Mental Health in the Headlines: Week of November 12, 2012

Mental Health in the Headlines is a weekly newsletter providing the latest developments at Mental Health America and summaries of news, views and research 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.
 

TODAY’S HEADLINE
Women who are depressed during pregnancy are at greater risk of having their mental health deteriorate in the future compared to women who have postnatal depression alone…more
 

RESPONDING TO SANDY: AN IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE WORK OF OUR AFFILIATES
Mental Health America’s affiliates are lifelines that provide vital support and services to help individuals and communities recover from events like Hurricane Sandy. Many of our affiliates were affected by the devastation it caused. Through the efforts of dedicated staff and volunteers, our affiliates in New Jersey and New York have continued to provide services to the consumers and families they serve.
 

The Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC) maintained service of its crisis lines, even though they were without power and their offices were closed. LifeNet, and the national Disaster Distress Helpline operated by MHA-NYC’s subsidiary Link2Health Solutions, are available 24/7 to provide crisis counseling, support, and referral for all who need it. (800-543-3638 and TTY at 212-982-5284), Spanish LifeNet (800-AYUDESE) and Asian LifeNet (800-990-8585). Residents of any state that have been emotionally affected by Hurricane Sandy can access free 24/7 crisis counseling and support through the national Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 or text 'TalkWithUs' to 66746 (Spanish-speakers can text 'Hablanos' to 66746).
 

The phone assistance lines operated by the Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHANJ) are back in service. For confidential mental health information and referrals during times of wide-spread disaster, call the New Jersey Disaster Mental Health HelpLine at (877) 294-HELP (4357) or the TTY line for the deaf and hearing impaired at (877) 294-4356. MHANJ's Peer Recovery WarmLine may be reached by calling (877) 292-5588. This is a professional program through which trained peer specialists provide ongoing telephone support to mental health consumers.
 

The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, in cooperation with the Monmouth County Division of Mental Health & Addictions, is currently compiling a list of therapists or counselors who are willing to provide supportive counseling for those individuals and families struggling to cope.  If you are a therapist or counselor willing to donate your time to the residents of Monmouth County, please send MHA Monmouth your contact information, including your phone and email: MHA@mentalhealthmonmouth.org or 732-542-6422. If you are in need of a counselor, please call their office from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at: 732-542-2444. After 5:00 pm, call the Crisis Line at: 732-996-7645.
 

We know that many residents of areas affected by the hurricane will need assistance coping with increased levels of emotional distress in the days and weeks ahead. Our affiliates are there to help them recover.
 

You can assist their efforts by making a donation today. Help ensure these life-saving services continue to save lives.
 

NEWS FROM MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA
 

Tell Congress to Act to Avoid Sequestration: TAKE ACTION!
 

View plenary sessions from the 2012 National Zarrow Mental Health Symposium and Mental Health America Annual Conference: http://www.fromhousingtorecovery.org/.
 

The MHA Career Center matches the best employers with the best talent in the mental health field.  Find your employment match at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/mhacareercenter.
 

IN THE NEWS
 

Obama Administration Extends Deadline for State Exchanges: The Obama administration last week announced that it is giving states more time to submit plans to set up state-based health insurance exchanges. The move is a concession to the reality that many states had delayed planning until they saw who won the presidential election. States will have to tell federal regulators that they plan to go ahead by this Friday, but they will have until December 14 to submit plans for state-based, online markets. Those who want to partner with the federal government to set up the markets have until Feb. 15. (The New York Times, 11/9/12)
 

Clinton to Tackle Health Disparities: Former President Bill Clinton has announced that his foundation will tackle health disparities and preventable disease. Health disparities and preventable illness "are robbing people of a lot of good years. We can't let that continue," Clinton said in an interview. Clinton has enlisted four major corporate partners— Verizon, General Electric Co. , Tenet Healthcare Corp. and NBC/Universal—which will start or extend wellness programs in their workplaces and communities to fight preventable illness through free exercise classes, organizing walking groups in poor neighborhoods, bringing farmers' markets to "food deserts" where grocery stores are rare and smoking-cessation programs. In one of his last messages to the U.S. Congress as president, Bill Clinton declared disparities in health "unacceptable in a country that values equality and equal opportunity for all," and called for a national goal to eliminate the disparities by 2010. (Reuters, 11/13/12)
 

Women with Bipolar Disorder More Likely to Give Birth Prematurely: Women with treated and untreated bipolar disorder are more likely to give birth prematurely—before 37 weeks—and have other pregnancy and birth complications, according to a new study. Published in the journal BMJ, the study included 320 mothers with treated bipolar disorder and more than 550 mothers with untreated bipolar disorder. They were compared to mothers who did not have the disorder. Women with treated and untreated bipolar disorder were more likely to have cesarean delivery, instrumental delivery (use of a vacuum or forceps) and a non-spontaneous start to delivery than those without bipolar disorder. The risk was 37.5 percent for treated women, about 31 percent for untreated women and 21 percent for those without bipolar disorder. Treated and untreated mothers also were more likely to give birth prematurely than women without bipolar disorder. (HealthDay News, 11/9/12)
 

IN DEPTH

Time speaks with two experts on how to bounce back after events like Hurricane Sandy.

Mother Jones looks at the disability-related voting restrictions.
 

The San Francisco Chronicle examines mental health prevention as a wise investment.
 

Latest Research
 

Dance Classes Reduced Stress Levels in Teen Girls: Teen girls who took dance classes saw reductions in their stress levels and psychosomatic symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers measured self-rated health changes of 112 Swedish girls, who paid multiple visits to the school nurse for psychosomatic symptoms including head, stomach, neck, back, or shoulder pain and persistent negative emotional affect or tiredness. They were randomized to either 8 months of twice-weekly, 75 minute-long dance lessons under the supervision of trained dance instructors. All participants were offered school health care as usual. The study, which is reported in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, found that girls who took twice-weekly dance classes showed more improvement in their ratings of their own health, even months after the classes ended, compared with girls in the control group. (Medpage Today, 11/12/12)
 

Depression during Pregnancy Linked to Future Mental Health Problems: Women who are depressed during pregnancy are at greater risk of having their mental health deteriorate in the future compared to women who have postnatal depression alone, according to a new study. In the survey of 260 mothers, about one-third of women who experienced depression during pregnancy had suicidal thoughts and less than one-fourth sought help from their physician. According to the survey, over half (56 percent) of women had some problems with depression during their first pregnancy but almost two thirds (66 percent) reported problems with their second. More than a third (38 percent) of the women surveyed said they had suicidal thoughts during or after their pregnancy. (PsychCentral, 11/13/12)
 

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Mental Health in the Headlines is produced weekly by Mental Health America. Staff: Steve Vetzner, senior director, Media Relations.
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