APA Invites Comments on Draft Revision of DSM
SAMHSA Seeks Nominations for Voice Awards
DBSA to Host 25th Anniversary National Conference
Belief in a Caring God Improves Response to Medical Treatment for Depression
Benefits of Peer Support to Be Highlighted at National Provider Conference
New Toolkit Helps Youth on Inpatient Psychiatric Units Advocate for Themselves
Two New Documents on the Impact of Health Care Reform Are Available
Fish Oil May Reduce Risk of Psychosis in Individuals Deemed at High Risk
U.S. Department of Education Posts State-by-State Restraint and Seclusion Information
Nathaniel Ayers, “The Soloist,” Records CD
Pregnant Women with Depression May Benefit from Acupuncture
SAMHSA to Launch Mental Health Campaign for the African American Community, and Offers Guide to Reducing Stigma
Do You Operate, or Know of, a Warm Line?
Consumer-Driven Services Directory
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has released a draft of its proposed revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), its standard diagnostic text, and is accepting comments until April 20, 2010. According to the APA, one important consideration for developing the DSM-5 is evaluating how gender, race and ethnicity may affect how symptoms manifest themselves, as well as the possibility of cultural bias in criteria for specific diagnoses. Among new conditions that may be included in the new edition are Body Integrity Identity Disorder, Complicated Grief Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Internet Addiction and Seasonal Affective Disorder. At the same time, the APA is considering eliminating Asperger’s Syndrome as a separate diagnosis and instead including it as an Autism Spectrum Disorder. To view the draft and submit comments, go to http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx
Source: http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/11661/
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is seeking nominations for the 2010 Voice Awards, which honor film and television writers and producers who incorporate dignified, respectful, and accurate portrayals of individuals with mental health conditions into their scripts, programs, and productions. The awards also recognize the accomplishments of mental health consumer leaders who have helped raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues and promoted the social inclusion of people with mental health challenges. The deadline for entertainment industry nominations is April 30, 2010; the deadline for consumer nominations is May 14, 2010. Nomination forms and additional information are available at the following link: http://whatadifference.samhsa.gov/voiceawards/nominate.html
Source: CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News February 18, 2010
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance will host its 25th annual national conference April 30-May 2, 2010, at the Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Among the keynote speakers are distinguished author Kay Redfield Jamison, playwright Paula Kamen, and mental health researcher and consultant Ron Manderscheid. The deadline for discounted registration is March 15. More information is available at the source below.
Source: http://www.dbsalliance.org/conference2010
Individuals diagnosed with major depression or bipolar disorder may better respond to medication if they believe in a caring God, according to a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center studied 136 adults with these diagnoses at inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities in Chicago and found that individuals with strong beliefs in a personal and concerned God were more likely to improve following treatment with medication than were those who did not have such beliefs. Specifically, participants who scored in the top third of the Religious Well-Being Scale were 75 percent more likely to improve. “In our study, the positive response to medication had little to do with the feeling of hope that typically accompanies spiritual belief,” said Patricia Murphy, Ph.D., a co-author of the study. “It was tied specifically to the belief that a Supreme Being cared.” She added: ". . . when treating persons diagnosed with depression, clinicians need to be aware of the role of religion in their patients’ lives. It is an important resource in planning their care.”
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/rumc-bia022310.php
In a front-page story, Mental Health Weekly shines a spotlight on the growing acceptance of the value of peer support in helping individuals with mental health conditions work toward recovery. At the annual conference of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH), to take place March 15-17, 2010, in Disney, Florida, the chief of clinical services at Southwest Behavioral Health Services in Arizona will speak about the successful track record of peer staff in helping clients. According to the results of a consumer satisfaction evaluation instrument, “94 percent of its peer workers surpassed standard levels for recovery promotion,” Mental Health Weekly reports. Also at the conference, Steve Miccio, executive diretor of PEOPLe Inc., a peer-run agency in New York State, will speak about PEOPLe’s successful crisis-diversion program. PEOPLe is also involved in projects in Nebraska and the Netherlands, Mental Health Weekly notes.
Source: Mental Health Weekly, Feb. 15, 2010
The Irish Mental Health Commission has designed a Web site and a toolkit to help youth who are being treated for mental health conditions on inpatient units advocate for themselves. The Headspace Toolkit, available at the following link http://www.headspaceireland.ie/, offers young people information about their rights, how to understand what is happening to them, and how to stand up for themselves. According to the chief executive of the Mental Health Commission, the toolkit has sparked international interest.
Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=16918
Two new documents to help people with psychiatric disabilities learn more about how the health care bills passed by Congress in 2009 might affect them are available for free download from the UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration. The documents – “Will Health Reform Help People with Mental Illnesses?” http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=226
and “If I Have a Psychiatric Disability, Will Health Reform Help Me?” http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=227 – are products of the UPenn Collaborative and were developed by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. The bills covered include the House bill, Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), and the Senate bill, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (S. 3590).
Source: http://www.upennrrtc.org
A study of 81 individuals who were considered at extremely high risk of developing psychosis based on symptoms or on family history found that they were less likely to develop psychotic disorders following a 12-week course of fish oil capsules containing long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. “The finding that treatment with a natural substance may prevent or at least delay the onset of psychotic disorder gives hope that there may be alternatives to antipsychotics for the prodromal [early symptomatic] phase,” the authors wrote, adding that the natural substance “may offer a safe and efficacious strategy” for prevention.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/jaaj-fom012810.php
The U.S. Department of Education has made available a summary of restraint and seclusion laws, regulations, policies and guidelines in schools throughout the United States. “Restraint and seclusion policies should be reviewed regularly to prevent the abuse of such techniques and ensure that schools provide a safe learning environment for all of our children,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “I am pleased that many states and territories have begun to work with their stakeholders to develop or revise current practices. The Department will continue to serve as a resource throughout the process to ensure that all students are safe and protected.” The summary is available at the following link: http://www.ed.gov/policy/seclusion/seclusion-state-summary.html.
Source: CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News February 24, 2010
Nathaniel Ayers – the homeless musician made famous by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez in a book and subsequent movie about his encounters with Ayers, who has a mental health disorder – has recorded his first CD. Joined by Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea and two musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ayers plays cello, piano, bass and trumpet on the album, called “Putting on Ayers.” It will soon be available from the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation http://www.naayers.org. Proceeds will benefit arts programs at mental health agencies. A preview is available at http://kcet.org/socal/2010/02/the-soloist-in-a-duet.html.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez3-2010feb03,0,7237825,print.column
A new study, published online in the March edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicates that acupuncture specifically designed to treat depression may decrease the symptoms of depression in pregnant women. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, in California, studied 150 pregnant women who had symptoms of major depression. The women were randomly assigned to three different groups: In the main study group, 52 women received the specially tailored acupuncture. In one control group, 49 women received acupuncture not specifically designed to treat depression; the other control group of 49 women received massage. After eight weeks, the depressive symptoms of the women who had received acupuncture tailored to treat depression were more greatly reduced than the symptoms of the women in the other two groups.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180329.php
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in collaboration with the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation, has announced the launch of a national public service advertising campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African American community. Overall, only 58.7 percent of Americans with serious mental health conditions received care within the past 12 months, but the percentage of African Americans receiving services is only 44.8 percent, according to a SAMHSA press release. “Raising understanding and attention to these issues within the African American community will provide greater opportunities for those needing help to receive effective mental health services,” said A. Kathryn Power, director of SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services. The public service announcements direct audiences to a new Web site, http://www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov, where they can learn more about mental health problems and how to get involved. The campaign includes a resource guide, “Developing a Stigma Reduction Initiative,” which can be downloaded at http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma06-4176/. Copies are also available from SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA7.
Source: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1002235422.aspx
The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is assembling a list of warm lines around the country. If you operate or know of a warm line, please share this information with us by e-mailing info@mhselfhelp.org or calling 800-553-4539.
topThe Clearinghouse welcomes all programs in which consumers play a significant role in leadership and operation to apply for inclusion in its Directory of Consumer-Driven Services. The directory, accessible at www.cdsdirectory.org, is searchable by location, type of organization, and targeted clientele and serves as a free resource for consumers, program administrators and researchers.
Apply online, via fax at 215-636-6312, or by phone at 800-553-4KEY (4539). To receive an application by mail, write to info@cdsdirectory.org or NMHCSH Clearinghouse, 1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19107
The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse Volume 6 No.6, February 2010, http://www.mhselfhelp.org
To subscribe send a message to: subscribe thekey. To unsubscribe send a message to: unsubscribe thekey. For content, reproduction or publication information, contact Susan Rogers at 215-751-1800 x288 or srogers@mhasp.org.
