NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REACH AGREEMENT ON CARE FOR CITIZENS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

RALEIGH, N.

C., Aug. 23 -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Justice today reached an agreement on the state's plan to offer more choices of where and how citizens with serious mental illness receive care and supportive services.

The plan, which was announced last month, will create housing slots in the community to offer the choice of community-based care for many adults with serious mental illness. It will also invest in job training and employment assistance for those citizens and will set up a comprehensive, 24/7 crisis care program for people with a serious mental illness.

This agreement will modernize our mental health system and ensure that North Carolina is providing the best possible treatment for adults diagnosed with severe mental illness. It will also provide the opportunity for many of these individuals to live in community settings if they choose to do so, and ensure that North Carolina is fully complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws.

This agreement is similar to ones signed by governors of a number of other states including, among others, the governors of Virginia and Georgia.

DHHS Secretary Al Delia agrees that more should be done to ensure access to community-based treatment for those with mental illness. 'North Carolinians who have a serious mental illness have a right to choose the very best care environment to meet their personal needs,' he said. 'That choice - whether they live in the community or in an adult care home - will be supported with access to mental health and other support services that will be available in part due to this agreement. Moving forward with a solution to help them identify and access those choices is the right thing to do,' he said.

'Disability Rights NC applauds the Governor and Secretary Delia for their leadership on this matter. They have not only done the right thing to protect the rights of people with disabilities, they have helped the state avoid costly litigation and destabilizing uncertainty,' said Vicki Smith, executive director of Disability Rights NC.

The agreement outlines DHHS's plan of action to provide community-based services to people with mental illness. The budget the General Assembly passed in July expressly contemplated a settlement and appropriated funding to make this agreement possible. The timeline for completing the plan is eight years; this transition period will enable people who want to move to community-based settings to do so on a workable timetable and will allow sufficient time for North Carolina's mental health infrastructure to implement this agreement. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

REP. PRICE SECURES FUNDING FOR WAKE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

Rep. David Price, D-N.C. (4th CD), issued the following news release:

The U.S. House today approved a bill containing funding to support new mental health services in Wake County. The $300,000 in funding was requested by Congressman David Price (D-NC). As the News & Observer[1] reported in May, 'Since...2003, Wake County has had no general hospital capacity for people in psychiatric distress.' The state's Dorothea Dix mental health facility was used by the County for this purpose, and with the impending closure of Dix, Wake County's capacity to provide hospitalization and other mental health care to its citizens will be challenged. In response, Wake has partnered with Holly Hill Hospital to expand that facility's psychiatric ward to include a total of 44 new beds for short-term, acute mental health patients. The funding secured by Price will help provide the expanded mental health services. 'Wake County is working hard to ensure that its citizens are guaranteed access to mental health care,' Price said, 'and I'm glad to support their efforts in Congress. When local health resources severely depleted, the first to lose out are the uninsured and the working poor. With this new facility, we will plug a widening gap in mental health coverage for the citizens of Wake County.'

The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill (H.R. 3043)[2] passed the House by a vote of 276-140. The Senate is expected to consider the legislation in September.

Other key provisions of the bill approved by the House today:

* Makes college more affordable by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $390.

* Helps raise the achievement levels of America's students by providing increased funding for the No Child Left Behind Act by $2 billion. A common criticism of the education program is that it labels schools 'failing' without providing critical resources to address shortcomings.

* Invests in initiatives that will provide access to health care for more than 2 million uninsured Americans, including an increase of $66.8 million to address mental illness and substance abuse disorders through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

* Invests in life-saving medical research by providing a $750 million increase for the National Institutes of Health, which supports much of the research in the Research Triangle.

[1] http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/581851.html

New Mental Health Study Findings Have Been Reported by Researchers at Purdue University.(Clinical report) - Mental Health Weekly Digest

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Mental Health Weekly Digest -- Research findings on Mental Health are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting out of West Lafayette, Indiana, by NewsRx editors, research stated, 'Previous research has shown that military women often experience potentially severe health outcomes following deployment. Data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a 21-year longitudinal study examining the health effects of military service, were used to examine this issue.'

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Purdue University, 'In longitudinal analyses (20012008) carried out among US military women (n 17,481), the authors examined positive screens for depression, anxiety, panic, and posttraumatic stress disorder in relation to deployment in support of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while adjusting for relevant baseline and time-varying covariates. Women who were deployed and reported combat-related exposures had greater odds than nondeployed women of reporting symptoms of a mental health condition (odds ratio 1.91, 95 confidence interval: 1.65, 2.20), after adjustment for demographic, military, and behavioral covariates. In addition, higher stress, problem drinking, and a history of mental illness were significantly associated with increased risk of later mental health conditions. In contrast, women in the Reserves or National Guard and those with higher education were at decreased risk of mental health conditions (all P s 0.01).'

According to the news editors, the researchers concluded: 'As the roles and responsibilities of women in the military expand and deployments continue, designing better prevention and recovery strategies specifically for women are critical for overall force health protection and readiness.'

For more information on this research see: Prospective Evaluation of Mental Health and Deployment Experience Among Women in the US Military. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2012;176(2):135-145. American Journal of Epidemiology can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press Inc, Journals Dept, 2001 Evans Rd, Cary, NC 27513, USA. (Oxford University Press - www.oup.com/; American Journal of Epidemiology - aje.oxfordjournals.org)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting A.D. Seelig, Purdue University, Human Dev & Family Studies Department, Military Family Res Inst, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States (see also Mental Health).

Keywords for this news article include: Indiana, United States, Mental Health, West Lafayette, Public Education, Risk and Prevention, North and Central America

Study data from University of Queensland update knowledge of mental health. - Biotech Week

According to a study from Wacol, Australia, 'In this pilot study, we compared teams in rural North Carolina (NC) and urban Massachusetts (MA) to examine the how sites vary the implementation of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model to respond to state and local circumstances.'

'We analysed and compared data on: client characteristics using the NC-TOPPS and a modified survey in MA; Regional Demographics and; Team Characteristics. Issues such as driving distances, lack of qualified clinical staff, scarcity of physicians, and more limited oversight created impediments to fidelity in rural NC, despite higher per patient funding,' wrote D. Siskind and colleagues, University of Queensland (see also Mental Health).

The researchers concluded: 'ACT is now national, but variability in implementation of the model remains.'

Siskind and colleagues published their study in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research (Comparison of Assertive Community Treatment Programs in Urban Massachusetts and Rural North Carolina. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 2009;36(4):236-246).

For more information, contact D. Siskind, University of Queensland, Queensland Center Mental Health Research, Level 3 Dawson House, Pk, Wacol, Qld 4076, Australia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research is: Maik Nauka, Interperiodica, Springer, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013-1578, USA.

Keywords: Australia, Wacol, Clinical Trial Research, Mental Health, University of Queensland.

'CHANGEMAKERS' RECOGNIZED AT MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS CONFERENCE NATIONAL COUNCIL'S 2011 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE.(Conference news) - States News Service

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The following information was released by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare:

To speak with award recipients or national experts on mental health and addiction disorders, contact Meena Dayak at 301.602.8474 or MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org.

San Diego, CA, May 3, 2011 -- Some of the nation's best and brightest in mental health and addictions services are being honored with Awards of Excellence today at the 41st National Council Mental Health and Addictions Conference in San Diego, CA. Presented by National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council), the awards recognize outstanding leaders and healthcare organizations as well as those who have shown extraordinary courage and determination to triumph over mental illnesses and addiction disorders.

'These awards recognize people and programs for being the change -- for promoting recovery and having a lasting impact on children, adults, and families,' said Linda Rosenberg, the National Council's president and CEO. 'The awardees have all made a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.'

Awards of Excellence Honorees

Rep. David Obey (D-WI, retired) is the recipient of the Excellence in Public Service award

for being a consistent, long-time champion of America's mental health and addiction treatment programs. Rep. Obey fought for the most vulnerable members of our communities by initiating the children's Systems of Care program and providing start-up funding for the Primary Care/Behavioral Health Integration program to benefit low-income persons with severe mental illnesses.

The Mental Health Center of Denver in Denver, CO is the recipient of the Excellence in Service Innovation award for its Integrating Care Through Court to Community Program. The innovative program diverts persons with serious and chronic mental illness and substance abuse from jail and offers psychiatric and primary care as well as community supports. The program helps save $2.50 for every dollar spent on treatment.

Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare in Elkin, NC is the recipient of the Excellence in Health Information Technology award for helping youth in the juvenile justice system dealing with co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders realize their potential. Healthcare providers work with the families of youth and community partners to offer evidence-based treatment. In the past four years, JJTC has served more than 1,600 young people with an overall 85% success rate.

Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield, MO is recipient of the Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management for its Evidence-Informed Risk Management Program, which helps clients, staff, and management function at their best. Burrell invests in data collection and analysis to monitor risk-related events from across the organization. Burrell's critical incident reporting system is the 'lifeblood' of its risk management efforts.

Sherri Rushman, Consumer Education Specialist at Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority in Auburn Hills, MI is the recipient of the Excellence in Consumer Advocacy award for her signature presentation based on her life experiences: 'Hope Givers, Hope Receivers, and Hope Stealers.' After an inpatient hospitalization, Sherri was referred to the public mental health system in Oakland County, where she built relationships and received services for fourteen years. Today she is a consumer education specialist who shares her story and experiences to help others in their own journey towards recovery.

Christina Hendrix, Regional Family Leadership Program Coordinator at WellSpring Resources in Alton, IL is recipient of the Excellence in Family Advocacy award for being a passionate advocate for children and families experiencing emotional disturbances and helping them improve their lives. Christina is one of three people in Illinois chosen to develop regional family leadership and support programs.

Jorge Wong, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health Services, Asian Americans for Community Involvement in San Jose, CA, is recipient of the Up and Coming Leadership award. He is committed to nurturing meaningful relationships with staff, patients and the community. His fluency in four languages helps him better serve low-income immigrants and refugees.

Recipients of the Visionary Leadership award:

Nelson Burns, President and CEO of Coleman Professional Services in Kent, OH, has been described as a dynamic, visionary, effective and innovative leader. He has strived to diversify funding sources and expand to various lines of business to make his organization financially strong; growing Coleman from an operating budget of $1 million to $26 million in 25 years.

Peter Campanelli, President and CEO, Institute for Community Living, Inc., in New York, NY, has, throughout his 30-year career as a behavioral health services administrator and psychologist, focused on serving underserved, low-income consumers through community programs. He created some of the country's first residential programs for homeless people with co-occurring serious mental illnesses and addiction disorders.

Leon Evans, President and CEO, Center for Health Care Services, San Antonio, TX, founded the Bexar County Jail Diversion Program to give persons with severe mental illness access to proper treatment instead of sending them into emergency rooms, jails, and prisons. Considered one of the nation's most successful jail diversion efforts, the program offers crisis care and training for law enforcement officers.

Arnold Gould, Member, Board of Directors, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services, Inc., Hicksville, NY, is a champion for those struggling against the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and substance use disorders. In 1980, he co-founded the Queens/Nassau Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. For more than three decades, Gould has been a strong voice and powerful advocate for improved access and services in mental health care for Long Island's most vulnerable citizens.

Mary Jane Gross, Founder, Stars Behavioral Health Group, Oakland, CA has a 40-year track record of shining light into the darkness by serving high-risk children and families with comfortable and compassionate care. Under her guidance, Stars operates an extensive network of residential, school, and home-based mental health and wraparound programs for children with serious emotional issues throughout California.

Derald Walker, CEO, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Portland, OR, brought financial stability to his organization and helped to build a culture of clinical quality, compliance and improved productivity. Today, Cascadia ranks as one of the most innovative service providers in Oregon, employing more than 800 people and providing quality care and housing to thousands of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

Research from Center for Addiction and Mental Health yields new findings on gender studies in children.(Clinical report) - Health & Medicine Week

Current study results from the report, 'Empathy in boys with gender identity disorder: a comparison to externalizing clinical control boys and community control boys and girls,' have been published (see also Gender Studies). 'The construct of empathy was examined in 20 boys with gender identity disorder (GID), 20 clinical control boys with externalizing disorders (ECC), 20 community control boys (NCB), and 20 community control girls (NCG). The mean age of the children was 6.86 years (range=4-8 years),' scientists writing in the journal Child Psychiatry and Human Development report.

'It was hypothesized that boys with GID would show similar levels of empathy to those shown by NC girls and higher levels of empathy than the NC and ECC boys. Three measures of empathy were administered: a maternal-report questionnaire, a self-report questionnaire, and an in vivo evaluation in which children's reactions to pain simulations to two adult actors (mother, experimenter) were coded for empathy levels. On the maternal report and in-vivo measures, the NC girls had significantly higher empathy levels than the NC boys, but not on the self-report measure. By maternal report, the NC girls were rated as significantly more empathic than were the GID boys, with a 'large' effect size. There were no significant differences between the GID boys and the NC girls on the self-report and in-vivo measures and the effect size differences were 'small.' No significant differences were observed between the GID and NC boys; however, there were 'medium' and 'small' effect size differences with boys with GID showing more empathy on the in-vivo and self-report measures, respectively. On the maternal-report measure, the GID boys were rated as significantly more empathic than the ECC boys and there was a trend for the GID boys to show greater levels of empathy than the ECC boys on both the self-report and in-vivo measures. The effect size differences on all three empathy measures were 'medium' to 'large,' with GID boys showing more empathy than ECC boys,' wrote A.F. Owen-Anderson and colleagues, Center for Addiction and Mental Health.

The researchers concluded: 'Empathy as a dispositional characteristic in the genesis and perpetuation of GID in boys is discussed.'

Owen-Anderson and colleagues published their study in Child Psychiatry and Human Development (Empathy in boys with gender identity disorder: a comparison to externalizing clinical control boys and community control boys and girls. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 2008;39(1):67-83).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting A.F. Owen-Anderson, Gender Identity Service, Child, Youth and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.

The publisher of the journal Child Psychiatry and Human Development can be contacted at: Kluwer Academic-Human Sciences Press, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013-1578, USA.

Keywords: Canada, Toronto, Gender Studies, Addiction Medicine, Gender Health, Gender Medicine, Mental Health, Psychiatry, Women's Health.

New data from East Carolina University illuminate research in health research.(Report) - Mental Health Weekly Digest

According to recent research published in the Journal of American College Health, 'This study investigates the relative contributions of global self-esteem, body mass index (BMI), dieting behaviors, and perceived parental control and care on body satisfaction among a nonclinical sample of college students. Participants (49 males and 299 females) reported weight and height (to calculate BMI) and completed the EAT 26 test.'

'Perceived parental care and control, global self-esteem, and body satisfaction were measured and examined in relation to BMI and dieting behavior. High BMIs were associated with lower body satisfaction for both genders; dieting behavior, self-esteem, and perceived parental care and control demonstrated a unique gender-specific association among variables in prediction of body satisfaction and dieting behavior for each gender. Body satisfaction as a part of global self-esteem is constructed differently by males and females,' wrote N. Sira and colleagues, East Carolina University (see also Health Research).

The researchers concluded: 'Various aspects of parenting (care and control) are associated with self-esteem and body satisfaction for each gender, influencing dieting behavior.'

Sira and colleagues published their study in the Journal of American College Health (Individual and Familial Correlates of Body Satisfaction in Male and Female College Students. Journal of American College Health, 2010;58(6):507-514).

For additional information, contact N. Sira, East Carolina University, Dept. of Child Development & Family Relat, College Human Ecology, 176 Rivers Bldg, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.

The publisher's contact information for the Journal of American College Health is: Heldref Publications, 1319 Eighteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802, USA.

Keywords: City:Greenville, State:NC, Country:United States, Health Research, Mental Health, Self-Esteem