Mental Health in the Headlines: Week of July 26, 2010

mental health in the headlines

Week of July 26, 2010

Mental Health in the Headlines offers summaries of the latest news and views in the mental health field. Coverage of news items in this publication does not represent Mental Health America's support for or opposition to the stories summarized or the views they express.

Mental Health in the Headlines will not publish the next three weeks. Next issue: August 23

*DID YOU KNOW?

People with schizophrenia are at increased risk for general medical injuries while in the hospital…more

*TODAY’S NEWS

Americans With Disabilities Act Turns 20

Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, one of the country's landmark civil rights measures. Advocates say the law has transformed America, changing basic perceptions and expectations of the role of people with disabilities. And it has created an important obligation for the country to create and achieve inclusion and access, which has made the United States a world leader in safeguarding and promoting equal rights for all. (The New York Times, 7/25/10)

Groups Criticize Treatment of Detainees with Mental Health Conditions

Two civil rights groups are calling on the government to improve the way it treats immigrants with mental health conditions who are facing deportation hearings. A report issued by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union finds that they have little or no legal help in deportation hearings, including no right to appointed counsel, inflexible detention policies, and lack of coordinated services. The groups say the federal government has taken steps recently to improve services. And the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which arrests and detains people facing deportation, will host a national forum in September seeking input from mental health experts on ways to improve its practices. (The Washington Post, 7/25/10)

New Rules Issued Under Health Reform Gives Consumers More Rights

The Obama administration issued regulations last week giving consumers new and expanded rights to appeal denials of health insurance claims. The rules, part of the new health care law, will make it easier for consumers to dispute an insurer's decision within the plan and require coverage to continue during the appeal.

Consumers will have the right to an independent, third-party review of insurers' decisions. (USA Today, 7/23/10)

Study Finds Mental Health Budgets Decline

Mental health budgets are being cut around the world despite increased demand caused by the economic downturn, a new study reports. The programs most affected by the cuts were inpatient adult services, clinic adult services, inpatient children's services, clinic services for children, and targeted case management services for children, according to findings published in the International Journal of Mental Health. Although many countries have cut services, some nations are maintaining funding. Great Britain dedicated stimulus money for treating workers who have lost their jobs and are suffering anxiety and depression. In China, Hong Kong's health authority is reportedly increasing psychiatric training for doctors and nurses, specifically in response to recession-related mental health problems. (ScienceDaily, 7/25/10)

Number of Troops Discharged for Mental Health Issues Rises by 64 Percent

The number of soldiers who were discharged because of psychological issues rose by 64 percent since 2005, Army statistics show. One in nine discharges is now related to mental health reasons. Discharges among soldiers with a general medical and mental health issue also increased, up 174 percent since 2005. Last year, 1,224 soldiers with a mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, received a discharge. (USA Today, 7/23/10)

ACLU Says Illinois For-Profit Nursing Homes Using Scare Tactics

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing Illinois for-profit nursing home operators, charging they are using "scare tactics" to persuade patients with mental health conditions to stay in their facilities. The state has entered into a tentative court settlement to offer supportive community-based housing and treatment to roughly 4,500 psychiatric patients who now live in two dozen large nursing homes. The settlement says residents who want to leave and who pass a screening can relocate to subsidized apartments or group homes, but those that want to remain in the facilities may do so. The nursing home operators strongly deny the allegations and say they're raising legitimate concerns about whether the state will make good on its pledge to provide the needed housing and services. (Chicago Tribune, 7/21/10)

Record Number of Drugs Under Development for Mental Health Conditions

A record number of drugs to treat mental health conditions are going through research and development, according to a pharmaceutical trade group. A total of 313 drugs are either in clinical trials or seeing approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The largest number, 90, would treat forms of dementia, and 71 would treat depression. (The New York Times, 7/19/10)

Further Reading

Great Britain’s Guardian newspaper examines Hollywood’s treatment of mental health and the movie “Shutter Island.”

The Commonwealth Fund has issued a report that examines the efforts made in Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island to develop mental health systems of early identification and intervention for children from birth to age 5.

Latest Research

Daughters of Alcoholic Parents at Increased Risk for Mental Health Conditions: Daughters of alcoholic parents have a greater risk than sons of having mental health and substance use conditions, a new study asserts. Researchers analyzed data from more than 23,000 males and almost 17,400 females included in the U.S. National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. They found that the daughter of an alcoholic mother had a 50 percent increased risk than a son of such mothers for developing bipolar or a schizoid personality disorder. A daughter of an alcoholic mother has an increased risk of abusing substances that is about one-third greater than it would be for their brothers, according to the study, published online in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Sons of alcoholic parents do show an increase in certain risks. A son with an alcoholic father has a 37 percent increased risk of developing bipolar mania than a daughter. And a son with an alcoholic mother also has an increased risk of developing panic disorder than a daughter's risk. (HealthDay News, 7/20/10)

People with Schizophrenia at Increased Risk of Injury in Hospital: People with schizophrenia are at increased risk for medical injuries while in the hospital, a study finds. Researchers examined discharge records from 3,605 U.S. hospitals between 2002 and 2007. The findings, published in General Hospital Psychiatry, show that people with schizophrenia were more likely to experience injuries—such as postoperative respiratory failure, bed sores, sepsis and infection—while hospitalized than other people. One reason is that doctors may not take general medical complaints seriously because of the patient’s mental illness. (HealthDay News, 7/23/10)

PTSD Affects Women, Men at Different Ages: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects men and women at different ages, a new study shows. Women are most vulnerable to between ages 51 and 55, while men are more prone to the condition from ages 41 to 45. Danish researchers analyzed data from 6,548 participants in previous PTSD studies and found that the total prevalence of the condition was 21.3 percent. The condition was twice as common in women as in men. (HealthDay News, 7/21/10)

*HEADLINES at Mental Health America                                  

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*Mental Health America MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Mental Health America has an online diagnostic tool that tests for some basic mental health problems—anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Takeaway, “How Do You Know if You Need Mental Health Care,” July 19, 2010

Stay Up to Date With More News, Views and Tools

• New national survey shows economic downturn taking toll on Americans’ mental health
• Survey reveals obstacles to health care for people who have schizophrenia
• New report reveals link between states’ depression status and access to treatment
• Join Mental Health America’s Advocacy Network  
• Check out previous issues of Mental Health in the Headlines

Mental Health in the Headlines is produced weekly by Mental Health America. Mental Health America's Mental Health in the Headlines staff: Steve Vetzner, senior director, Media Relations; Robert Redpath, director, Web Technology.

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