, there is a shortage of scholarships for higher education for consumers of mental health services and scholarship will be beneficial for applicants for assistance enrolled in U.S. school, college or technical school or trade .

Scholarship, which is free to solicit offers cash price of $ 500.00.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, studied in the United States. You must be an original essay, art, or work in multimedia format gives an important issue in connection with bipolar disorder. This may be evidence based on research, or can be learned from personal experience. Possible topics include the treatment of bipolar bipolar symptoms, husband and wife relationship and bipolar manic-depressive illness, lithium, nutrition and bipolar, and many others. Full list of proposed issues and reporting requirements in bipolar disorder, lives on the site. Winners will be a chance for dignity and plays any role.

For more information about bipolar disorder, lives scholarships, please contact Sarah Freeman or visit http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-scholarships.html

adapted from Bipolar-Lives.com

Meditation is good for psychiatrists' mental health

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Meditation sessions proved to be a success for the members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists at its annual meeting at Imperial College, London - the growing number are on the argument that the spiritual discipline against anxiety and burnout.

Meditation workshops under the guidance of college spirituality 2000 - a strong group of special interests, are overbooked. "How to be a reference to the need for spiritual food, that the members of the College not so easily to the outside world," said Dr. Sarah Eagger, Chairman of the Group of spirituality.

Dr. Eagger, consultant psychiatrist at St. Charles Hospital, London, said that his daily practice of meditation is so important in their daily work, as their medical training. "The strength of spiritual practice really happening in his own when the patient is in distress himself, while dealing with pressure of work in groups with a huge burden, and then have to spend time filling forms that you think are not reliable. I have enough . Without the practice of meditation to cultivate the area was still inside, I want to suffer burnout. "

Dr Andrew Powell, founder Chairman of the Group of spirituality, said: "There is the degree of concern in the profession to be caught up in a culture of measurement and in the box score. The result is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to practice Psychiatry, anxiety and concern for our patients to maintain human values and not caught up in "us and them" mentality. "

Nevertheless, many psychiatrists struggle to understand the importance of spirituality to their work, the meeting was told. Julia Head, a specialist chaplains in the Maudsley Hospital in London, told the conference that spirituality is increasingly recognized as an important part of good mental health.

"National Institute of Mental Health in England, is only the latest body to recognize the limits of modern medicine with the recommendation that experts in the field of spiritual support and physical therapy, including drugs," said Dr. chief, coordinates "the exploitation of training programmes for mental health 300 Specialists in areas of London Southwark and Lambeth.

"Experts should encourage hope and desire for change and the possibility of recovery. Nevertheless, the idea of healing, in contrast to clinical treatment, is that alien to many experts," he said. "You feel trapped in a culture where measuring clinical activities is a priority. It is time to realize that in order to support their patients recover, they must feel the assessment and allow time for their own growth."

The meeting also said that the evidence for the therapeutic benefits of meditation for a wide range of health problems was significantly stronger than most drugs. The new meta-analysis of 823 randomized controlled trials of meditation in which the United States - the National Institute of alternative and complementary medicine, showed clinical benefits of meditation through a wide range of physical and emotional disorders.

"Meditation is a way of life, not a rapid solution achieved through the payment of eight sessions or to use tricks, such as smoking, music and light", Dr Avdesh Sharma, former president of Psychiatric Association of India, he said. "It does not work immediately. We need to practice for several weeks before the consequences will be felt gradually."

Dr. Sharma added: "If meditation is a drug that we all want to see it in action. He has a positive influence on most of the problems of physical health and very effective for mental health significantly reduce depression and improve Fear relaxation, oxygen to the brain, insomnia and energy. "

Reference:

The Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Imperial College, London, 1 - 4 July 2008

adapted from www.rcpsych.ac.uk

Death of patients in a psychiatric hospital in New York presents mental health crisis

Friday, July 4, 2008

Death of woman in Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, demonstrates the need

for more public services for people with mental disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

According to newspaper reports, the woman suffered from psychosis and agitation, is still waiting in the emergency room for nearly 24 hours because the hospital was clearly not a place for psychiatric patients. He fell to the floor and put it about an hour before emergency personnel tried to revive them. Unfortunately, women died from causes that have not yet been determined.

"The question is how and why the hospital staff can ignore that person, fell to the ground in an emergency or war, and went around them when they died," said APA President Nada Stotland, MD "However, the lack of emergency The patient psychiatric services only part of a global health crisis, and that includes mental health. "

Stotland pointed to the lack of state and municipal center of mental health services, which are used for intervention to avoid a crisis that would lead to the person who will help in an emergency, poorly equipped to prevent such crises. It is a fact that most hospitals financial losses for mental health services, and may also play a role, thin as a high priority to hospital, where mental health.

"Incidents of this kind reflect a complete breakdown of mental health," said Stotland. "There is little continuity of care, but there are only a few are not adequately funded outpatient services so that repeated mental breakdowns, visits to the emergency room, and the need for hospitalization in the sickest people. Personala and emergency treatment for patients with heart attacks and broken Boneless, faces hundreds, sometimes thousands of critically ill patients with mental problems, often compounded by general medical illness, homelessness, ill-treatment and lack of insurance. "

Lack of resources leads to a permanent reduction in the number of beds for these people. At the same time, many times hospitals have no emergency room physician in the use of the ability to handle psychological problems. Limited access to necessary services can only intensify the feeling of stigma, many patients believe, to seek mental health care problem in the first place.

"The time for action long before the person is in a state of emergency to require hospitals ill-equipped to combat it," said Stotland. "The tragedy is that we know how to help these people recover and remain useful members of society, unnecessary suffering and ends costs society as much or more than enough attention to cost. Our society is not the largest network of basic security for our most vulnerable citizens. "

adapted from http://www.psych.org

The declaration of the death of mental health patients in psychiatric emergency room at Kings County Hospital

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Reports of the death of mental health patient Kings County Psychiatric Hospital emergency room are deeply troubling and need more investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Given the problems that arise in the first federal complaint a year ago, should also provide greater control of hospital management and practices.

Mental Health America is feared that the incident showed the general public to reduce the relationship that people with serious mental disorders in public systems. We appeal to those who are our revulsion at such actions in the fight against ignorance and discrimination that still exists against people with mental illness. If people are properly treated, even with the most serious diseases and can be restored. Hope and respect are key elements of the regime. The devaluation of the most prolonged incapacity, and probably contributes 25 years of life lost for people with serious mental illness, are in government systems.

The incident is a tragic example of systemic problems in the field of mental health, if necessary mental health, it is often used as a last resort and not as an initial reaction, and when medical problems are too often not recognized and treatment.

System problems that go far deeper than failures in psychiatric emergency services. By its very nature, rescue services are not enough alternatives for many people whose disease can be managed before they can cause a crisis

On the contrary, this tragic incident demonstrates the real crisis in mental health services - the inability to adequately invest in the beginning of his speech and other community services and supports, even though hospitals have reduced the possibility of psychiatric beds. The facts are that more than two-thirds of the adult population and more than half of children with a diagnosable mental condition did not receive psychiatric treatment and services they need. At the same time, people with serious mental illness in the public system, on average die 25 years earlier than planned, to prevent health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

What we discuss and debate health reform, "These data underscore the importance of striking that the reforms in the field of mental health is an important part of the health care system needed reform.

Mental health is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization to support all people live mentally healthier. With over 320 branches across the country, which is a growing movement of Americans who strengthen mental wellness for the health and welfare of the nation - every day and in times of crisis.

adapted from www.mnha.org

Study of mental health coverage in the health sector initiatives by the State

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

"Insurance coverage for all: The inclusion of mental disorders and substance use disorders government initiatives on health reform," the National Alliance for mental illness / National Council for Community Behavioral Health: Research shows that more than one in four U.S. adults are uninsured or mental illness Substance disorder, or both, and that government initiatives aimed at expanding health insurance for uninsured people often do not include provisions relating to mental health. Study examines the efforts of the health system in 18 countries and makes recommendations on the integration of mental health reporting in the public health programmes (U.S. / National Council for Community Behavioral Health release in June 2008).

Reprinted with permission type http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can download the entire Kaiser Daily Report Health Policy, search archives, or subscribe to the delivery of mail at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. Kaiser Daily Health Policy, published kaisernetwork.org, a free service of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

adapted from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Scottish murder and suicide rates, fueled by drink and drugs

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Alcohol and drug addiction means Scots, almost two times more likely to kill or their own lives, compared with people in England and Wales, published research shows.

Results of the National University of Manchester confidential investigation of the killings and suicides of people with mental disorders (NIR), also show that the number of psychiatric patients to commit murder or suicide was proportionally much higher in Scotland.

"Lessons for the mentally ill in Scotland report, in Scotland, raises these high mortality rates north of the border for alcohol and drugs, as among the population in general and mental health patients.

NCI examined all suicides and murders in the total population in Scotland, as well as those committed by persons in support mental health services, and compared their results for England and Wales.

Suicide rates in Scotland equate to 18.7 per 100000 population, compared with 10.2 per 100000 in England and Wales, while murder rates north of the border was 2.12 per 100000 people, compared with 1.23 at 100000 in England and Wales. North and South is the highest among young people, the report found.

"During the period of training - six years for suicide and five years for murder - there were about 5000 suicides, homicides and 500 in Scotland," said Louis Appleby, professor of psychiatry and director of the NCI. "But the survey showed that only 28% of people her own life and 12% of the murderers, recently mental health patients.

"It was a positive recent decline in suicides among the general population of Scotland, but the most striking features of Boards north of the border is much higher than that in England and Wales.

"Even murder in Scotland is significantly higher than in England and Wales. But unlike the performance of suicides, homicides domestic prices are high mainly because of the high prices in some parts of the country, namely Glasgow and Argyll and Clyde."

In Scotland, as in England, Wales and elsewhere in the report notes that the murder was a crime committed mostly young people, against young people. The Panel noted that in the cases studied, alcohol and drugs often took a weapon, and usually a knife or other sharp objects.

"The drugs and knives are dangerously confused, so that the political reaction to these deaths are due to focus on alcoholism and drug addiction among youth and bear arms sheet of young people," said Professor Appleby.

"The growing number of crimes, killing in recent years, is the result of an increase of killings of young people, mostly men under the age of 25 years, but most of them are not mentally ill. This is a public health approach should be focused on the murder of alcohol and drugs, mental health until the disease.

"Alcoholism and drug addiction on the basis of these results, and that seems to be an important contribution to the risk for mental health and society at large. The results indicate that alcohol and drugs in Scotland are high suicide and homicide, and how often occurring as background in our report, frightening. "

Of the 1373 patients in the report was suicide history of alcoholism in 785 cases on average 131 deaths a year, the stories of drug abuse in 522 cases and 87 deaths per year.

Of the 58 patients, reported murders, 41 were stories of alcoholism and drug abuse were 45. Of all the authors, whether patients, drug addiction and alcoholism are the most common diagnoses. In both suicide and murder, most of them are not under the control of passions.

"Our results confirm the view that alcohol and drugs are the most pressing problems in the field of mental health in Scotland and psychiatric care can play its role", said Professor Appleby, based in Manchester School of Medicine and Humanities.

"They must ensure that frontline medical staff are qualified and confident in the assessment and management of abuse that the development of services dedicated dual diagnosis, and to establish close relations with groups of drug addiction."

The report also makes the following recommendations for clinical care:

Specialist mental health teams, outreach services for patients who are at risk of losing contact with caution

Fundamentals follow discharge after hospital, that risk management in the cooperative and patient and community groups

More intensive monitoring of patients recently hospitalized

Withdrawal of ligature points patient stations

Prevention of room air into the hall of improvements in environmental protection and strict control exits

Carefully assess risk during the prior consent to discharge from hospital
To improve mental health for young people who have greater access and early intervention

Clinical positive approach to risk management in a dialogue with the public

An analysis of the reasons for detention of offenders with severe mental illness.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.

People with mental illness wait longer in emergency departments and psychiatric units of hospitals nearby, according to poll

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Almost 80% of hospitals say that the mentally ill would be admitted to hospital must wait, sometimes for four hours or more to be admitted because of a lack of psychiatric beds and mental health personnel for the Study of the American College of Emergency Physicians, USA Today reports. For comparison, 30% from the hospital, said patients not seeking psychiatric care had to wait four hours or more before they are admitted.

For the study, ACEP officials surveyed 328 emergency medical directors. The study also found:

Approximately 10% of directors, said psychiatric patients waiting more than the average per day;

84% of directors said Ed would reduce the waiting time for all patients if their psychiatric hospitals provide better service;

Half of the respondents psychiatric hospital units, while the remaining patients to other facilities, and

61% of those surveyed hospitals do not have the staff ED psychiatric care for patients while they wait, but patients who received the attention of other medical problems.

Number of beds in psychiatric hospitals in the U.S. community had fallen 12% since 2000, compared with a decrease of 4% of the total number of hospital beds, according ACEP.

According to James Bentley from the American Hospital Association, clinics, psychiatric units have begun to close because of low payments from government programs and health insurance, uncompensated services to uninsured patients and the shortage of psychiatrists to work in hospitals. Bruce Schwartz, director of psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center, said: "For people needing to register because they are psychotic or severe depression, which can be very unpleasant, disturbing, confusing time" (Appleby, USA Today, 6 / 17).

taken from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Ouststanding Young Advocates Recognized For Raising Awareness of Mental Health Issues

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Mental Health America presented six outstanding young advocates with mpower awards for their exceptional efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues among America's youth at the Dinner and Awards Ceremony of its 2008 Conference, No Health Without Mental Health, June 7, 2008, in Washington, D.C.

A Mental Health America youth awareness campaign, mpower is supported by hundreds of musicians nationwide and reaches teens and college-age adults at concerts, in the classroom, over the Internet and through the media to help them get informed, get help and get involved with one of most debilitating health care dilemmas facing Americans today: untreated mental illness. These six outstanding award winners demonstrated extraordinary initiative and leadership in undertaking steps to combat stigma and champion mental health awareness and treatment among their peers.

Awarded 2008 mpower awards were:

Brad Luthe, 16; Wichita, Kansas

Brad has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and a deep commitment to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, especially among his peers. His personal experience has motivated him to share his story and educate youth and adults about what it's like to live with a mental health condition and what stigma feels like, as well. A Power Point presentation and interactive workshop he developed shed light on discrimination and stigma and encourage others to re-think the way they view people living with a mental health condition. Through the presentation, Brad also talks about his own personal experiences, sending the message that you can have a mental health condition and live and be well. In addition to giving the presentation before the state government and at schools and national conferences, Brad is an active member of Youth LINK (Leaders in Kansas) Consumer-Run Initiative and President of the Wichita/Sedgwick County Peers as Leaders Consumer-Run Initiative, a local peer-to-peer group for teens with mental health conditions.

Eric Vasilevskis, 18; Samuel Lewis Little, 18; Tom Corcoran, 17; Nashville, Tennessee

Eric, Samuel and Tom are sending a clear message to their peers: help is available, and it's okay to seek help. After the loss of a close friend by suicide, these three young men appeared in a public service announcement to let teens know that help is available; they don't have to go it alone and suicide is not the answer. The public service announcement is being aired on the local NBC affiliate and has resulted in a significant increase in calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for the middle Tennessee region. Eric, Samuel and Tom's participation in the public service announcement has helped reduce stigma among their peers by putting a real face to an important issue, making it okay for other youth to talk about mental health, depression and suicide.

Jared Sherman, 16; Toledo, Ohio

Jared has been a mental health advocate since the age of 8. Motivated by his own personal experience, and with the support of his mother, Dorene, Jared founded Rainbow Kids, a support group for children of parents living with a mental health condition. Over the past eight years, Rainbow Kids has evolved into Generation Y Youth Depression Awareness and Suicide Prevention Program, an independent 501(c) (3) organization of which Jared is President. In addition to his work with Generation Y, Jared has spoken at conferences, in classrooms and communities in his state and around the country, sharing his story and experience to educate others and raise awareness. And he's encouraged other youth to do the same.

Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation - everyday and in times of crisis.

Taken from MentalHealthAmerica.Net

Mental Health America Honors Outstanding Mental Health Advocates for Dedication, Innovation and Outreach to Underserved Communities

Mental Health America honored four leading mental health advocates today for their tireless efforts to improve conditions for mental health consumers, during its 2008 Annual Conference, featuring the Inaugural Promotion and Prevention Summit in Washington, D.C.

"Their compassion, dedication and optimism should serve as a benchmark for all of us in the advocacy community," said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. "Mental health consumers and their loved ones are the core of the mental health movement, and I am proud to honor such remarkable individuals."

The Clifford W. Beers Award - Harold House (Indianapolis, IN)

The Clifford W. Beers Award is named for the founder of Mental Health America and America's volunteer mental health advocacy movement. Created in 1976, the Beers award is the highest honor bestowed to an individual, and is presented annually to a consumer of mental health or substance abuse services who best reflects the example set by Beers in his efforts to improve conditions for, and attitudes toward, people with mental illnesses.

On June 6, Mental Health America awarded its highest honor, the Clifford W. Beers Award, to Harold V. House of Indianapolis for combating negative social stigma of mental illness, fighting for legal protection for mental health consumers, and creating programs within his community that help young people with emotional problems develop full, productive lives. House, who has survived bouts of clinical depression in the mid-1990's, has spent the last decade teaching and counseling at-risk and incarcerated youth in his community.

Sandy Brant Volunteer Service Award - Becky Kay (Greenville County, SC)

Mental Health America honors Becky Kay, president of the board of directors for Mental Health America of Greenville County, with the Sandy Brant Volunteer Service Award. In her more than 8 years of volunteering with the support group Survivors of Suicide, Kay-herself a survivor-has built the program into a regional authority on survivor support. Under Kay's leadership, people in need can find a full range of services, including support team calls and home visits, monthly peer support groups, and programs for children and teens.

Betty Humphrey Cultural Competency Award - Mental Health Association in Greensboro (NC)

The Betty Humphrey Cultural Competence Award honors a Mental Health America affiliate for outstanding achievements in creating culturally-competent services that address racial, ethnic and cultural disparities. The 2008 winner, Mental Health Association in Greensboro, NC, is recognized for its Latino Mental Health Campaign. Launched in September of 2006, the campaign has successfully built a network of Latino advocates and bilingual service providers in a community where such support was lacking.

Innovation in Programming - DeAndre Morris (Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas)

Mental Health America recognizes DeAndre Morris, director of Pathways Programs for the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, with The Innovation in Programming Award honoring creativity in program development and implementation. Under DeAndre's leadership, the 20-year-old Pathways Program has grown from a substance-abuse prevention program into a comprehensive, evidence-based model that addresses not only substance-abuse, but also school attendance and performance, violent behavior, and social and emotional development. Schools that have employed Pathways say there is a noticeably positive change in students' attitudes and behaviors, and many request further assistance from the Pathways team in high-stress situations at school and in the community.

For more information on local services, visit Mental Health America's online Frequently Asked Questions section at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/faqs, contact a Mental Health America affiliate, or contact Mental Health America. Mental Health America strongly encourages people in crisis to seek help immediately. A 24-hour crisis center can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 911 should be called for immediate assistance.

Taken from MentalHealthAmerica.Net

Recognize Excellence In Mental Health Journalism (Mental Health America 2008 Media Awards)

Mental Health America will honor twelve professional and student journalists for outstanding coverage of mental health issues tomorrow at a Media Awards luncheon held during its Inaugural Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Summit in Washington, D.C.

"The Media Awards bring together the very best mental health stories in print and broadcast media during 2007," said Mental Health America President and CEO, David Shern, Ph.D. "Informative and thought-provoking journalism is a powerful form of education and we applaud these journalists for helping shape public understanding of these critical issues."

Mental Health America 2008 Media Awards winners include:

Local Television
WTHR (Indianapolis, IN), "Help Me, I'm Dying," by Anne Marie Tiernon

National Television
Keeping Kids Healthy/WNET (New York, NY), "Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia - A Life Interrupted," by Susan Berger Sabreen, Rich Sabreen, Anja Baron and A. Thomas Tebbens

Local Radio
WNYC (New York, NY), "Cities Embrace New Ways to Handle Confrontations Between Cops and the Mentally Ill," by Arun Venugopal

Advice Columns
The Palm Beach Post, "Kicking Depression" Weekly Column, by Christine Stapleton

Local/Regional Magazines
Dallas Child, "Diagnosing Joey: Unraveling the Mysteries of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder," by Jenny B. Davis and Shelley Hawes Pate

National Magazines
Ladies' Home Journal, "Broken Promise," by David France and Diane Salvatore

Newspapers with a Circulation Below 100,000
East Valley Tribune (Phoenix, AZ), "Pam's Story," by Mary K. Reinhart and Patti Epler

Newspapers with a Circulation Above 100,000
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Hidden Shame" Series, by Alan Judd and Andy Miller

Students Journalism
Columbia Missourian/Associated Press, "Looking for a Way Home," by Jennifer Whitney

Photo Essay
The Los Angeles Times, "Breakdown: A Family's Struggle with Mental Illness," by Robert Gauthier

National Reporting
The Nation, Series on the "Personality Disorder" Scandal, by Joshua Kors

Timely Coverage of a Mental Health Issue
The Wall Street Journal, "The Price of Privacy" Series, by Elizabeth Bernstein and John Blanton

A volunteer judging panel of media professionals selected the winning entries for their educational value, outstanding quality, comprehensiveness and creativity in addressing timely issues in mental health. Members of this year's panel represent such reputable media outlets as CNN, National Journal, The Nation's Health, U.S. News & World Reportand Voice of America.

Mental Health America's Inaugural Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Summit is being held June 6-7, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The two-day event, held during Mental Health America's 2008 Conference, brings together the foremost leaders in the field to explore the latest in promotion and prevention science and set a course for promoting wellness in individuals, communities and the nation at large.

Get Ready for the 2009 Media Awards!

The Mental Health America 2009 Media Awards competition will honor reporting and portrayals of mental health issues in news and features stories, on national, state local and student levels and in print, online and broadcast media. Mental Health America will distribute nomination guides in early 2009. To sign up for our mailing list, please email mediaawards@mentalhealthamerica.net.

Taken from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Autism In Children And Mental Disorders In Parents Linked

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Parents of children with autism were roughly twice as likely to have been hospitalized for a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia, than parents of other children, according to an analysis of Swedish birth and hospital records by a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researcher and colleagues in the U.S. and Europe.

The study, "Parental psychiatric disorders associated with autism spectrum disorders in the offspring," appears in the May 5, 2008, issue of the journal Pediatrics.

"We are trying to determine whether autism is more common among families with other psychiatric disorders. Establishing an association between autism and other psychiatric disorders might enable future investigators to better focus on genetic and environmental factors that might be shared among these disorders," said study author Julie Daniels, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UNC School of Public Health's epidemiology and maternal and child health departments.

"Earlier studies have shown a higher rate of psychiatric disorders in families of autistic children than in the general population," she said. "We wanted to see if the parents of autistic children were more likely to be diagnosed with mental disorders.

"Our research shows that mothers and fathers diagnosed with schizophrenia were about twice as likely to have a child diagnosed with autism. We also saw higher rates of depression and personality disorders among mothers, but not fathers," Daniels said.

This information will help researchers look among related diseases, such as psychiatric disorders, for causes of autism, Daniels said. "It may eventually help identify opportunities to prevent or treat the disorder."

The study examined 1,237 children born between 1977 and 2003 who were diagnosed with autism before age 10, and compared them with 30,925 control subjects matched for gender, year of birth and hospital. The large sample size enabled researchers to distinguish between psychiatric histories of mothers versus fathers in relation to autism. The association was present regardless of the timing of the parent's diagnosis relative to the child's diagnosis.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.

Coauthors of the study include Ulla Forssen, Ph.D., GlaxoSmithKline epidemiologist, Collegeville, Pa.; Christina Hultman, Ph.D., Sven Cnattingius, M.D., Ph.D. and Par Sparen, Ph.D., all of the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; David Savitz, Ph.D., director of the Center of Excellence in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Disease Prevention, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York; and Maria Feychting, Ph.D., Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

School of Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose

Source: Patric Lane
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Source : www.medicalnewstoday.com

Benefits of Mental Health Support Groups

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Unlike physical disorders, mental illnesses are often not recognizable and difficult to identify. This makes these disorders a lot harder to understand leading the sufferers to believe that they are alone in their suffering and that help is unavailable. Top these with their own conviction that there is no way to heal them and that the disorder is too embarrassing.

These beliefs are true to most mental health patients making it hard for them to seek treatment or comfort, to say the least.

In response to changing these views, mental health support groups were created to help patients know that there other people experiencing the same disorders that they experience which lead them to seek treatment. These also make them feel that there is hope to their suffering and could motivate them to stick to their treatment. For some, its their groups that provide the support system they lack.

What is a Mental Health Support Group?

A support group is a gathering of people with a common goal or interest. Translated into mental health, it is a group of people who have similar sufferings and provide moral and emotional support to people like them. Usually, these support groups focus and specialize on a specific condition. For example, it is rare to find a depression support group that also covers schizophrenia. This need to specialize is driven by the fact that a psychiatric or mental disorder is a very complicated issue thus requiring a specific direction.

Support groups could be used in conjunction with formal and professional treatment and are often confused with group psychotherapy sessions. Group therapy is different in support group in such a way that the former requires a formal and pedagogical setting. This forms a group of people with similar disorders and subjected under the guidance of qualified mental health professional.

A support group could be formed by anyone who has a need to establish this type of group or who have a particular interest on the services that could be gathered from this group. It could be a patient of a specific mental disorder, a family member of someone who has a mental illness- virtually anybody. More organized support groups, however, are formed by mental health providers, non-profit organizations or mental clinics. Oftentimes, this type is controlled by a facilitator or a moderator who is knowledgeable enough in the field as to qualify him to manage the group.

Members of a support group are usually patients of mental illnesses. Someone suffering from unipolar or bipolar disorder is normally found on support groups focusing on these specific disorders or on a broader disorder like that of depression.

The most popular format of support groups is through internet which is broader in scope both in audience and varieties of topics. However, a customized but very limited type of support group is the person-to-person format or through telephone. Lack of more personalized support is the common disadvantage of joining online support groups.

A mental health support group could augment the professional treatment you receive but the services you get from this group should never be treated as substitute to your medical and psychological treatments. This group could open you up to reality and may even give you new hope, but remember that treatment for a mental illness is not all about will power.

Privacy Policy

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

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