News: KHN Column: Social Security's Disabled Adult Child Program: A Key Program Often Below The Radar
In this Kaiser Health News essay about Medicare and Medicaid benefits for older, disabled adults, Harold Pollack explains how Social Security has become an effective insurance policy that was patched together by Republican and Democratic leadership over the past 75 years. Yet, despite its centrality as a social support for disabled adults, it still falls short of providing security, and individuals are forced to rely on other help, especially family, to plug the holes.
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News: Death of Harriet Shetler, NAMI founder

News: Cultural difference and symptoms of mental illness
In a New York Times article titled, "The Americanization of Mental Illness," Ethan Watters discusses how America's "symptom repertoire" for mental illness has circled the globe and altered the expression of symptoms and their treatment. He . . .
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News: Anti-stigma campaign draws millions

From Our Readers: Care I receive in Canada
by Lou Ross-Johns I have always lived in a separate room. I look in the window and the rest of the world is in some strange and mysterious party which I cannot understand or participate in, only watch through the window. This has always been with me and will ever be. I was a child who stayed on the edges of the playground, and who sat silently in her mind in the schoolroom. My experience with the health care system...
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News: New York's Timothy's Law for kids
New York's governor David Paterson announced support for making access to mental health treatment permanent for kids by extending Timothy's Law. The law is named after Timothy O'Clair, a 12 year-old who committed suicide and whose family ran into insurance barriers for mental health treatment. Paterson announced his support on what would have been Timothy's 21st birthday and on the heels of a report citing how effective the temporary law had been in getting kids services. The state subsidizes businesses...
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Book Reviews: My Son's Name Was Fred, by Gwill Linderme York Newman

News: NAMI under Grassley microscope
Bloomberg News reported yesterday that Sen. Charles Grassley expanded his inquiry about drug company influence and asked the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) about its funding. The Beltway nonprofit representing families with a mental illness has been the subject of previous articles about ties to pharmaceutical companies. The annual reports prominently list companies (not amounts). Disclosure is not the biggest issue it faces as much as the influence of these companies on its policies....
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News: Awards for stories about mental illness
The Association of Health Care Journalists announced five of its annual awards will go to reporters who have written about mental illness. They are: •Mary Carmichael of Newsweek for a story detaiiling how bi-polar disorder dominates the life of one youngster and his parents. •Randy Dotinga, of Voice of San Diego, for a story about the bridge in San Diego which has been used by people intending suicide since 1973. •Sharon Salyer and Alejandro Dominguez, of the Daily Herald in...
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Commentary: Making a difference: "The Soloist" and Steve Lopez

News: New books about bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia
Two books have been published this month for an audience concerned about mental illness in their families. Author Michael Greenberg writes about his daughter and her hospitalizations, starting as a teenager, when she was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Greenberg's discussed Hurry Down Sunshine, with radio host Lenny Lopate on WNYC. Researchers at New York State's Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Irene and Jerome Levine, wrote a book they hope will debunk myths and explain current research and treatments....
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News: House passes veteran's mental health bill
A voice vote in the House approved a compromise for the "Veteran's Mental Health Bill" calling for improvements in treatment and research for PTSD, substance abuse disorders and for expanding the time when military families may seek mental health services. For updates on S. 2162, click here....
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From Our Readers: Michelle D. Sherman writes:
Many Americans are joining in the important and much-deserved recognition and celebration of our troops upon homecoming from war. Most people know someone who has been deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism...a relative, friend, neighbor, or co-worker. We are bombarded by images and stories of the war in the media, and the internet and advances in communication allow for almost instant connection with people and events half way around the world. The Global War on Terrorism is...
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News: Helping kids who witness violence
Children who witness violence at home, or in their community or school, are at risk for PTSD. The San Francisco Chronicle reports a bill is now on the desk of California's Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would provide mental health services to these youngsters. Some consider this the first step in acknowledging this as a public health crisis....
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News: High suicide rates for Asian-American women
Language barriers, insurance costs and cultural values, including family honor and shame, often deter Asian-Americans from seeking help. According to an article in Newsweek, Asian-American women between the ages of 15-24 have the highest rates of suicide of women in the U.S., and those over 65 are ten times more likely to commit suicide than their Caucasian counterparts....
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News: Changes at SAMHSA
Terry Cline, PhD, is leaving the helm of SAMHSA for Iraq where he will coordinate American efforts to rebuild a health system. His temporary replacement, Rear Admiral Eric Broderick, D.D.S., a dentist, is an expert in oral health, and the Indian Health Service. With a budget of $3.3 billion, SAMHSA is responsible for " improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's delivery systems to prevent substance abuse, treat addiction and provide mental health services." In the past week,...
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MIWatch webcasts: Maria Angelina Ortiz
Panelist Maria Angelina Ortiz addresses an audience at the open forum to discus pre-booking jail diversion programs in New York City, sponsored by RIPPD, June 4, 2008. Ortiz, a parent, discusses a first-time experience calling 911 when her son had a psychiatric emergency needing hospitalization....
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News: Forum addresses police training in New York
New Yorkers want to know why their city does not have an adequate training program for police to respond to a psychiatric emergency. An open forum took place in which family, experts and authors discussed changes they would like to see.
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Track Legislation: H.R. 4053
Rep. Shelley Berkeley (D-NV) introduced the Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007 on Oct. 31, 2007, “To improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes.”
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Track Legislation: S. 2162
Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hi) introduced the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 on October 14, 2007: "To improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes."
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News: Senate bill expands treatment for vets
A Senate bill (S. 2162) to plug holes for vets with substance abuse disorders and PTSD was passed Tuesday by unanimous consent in the Senate. Problems resulting from the Iraq war have increased for soldiers and their families due to longer and multiple deployments, and insufficient treatment staff. Roughly 1,000 vets a month now attempt suicide. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs, said, “For too many veterans, returning home from battle will not...
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News: Schizophrenia studies
The March issue of Psychiatric Services (subscription required) focuses on schizophrenia, including research on antipsychotic drugs, the responsibilities of siblings who increasingly fill a void left by parents, and for the over-55 group which is expected to double in the next twenty years....
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News: Raw deal for vets' families
House subcommittee hearings addressed insufficient help for military families, including two million children, needing mental health services. More than half of today’s soldiers have families, yet VA medical facilities have limited their services and have not hired available family therapists. One-in-five soldiers who responded to a survey from the military’s Mental Health Advisory Team reported they were in planning a divorce. The Army Times reports that the Senate rejected a Pentagon request for increased co-pays for prescription drugs under the...
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News: Discharge planning
In Germany, doctors stumbled over something they think useful to promoting recovery – sending discharge letters to caregivers....
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Commentary: Meeting family needs: Alameda County's new program

A new program will offer flexible help for families in northern California. Rebecca Woolis, author of When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness, describes the service she helped design to meet diverse cultural and ethnic needs.
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News: Spouses paid for caregiving
Illinois is considering a bill to allow Medicaid payments to spouses delivering 24-hour, full-time care. "It's really one of those things that just makes sense to do," said one of the bill's proponents....
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Interviews: Q & A with Anela Ka’iliawa: Wellness in Action
By Sarah A.H. Ho
Sarah Ho speaks with Anela Ka’iliawa about the importance of a Wellness Recovery Action Program (WRAP), and how it has helped her learn about and manage her illness.


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News: Soldiers need follow-up
A survey of 88,235 soldiers returning from Iraq indicates that psychiatric symptoms, including depression, PTSD , and alcohol abuse, can take months to become apparent. The study, the first of its kind from the Walter Reed Military Institute, aimed to evaluate the impact of two screenings on detection and treatment. The first was soon after return; the second three to six months later. In many instances, soldiers had already left service, or were beyond the six month window for military...
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News: When a parent has a mental illness
Children with a mentally ill parent is not just a topic for feature films such as Canvas, but one that is beginning to receive attention with new books and an article in the Sept-Oct. issue of Social Work Today. Concrete ideas for answering questions, creating an accepting environment, and tools for helping youngsters who may feel a stigma, are enumerated....
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Consider This: "Canvas:" A family portrait
by Phyllis Vine
"Canvas" is an honest and textured portrayal of an ordinary family managing the uncertainties schizophrenia brings to their lives. Marcia Gay Harden (Mary), Joe Pantoliano (John) and Devon Gearhart (Chris) give stunning performances of living on the margin of Mary's illness and hospitalizations while they face an uncertain future. Writer and director Joseph Greco writes without sensationalizing a painful story.

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News: Sibs enhance life satisfaction
Adults with schizophrenia say they are more satisfied with life when siblings remain close, reports Psychiaric Services....
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Commentary: A Personal Journey Wearing Three Hats: family, doctor and research director
by Lisa Dixon, MD, MPH
Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Lisa Dixon, is also a family member and a researcher. In "A personal journey wearing three hats" she writes about how her work has been informed by these roles while evaluating programs for families and consumers in the recovery process.

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Links: Find Help
New visitors will find useful resources for narrowing a search or for general information. Updated 11.02.07.
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