Mental Health in the Headlines: Week of April 19, 2010

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?

An interaction of genetics and family conflict may trigger Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)...more

*HEALTH REFORM UPDATE

Obama Pushing to Implement Reforms Quickly

Although many of the elements of the health reform law won’t take effect for several years, President Obama is pushing to implement the overhaul more quickly. He has assembled a team of administration officials to carry out a multi-pronged implementation plan. The President has also urged advisers to begin moving sooner to set up an Independent Payment Advisory Board for controlling Medicare spending, a top priority of his. Many experts believe the board could prove effective in restraining spending. (The New York Times, 4/17/10)

*TODAY’S NEWS

Health Insurers Sue to Stop Parity Rules

A group of three managed behavioral health care organizations have sued to stop federal agencies from finalizing regulations implementing the federal mental health parity law. Although many providers and insurers gave a positive reaction to the rules, some managed care companies are unhappy with regulation requiring a single deductible for both behavioral and general health. In the lawsuit, they assert that the law does not require it and would result in administrative burdens. (Modern Healthcare [subscription required], 4/12/10)

Parity Law May Eliminate Need for Public Mental Heath System

The federal mental health parity law may eliminate the need for a public mental health system if it is implemented properly, a state official said last week. Michael Hogan, New York State’s mental health commissioner, said that if the law is handled in a way that “genuine and deep” and includes care for people referred by the criminal justice system, the state may not need a separate public system. (Wall Street Journal, 4/15/10)

South Korea Struggles with High Suicide Rate

The suicide rate in South Korea has doubled in the past decade and is now the highest in the industrialized world. It is the leading cause of death among South Koreans in their 20s and 30s, and it is the fourth leading cause of death overall, after cancer, stroke and heart disease. Prior to its economic boom, Korea’s suicide rate was among the lowest. Many Koreans don’t seek help for depression because of the stigma it carriers. (The Washington Post, 4/18/10)

Cambodia Has High Rates of Mental Illness, Little Treatment

Years of civil war and genocide have taken a toll on the mental health of Cambodians. Despite economic progress in recent years, the country has high rates of mental illness and little access to treatment. A study by the Dutch aid group Transcultural Psychosocial Organization found 35 percent of Cambodians suffer from some kind of psychiatric problem, from mild conditions to major illness. More than a quarter of the population shows signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and over 10 percent suffer major depression, even though most of the population is too young to remember past problems. (Voice of America, 4/15/10)

1 in 5 Children Has Diagnosable Mental Health Condition

One in five American children has a diagnosable mental health condition, according to researchers. And kids in military families have an even higher incidence of emotional and behavioral problems. The Center for Children in Poverty, which released the data, says that the country’s system for children who need mental health services isn’t sufficient to handle the volume or meet the specific needs of children. May 6 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/15/10)

NIMH Head Seeks Consensus Strategy on Pediatric Bipolar

The head of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is advocating a concerted approach to address the increase in the diagnosis of child and adolescent bipolar disorder. Dr. Thomas Insel writes in his Director’s Blog that NIMH is committed to bringing the field together to resolve these diagnostic issues, discover the causes, and develop more effective treatments for youth with bipolar disorder and mood-related syndromes. “Achieving consensus about the boundaries of the diagnosis will lead to more reliable prevalence estimates and improve the comparability of research findings on course, causes and interventions across studies,” he said. (NIMH.nih.gov, 4/08/10)

Questionnaires Help Diagnose Conditions

Some of the best tests for identifying early signs of depression and Alzheimer’s disease are standard questionnaires. They allow doctors to quickly obtain important information that patients might not disclose on their own. They don’t replace a talk by the doctor with the patient, but they speed up the process. (Newsweek, 4/13/10)

Many Adults with Depression Smoke

More than 40 percent of U.S. adults who have depression also smoke, according to a government survey released last week. The findings show people need help with both if they want to quit. The survey, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, found more than half of middle-aged men with depression were also smokers, while half of women under age 40 who were depressed also smoked. (Reuters, 4/14/10)