NEWS FROM MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA

Mental Health America 2014 Annual Conference, September 10-12, Atlanta, Georgia—Parity and the Affordable Care Act: Bridging Gaps to Advance Mental Health. Don't miss this unique opportunity to discuss what we have learned in the process of implementing the Affordable Care and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Acts, and to collaborate to identify next steps and opportunities for action. 

Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of Mental Health America, was interviewed on CNN’s New Day on issues related to mental health legislation in Congress. He also spoke about how mental health issues affected his own family. You can watch the interview here.

Statement of Mental Health America on “Strengthening Mental Health in Our Communities Act of 2014.”

IN THE NEWS
Rates of Suicide Rose in Europe, North America during Recession: New research suggests that the economic recession could be linked with more than 10,000 suicides across North America and Europe. A study found that between 2008 and 2010, rates of suicide rose in the European Union, Canada and the United States. The increase was four times higher among men than women, according to the report published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. In conducting the study, researchers from the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine examined information on suicides from the World Health Organization. The data included 24 countries in the European Union as well as Canada and the United States. The investigators found a reversal in the decline in suicides in the European Union that coincided with the beginning of the economic crisis in 2007. By 2009, suicides had increased by 6.5 percent. Meanwhile, suicides in Canada rose by 4.5 percent between 2007 and 2010. In the United States there was a 4.8 percent increase during this time period, the study found. According to the study authors, these figures are "conservative" estimates. They said that the actual number of suicides since the recession hit are likely much greater than expected. (HealthDay News, 6/12/14)

Colorado Bans Putting People with Mental Illness in Solitary Confinement: Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed legislation ensuring that inmates with serious mental illness will no longer be kept in solitary confinement. The law, which makes an exception for “exigent circumstances,” is part of a trend of state and federal authorities rethinking the use of solitary confinement, as they weigh prison safety against the potential psychiatric impact of extreme isolation. Maine and New Mexico have taken steps to reduce their use of solitary confinement, and Nevada and Texas are studying the issue. The federal Bureau of Prisons has enlisted consultants to study its use of segregated detention. The report is expected by the end of the year. (The Wall Street Journal, 6/6/14)

More U.S. Service Members Receiving Treatment for Mental Health Conditions: About 3.5 percent of U.S. military personnel were in treatment for mental health conditions in 2012—up from just 1 percent in 2000, a new military study finds. Experts say the rise likely due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the military's efforts to get more soldiers into treatment. Past studies have suggested that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and other mental health conditions are much more common in the military than the treatment rates would imply. One found that psychiatric diagnoses among active-duty troops rose from just over 5 percent in 2003, to 9 percent in 2011. The findings, reported in a recent issue of the Medical Surveillance Monthly Report, are based on medical records from active-duty U.S. service members for the years 2000 to 2012. The study found that at any given point in 2012, about one in 29 troops were in treatment for a mental health disorder—which was 2.5 times the rate in 2000. (HealthDay News, 6/13/14)

Union Seeks Federal Investigation of Kaiser Mental Health Services: The National Union of Healthcare Workers has asked the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation into what it says are care delays and falsification of records by Kaiser Permanente affecting thousands of mental health patients. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the union accuses the health system (with which it had been negotiating) of wrongdoings that "mirror" the recently-uncovered practices at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics—like concealing long wait times and awarding bonuses that incentivized managers to keep staffing low. Kaiser Permanente released a statement dismissing the letter as a union ploy aimed at discrediting the HMO in the midst of “protracted” labor negotiations. Kaiser said the union was trying to capitalize on the national scandal surrounding the VA. The union alleges that chronic under-staffing at Kaiser mental health programs has resulted in long wait times for people seeking individual therapy, and that it manipulated its records to conceal these wait periods from state inspectors. (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 6/12/14)

Expanded Coverage for Young Adults under ACA Increased Inpatient Hospital Visits for Mental Health: Expanded coverage for young adults under the Affordable Care Act substantially raised inpatient hospital visits related to mental health, a new study finds. Researchers caution that the finding might not be good news. Greater hospital use by the newly insured might be caused by inadequate outpatient resources to treat mental health patients earlier and less expensively. The study, based on a big national sample from community hospitals, found the law also increased young people's hospital use. Total inpatient visits for those aged 19 to 25 increased 3.5 percent compared with people aged 27 to 29, who couldn't be on their parents' plans. Mental health admissions increased much more—by 9 percent. A large portion of psychiatric admissions came through emergency departments. The study did not look at the volume of outpatient mental health care. But even if they had, they wouldn't have produced a final answer on the effectiveness of expanded coverage. (MedPage Today, 6/11/14)

IN DEPTH
The New York Times reports on “New Findings on Timing and Range of Maternal Mental Illness.”
Pacific Standard looks at laws that allow a state to terminate a parent’s connection to a child if authorities conclude a mother or father has a mental illness.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper takes part in an experiment to help understand how people live with a mental illness.
AP reports on continued long waits for VA mental health care.
California Health Report looks at “Despite Need, Indigenous Farmworkers Have Little Access to Mental Health Services in California.”

LATEST RESEARCH
PTSD, Depressive Episode Increases Risk for Preterm Birth: Women with both Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode were four times more likely to have a preterm birth, according to a new study. Among 2654 women in the study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers found little increased risk of premature birth (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy) in women suffering from depression alone. Initially PTSD appeared to be a potent risk factor, but they found risk was only elevated for those individuals who had both PTSD and depression.  All analyses controlled for use of harmful substances and for antidepressants. Previous studies had found an increased risk of late term premature birth—after 34 weeks but prior to 37 weeks gestation—in women taking antidepressants. (MedPage Today, 6/12/14)

4 Million Uninsured People With Mental Illness Will Be Denied Health Insurance Because Their Home States Refuse to Participate in the ACA Medicaid Expansion Program

Nearly 75 Percent of These 4 Million Uninsured People With Mental Health Conditions Reside in 11 Southern States That Opted Out of the New Program
Alexandria, Va. — A new groundbreaking study shows that nearly 4 million people with mental illnesses who are uninsured reside in the 25 states that have refused to participate in the Medicaid Expansion program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many of these individuals have severe mental health conditions and currently have no health insurance coverage through any public or private plan, but will be denied the opportunity to obtain coverage for treatment since those states have refused to participate. States declining Medicaid Expansion represent 55 percent of all uninsured people with major mental health disorders who are eligible for coverage in the new health insurance access initiative.

The comprehensive study — “Dashed Hopes, Broken Promises, More Despair: How the Lack of State Participation in the Medicaid Expansion Will Punish Americans With Mental Illness,” released by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) — shows that 6.7 million uninsured people with a mental illness are currently eligible for coverage under the Medicaid Expansion that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2014. But the majority of these individuals with mental health conditions will be left out in the coverage cold due to their state’s antagonism toward the Medicaid Expansion health insurance initiative.
Key findings from the AMHCA report include:

• Nearly 4 million uninsured people (3.7 million) who have a serious mental illness, are in serious psychological distress or who have a substance use disorder are eligible for health insurance coverage through the new Medicaid Expansion program in the 25 states that have rejected participation in the initiative.

• Nearly 75 percent (2.7 million adults) of all uninsured persons with a mental health condition or substance use disorder who are eligible for coverage in the non-expansion states (3.7 million), reside in these 11 Southern states that have rejected the Medicaid Expansion: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

• More than 1.1 million uninsured people who have serious mental health and substance abuse conditions live in just two states — Texas (625,000) and Florida (535,000). These more than 1.1 million individuals are eligible for coverage under the new Medicaid Expansion program, but won’t receive it. Since officials in Texas and Florida (and other 23 states) have said they will not participate in the initiative, they are leaving their most vulnerable citizens without health insurance, even though the federal government will pay for it (at 100 percent for the first three years of the program and slowly tapering off to 90 percent in 2020 and thereafter). The funds for this are already included in the federal budget.

“If the 25 states do not participate in the new Medicaid Expansion program, uninsured citizens with mental illness who experience the misfortune of residing in those states will see their hopes of a healthier and better life dashed when they learn during the enrollment process that they will not be able obtain health insurance,” said Judith Bertenthal-Smith, president of AMHCA.

States expanding Medicaid will have enhanced capacity to meet the needs of millions of previously uninsured people with mental illness, which will intensify the treatment disparity gap between states. The 25 non-expansion states will be further left behind as those states that do expand Medicaid will see an influx of new federal monies to shore up their mental health systems, which have witnessed ruinous cuts since 2000.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that the new Medicaid Expansion program — which started on Jan. 1, 2014 — is an optional program; states can opt into or out of it at any time without incurring penalties. But states that perpetually opt out of Medicaid Expansion will hurt people with mental illness.

“The burden of mental illness in the U.S. is incredibly high due to increasing numbers of uninsured people with mental health conditions. The lack of health insurance coverage keeps people with mental illness from obtaining needed services and treatments — and follow-up care — that lead to achieving long-term recovery and improving their quality of life,” said Joel E. Miller, executive director and CEO of AMHCA and author of the “Dashed Hopes” report. “Health insurance is the passkey to good, timely health care services, and state policymakers in 25 states are locking people out of the system.”

To read the full report, please visit www.amhca.org/assets/content/AMHCA_DashedHopes_Report_2_21_14_final.pdf.
Joel Miller, AMHCA executive director and CEO, is available for interviews.
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) works to enhance the profession of mental health counseling through advocacy, education, licensure and professional development. 

Posted at http://www.vancomm.com/2014/02/4-million-uninsured-people-with-mental-illness-will-be-denied-health-insurance-because-their-home-states-refuse-to-participate-in-the-aca-medicaid-expansion-program/

People with Mental Health Conditions More Likely to Use E-Cigarettes

 People with mental health conditions were twice as likely to use electronic cigarettes, according to a new study. They were also three times more likely to be current users of e-cigarettes than people without mental health conditions. About 15 percent of people with mental health conditions had tried e-cigarettes and about 3 percent were currently using them, compared with 6.6 percent and about 1 percent, respectively, among those without mental health conditions. More than 10,000 Americans were surveyed by the study authors, who found that nearly 28 percent of current smokers said they had mental health conditions, compared with about 13 percent of nonsmokers. More than 60 percent of smokers with mental health disorders said they were likely or very likely to try e-cigarettes in the future, compared with about 45 percent of smokers without mental health conditions, according to the findings published online in the journal Tobacco Control. (HealthDay News, 5/13/14)

Shared Decision-Making Guide Available from SAMHSA

Reposted at http:/www.darkestcloset.bloggerspot,

Shared Decision-Making Guide Available from SAMHSA
Released in September 2011, Shared Decision-Making in Mental Health Care: Practice, Research, and Future Directions is a nationally-developed resource providing an overview of shared decision-making (SDM), an intervention that enables people to actively manage their own health.  This free guide examines research on the effects of SDM in general and mental health care and includes specific recommendations for advancing SDM in practice. Download or order the guide.

http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Shared-Decision-Making-in-Mental-Health-Care/All-New-Products/SMA09-4371

Wipe out the stigma of mental illness

Reposted at http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/17/opinion/kennedy-mental-health/

By Patrick J. Kennedy, Special to CNN
Editor's note: Patrick J. Kennedy is the former U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district, serving from 1995 until 2011. He is a son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

(CNN) -- Fifty years ago, we stood at a moral crossroads as a nation.

The day was June 11, 1963. That morning, then-Gov. George Wallace attempted to block integration of the University of Alabama with his futile "stand at the schoolhouse door." Hours later, civil rights leader Medgar Evers would be gunned down in the driveway of his home by a white supremacist. In between, my uncle, President John F. Kennedy, took to the airwaves in a historic televised address on civil rights -- one that would forever change the way our nation perceived the struggle for racial equality.

"We are confronted primarily with a moral issue," President Kennedy said that night, hours before Evers was killed. "It is as old as the Scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution. The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities." You can listen to his speech here.

It was a seminal moment in our history. President Kennedy defined for the nation the struggle for equality not just as a constitutional or legal issue, but as a moral one as well.
Five decades later, we're again at a crossroads as a country. As we mark the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's famous speech, the question he asked the American people that evening from the Oval Office remains strikingly relevant -- shouldn't all Americans be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities?

Sadly, when it comes to the treatment of people with mental illness, addiction and brain injury, equality remains unattained.

In America in 2013, thousands of our fellow citizens are still marginalized. They are still discriminated against. They face stigma every day. Today, too many Americans are told that they're less entitled to health care than those who have diseases like diabetes or cancer or asthma, just because the origin of their illness is in their brain. Without equality, or parity, insurers can refuse to cover mental illnesses at the same level as other physical illnesses, making it harder for people to get well and often further isolating them in their struggle. Together, we must change that.

The words [President Kennedy] used to describe the insufficient attention and resources devoted to mental health in 1963 could still be said today.
Patrick J. Kennedy

Eliminating the stigma of mental illness -- and finally achieving parity for its treatment -- is the next chapter in America's civil rights movement.

When I represented Rhode Island in Congress, I fought for the rights of people with mental illness, and was proud to sponsor -- along with my father, Sen. Ted Kennedy -- the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act to provide access to mental health treatment for tens of millions of Americans who previously were denied care. Signed into law by President Bush in 2008, this landmark legislation requires health insurers that offer coverage for mental illness and substance use disorders to provide those benefits in a no more restrictive way than all other medical and surgical procedures covered by the plan. This was a proud moment for me, but those with mental illnesses are still waiting for some pieces of this law to be implemented.

For those with mental illness, this October marks another landmark 50th anniversary -- President Kennedy's signing into law of the historic Community Mental Health Act. This legislation, and the words he used to describe it, laid the foundation for contemporary mental health policy.

These historic dates are important to remember, but as we look back, we are reminded not just of inspiration and achievement, but also where we have fallen short. Because while President Kennedy set us on the right course, the words he used to describe the insufficient attention and resources devoted to mental health in 1963 could still be said today: "This situation has been tolerated far too long. It has troubled our national conscience -- but only as a problem unpleasant to mention, easy to postpone, and despairing of solution."
He then said, "The time has come for a bold new approach."

This October, as we mark this important occasion, I am proud to launch the inaugural "The Kennedy Forum," an annual event that will serve as a vehicle to honor President Kennedy's efforts, celebrate the progress made in the past half-century, and rededicate the entire mental health community to further progress. We have to eradicate the stigma of mental illness once and for all, and treat mental illness equal to other physical illnesses, so that all Americans can lead dignified lives and share in the benefits of our society.

We are confronted with a moral issue but also a historic opportunity. We have the chance to take action and live up to the principle upon which America was founded: that all people are afforded equal rights and equal opportunities.

Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter. Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion. 

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Patrick J. Kennedy.

National Practice Standards for Peer Recovery Supporters

National Practice Standards for Peer Recovery Supporters: Comments Welcome

A draft of the National Practice Standards for Peer Recovery Supporters is open for public comment until June 24, 2013. When finalized, the National Practice Standards will be used to set policy and shape the future of peer support services. If you have already commented on the draft, thank you for your input. Please be sure to share this opportunity with others. Every voice matters! The deadline for comments is June 24, 2013. To access the draft, visit http://na4ps.wordpress.com/national-standards. Reposted at http://www.darkestcloset.blogspot.com,

the Connection Between Tobacco & Mental Health

Posted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

I am serving as a presenter for SOPHE’s webinar, “Determining the Connection Between Tobacco & Mental Health” coming up on June 20, 2013.

We are at our registration capacity (125 people) for the live webinar, but the webinar will be posted/archived to SOPHE’s Center for Online Resources (CORE) within two weeks of the presentation. Anyone can create a free CORE account or log in with their SOPHE username and view the presentation.

Thank you for your interest. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or are searching for resources.

Sincerely,
Kristen Frame
kframe@mail.com

Deep brain stimulation appears to be safe for obese patients

Deep brain stimulation appears to be safe for obese patients
Deep brain stimulation appeared safe and helped two of three severely obese patients who failed to lose weight following weight-loss surgery to shed pounds temporarily, according to a study in the Journal of Neurosurgery. Researchers noted some short-lived side effects associated with the procedure, including nausea and anxiety. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (6/13)

Get Set! National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2013 is Just around the Corner

Get Set! National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2013 is Just around the Corner This July, organizations across the country will be taking part in this year's celebration. We come together this time of year in recognition of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to keep building awareness of the importance of mental health and supports in every community. Don't be left out. To help you get ready to take part, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) are organizing a series of planning webinars. These webinars are designed to help interested individuals and organizations big and small plan a variety of community events.

 

Please mark your calendar with the following dates and watch for updates to come: History and Highlights: Learn about National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Wednesday, April 24, 2013 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT Learn about how Bebe Moore Campbell, loving mother, NAMI member and respected author, inspired this special month to increase public awareness of mental health among minority communities and increase access to services and support. Now what can you do? The session will provide an overview of available resources to help you plan your own event and celebrate the month. Presenters: ·         Dr. Linda Wharton Boyd, Special Assistant, DC Department of Health -- Was a personal friend of the late Bebe Moore Campbell and played an active role in the dedication of NMMHAM in Campbell’s honor. ·         Elicia Goodsoldier, NAMI Colorado Board of Directors -- Recipient of the 2012 Boulder County Multicultural Award. Register now!

 

Are You Ready? Planning and Preparing for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Wednesday, May 15, 2013 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT Already have an idea or plan for July? Share it! You may find some new ideas too. This webinar will provide customizable resources and concrete examples of activities from previous years. Whether you plan to recognize this month personally or with a group, this webinar will equip you with the tools and suggestions for a successful endeavor. Presenter: ·         Cecily Rodriguez, VA Department of Behavioral Health Register now!

 

Our Strength and Support: Celebrating National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Wednesday, July 17, 2013 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT A panel of inspiring presenters will share their perspectives on mental health in minority communities, emphasizing the strengths of our cultural communities to come together to find support and carry a banner of hope for all individuals touched by mental illness. Presenters: ·         Bassey Ikpi, The Siwe Project ·         Ramey Ko,Partner at Jung Ko, PLLC; Associate Judge at Austin Municipal Court Register now!

Guidebook for African Americans and Mental Health

Jonathan Wolfe   Psychiatric News   |   May 04, 2012 
 

A new guidebook and DVD for African Americans with mental health concerns provides educational material while addressing the still-pervasive stigma that often keeps people from seeking treatment.

While emotional strength and determination have enabled many members of the black community to overcome great adversity throughout history, African Americans are still just as likely to suffer from a mental illness as white Americans.

This is just one of the facts highlighted in Mental Health: A Guide for African Americans and Their Families, a new free public-education tool developed by APA in partnership with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Composed of a 35-page guidebook and a DVD, the culturally tailored consumer-oriented program focuses on the unique experience of a community in which racism, discrimination, poverty, and lack of health insurance may limit access to effective mental health treatment.

The guidebook notes, for example, that African Americans are more likely than those of other races or ethnicities to visit a health care clinician with complaints of physical symptoms that are actually the manifestation of an untreated mental illness.

And negative associations with mental illness may also pose a barrier to members of the black community seeking mental health care, according to the guidebook, with one study finding that African Americans are much less willing than white Americans to take medication for a mental illness.

“The stigma is real in the African-American community when it comes to mental illness,” says former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., now director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, in the guidebook’s 22-minute companion DVD. “The good news is that we now know so much more about mental illness than we did before.”

Also providing commentary on the DVD about the different types of mental illness and how best to treat them are Tracee Burroughs, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, and Michael Torres, M.D., medical director of Universal Counseling Services Inc. in Baltimore and president of the Center for the Integration of Spirituality and Mental Health.

In addition, the DVD features several African Americans speaking about their experiences with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The guidebook and DVD also highlight the role that spirituality and “pastoral counseling” often play in providing additional support to members of the black community who are dealing with mental illness.

“APA looks forward to disseminating widely this valuable resource to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness in the black community and to encourage treatment-seeking and a recovery-oriented approach to psychiatric care among African Americans with mental health needs,” said Annelle Primm, M.D., M.P.H., director of APA’s Office of Minority and National Affairs. 

“Mental Health: A Guide for African Americans and Their Families” is available via e-mail at apa@psych.org or by phone at (888) 357-7924. The guidebook and a video of the DVD content are also available for download on APA’s Web site atwww.psychiatry.org/practice/professional-interests/diversityomna/diversity-resources/----mental-health--a-guide-for-african-americans-and-their-families.

 Reposted at http:/www.darkestcloset.blogspot.com

http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1130387