Mental Health in the Headlines: Weeks of December 29, 2008; January 5, 2009
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.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Implementing smoke-free policies can lead to fewer hospitalizations resulting from heart attacks...more
*TODAY'S NEWS
State Budget Shortfalls Causing Mental Health, Medicaid Cuts
Faced with severe budget shortfalls, states across the country are cutting mental health agencies’ operations. A report released by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute finds states are finding it difficult to shield clients from the impact. Many states are also cutting Medicaid because of budget gaps. The program, which is jointly funded by states and the federal government, provides health insurance for the poor—and is the biggest or second-biggest expense in every state’s budget. Some 19 states have already lowered payments to hospitals and nursing homes, eliminated coverage, and forced some people out of the program. States are hoping an economic stimulus package from Washington will help offset revenue losses and prevent deeper cuts. (Mental Health Weekly, 01/05/09; WSJ.com, 12/26/08)
Obama Health Care Meetings Seek Grassroots Support for Reform
Over 8,500 informal health care meetings were held over the last two weeks of 2008 to discuss ideas about reforming the current system. The incoming Obama administration invited Americans to hold the forums to illustrate the need for reform. The meetings are also designed to create grassroots support for an overhaul of the health care system. (The Washington Post, 12/30/08)
Community Health Centers Grew During Bush Presidency
Although the number of uninsured and the cost of coverage have ballooned under his watch, President Bush leaves office with a health care legacy in bricks and mortar: he has doubled federal financing for community health centers, enabling the creation or expansion of 1,297 clinics in medically underserved areas. For those in poor urban neighborhoods and isolated rural areas, including Indian reservations, the clinics are often the only dependable providers of basic services like prenatal care and childhood immunizations. Despite the clinics’ unprecedented growth, wide swaths of the country remain without access to affordable primary care. President-elect Barack Obama was a sponsor of legislation as a senator that would have quadrupled federal spending on the program. And his choice to become secretary of health and human services, former Senator Tom Daschle, has said that financing should be increased, describing the health centers as “a godsend.” (The New York Times, 12/25/08)
Latest Research
Smoke-free Laws May Cut Heart Attacks: Implementing smoke-free policies may lead to fewer hospitalizations resulting from heart attacks, according to a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers studied the impact of smoke-free ordinances implemented in Pueblo, Colorado, in July 2003. The study, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, found that although 399 people were hospitalized for heart attacks before any smoke-free laws went into effect, that number dropped to 237 three years after the law's introduction, a 41 percent decline. (Reuters, 01/02/09)
Gene Linked to High Blood Pressure Identified: Researchers report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that they have identified a gene variant that may make people more likely to develop high blood pressure. The gene produces a protein involved in regulating the way the kidneys process salt in the body—a key factor in determining blood pressure. The finding may lead to better treatment of what is formally called hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke. (Reuters, 12/30/08)
Smoking Linked To Heart Problem: Current and former smokers of cigarettes are up to 50 percent more likely than other people to develop the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, a study in the American Heart Journal indicates. The disorder occurs when there’s abnormal electrical activity in the heart that causes the organ’s upper two chambers to beat with an uncoordinated rhythm. (Reuters, 12/26/08)
Depression Common In People With Chronic Lyme Disease: Researchers report in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism that depression and the chronic pain syndrome fibromyalgia are common in people who have chronic Lyme disease and seem to correlate with poor functional outcomes. A study evaluated the prevalence and role of psychiatric "co-morbid" illness and psychological factors in 77 patients with chronic Lyme disease and a similar number of patients without the condition. The term chronic Lyme disease describes patients with persistent Lyme disease despite prior treatment with a conventional 2- to 4-week course of antibiotics. (Reuters, 12/26/08)
Women Who Are Abused Seek More Help For Infants Than Other Women: Women who are victims of domestic abuse are more likely than other women to seek health care for their infants, researchers report in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. The researchers speculate that women who are abused may be hypervigilant in looking for infants’ potential health problems, their children may have higher rates of health problems than other children or seeking health consultation is a way of seeking “safety” for themselves and their infants. (Reuters, 12/24/08)
*Mental Health America MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
“Protecting and strengthening our ‘mental health' couldn't be more important given the stressful times we live in,” said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. “Mental wellness allows one to cope and deal well with daily life and the challenges it brings - at home, work and in life.” Mental Health America offers simple steps to help families cope with anxiety over tough economic times. Wabash Plain Dealer, “Are you feeling the economic strain,” December 29, 2008
Money worries are the most common cause of holiday stress, according to Mental Health America. Parents are more stressed than other groups by finances and females are more likely than men to feel stressed by finances. Montgomery Advertiser, “The keys to financial health,” December 23, 2008
Mental Health America will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2009. The organization has played a leadership role over the last 100 years around every major mental health initiative, said David Shern, PhD, president and CEO of Mental Health America. Mental Health Weekly, “Mental Health America celebrates 100 years of advocacy, support,” December 22, 2008
Stay Up to Date With More News, Views and Tools
- View highlights of Mental Health America’s 2008 Annual Conference featuring the Inaugural Promotion and Prevention Summit
- Save the Date: Mental Health America's Centennial Conference - June 10-13, 2009, Washington, D.C.
- Mental Health America’s 2008 Media Awards honor excellence in reporting of mental health issues
- Survey reveals obstacles to health care for people who have schizophrenia
- New report reveals link between states’ depression status and access to treatment
- Donate to our Resource Center and help save lives
- Share your story on realLIVES
- 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; Sarah Jones, communications coordinator; and Hazel Moran, senior director, Healthcare Reform.
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