Changes in Mental Health Care System Spur New Optimism

Massive changes in how mental health care is delivered to Californians – including abolishing or restructuring the two state departments responsible for mental health and substance-abuse programs – are being closely watched by care providers and advocacy groups. They say they are “cautiously optimistic” that Gov. Brown’s plan will result in a coordinated, community-based system of care for the thousands of people who historically have faced a dizzying patchwork of care, or no care at all. But advocates emphasize that mental-health care must have a prominent position in the state bureaucracy.

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MHSA Evaluation Presentation: Developing and Shaping Priority Indicators

Join us for a Webinar on August 12 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/736934414 The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) evaluation team hosts this webinar to inform stakeholders about two recently submitted report drafts. During the webinar, report authors will explain 1) the completeness of “priority indicators” that the California Mental Health Planning Council (CMHPC) and the Mental Health Service Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) designated to assess consumer-level and system-level outcomes statewide (Report 1/Deliverable 2A), and 2) how mental health data that is already collected across counties might be used to represent these priority indicators (Report 2/Deliverable 2C). Title: MHSA Evaluation Presentation: Developing and Shaping Priority Indicators Date: Friday, August 12, 2011 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Depression and South Asians

In the dictionary, the term depression is defined as a ‘severe despondency and dejection, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy’ or as a ‘condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life’. However, nowhere in the above definitions, have we come across the words ‘weakness’ or ‘illness’.

So, why do our people of South Asian origin consider depression as something disgraceful?

More U.S. kids in hospital for mental illness

(Reuters Health) – American kids are increasingly likely to be admitted to the hospital for mental problems, although rates of non-psychiatric hospitalizations have remained flat, a new study shows.

Physical, Behavioral, and Mental Health Issues in Asian American Women

Abstract

Abstract Aims: Asian American women’s health has been understudied while the Asian American population is increasing. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical, behavioral, and mental health of Asian American women. Methods: Using a nationally representative sample (n=1097) from the National Latino Asian American Study (NLAAS), the first comprehensive epidemiologic survey in the United States, we examined the annual rates of behavioral, physical, and mental healthcare service use, including general medical, specialty mental health, and any medical services, in three major subgroups of Asian American women. Results: Health problems varied with three major subgroups of Asian American women. In physical health, Chinese American women reported the highest rates of headache, other pain, hypertension, heart diseases, heart attacks, chronic lung diseases, and asthma. Vietnamese American women reported the highest rates of ulcer, stroke, and diabetes. Filipino American women had the highest rates of cancers and epilepsy. In behavioral health, Filipino women ranked highest on all types of drug use and cigarette smoking, compared with their counterparts. In mental health, Filipino American women reported significantly better mental health self-rating compared with their Chinese and Vietnamese American counterparts. Asian American women from each ethnic group sought health services at distinct rates. However, the help-seeking patterns of health services are similar. Conclusions: Asian American women encountered various physical, behavioral, and mental health problems, yet they had low rates of seeking healthcare services. Hence, it is critical to further examine factors associated with the underestimation of physical and mental health problems and underuse of health services by Asian American women

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21777144