Mental Health in the Headlines: Week of October 26, 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?

Mental health conditions and sexual trauma in women may increase the risk of lower urinary tract symptoms...more

*HEALTH REFORM UPDATE

Senate Bill Ready For Cost Evaluation

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has sent a final version of a health reform bill to the Congresional Budget Office for an evaluation of costs. The bill includes a government insurance plan that gives states the option to out of participating. Employers with more than 50 workers would not be required to provide health insurance, but they would face fines of up to $750 per employee if even part of their workforce received a government subsidy to buy health insurance, Most people would be required to buy insurance or pay a fine, though exceptions would be made for those deemed unable to afford it. (msnbc.com, 10/26/09)

Support For Public Option in Health Reform Rising

Support for some type of a government-run insurance option in a health reform plan is gaining favor on Capitol Hill. A major question is the type of public option that might win enough votes for passage. It could be a be one that has allows states to “opt out” of a government plan or “opt in” or one that includes a trigger mechanism that would take effect if insurance companies did not cut costs within a set period of time or under certain conditions. The rising support for some form of public option stems from the fact it saves money and could help expand coverage and subsidies. (The New York Times, 10/26/09)

Small Businesses Facing Steep Rise in Health Care Premiums

Small businesses are reporting steep rises in health insurance premiums. Premiums are going up an average of 15 percent for the coming year, according to insurance brokers and benefits consultants. That’s double the rate of last year’s increases and translates into annual premium of $5,500 per employee for 2010. In his Saturday radio address, President Obama said the Democrats’ health insurance overhaul would stimulate the economy by providing relief to small businesses. (The New York Times, 10/24/09)

*TODAY’S NEWS

Actress Glenn Close Tackles Stigma

Award-wining actress Glenn Close, whose sister has bipolar, has started a nonprofit organization called BringChange2Mind, which she founded to raise awareness about mental illness and to provide support and information to individuals with mental health conditions and their families. The effort includes a public service announcement, which addresses stigma. Close said that the campaign will help foster a dialogue about a condition that we should "talk about as openly as cancer or diabetes." (ABCnews.com, 10/21/09)

10,000 U.S. Children Died From Abuse and Neglect Between 2001-2007

More than 10,000 children died from abuse or neglect in the United States from 2001 through 2007, a new study reports. The U.S. death rate is more than double the rate in France, Canada, Japan, Germany, Great Britain and Italy, countries that have less teen pregnancy, violent crime and poverty, according to the report by the Every Child Matters Education Fund, a non-partisan advocacy group. Based on data from the Department of Health and Human Services, the report finds that three-quarters of the children who died from abuse or neglect were younger than 4. The number of child deaths rose from 1,300 in 2001 to 1,720 in 2007, the most recent year for which figures are available. In that period, 10,440 abuse and neglect deaths were reported. (USA Today, 10/21/09)

Quality of Care Slipped in 2008 for Insured

For the first time in more than 10 years, the "overall quality of health care" for Americans insured through commercial and public plans appears to have slipped. "The across-the-board trend in care quality provided to people with private coverage as well as in Medicare and Medicaid was virtually stagnant in 2008, according to an annual 'State of Health Care Quality' report from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)." The change breaks a 12-year run of progress. NCQA attributes the decline to cost-cutting and the health industry’s focus on pay-for-service. The report also found that the quality of care for many health conditions remained under 50 percent, including screening for colon cancer, care for mental health and substance use and follow-up care for patients taking anti-depressant drugs. (CNN, 10/22/09)

American Cancer Society Stands By Screening Guidelines

The American Cancer Society says it is not currently rethinking its stance on cancer screening, despite a published report last week. A The New York Times story said that the organization was planning to post a message on its website early next year delineating the risks of overtreatment resulting from excess screening. In an official statement released following the report, the society acknowledged that the "advantages of screening for some cancers have been overstated," but also added that "there are advantages, especially in the case of breast, colon and cervical cancers." The statement, from the society's chief medical officer, Dr. Otis Brawley, said that the organization "stands by its screening guidelines" and that "women are encouraged to continue getting mammograms." (U.S. News & World Report, 10/21/09)

Pennsylvania House Passes Mental Health Parity

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed mental health parity legislation. The bill would put Pennsylvania law on par with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which mandates that financial requirements and treatment limitations applicable to mental health or substance use disorder benefits be no more restrictive than the financial requirements or treatment limitations applied to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by a plan. The bill now moves to the state senate for consideration. (IFAwebnews.com, 10/21/09)

Latest Research

Exposure To Excessive Light at Night May Cause Depression: Exposure to excessive amounts of light at night may cause depression, a new study suggests. Ohio State University researchers found that mice kept in a lighted room 24 hours a day had more depressive symptoms than mice that had a normal day-night cycle. The study, which will be published in the journal Behavioural Brain Research, also found that mice that lived in a constantly lit room, but could go into a dark tube when they desired, had fewer depressive symptoms than mice that couldn't get away from the 24-hour light. (HealthDay News, 10/22/09)

Bladder Problems May Be Linked to Mental Health: Mental health conditions and sexual trauma in women may increase the risk of lower urinary tract symptoms, such as incontinence and overactive bladder, a new study reports. Researchers analyzed questionnaires completed by 121 female veterans referred to a specialized urology clinic for evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms. The study, which appears in the online edition of the Journal of Urology, also examined the women's mental health, history of sexual trauma, age, race and obstetric history. Compared to those in a control group, the women in the lower urinary tract symptoms group had higher rates of mental health conditions (64.5 percent versus 25.9 percent) and sexual trauma (49.6 percent versus 20.1 percent). (HealthDay News, 10/23/09)

Children With ADHD More Likely to Participate in Crimes: Children with ADHD are more likely to participate in crimes such as burglary, theft and drug dealing as adults, according to a new study. Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and University of Wisconsin at Madison studied 10,000 young adults across the country and found that those who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as children were at increased risk of developing criminal behaviors. Researchers said one reason is that children with ADHD tend to have lower amounts of schooling. (New Haven Register, 10/24/09)

HEADLINES at Mental Health America

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*Mental Health America MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

National Depression Screening Day during October alls attention to the illness of depression and educates the public about the symptoms of depression as well as effective treatments. Screenings point out the presence or absence of depressive symptoms and may result in a referral for further evaluation, according to Mental Health America. The Interior Journal, “To Your Health Lincoln County: Mental Health NOT all in your head!,” October 22, 2009

People who are unemployed are four times as likely to report symptoms of serious mental illness, according to a recent study by Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The survey of more than 1,000 adults also found that people who have experienced involuntary changes in employment are twice as likely to have these symptoms. The Indianapolis Star, “What’s New,” October 22, 2009

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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.

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