NAMI Louisville

Mental Illness Awareness Week 2009

2009-08-14T08:32:00.001-07:00

NAMI Louisville, Bridgehave and Wellspring are once again partering to bring an art show and guest speaker to mark Mental Illness Awareness Week.

For more info, click here: http://namilouisville.com/MIAW09

Researchers Will Investigate Factors in Soldier Suicides - washingtonpost.com

2009-08-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Researchers Will Investigate Factors in Soldier Suicides - washingtonpost.com: "Doctors leading the largest study ever of suicide and mental health in the military are developing intensive soldier surveys that they hope will provide clues as to why suicide rates among Army personnel have grown dramatically in recent years."

Kentucky.gov: - Jefferson County Social Services Offices in L and N Building Reopen

2009-08-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Jefferson County Social Services Offices in L and N Building Reopen

Kentucky.gov: - Flooding Closes Jefferson County Social Services Offices in L and N Building

2009-08-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Flooding Closes Jefferson County Social Services Offices in L and N Building

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 4, 2009) – The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has closed its Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) offices at Louisville’s L and N Building, 908 W. Broadway, Wednesday because of flooding.

For assistance, clients may visit any of Jefferson County’s other DCBS offices at Neighborhood Places.

The building will reopen when the facility is safe and operational for customers and staff.

“Our customers are our No. 1 priority, and our staff is available at nine other locations across Jefferson County to assist them,” DCBS Commissioner Patricia R. Wilson said.

DCBS’ abuse reporting hot line, which houses operators at the L and N Building, has also been affected.

Kentuckians who need to report suspected abuse or neglect of an adult, child or senior should call their local law enforcement agency, or 911 if someone is in immediate danger.

Customers can check online for the nearest Neighborhood Place athttp://www.louisvilleky.gov/NeighborhoodPlace/.

Kentucky.gov: - Suicide Prevention 09

2009-07-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Suicide Prevention 09

Contact Information:

Gwenda Bond, (502) 564-6786, ext. 3325

To help bring awareness to suicide prevention, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), the Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group (KSPG) and the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (BHDID) are hosting an event at 10 a.m. Aug. 21, at the Frankfort Convention Center, 405 Mero St., Frankfort.

“Times are tough. The economy, job loss, cyberbullying among youth, and post-traumatic stress among military veterans are just some of the issues facing many Kentuckians,” said Jan Ulrich, youth suicide prevention marketing specialist with BHDID. “Extreme stress can affect both physical and mental health, which can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, compulsive behaviors and thoughts of suicide in some individuals.”

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting to hear the inspirational stories of real people who are persevering through grief and loss, and are fighting to make a difference in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond.

Army Major General Mark Graham and wife Carol Graham will serve as keynote speakers at the event. Motivated by the tragic loss of both of their sons, Kevin, a University of Kentucky ROTC cadet who died by suicide, and Jeffrey, an Army lieutenant and UK graduate who died in Iraq, the Grahams will share their personal story of loss and how they are leading the fight to reduce military suicides.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently nominated Major General Graham, a nationally renowned speaker, for Time magazine's 100 most influential people.

The free event will provide information and resources about how to become involved in the fight to prevent suicide. Several statewide initiatives will be announced, including suicide prevention initiatives targeting the military, colleges, middle and high schools and more.

Registration is required. Register by Aug. 7 online at www.kentuckysuicideprevention.org or call Ulrich at (502) 564-4456.

Summary of July 24 Disability Community Meeting with President Obama

2009-07-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

NAMI Louisville

Summary of July 24 Disability Community Meeting with President Obama Commemorating 19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Signing of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

On July 24, President Obama invited a group of 12 representatives of the disability community to meet privately with him, Attorney General Holder, Secretary of Labor Solis, and senior White House officials in advance of an East Room ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and his announcement of the Administration’s decision to sign and seek Senate ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Attending the meeting for the disability community were Polly Arango of Family Voices; Marca Bristo of the US International Council on Disabilities and Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago; Kelly Buckland of the National Council on Independent Living; former Congressman Tony Coelho; Michael Fitzpatrick of the National Alliance on Mental Illness; Marty Ford of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and The Arc and UCP Disability Policy Collaboration; Andy Imparato of AAPD; Ted Kennedy, Jr. of the AAPD Board and The Marwood Group; Michael May of the Sendero Group, a technology company; Maria Veronica Reina of the Global Partnership for Disability and Development; Jeff Rosen of Snap!VRS, a video relay and technology company; and Bob Williams of the District of Columbia, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disability and Long-Term Care Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Joining the President at the meeting were Attorney General Eric Holder; Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis; Melody Barnes, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy; Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu; Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy; Paul Miller, Special Assistant to the President for Personnel; Lisa Brown, Staff Secretary to the President; Michael Strautmanis, Chief of Staff to Valerie Jarrett; Jeff Crowley, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and Senior Advisor on Disability Issues to the Domestic Policy Council; Tina Tchen, Director of the Office of Public Engagement; and Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy.

The disability community representatives engaged in a productive dialogue with Attorney General Holder and Secretary Solis before the President arrived, discussing our priorities for civil rights enforcement at both departments, including but not limited to internet accessibility, Olmstead enforcement, reducing the waiting period for ADA complaints to be resolved, using OFCCP to enforce the affirmative action provisions in the Rehabilitation Act, protecting children from the use of aversives and restraints; and implementing a government-wide strategy to improve the representation of people with significant disabilities in the federal workforce. Both Holder and Solis were very interested in continuing the discussion in follow-up meetings with disability community representatives in the weeks to come.

When the President arrived, he noted that we had a wide-ranging agenda that included employment, education, technology, health care, and civil rights policy, and indicated his interest in using this first meeting as a listening session. We thanked him for the meeting and for his leadership in signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we emphasized the importance of seeing disability policy issues as fundamentally about fairness, civil rights and human rights. We shared some personal discrimination stories and expressed our desire to work with the White House and agencies across the administration on a broad-based strategy to make progress between now and next July 26, which will be the 20th anniversary of the ADA. A significant portion of our time with the President was devoted to health care reform and the need to end the institutional bias in Medicaid, and the President offered to have Nancy-Ann DeParle and Peter Orszag and other members of his health reform team sit down with us in the next few weeks to discuss our ideas, including making the Community Choice Act a state option as part of the final bill that emerges from Congress.

The disability community representatives came away believing that the President, his cabinet representatives, and his senior White House staff are committed to working with our community to achieve the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We look forward to following up on all of the issues discussed at the meeting. All in all, we felt that this historic meeting represented a very important step forward for our community and for the country.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Michael J. Fitzpatrick, MSW

Executive Director

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300

Arlington, VA 2201

mfitzpatrick@nami.org

703-516-7977

Kentucky.gov: - Public Invited to Suggest Community Service Needs at Regional Forums

2009-07-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Public Invited to Suggest Community Service Needs at Regional Forums

Health and Family Services Cabinet
Public Invited to Suggest Community Service Needs at Regional Forums; Input will help state complete AmeriCorps plans

Press Release Date:	Monday, July 27, 2009
Contact Information:	Media Contact: Anya Armes Weber, (502) 564-6180, ext. 4014; or Vikki Franklin, (502) 564-7042

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 27, 2009) – The state is asking for feedback from the public on projects relating to its service programs.

The Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service (KCCVS) is seeking statewide input this summer for its State Service Plan and for 2010-11 AmeriCorps grants.

Six regional forums are planned for the public to attend.

A federal mandate requires that KCCVS, part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, ask for input on community needs to include in its three-year State Service Plan.

AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engages more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. In Kentucky, AmeriCorps is administered by KCCVS.

KCCVS Executive Director Eileen Cackowski said the regional forums give KCCVS the necessary public contributions to compile the plan.

Double Tragedies: Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty For People with Severe Mental Illness

2009-07-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

NAMI | Policy Topics

Double Tragedies: Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty For People with Severe Mental Illness

For the first time, families of murder victims have joined with families of persons with mental illness who have been executed to speak out against the death penalty.

Download the full report below.

Related Files

Double Tragedies (2MB) (PDF File)

Kentucky.gov: - KHELPS Summer Workshop 2009

2009-07-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - KHELPS Summer Workshop 2009

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) will conduct a free day-long workshop on July 18 in Lexington to provide basic training for volunteers and medical professionals from across the state who are interested in offering assistance during public health emergencies. The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. at the Lexington Convention Center (430 W. Vine St.).

The workshop will provide an orientation and training for the Kentucky Health Emergency Listing of Professionals for Surge (K HELPS)/Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program.

“This upcoming workshop will play in integral part in planning response efforts that protect our communities in the event of a large-scale public health emergency,” said William D. Hacker, M.D., commissioner for public health. “We are seeking both medical and non-medical personnel who are interested in helping others make a difference in their local communities.”

The K HELPS program is a state-based system to register medical professionals interested in volunteering to offer assistance during public health emergencies or disasters. It was designed to complement the existing Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) programs, community-based organizations that organize and utilize medical professional volunteers to supplement existing local emergency and public health resources for responding to emergencies. Under the new system, K HELPS and local MRC units will work together. Currently, the MRC program covers all 120 counties in Kentucky, with local health departments sponsoring most units in conjunction with local emergency management agencies. To register as a K HELPS volunteer, visit https://khelps.chfs.ky.gov/VolunteerMobilizer/.

Kentucky.gov: - Attorney General Conway Announces Multi-Million Dollar Settlement with Drug Company

2009-07-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Attorney General Conway Announces Multi-Million Dollar Settlement with Drug Company

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced a $2 million settlement with Deerfield, Ill., pharmaceutical manufacturer Baxter Healthcare Corporation, a subsidiary of global healthcare company Baxter International, Inc. Baxter is one of the largest manufacturers in the world of intravenous solutions and products used in the delivery of fluids and drugs to patients.

The Kentucky Medicaid program relies on published average wholesale prices (AWPs) to calculate Medicaid drug-reimbursement rates. Baxter published significantly inflated AWPs for its intravenous solutions that bore no relationship to any prices that Baxter actually charged its customers. This created an artificial "spread" between Baxter’s published prices and the real prices. At times this "spread" exceeded 1,300 percent, which caused the Kentucky Medicaid program to pay substantially more for Baxter’s drugs than the actual cost of the drugs.

"Taxpayers are footing the bill for these inflated drug prices, and my office is seeking to recover the money the Medicaid program lost as a result of this deception and overpayment," said General Conway. "All of this could have been easily avoided if Baxter and the other defendants would have done what the law requires - report truthful prices."

Second Annual Celebrate Recovery! Conference on Friday, July 24

2009-07-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Seven Counties Services Inc.

Seven Counties’ will host its Second

Annual Celebrate Recovery! Conference on Friday, July 24 at the Hyatt Regency, Louisville. The conference will bring providers, consumers and family members together to celebrate the role each plays in creating a recovery environment for adults with severe mental illness throughout Louisville and surrounding counties.

Fair Housing Information Sheet # 1: Early Termination Of A Lease

2009-07-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

Fair Housing Information Sheet # 1: Early Termination Of A Lease

Kognito releases study on suicide prevention program

2009-07-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

Each year over 1,350 college students commit suicide

and, according to the American College Health Association,

almost 10% of all students say they have seriously considered

suicide during the past year. Academic institutions

have been actively seeking ways to engage their faculty

and staff in identifying at-risk students and referring them

to their counseling centers, a crucial task considering that

close to 80% of students who commit suicide are never

seen by a counselor.

In May-June of 2009, Kognito engaged 42 universities

around the U.S. in a survey study to analyze the impact of

At-Risk, its recently launched gatekeeper training product.

This report summarizes the results of the study.

Make comments on the Housing Choice Program

2009-07-02T06:07:00.000-07:00

From HUD:

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The June 22^nd Federal Register noted that the 2009 Appropriations Act provided funding for 4,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers for non-elderly disabled families. Some 1,000 of these vouchers, it adds, will go to non-elderly families transitioning out of nursing homes and other institutions into the community.” To help “better design the distribution” of these vouchers, HUD would like to hear your comments about “threshold factors used to distribute” the vouchers, “whether HUD should establish a more performance-based method” for distribution and how “State institutional transition programs” can “work effectively” with housing authorities receiving these vouchers. Comments due to HUD’s Office of Housing Choice Voucher Management & Operations by July 13th. For more, contact Phyllis.A.Smelkinson@hud.gov

(NAMI Louisville note: These Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly known as Section 8 vouchers) for "disabled families" include families dealing with mental illness.)

Kentucky.gov: - Grant Aids Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs

2009-07-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Grant Aids Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 30, 2009) – A federal grant of almost $100,000 will help Kentucky children with special needs and their families get the medical care and support they require.

The Kentucky Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CCSHCN) has received a $95,700 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration to establish Family-to-Family Health Information Centers in 12 of its locations across the state.

The centers will be located in CCSHCN offices that provide direct medical and other clinical services. Hazard, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro and Paducah will be the first five sites, followed by Ashland, Barbourville, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Morehead, Prestonsburg and Somerset.

Part of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, CCSHCN serves youth ages 21 and younger who have special health care needs.

Family-to-Family Health Information Centers are well received by families because they are typically staffed and run by parents of children with special health care needs themselves. Parents who have navigated the system are available to assist others.

CCSHCN Executive Director Rebecca Cecil said Commission staff and clients are excited about the one-year grant, which could be extended for two more years.

“The health care process becomes more complicated when a child has special needs, and having families mentor other families through this program is the most effective way to ensure that the child gets the services needed,” Cecil said.

Kentucky’s health information centers will be managed by two co-directors -- both parents of children with special needs who have expertise in navigating both public and private health care systems.

The co-directors will recruit and train family mentors, with the assistance of the CCSHCN Parent Advisory Council and CCSHCN clinical staff. The family mentors will help families understand their children’s health issues, provide technical support, offer a multitude of resources and tap into a network of other families and professionals for support and information.

National Minority Mental Health Month

2009-07-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

NAMI | Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month

In 2008 the US House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This provides NAMI state and affiliates with a wonderful opportunity to reach out to diverse communities. Learn more about Bebe here. Click here to learn more about the 2008 resolution.

Attorney General Conway Announces $16 Million Dollar Judgment Against Drug Company

2009-06-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Attorney General Conway Announces $16 Million Dollar Judgment Against Drug Company

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that a Franklin Circuit Court jury has handed down a $16 million judgment against Sandoz, the generic-drugs division of pharmaceutical giant Novartis, for defrauding the Medicaid program and Kentucky consumers by inflating the prices of their prescription drugs.

The Kentucky Medicaid program relies on published average wholesale prices (AWPs) to calculate Medicaid drug-reimbursement rates. During the trial, the Commonwealth showed that Sandoz published significantly inflated AWPs for its drugs that bore no relationship to any prices that Sandoz actually charged its customers. In some cases the published AWP price was 70 times greater than the actual price.

"I appreciate the jury’s careful consideration of this matter and am pleased that we have been able to recover money for the Medicaid program and for Kentucky taxpayers," said General Conway. "My office is committed to putting an end to this type of deception and ensuring that drug companies truthfully report their drug prices."

The Office of the Attorney General has filed suit against 47 of the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers alleging that the drug companies violated Kentucky’s Medicaid Fraud and Consumer Protection statutes and engaged in false and deceptive advertising.

Prior to today’s judgment, the Attorney General’s Office had settled cases with Amgen for $2.4 million, Immunex for $145,000, Bristol-Meyers Squibb for $10 million and Baxter Healthcare Corporation for $2 million.

Beshear budget plan preserves commitments to education, health care, public safety

2009-06-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Press Release

Faced with the largest shortfall in modern Kentucky history, Gov. Steve Beshear today unveiled a proposed budget for next year that does not raise taxes on working families and businesses while preserving basic funding for classroom instruction, health care programs for the most vulnerable and key areas of public safety.

Gov. Beshear told reporters this afternoon that he is formally calling the legislature into a special session, starting June 15, to address a projected $1 billion shortfall in the legislatively enacted budget for the new year, which begins July 1. The coming budget year is also the third consecutive year that the state has had fewer dollars in revenue than projected and budgeted expenses – an unprecedented occurrence.

“My plan protects our families and businesses in this vulnerable time; preserves investments in critical priorities like education, health care and public safety,” the Governor said, “and recognizes the economy will take years to recover.”

In short, the proposed plan will be paid for by making an additional $200 million in cuts from enacted levels and utilizing more than $740 million in federal stimulus dollars, the bulk of which would go toward education and Medicaid as prescribed by law.

“Given the challenges that we will face in the next biennium, as predicted by the Consensus Forecasting Group, it is prudent that we reserve some of the stimulus money to help us address next year’s budget,” said Gov. Beshear.

“Without this money, the pain we are experiencing would be magnified many times over,” the Governor said. “We must realize, however, that this is one-time money. We cannot and should not use it to create new programs we would be unable to sustain in future years.”

Highlights of the Governor’s proposed budget plan include:

Preserving the same amount in the coming year as last year in per pupil spending in classrooms across the state – the basic formula known as SEEK -- and funding for higher education at the same levels as the 2009 budget. “I’ll say it again and again – we cannot move forward if we take significant steps backward in spending in our classrooms,” Gov. Beshear said of his proposal.
Fully funding Kentucky’s Medicaid program, which until recently had operated with a deficit of more than $280 million.
Preserving funding for mental health services at current levels.

Gov. Beshear Announces New Homelessness Prevention and Housing Program

2009-05-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Press Release

RANKFORT, Ky.—Gov. Steve Beshear, along with Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Chief Executive Officer Richard L. McQuady, and Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness (KICH) Chair Kentucky Sen. Gerald Neal, today announced that Kentucky has applied for more than $18.5 million for a new program to provide rental assistance and services to prevent people from becoming homeless and to help those who are experiencing homelessness.

On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. In Kentucky, this program is called Kentucky’s Housing and Emergency Assistance Reaching The Homeless (KY HEARTH) Program.

Louisville, Lexington, Covington, and the state have applied for direct allocations of funding for the KY HEARTH Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). KHC will administer the funding for the state. Nonprofits or units of local government are eligible to apply for funding from the state through a competitive process. KHC will hold an application training on June 16 and applications will be due to KHC by July 14, 2009. KHC will select all subgrantees and obligate funds to them by Sep.30, 2009. Individuals seeking assistance should contact subgrantees after Sep. 30. For more information about KY HEARTH, visit the Kentucky Homeless Web site at www.kyhomeless.org.

Kentucky Attorney General Conway Announces $5.1 Million Settlement With Eli Lilly

2009-05-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Attorney General Conway Announces $5.1 Million Settlement With Eli Lilly

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced a $5.1 million settlement with Eli Lilly and Company over allegations of improper marketing of the antipsychotic drug, Zyprexa. The settlement resolves allegations that Eli Lilly engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when it marketed Zyprexa, used to treat certain psychological disorders, for off-label uses that had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The claims alleged that Eli Lilly promoted the off-label sale and use of Zyprexa primarily through an aggressive marketing campaign called “Viva Zyprexa.” The campaign promoted the drug to psychiatrists and primary care physicians for unapproved uses such as treatment for depression, anxiety, irritability, disrupted sleep, nausea and gambling addiction. The company also allegedly persuaded physicians to prescribe Zyprexa for pediatric use as well as for treating dementia patients in long term care facilities, often at the expense of Medicaid.

“This settlement not only allows us to recover funds for a vital state program that benefits the sick and needy, it also sends an important message that Kentucky will not tolerate drug companies that fail to comply with the rules by misleading and deceiving the public,” said General Conway.

The consent judgment resolves both Medicaid fraud and consumer protection claims and contains comprehensive injunctive terms that will prohibit Eli Lilly from any further unfair or deceptive promotion of Zyprexa. The terms, which will remain in effect for six years, require the company to disclose payments of more than $100 to promotional speakers and consultants and register all studies and post the results of those studies. Additionally, Lilly sales representatives may only sample Zyprexa to a health care provider whose clinical practice is consistent with the product’s labeling.

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) - HealthyPlace

2009-05-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) - HealthyPlace

is characterized by an intense fear of situations, usually social or performance situations, where embarrassment may occur. Individuals with the disorder are acutely aware of the physical signs of their anxiety and fear that others will notice, judge them, and think poorly of them. This fear often results in extreme anxiety in anticipation of an activity, a Panic Attack when faced with an activity, or in the avoidance of an activity altogether. Adults usually recognize that their fears are unfounded or excessive, but suffer them nonetheless.

DPH Releases 2008 Health Behavior and Chronic Diseases Survey Findings

2009-05-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - BRFSS08

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) today announced the release of the state’s 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS) data, a national survey conducted in all states now considered the world’s largest, ongoing telephone health survey system.

Among other things, the survey found that in 2008 vast numbers of Kentuckians continue to categorize themselves as unhealthy and leading unhealthy lifestyles. The BRFSS, which is conducted by the Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement in DPH, looks at numerous health indicators, such as diet and physical activity, to determine the health and lifestyle habits of Kentuckians.

“The BRFSS is a wonderful tool that allows us to paint a portrait of our state’s health status,” said William Hacker, M.D., DPH commissioner. “Each year, we use information from this survey to learn more about health risk behaviors, shape recommendations for preventive health practices, and determine to what extent Kentuckians have access to care, particularly for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.”

The BRFSS program tracks health conditions and risk behaviors of adults 18 and older in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the survey in 1984.
The Kentucky BRFSS is the main source of non-reportable disease data in Kentucky broken down by demographics like gender, race, age group, income levels, education status and geographic areas like Area Development Districts.

In 2008, Kentucky adults 18 years and older reported a 20.3 percent prevalence of fair or poor general health. In general, residents of Kentucky’s Appalachian counties reported higher rates of poor health and chronic diseases than those in non-Appalachian counties. In addition, Kentuckians with a high school degree or less and those with lower income levels reported higher rates of poor health and chronic diseases.

Eagles’ Shawn Andrews Battles Doubts and Depression

2009-05-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Eagles’ Shawn Andrews Battles Doubts and Depression - NYTimes.com

In an interview May 3 at the Eagles’ minicamp, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Shawn Andrews did something that athletes almost never do — especially offensive linemen in theN.F.L. who are shielded by helmets, pads and a macho culture that discourages any acknowledgment of vulnerability. He spoke at length about his struggles with depression, which he revealed last summer after holding out from training camp.

Andrews weighed 230 pounds by age 12 and said he had wrestled with his self-image for years, having been picked on because of his size and because he grew up poor in Camden, Ark. He said he received word before his rookie season in 2004 that a childhood friend was planning to have him killed over money. He said he had come to regret spending lavishly on expensive cars and other baubles that he now considered frivolous.

Accessibility in the Arts

2009-05-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - AccessWkshps09

The Kentucky Arts Council and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts have partnered to present a series of accessibility workshops in communities that have received Cultural District Planning Grants from the Kentucky Arts Council with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The workshops will be led by Martha M. Newman, Director of Access Services at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts and will focus on a wide range of accessibility issues that face communities as they develop arts districts. Topics will include information about basic law covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, tax incentives for compliance, making historic buildings accessible and basic protocols for working with people with disabilities.

The first workshop will be hosted by the City of Berea on Tuesday, May 26, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea, Ky.

Maysville's workshop will be on Tuesday, June 2, from 8:00 -10:00 a.m. EDT at theKentucky Gateway Museum, 212 Sutton St., Maysville, Ky.

The final workshop will be on Tuesday, June 16 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. CDT at theKentucky Repertory Theatre Educational Arts Center, 107 E. Main St., Horse Cave,Ky.

Workshops are free but pre-registration is appreciated. To pre-register contact Martha M. Newman, Director of Access Services, The Kentucky Center,mnewman@kentuckycenter.org or (502) 562-0711 (V) 502-562-0140 (TTV).

Leadership Academy in June: applications due May 20

2009-05-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Department for Mental Health Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services, and Bluegrass Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board are presenting a Level I Leadership Academy for adult consumers of mental health services. The training will be held June 1, 2, and 3, at the Bluegrass Regional Office at 1351 Newtown Pike in the Board Room.

The Academy is designed to teach participants how to develop leadership skills, how to improve organizational and advocacy skills, how to identify and present issues, and how to develop group action plans.

Potential Leadership Academy candidates should be self-motivated, committed to self-recovery and helping others, be willing to participate in ongoing activities, have good verbal and organizational skills, and have an interest in representing consumer issues.

Please distribute this information to anyone you think may be interested in participating in this training initiative. They must complete the enclosed Registration Form/Fact Sheet and return to me by May 20^th at the address listed on the registration form address or email me with the information and carol.saylor@ky.gov. In addition, you may contact me by phone at 1-800-374-9146 if you have any questions or concerns.

We are looking forward to this collaborative training with Bluegrass Community Mental Health Center with excitement and enthusiasm.

You can access the application form here: http://xrl.us/ldrshp

The 2009 Youth Services Summit

2009-05-11T10:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.performanceweb.org/2009/04/10/s262/

The 2009 Youth Services Summit

July 30-31, 2009
Optional Pre-Conference Workshop: July 29, 2009
Washington, DC

At this Conference You Will Learn to:
Address the Needs of Today’s Youth to Inspire Success in the 21st Century
Harness the presidential administration focus on youth to benefit your work today and in the future

Obtain Recovery Act Money to Further Youth Education, Development and Workforce Involvement
Prepare, plan for, obtain and manage funds under the Recovery Act to increase the workforce and drive results for your program

Establish Performance Measures to Enhance Youth Services
Develop and utilize performance measures to evaluate progress and develop a plan to increase youth outcomes

Promote Collaboration and Drive Change through Public-Private Partnerships
Cultivate successful relationships with the business community, foundations, government agencies and youth serving-systems to create new opportunities

Indictment of a behavioral analyst at Our Lady of Peace

2009-05-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Our Lady of Peace Behavioral Analyst Indicted For Criminal Abuse

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced the indictment of a behavioral analyst working at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky for criminal abuse in the second degree. A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Jeffrey Dillen, 28, of Louisville, on Thursday, May 7, 2009 for criminal abuse II, a class D felony which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Dillen is charged in connection with an incident in May 2008 when, while conducting research for a presentation, he allowed Katlyn Moore to bang her head on a concrete floor 129 times. The victim, Moore, was a teenager diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism, and mental retardation, with a history of self injurious behavior, all of which was known by the defendant.

Investigators from the Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Division, conducted the criminal investigation of this case and prosecutors from the Medicaid Fraud Division are handling the prosecution at the request of the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

“Protecting our most vulnerable citizens is a priority for my administration and we will continue to investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect cases throughout this Commonwealth.” General Conway said.

Arraignment is scheduled in Jefferson Circuit Court, division five on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

An indictment is an allegation and the defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty.

SCS and U of L to fight underage drinking

2009-05-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

Seven Counties Partnering with U of L to Fight Underage Drinking

Seven Counties’ Regional Prevention Center (RPC) has teamed with U of L to fight underage drinking and substance abuse among students. U of L’s Community Coalition to Reduce Underage and Problem Drinking includes students, faculty/administration, on- and off-campus law enforcement, parents, area businesses and Seven Counties' RPC. U of L was awarded funding from Beam Global Spirits and Wine to implement prevention strategies from the International Institute for Alcohol Awareness and its "Be Wise" Toolkit. RPC staff provides technical assistance to the coalition to strengthen campus drug and alcohol policies, community collaboration, social norms and education/intervention for at-risk students.

Results from a 2008 National College Health Assessment survey of U of L students indicated that 49.4% reported using alcohol in the last 30 days and 20.8% reported drinking 5 or more alcoholic beverages at one sitting in the last 2 weeks. Students also reported that, while they had been drinking, 34.5% did something they later regretted; 33% forgot where they were or what they had done; 16.8% had unprotected sex; and 14.5% were physically injured.

Goldie Hawn Champions Children’s Mental Health

2009-05-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2009

Contact: Christine Armstrong (703) 312-7893

christinea@nami.org

Goldie Hawn Champions Children’s Mental Health

Washington, DC– In honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Goldie Hawn, child advocate and founder of The Hawn Foundation, campaigned for effective children’s mental health programs at a Congressional briefing today.

“Children represent a fraction of our population, but 100% of our future. One in ten suffers from serious mental health disorders, and most aren’t getting the help they need. We need to address this crisis before it’s too late,” Hawn said.

Working with leading neuroscientists, educators, and researchers, The Hawn Foundation developed a program for grades K-7 that improves children’s emotional and cognitive skills to help them understand and manage their own emotions, moods and behaviors; reduce stress and anxiety; sharpen concentration; increase empathy; and improve their performance in school.

“Increasing social and emotional learning skills is cost-effective and makes a big impact,” Hawn said. “Congress should increase funding to scale up programs like these to save our children’s lives, save our schools, and save our nation’s money, too.”

The briefing focused on investment in the educational future of children with mental health needs, a population that has the highest drop-out and failure rates and the lowest academic achievement of any disability group. The briefing was jointly hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and theNational Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (National Federation).

Howard Muscott, director of the New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and Kathryn Power, director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), presented positive outcomes data from CMHS grant sites across the country. The data shows that effective children’s mental health programs promote positive youth development, recovery, and increased resiliency, allowing children with mental health needs to thrive in their communities.

The briefing also highlighted the need for congressional support for Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act and the Mental Health in Schools Act, legislation that recognizes the partnership that must be established between schools and communities to ensure that children with mental health needs are identified and linked with effective services and supports.

More info:

Christine Armstrong

Media Relations Associate

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

christinea@nami.org

Health Insurers Agree to End Higher Premiums for Women - NYTimes.com

2009-05-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

Health Insurers Agree to End Higher Premiums for Women - NYTimes.com

Public Service Recognition Week

2009-05-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

public_service_recognition_week

"Government Goes Green" is the theme of this year's Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW). Taking place on the National Mall inWashington, D.C. between 4th and 7th Streets, the public is welcome to check out tons of exhibits from different government agencies showcasing their work and what they're doing to make a positive impact on the planet through environmentally friendly practices and initiatives.

Running from Thursday, May 7th through Sunday, May 10th (military only exhibiting on Sunday) more than 100 civilian and military agencies will be represented. Friday is "student day" and will feature U.S. Secretary ofEducation Arne Duncan speaking at 10:30 a.m. Students of all ages are encouraged to attend. There will also be an astronaut on site for kids to meet.

For those seeking employment, many agencies like the Department of Labor will be showcasing exciting job opportunities.

For more information and a full schedule of events, check out the official PSRW website.

Children's Mental Health Awareness Event at the Newport Aquarium

2009-05-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - KEYS Fashion

Kentuckians Encouraging Youth to Succeed (KEYS), a part of the Department for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addiction Services, will gather Saturday, May 9, at the Newport Aquarium to emphasize the importance of children’s mental health awareness.

Youth involved with the KEYS program along with students from Covington Holmes High School’s modeling club will conduct a fashion show and education event to promote awareness and reach out to their peer groups. The event will be at 5:30 p.m. at the aquarium. Tickets are required for entry, but the event is open to all media.

“Awareness of mental health issues, particularly for children, adolescents and teenagers, is important as we move forward in the recognition of mental health, accessible and affordable treatment, and erasing the stigma attached to mental illness,” said Devon Lindsey, KEYS marketing specialist. “Northern Kentucky teens want to show their peers that it’s possible to thrive when youth with mental concerns have the right supports and services available.”

An original educational video produced by students from The Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati profiling youth in the show will be featured. Additionally, program participants will stage a fashion show showcasing a variety of fashions in the shade of green – the color symbolizing children’s mental health awareness – donated by Plato’s Closet, with hair and make-up from Art Institute students.

The goal of the event is to reach out to teens in northern Kentucky, bringing children’s mental health issues to the forefront. Ultimately, the program aims to help young people feel comfortable addressing mental health needs.

“One in five children and adolescents has a mental health disorder, and one in 10 has a serious emotional disturbance, but many of our young people don’t know how to seek help,” said Lindsey. “We have to erase the stigma attached to mental illness so that our young people can get the help they need and thrive in the community.”

Statement from Gov. Steve Beshear on UofL, Norton Healthcare

2009-05-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Statement

Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office

Statement from Gov. Steve Beshear on UofL, Norton Healthcare

Press Release Date:	Thursday, April 30, 2009
Contact Information:	Jay Blanton Jill Midkiff 502-564-2611

FRANKFORT, Ky. — “I met Wednesday night with University of Louisville President Jim Ramsey and Norton Healthcare CEO Steve Williams. The meeting occurred at my request because of my increasing concerns about the ongoing dispute between these two critically important institutions. Few health issues are more important in Kentucky than accessible, high-quality trauma care. I wanted to hear from both leaders that they share that priority. I was pleased to receive assurances from both Dr. Ramsey and Mr. Williams about their commitment in that regard. It was not – and is not – my desire to take sides in this dispute. The issues here are complex and both sides have strong, sincere points of view. But the people of this state expect, and deserve, Level 1 trauma care. They need to know that our leaders are committed to that goal. I appreciate the fact that both Dr. Ramsey and Mr. Williams are committed to the principle that this level of care will remain intact.”

More info: http://www.hospitalreviewmagazine.com/news-and-analysis/legal-and-regulatory/norton-healthcares-hiring-of-university-of-louisville-neurosurgeons-could-lead-to-legal-action.html

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090419/NEWS01/90419002/Legal+action+possible+over+doctors++hiring

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090419/NEWS01/904190421/U+of+L-Norton+dispute+threatens+neurosurgery+program

2 sentenced in death of mentally disabled man

2009-04-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

2 sentenced in death of disabled man - State - Kentucky.com

FRANKFORT — Two men were sentenced earlier this week in the death of a 25-year-old man with cerebral palsy who died after one of the men sat on him for more than 30 minutes.

Matthew Bortles, 21, of Soldier was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison. He had pleaded guilty in March to intentional abuse of a vulnerable adult and tampering with physical evidence.

Michael Price was a client at Community Presence, a residential home for people with mental disabilities, at the time of his death on Oct. 14, 2007. According to Attorney General Jack Conway's office, Bortles lay on Price's back for more than 30 minutes. Price stopped breathing and later died.

More indicments in Madison Manor case

2009-04-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Attorney General Conway Announces Additional Indictments in Madison Manor Abuse Case

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced the indictments of Amanda Sallee and Valerie Lamb, two former nurse’s aides at Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Complex (Madison Manor) nursing home. Sallee, of Richmond, in Madison County, was indicted for Wanton Abuse and Neglect of an Adult under KRS 209.990 and Lamb, of Berea, in Madison County, was indicted for Reckless Abuse and Neglect of an Adult under KRS 209.990. Both were charged in connection with the abuse and neglect of a former resident of Madison Manor in August 2008. The indictments were returned on April 9, 2009.

Earlier this month, Jaclyn VanWinkle pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in the Madison County Jail for reckless abuse and neglect of an adult. The sentence was probated for a period of two years conditioned on her good behavior and agreement to cooperate and testify in any case involving alleged criminal conduct at Madison Manor.

An investigator from the Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Division, assisted by the Richmond Police Department, arrested Sallee on April 10, 2009 on a warrant issued by the Grand Jury. She will be arraigned May 15, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. in Madison Circuit Court and her bond is presently set at $10,000 full cash. The Grand Jury also issued a summons for Lamb to appear in Madison District Court on April 27, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division are handling the prosecution of this case. The investigation at Madison Manor is ongoing.

An indictment is an allegation only. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

Beshear Proclaims Volunteer Week in Kentucky

2009-04-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Beshear Proclaims Volunteer Week in Kentucky: "Gov. Steve Beshear has proclaimed April 19-25 as Volunteer Week in the commonwealth.

“Volunteerism, community service and neighbor-helping-neighbor are cornerstones of Kentucky culture, and every day, volunteers across Kentucky serve without compensation to meet vital needs that may otherwise fall through the cracks,” Beshear said.

From teaching children to read and making neighborhoods safer, to protecting vital natural resources and building affordable housing, volunteers enrich the lives of others and contribute real value to the state’s financial and social stock.

New tobacco quit line

2009-03-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Excise Tax 09: "In light of tax increases on the purchase of tobacco products, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is offering assistance to the many Kentuckians who may be considering quitting smoking or smokeless tobacco.

The Kentucky Tobacco Quit Line, 1-800-QUIT NOW, is a public health service that helps residents of the state who are trying to quit smoking. The free service provides ongoing counseling to those working through the quitting process and houses information on other quitting resources, such as the Cooper/Clayton Method to Stop Smoking offered through local health departments."

AP IMPACT: Mentally ill a threat in nursing homes

2009-03-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

AP IMPACT: Mentally ill a threat in nursing homes

This article is troubling, as it perpetuates the false notion that persons with mental illness are more prone to violence than the general population as a whole.

Carla Johnson, the AP Medical Writer, finds four instances of nursing home violence involving persons with mental illness (she admits there are no kept statistics) and then proclaims that persons with mental illness are "a threat in nursing homes."

Four instances over six years is not a pattern. That's life. How many violent episodes have occurred in nursing homes over the past six years that did not involve a person with a diagnosed mental illness? More than four? I'd be willing to bet on that.

A March 27, 2009 google news search for "nursing home abuse" retrieved articles about more than six episodes of violence against nursing home residents by the staff at nursing homes this month. Wouldn't it stand to reason that the staff at nursing homes are a far greater threat than persons who have been diagnosed as mentally ill?

But no, the AP and Ms. Johnson have gone for the red meat of stereotypes and have seen that red meat picked up by nearly 500 news outlets.

And to what end? Articles like this will be used to shut out persons with mental illnesses from nursing homes, and those persons will likely end up in one of two places: warehouse-like state-run mental hospitals, or on the streets, where they will have little or no access to treatment.

Shame on the AP, and shame on Carla Johnson.

Kentucky.gov: - Oakwood Units Restored

2009-03-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Oakwood Units Restored

Federal Funding Restored to Three Oakwood Units

Gov. Steve Beshear has announced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has verbally informed the state that federal funding has been restored to three of Oakwood’s four units.

CMS recertified Units #2, #3 and #4 after accepting plans of correction related to deficiencies identified during a follow-up survey on Jan. 9. Funding was restored to Unit #2 retroactive to March 13; Unit #3 retroactive to Feb. 5; and retroactive to March 4 for Unit #4.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is awaiting official word from CMS.

“This is a tremendously significant accomplishment in our efforts to restore federal funding for the entire facility,” said Gov. Beshear. “Although a few hurdles remain, I am extremely proud that Oakwood has demonstrated such dramatic progress, and three of the four facilities have now been reinstated to the Medicaid program.”

“Restoring certification is an uphill battle for any facility, but we have never lost sight of our goal of addressing the significant issues Oakwood faced at the beginning of this long road,” said CHFS Secretary Janie Miller. “We’re pleased to be in the position of achieving recertification for three of the four units, and are optimistic that the other unit is close behind.

“The Cabinet has worked hard to place Oakwood on a clear path to recertification, and I commend all the staff for their dedication and commitment. I would particularly like to thank Acting Deputy Commissioner Betsy Dunnigan (Department for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addiction Services) for her tireless efforts on behalf of the facility.”

Oakwood, the state’s largest facility for adults with developmental disabilities, is located in Somerset. Its current census is 201.

Mental Health Conference in Northern KY in May

2009-03-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Mental Health Conference: "The Department for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addiction Services (MHDDAS) and the Northern Kentucky Criminal Justice/Behavioral Health Advisory Committee are hosting the “Recovery, Responsibility, Resiliency for Justice Involved Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders Conference” in May to bring together various agencies and professionals serving people with mental health needs.

The event will be May 4 and 5 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington and will feature national speakers on a variety of topics pertaining to behavioral health. Professionals such as� law enforcement, jailers, prosecutors, public defenders, the judiciary, corrections, probation and parole, academics, human services and paraprofessionals, as well as students, families, consumers and youth are encouraged to attend."

NEW REPORT CARD: NATION'S MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM | With Video

2009-03-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

NEW REPORT CARD: NATION'S MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM | With Video

Grading the States 2009: A Report on America’s Health Care System for Adults with Serious Mental Illness from the National Alliance on Mental Illness

2009-03-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Grading the States 2009: A Report on America’s Health Care System for Adults with Serious Mental Illness from the National Alliance on Mental Illness - NAMI

Two Community Presence Caregivers Plead Guilty in Connection with Death of Mentally Disabled Patient

2009-03-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Two Community Presence Caregivers Plead Guilty in Connection with Death of Patient: "Attorney General Jack Conway today announced a plea agreement in the case of two Kentucky caregivers arrested last year on charges relating to the abuse and death of a patient at Community Presence, Inc. Matthew Bortles from Soldier in Carter County pled guilty to Manslaughter II, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Knowing Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult. Branden Starostka from Grayson in Carter County pled guilty to Tampering with Physical Evidence and Wanton Abuse and Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult. The pleas occurred on Tuesday, March 10, in Carter Circuit Court.

“This was a shocking and egregious case and through the hard work of our investigators and prosecutors, working together with local law enforcement, these two men were brought to justice,” General Conway said.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bortles will serve 8 years and Starostka will serve 5 years in the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Bortles and Starostka were indicted in Carter Circuit Court in connection with the death of Michael Price, a mentally handicapped adult who was under the care of and resided at Community Presence, Inc. On October 14, 2007, Bortles laid on the victim’s back for more than 30 minutes using an improper restraint. This caused the victim to stop breathing and ultimately caused his death. While this was occurring, Starostka watched television and failed to intervene. After the victim died, Bortles and Starostka attempted to conceal evidence by cleaning up the victim’s blood, concealing a bloody pillow and placing a blood-stained washcloth in the washing machine.

Elyn Saks presentation

2009-03-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at U of L Law School have made Elyn Saks presentation from October 2008 available online. Enjoy.

Kentucky.gov: - Nutrition Month 09

2009-03-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

Kentucky.gov: - Nutrition Month 09: "As part of National Nutrition Month, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is working to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy, well-balanced diet in maintaining long-term health and wellness. In addition, DPH is working to recognize the contributions of nutrition and dietary professionals on March 11, which is recognized as National Nutrition Health Professionals Day.

Developed by the American Dietetic Association, National Nutrition Month is a�nutrition education and information campaign�recognized annually in March. The campaign�focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.�"

Lieutenant Governor Mongiardo delivers Keynote Address at National Healthcare IT Conference

2009-03-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Kentucky.gov: - Press Release: "Lieutenant Governor Mongiardo joined healthcare leaders from across the country this morning to deliver the keynote address at the Health Information Safety and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) National Conference in Bethesda, Maryland."

Youth mental illness costs U.S. billions

2009-02-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Mental illness, substance abuse and behavioral problems among children and young adults, costs the United States $247 billion a year in treatment and lost productivity alone, an expert panel said on Friday.

The panel set up by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine which advise U.S. policymakers urged the White House to set prevention goals and coordinate government action to attack the problem.

The panel looked at the financial toll from mental illnesses including depression, anxiety disorders andschizophrenia, as well as drug and alcohol abuse and behavioral problems by people up to age 24.

It concluded that treatment and lost productivity costs alone reached an estimated $247 billion annually. That figure excluded criminal justice and education, workplace disruption and social welfare spending which would certainly add many billions more to the price tag.

(m)

Beshear appoints Fummilayo

2009-02-09T09:49:00.001-08:00

Gov. Beshear has appointed Oyo Fummilayo to the Kentucky Developmental Disabilities Council to serve for the unexpired term ending July 16, 2009.

Oyo Fummilayo, of Nicholasville, is an instructional assistant for the Danville Public Schools. The appointment replaces Anne M. Maxfield, who has resigned.

http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/governor/20090206appts.htm

New Pediatric Program at UK Pairs Doctors and Lawyers

2009-01-26T07:44:00.001-08:00

New Pediatric Program at UK Pairs Doctors and Lawyers

Posted using ShareThis

Kentucky moves forward with health information exchange program

2009-01-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

Governor's Office Press Release:

Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo have announced that Kentucky is moving forward with the creation of a statewide health information exchange – an initiative that will position the commonwealth as a national leader in e-health.

The move comes as President-elect Barack Obama is pledging to spend billions in stimulus dollars on e-health, an area that Lt. Gov. Mongiardo has been a leader in for several years.

“While all states–including Kentucky–are looking for ‘shovel-ready’ projects as part of a proposed federal stimulus, we are looking for innovative and groundbreaking ways to implement health technology – technology that will save lives and significantly reduce costs,” Gov. Beshear said. “This initiative – to create a statewide information exchange – is an important first step in making Kentucky a national leader in the emerging e-health movement.”

Lt. Gov. Mongiardo, a practicing physician, agreed, saying that “health information technology is the first thing on the list and the only thing on the horizon to both significantly reduce cost and to improve the quality of health care for our citizens in Kentucky and across the country.”

Premature birth 'link' to mental illness

2009-01-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

From The Age:

A study of premature babies has revealed a link between pre-term births and mental illness, which an expert says has implications for the way mothers and babies should be treated.

The Swedish study of more than 500,000 babies showed infants born very early, between 24 and 28 weeks, were more than twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for a psychiatric disorder in their early 20s than those born at full term.

The study by researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute showed 5.5 per cent of those born very early had been admitted to hospital for a psychiatric disorder, compared to 2.4 per cent of those born at full-term.

The psychiatric conditions included mood disorders, stress-related complaints and suicide attempts or deaths.

Even those in the moderate prematurity group, born at 33 to 36 weeks, were at risk with three per cent having been admitted to hospital for a psychiatric disorder.

The study, which followed up premature babies born from 1973 to 1979 through their medical records, made adjustments for other mental illness risk factors including family history and low socioeconomic status.

Kentucky governor proposes raising tobacco tax to save mental health, education, and Medicaid

2008-12-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

On Dec. 11, 2008, Gov. Steve Beshear proposed a plan to address the state’s budget crisis that would utilize a 70-cent increase in cigarette taxes and double the tax rate on other tobacco products to protect funding for education as well as the state’s most vulnerable populations through Medicaid and mental health services.

Listen to Gov. Beshear announce the plan:

Part One:

Part Two:

Free webcast on ADA amendments

2008-11-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

Please join the DBTAC - Southwest ADA Center at ILRU for a FREE webcast on"The ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) and Its Implications for the Future of theADA."

Arlene B. Mayerson, Directing Attorney of the Disability Rights andEducation Fund (DREDF) will present the webcast on "The ADA Amendments Act(ADAAA) and Its Implications for the Future of the ADA" on Wednesday,November 19, 2008 at 2:00pm Central.

About the Webcast

On September 25, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law a measure(S. 3406) that significantly amends the definition of "disability" in theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Effective January 1, 2009, the ADA-AAsignificantly changes the current law.

This amendment was necessary because Supreme Court cases under the originaldefinition excluded large groups of people with disabilities from the law'scoverage. The primary difficulty was the requirement that an individual be"substantially limited in a major life activity". Supreme Court cases foundthat individuals that mitigate the affects of their impairments by takingmedication or using devices or aids were not "substantially limited" andthat individuals that could accomplish daily grooming and self care were not"substantially limited". The result of these decisions was that ADAplaintiffs were either considered "too disabled" to be qualified but "notdisabled enough" to be covered by the ADA.

=-=-=-=-=-=

To link to this webcast and download accompanying materials visit:http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/calendar.html

For instructions on how to access a webcast visit:http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/instructions.html
Please visit this site ahead of time to test and ensure your computer isconfigured and updated to participate in the webcast.

For technical assistance, please check out our FAQs (frequently askedquestions) at: http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/FAQ.html orcontact a webcast team member at swdbtac@ilru.org or 713.520.0232 (v/tty).

Kentucky governor seeks to enroll more kids in health insurance program

2008-11-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

Following through on a promise he made in September, Gov. Steve Beshear today launched an initiative to enroll more children in the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP), including a new Web site, easier enrollment, improved efforts to retain children currently enrolled and significant education and outreach efforts. The plan hopes to enroll more than 35,000 children in KCHIP or Medicaid by the end of 2011.

The new initiative meets a goal set by Gov. Beshear to make enrollment easier by eliminating the need to meet face-to-face with a caseworker to apply for KCHIP. Parents now can complete, print and mail an application available at www.kidshealth.ky.gov; request a mail-in application by calling 1-877-KCHIP-18 (toll-free); or return a postcard mailed to them by the KCHIP program.

Read more.

Governor Beshear Announces Creation of Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program

2008-11-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

Program will aid needy Kentuckians in locating free or reduced cost prescription drugs

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear has announced a new program to aid eligible Kentuckians in locating free or reduced cost prescription drugs. The Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP), an innovative initiative to utilize and coordinate existing assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies, will be coordinated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).

“It is vitally important that we provide all the assistance we can to Kentucky citizens who are unable to afford the prescription drugs they need, especially in these tough times,” said Gov. Beshear. “The new program will be an important step toward empowering and expanding community-based efforts to make it easier for Kentuckians who qualify to obtain free or reduced cost sources of prescription drugs that may prevent or manage illnesses, and even save lives.”

The General Assembly appropriated $400,000 in fiscal year 2008-2009 and $600,000 in fiscal year 2009-2010 to consolidate and coordinate existing efforts around the state aimed at connecting needy individuals — such as those near the federal poverty level or seniors in the so-called “doughnut hole” of Medicare Part D — with prescription medications. After reviewing existing programs across the state, CHFS identified a model program run by HEART USA, a 501(c)3 volunteer organization in Paducah. The KPAP expands this model program statewide, adding enhanced computer-assisted technology to allow for reduced paperwork and a streamlined process to increase public access to sources of free and low-cost medications.

“Not only will we saves lives, but we also will avoid the higher cost of caring for those individuals who are unable to buy their medications and do without them until they become so sick they must seek medical care through our emergency rooms,” said Rep. Jimmie Lee, D-Elizabethtown, who was instrumental in securing funding for KPAP. “This coordinated program will become, in my view, a national model for other states to follow.”
To launch the program, CHFS will collaborate with medical and social service stakeholders while empowering interested community members to identify resources and determine how the community can best assist citizens with their KPAP needs. Each participating county will have a designated community site where individuals can access the program. The cabinet will provide computer software that determines eligibility and connects individuals with prescription drug sources, training on use of the software, training on volunteer and physician recruitment and program troubleshooting.

Patients will be able to access the community program in their area through referrals by physicians or social services, or on their own. Individuals whose income or resource levels make them ineligible for existing drug assistance programs through pharmaceutical manufacturers will receive consultation about other sources of low-cost prescriptions, such as $4 prescription programs at pharmacies.

The program rollout will begin with a technology training and community organization process later this year. Physician recruitment and volunteer recruitment will occur during January and February, with the full launch of the program in March 2009. Initially, the program is expected to include approximately 90 counties, with more sites being added as CHFS works with communities.

“During these tough economic times, we want to help Kentuckians who are having trouble affording necessary prescriptions as much as we possibly can. We are proud to play a role in creating a network of community resources to tap into existing sources of free and low-cost drugs for eligible Kentuckians who need them,” said CHFS Secretary Janie Miller.
For more information about volunteering and training in the KPAP program, call 1-800-633-8100.

New members of the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Board

2008-10-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Gov. Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Board to serve for terms expiring Sept. 20, 2012.

Jennifer Hollifield, of Louisville, is a program manger for the American Lung Association of Kentucky. She represents the Kentucky Lung Association. The appointment replaces Michael P. Kuntz, whose term has expired.

Dudley J. Conner, of Frankfort, is the executive director of the Ky. Public Health Association. He represents the Kentucky Health Department Association. The appointment replaces Teresa L. Blankenship, whose term has expired.

Jamie Ennis Bloyd, of Lexington, is the advocacy manager of Kentucky for the American Heart Association. She represents the Kentucky Heart Association. The appointment replaces Tonya Chang, whose term has expired.

Betty Marshall, of Boston, Ky., is the family resource center coordinator for the Bullitt County School District. She represents the Kentucky Family Resource Youth Services Coalition. The appointment replaces Darlys Warren, whose term has expired.

Martha L. Cowles, of Mt. Vernon, is the program manager for the Christian Appalachian Project – Healing Rain Women’s Substance Abuse Recovery Center. She represents local tobacco addiction and substance abuse advisory and coordination boards. The appointment replaces William M. Mills, whose term has expired.

The governor has reappointed the following members to the board to serve for terms expiring Sept. 20, 2012.

Kenneth B. Bolin, of Manchester, is the pastor of Manchester Baptist Church. He represents local tobacco addiction and substance abuse advisory and coordination boards.

David M. Ptaszek, of Hopkinsville, is a health care administrator for the Pennyroyal Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board, Inc. He represents the Kentucky Association of Regional Programs.

Donna J. Hillman, of Pleasureville, is the director of the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. She represents the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Margaret A. Pennington, of Louisville, is the program evaluator for R.E.A.C.H. of Louisville. She represents private community based organizations.

Pearl Ray Lefevers, of Corbin, is the administrator of Cumberland River Comp. Care. He represents private community-based organizations.

Anger and Depression: Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help?

2008-10-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

The possible beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids on brain development and mental health continues to be an exciting area of research. Certain fatty acids (linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid) are essential in our diets. Like vitamins, we need them but can't make them ourselves. We get them from our food or from dietary supplements. Good sources for these beneficial fatty acids are certain fish and plant oils.

More

Gov. Beshear appoints commissioners and board members

2008-10-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Gov. Beshear has appointed the following members to the Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

Sherry Mays, of Morehead, is retired and is a part-time website designer and graphic artist. The appointment replaces Sherri L. Mosley, who has resigned. Mays shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term ending Dec. 20, 2008.

Kimberly S. May-Downey, of Pikeville, is an attorney in private practice. The appointment replaces Larry G. Gayden, who has resigned. May-Downey shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term ending Dec. 20, 2011.

Gov. Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky Spinal Cord and Head Injury Research Board.

George H. Raque Jr., of Louisville, is a physician for Neurosurgical Institute of Kentucky. He represents the University of Louisville College of Medicine. The appointment replaces Henry D. Garretson, who is deceased. Raque shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 31, 2010.

Linda H. Gleis, of Louisville, is a physician for Louisville Veterans Administration Medical Center. She represents the Kentucky Medical Association. The appointment replaces Harold C. Cannon, whose term has expired. Gleis shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 31, 2010.

Allison Jones, of Covington, is a medical writer at Medpace, Inc. She represents members at large. The appointment replaces Deneda B. Grider, whose term has expired. Jones shall serve for a term expiring Jan. 31, 2012.

The governor has reappointed the following members to the board to serve for terms expiring Jan. 31, 2011.

David H. Allgood, of Louisville, is a community advocate with the Center for Accessible Living.

William R. Markesbery, of Lexington, is a physician at the University of Kentucky. He represents the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

MORE

Elyn Saks to visit Louisville this month

2008-10-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

NAMI Louisville and the Brandeis School of Law present USC Law Professor Elyn Saks

DATE: October 26, 2008

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Strickler Hall, University of Louisville, Belknap Campus

MORE: Professor Elyn Saks will deliver her powerful presentation on being an academic and legal professional dealing with severe schizophrenia.

Saks is the bestselling author of The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness. Copies of Professor Saks' book will be available for autograps at the event.

This event is free and open the public, but reservations are encouraged. To reserve seats, call (502) 245-5287, or send an e-mail with your name and phone number to events@namilouisville.org.

Judge, Two Law Profs Decide Mental Illness Should not Be a Secret

2008-10-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

From the ABA Journal:

Two law professors and a judge whose lives have been touched by mental illness are joining to fight the stigma surrounding psychiatric diagnoses.

One of the law professors, Elyn Saks of the University of Southern California, has written a book about her struggle with schizophrenia, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports. The other, James Jones of the University of Louisville, suffers from bipolar disorder and has written articles about it in two publications.

The judge, Susan Gibson, contacted Jones after reading his articles. She told the Courier-Journal her husband, a prosecutor, committed suicide because he feared seeking treatment for depression would ruin him professionally. Both law professors also feared that revealing their mental health problems would hurt their careers.

Parity

2008-10-10T08:53:00.001-07:00

From the Washington Post:

An estimated 113 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands in the Washington region, will receive better insurance coverage for their mental health and substance abuse problems because of landmark legislation that for the first time requires mental and physical illnesses to be treated equally.

The law is a culmination of a decade of lobbying and negotiating among advocates for the mentally ill, the insurance industry, the business community -- including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- and doctors' groups. The change, which was included in the economic rescue package signed by President Bush last week, will take effect Jan. 1, 2010, for most plans. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees would be exempt.

For decades, insurance companies could offer less coverage for the treatment of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder than of such diseases as cancer and diabetes -- so people with mental illness or substance abuse problems often had to pay for expensive treatment and medication out-of-pocket.

The new law bars companies from setting higher co-pays or deductibles for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Plans also will be prohibited from lowering benefit levels or restricting the number of outpatient therapy sessions or hospital treatment days. And if a health plan allows out-of-network visits for the treatment of physical illnesses, it will also have to offer identical out-of-network coverage for mental health care.

Advocates and experts said the change represents a fundamental shift in how the mentally ill are treated and could bring medical parity to tens of millions of people.

"This is absolutely milestone legislation for those people who have mental health and substance abuse problems," said Doug Walter, counsel for legislative and regulatory affairs at the American Psychological Association. "It ends the discrimination against people who have long needed the help."

“Visioning Forums” around the state

2008-10-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has scheduled “Visioning Forums” to give individuals with disabilities, advocates, and other interested individuals an opportunity to provide feedback on the services OVR provides to Kentuckians with disabilities. Input from the visioning forums will be used to help develop the state plan that the agency is required to submit to the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

The visioning forums schedule follows. (All times local)
Louisville: 4 - 6 p.m., Oct. 21; Center for Accessible Living, Board Room, 305 W. Broadway, Suite 200

Lexington: 5 - 7 p.m., Nov. 5; OWL, 650 Kennedy Road

Florence: 4 - 6 p.m., Nov. 17; One-Stop Career Alliance of N. KY, Board Room, 8020 Veterans Memorial Drive

Kentuckians who are unable to attend a forum may send comments in any format (written, taped, phone call, etc.) to David Beach at 209 St Clair Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 or (800) 372-7172 by November 30, 2008. Comments may also be submitted through the Internet at http://www.ovr.ky.gov. If reasonable accommodations are needed for your participation at the forum, please call Veeta Bain at (800) 372-7172 (Voice/TTY) at least one week prior to the forum you wish to attend.

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, an agency of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, assists Kentuckians with disabilities to achieve gainful employment and independence. For more information about services, call the office toll free at (800) 372-7172 or at (888) 420-9874 (TDD) or visit the OVR Web site at www.ovr.ky.gov.

The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet coordinates learning programs from P-16 and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. For more information about our programs, visit www.educationcabinet.ky.gov or www.workforce.ky.gov.

Kentucky is first state to launch Virgin HealthMiles program to employees

2008-10-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear and Personnel Cabinet Sec. Nikki Jackson today announced that Kentucky is the first state in the nation to offer the Virgin HealthMiles program to its employees and other members of the Kentucky Employees Health Plan (KEHP) as part of the administration’s Journey to Wellness program.

“Today we are launching a wellness program that encourages employees to take an active role in their own health by competing to lower Kentucky’s high national adult obesity and chronic disease rates,” said Gov. Beshear. “A healthy workforce is not only a matter of quality of life for our teachers, state employees, and retirees; it is critical to government productivity.”

Christopher Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles, attended today’s kick-off to show support for the commonwealth’s implementation of the award-winning Virgin HealthMiles program. The announcement was held during the first of 18 benefit fairs conducted during health insurance open enrollment and featured a Virgin HealthMiles walk around the Frankfort Convention Center grounds, aimed to highlight the importance of preventive health care and the launch of new wellness initiatives for state employees.

“We are proud to partner with the commonwealth of Kentucky as they are the first state government in the nation to provide the HealthMiles program to all employees and plan members,” said Boyce.” It is truly an honor for Virgin HealthMiles and the Virgin Group to be working with innovative leaders, such as the good people of Kentucky, who have recognized how wellness programs can benefit their employees and, in turn, the citizens of the commonwealth.”
Beginning in 2009, KEHP members will be able to sign up to participate in the Virgin HealthMiles program. Employee participants will be provided a GoZone, a pedometer that will allow them to track their daily steps and other physical activity upload their data to their own personal LifeZone tracking program. To encourage employee participation, the program provides a variety of challenges and monthly sweepstakes for cash prizes, as well as opportunities to redeem cash they’ve earned and won on their personal LifeZone Web site. A participant's chance of winning the monthly sweepstakes is enhanced the more actively they participate in the program.

(read more)

Murder Victims’ Families Oppose Death Penalty for People with Severe Mental Illnesses

2008-10-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

National Project Launch—October 3rd
Murder Victims’ Families Oppose Death Penalty for People with Severe Mental Illnesses

Washington, D.C.— Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights (MVFHR) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will launch a national project opposing the death penalty for persons with severe mental illnesses at a press conference in San Antonio, Texas on October 3.

The initiative builds on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that raise questions about the capacity of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses sentenced to death to understand why they are being executed or even that they will die. A national report on the issue will be released in June 2009, based in part on testimony from family members at San Antonio event.

WHAT: National project launch—press conference

WHEN: Friday, October 3, 2008 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

WHERE: University of the Incarnate Word
Bonilla Science Hall 129
Hildebrande—just west of Broadway intersection
San Antonio, Texas 78209

WHO: Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights http://www.mvhr.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) http://www.nami.org/

Renny Cushing, MVFHR Executive Director
Ron Honberg, NAMI Policy & Legal Director
Bill Babbitt, brother of a Vietnam veteran, who was diagnosed with PTSD and schizophrenia, killed a 78-year old woman, and was executed.

Lois Robison, a mother whose mentally ill son was discharged from a hospital when his insurance ran out. A county hospital could not admit him unless he became violent. He killed five people. Instead of treatment, he got the death penalty.

Kim Crespi, mother of victims murdered by husband who suffers from mental illness.
Amanda & Nick Wilcox, parents of victim who was murdered by a person with mental illness.
Other family members of murder victims or executed persons from around the United States.

Susannah Sheffer for MVHR: 617-512-2010 (cell) or sheffer@aceweb.com Christine Armstrong for NAMI: 703-312-7893 or christinea@nami.org

MVFHR http://www.mvfhr.org/ is a national organization of family members of murder victims and families of the executed. NAMI http://www.nami.org/ is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by mental illnesses.

Employees promoted in KY DOC's mental health division

2008-09-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

From the DOC:

Kentucky Department of Corrections Deputy Commissioner Al Parke today announced a realignment of the agency’s Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse that will move three employees into key positions of leadership. Dr. Elizabeth McKune, Dr. James Van Nort and Karyn Hascal have been selected to serve as Assistant Directors of the Division.

McKune will oversee all psychological services, Van Nort will direct the Sex Offender Treatment and Sex Offender Risk Assessment areas, and Hascal will provide oversight for all Alcohol and other Drug services. All of the new assistant directors will report to Division Director Kevin Pangburn.

“I am excited with our new organization. It decentralizes mental health into three distinctive units governed by three proven professionals,” said Parke. “This allows expedient decision making and oversight of these critical areas that are an essential component of corrections.” McKune came to the DOC in 1999 as a Psychologist assigned to the Nursing Care Facility and the Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit at the Kentucky State Reformatory. She was promoted to Licensed Psychologist Program Administrator for General Psychology Services in 2004. She briefly left the DOC to serve as Director of Psychology, Neuropsychology, and Brain Injury Programs for Frazier Rehab in Louisville. She returned in March 2007 and has been serving as the Licensed Psychologist Program Administrator for Organizational Development. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Louisville, McKune teaches part-time at Spalding University where she is the Acting Director of the Health Psychology Emphasis Area. She lives in Louisville with her husband, Joe, and two girls, Maggie and Katie.

Van Nort is a Licensed Psychologist who began his employment with the Department of Corrections in 1998. In 2002, he was promoted to Chief Psychologist of the Sex Offender Risk Assessment Unit, and in 2006, he took over as Program Administrator of the Sex Offender Treatment Program. Van Nort chairs the Sex Offender Risk Assessment Advisory Board and has served on a Governor's Council and Task Forces. He resides in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Abby and sons Joshua and Warren. Hascal has worked in the field of substance abuse for the past 30 years, most recently as the Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy. She has been a certified substance abuse counselor since 1980 and has held a variety of management positions in community and correctional programs. She currently resides in Louisville with her son, Eric.

“All of these individuals possess the unique combination of leadership, dedication and vision necessary for our current and future plans,” said Pangburn. “They are all true corrections professionals, and we are fortunate to be the beneficiary of their professional expertise.” The Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse encompasses approximately 150 employees across the state who provide psychological, sex offender treatment and substance abuse services to the nearly 21,000 felony offenders incarcerated in Kentucky jails and prisons.

Congress updates/expands the ADA

2008-09-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

From Reuters:

The often divided, election-year Congress came together on Wednesday to give final approval to a bill to protect millions of disabled Americans against discrimination in the workplace.
On a voice vote, the House of Representatives approved the measure that was unanimously passed by the Senate last week. The White House said President George W. Bush would sign it into law.

The legislation would reverse U.S. Supreme Court rulings that critics charge narrowed the intent of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and erected new barriers to coverage. The 1990 law was signed by Bush's father, then President George Bush.

"The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is instrumental in allowing individuals with disabilities to fully participate in our economy and society, and the administration supports efforts to enhance its protections," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
The measure clarifies that Congress intends the Americans with Disabilities Act to be broadly interpreted in requiring employers to make accommodations for the disabled.

It reverses Supreme Court decisions that limited the law. The court ruled, for instance, that mitigating circumstances like medication or a prosthesis make a person ineligible for coverage.
The bill again defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that "substantially limits" activities. It also increases the number of activities covered and expands the ability of workers to sue if they believe they are mistreated.

LEO Weekly cover story on mental illness and the death penalty

2008-09-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

I don't like the title, but Sarah Kelley's look into the move to prohibit executions of the severely mentally ill is a good read.

Highlights:

* Only individuals suffering from the most serious mental disorders would be eligible for exclusion from capital punishment. Such mental illnesses include major depressive disorder, dissociative disorders such as multiple personalities, and schizophrenia, by far the most common serious mental illness plaguing capital defendants. Those with psychological disorders due to chronic drug abuse could still face the death penalty.

Not only must a defendant be diagnosed with a grave mental illness, lawyers would have to prove the person was suffering from the disorder at the time of the crime.

It is estimated that about 5-10 percent of defendants currently on death row suffer from severe psychological illness.

Years after Gall’s trial, several jurors called to testify during his appeal admitted they favored imposing the death penalty in large part because he was deranged, despite the fact that mental illness is a mitigating factor in capital cases.

Rather than present evidence disputing the defense’s argument, the prosecution disparaged the use of an insanity defense in general, equating psychologists to “three blind mice asked to identify an elephant,” before warning the jury not to “turn Gall loose” by finding him insane and shipping him off to a mental hospital.

Only about 1 percent of accused felons claim innocence due to mental illness. Of those defendants, juries find only a small fraction not guilty by reason of insanity. Experts believe that’s because mental illness is stigmatized, misunderstood and feared.

In Tennessee, the state’s court of appeals overturned the death sentence of Richard Taylor in March. A paranoid schizophrenic, Taylor was serving time for robbery when, after being denied his anti-psychotic medication for months, he attacked and killed a prison guard. The judge allowed Taylor to serve as his own attorney. During his trial, he wore sunglasses, failed to present any witnesses or evidence, and instead ranted incoherently before the jury, which sentenced him to death. His sentence was thrown out and he now is serving life.

Agency for Substance Abuse Policy to hold annual meeting

2008-08-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

FRANKFORT, KY –The Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy will hold its annual public hearing to gather comments on the use, distribution and awarding of funds allocated to the KY-ASAP Program from the Kentucky Health Care Improvement Authority (Tobacco Settlement Funds, Phase I and Phase II).

The hearing will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 21 in the First Floor Conference Room of the Office of Drug Control Policy, 125 Holmes Street, Frankfort.

Written comments will also be accepted through August 19. Comments may be sent by mail to Amy Andrews, KY-ASAP State Program Coordinator, Office of Drug Control Policy, 125 Holmes Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, or via e-mail at amy.andrews@ky.gov.

U. Chicago study shows high drug abuse rates in Appalachia

2008-08-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

From the Governor's Office for Local Development

According to an ARC commissioned study announced today by Kentucky Governor Steven Beshear and ARC Federal Co-Chair Anne Pope, Appalachia suffers from disproportionately high rates of substance use and mental health disorders, including the alarmingly increasing abuse of prescription painkillers.

Conducted for ARC by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, the study also reveals that Appalachia is doing better than the rest of the nation in terms of access to treatment for substance use and mental health problems.

The study analyzes the disparities in mental health status and substances abuse prevalence, as well as access to treatment services, across the 410 counties and 13 states of Appalachia by using community hospital discharge data, national household survey data, and treatment episode data.

To supplement quantitative data sources, case studies were conducted in partnership with East Tennessee State University (ETSU) to gather additional information.

The study’s findings demonstrate particular disparities associated with Appalachian sub-regions, county economic distress level, and within coal-mining areas that all confirm the presence of a place-based disparity in the Region.

(more)

Depression link to poor driving

2008-08-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

Reported by the BBC:

People on anti-depressants may have impaired driving skills, a small US study suggests.

Researchers put 60 people through a driving simulation to test steering, concentration and reactions.

North Dakota University found those on high dose anti-depressant courses had poorer driving skills.

But it was not clear whether it was the pills or the actual condition that caused the impairment and researchers said a larger study was now needed.

The participants were split between those who were not on medication, those taking a low dose course and others on a high dose.

Free health screenings at the KY State Fair

2008-08-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Visitors to the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville this month can get information to help their families’ health and well-being through free screenings and educational activities at the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ (CHFS) exhibit.
The highly interactive display, located in the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center’s South Wing B, features health educators and family services information and encourages guests to make good lifestyle choices. CHFS Secretary Janie Miller said her staff sees the fair as one of the agency’s best outreach opportunities, enabling staff to personally connect with up to 700,000 Kentuckians from all walks of life.
“We are giving visitors the chance to learn that by making good health choices, they can take major steps on the path to wellness,” she said. “And we also show them that many of the assistance programs we offer – like child care subsidies – can make a big difference toward family well-being.”
The fair runs Thursday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 24, and visitors can learn something new every day.

Kentucky Health and Family Services 2008 State Fair Schedule

Daily Programs
· Blood Pressure Monitoring
· General Health Information
· Abuse Prevention and Reporting
· Body Fat Analysis by Kentucky State University staff (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Aug. 14, 15 and 18)

Featured Programs
Thursday, Aug. 14
· Environmental Lead and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

Friday, Aug. 15
· Family Preparedness Information
· Comprehensive Cancer Information

Saturday, Aug. 16
· Free Bone Density Screenings/Osteoporosis
· Women’s Health

Sunday, Aug. 17
· Free Bone Density Screenings/Osteoporosis

Monday, Aug. 18
· Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
· Nutrition
· Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs Information

Tuesday, Aug. 19 (Senior Day)
· Physical Activity
· Nutrition
· Department for Aging and Independent Living
· Long-Term Care Ombudsman Information
· Free Blood Sugar/Cholesterol/Blood Pressure Screenings – Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital staff

Wednesday, Aug. 20
· Environmental Lead and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
· Physical Activity
· Special Needs Adoption Program

Thursday, Aug. 21
· Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
· Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
· Quality Child Care Information -- STARS for KIDS NOW

Friday, Aug. 22
· Diabetes
· Tobacco Cessation
· Quality Child Care Information -- STARS for KIDS NOW

Saturday, Aug. 23
· Substance Abuse Prevention - “Fatal Vision” Goggles
· Quality Child Care Information -- STARS for KIDS NOW

Sunday, Aug.24
· Substance Abuse Prevention - “Fatal Vision” Goggles

Hollywood not kind to persons with mental illness

2008-07-31T08:12:00.001-07:00

A good editorial from the Sydney Morning Herald:

IN THE ultimate put-down, a cartoon character called Batman describes people with a real-life condition called schizophrenia as "weak-minded" and "easily led". As a man who identifies as a bat while dressing in a tight, black rubber, one-piece and a scalloped cape during his attempts to seek revenge on his personal demons as an illegal vigilante, I'm not convinced he is in a position to comment.

I understand that for his fans it is important he continues to act out his psychological manifestation of personal rage on other oddly dressed characters, but it has become apparent over the past decades that Batman has no intention of seeking out support groups or cognitive behavioural therapists to find other less violent methods of working through his grief. What a shame. He could be an inspirational role model in a completely new soul-searching way.

However, it is not my intention to focus on Batman's misconceptions of schizophrenia. He is an imaginary character who does not exist. People with schizophrenia do, and on their behalf, I am annoyed.

The fault lies with the Hollywood scriptwriters who love abusing artistic licence with throwaway lines such as "This film is based on true events". There is a laziness in not getting your facts right and it is even more pathetic if this stance reinforces false stereotypes. In Michael Clayton, a lawyer with bipolar disorder strips in front of a room full of people. After one pill and a good night's sleep, he is fine. Where can people access this magic medication? It's too fantastic to be true.

Admittedly we have come a long way, but there is still a lot of misunderstanding about mental health issues such as schizophrenia. It's not like the condition has just been discovered or it's so obscure no one has ever heard of it. Lots of people have schizophrenia and many more people know someone with it. So how come Hollywood gets away with creating false scenarios about so many mental health issues? There would be an uproar if we started talking about people with cancer as being people with "weak bodies" who "easily give in".

If there was enough money for quality mental health care, maybe I would not have had to write, but who knows if that will happen.

So please can everyone respectfully refer to people with mental health issues like people with any other treatable illness?

I did see The Dark Knight over the weekend, and I wasn't terribly impressed. Despite the rave reviews, I found the film only mildly entertaining.

Mental illness is a recurring theme in comic books and superhero flicks, especially in the Batman mythology. The Joker, Two-Face, the Riddler and many other Batman villains are portrayed as mentally ill and evil. "Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane" is the repository for many of Batman's foes.

And, in The Dark Knight (as the editorial points out), the Joker recruits schizophrenics and "the weak-minded" to carry out his evil deeds.

Hollywood, for the most part, is not helping the cause of the mentally ill.

Anyway....

Beshear appoints and reappoints KATS Network Council members

2008-07-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

The KATS Network Advisory Council consists of 14 gubernatorial appointees. Along with the coordinating center staff, the council helps coordinate the implementation of statewide capacity building and advocacy initiatives regarding the availability of assistive technology.

These organizations change for the enhancement of access to assistive technology for Kentuckians with disabilities and are designed to work toward permanent systems. They constitute the KATS Network, providing consumer responsive, comprehensive, statewide programs of technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities of all ages.

For bios and the full press release from the Governor's office, click here.

Michael Weiner calls autistic kids "brats"

2008-07-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

From Yahoo News:

Radio talk show host Michael Savage (ne Michael Weiner), who described 99 percent of children with autism as brats, said Monday he was trying to "boldly awaken" parents to his view that many people are being wrongly diagnosed.

Some parents of autistic children have called for Savage's firing after he described autism as a racket last week. "In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out," Savage said on his radio program last Wednesday.

Savage offered no apology in a message posted Monday on his Web site. He said greedy doctors and drug companies were creating a "national panic" by overdiagnosing autism, a mental disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate.

On his radio show last week, he said: "What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, `Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, you idiot.'"

The government estimates about 1 in 150 children have some form of autism.

Records show past mental health crisis for accused killer

2008-07-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

From the Courier-Journal:

A Jefferson Circuit Court judge quashed a subpoena of a Courier-Journal reporter yesterday, saying that the First Amendment protects reporters from having to testify about how they gather information for stories.

Judge Mary Shaw issued that decision during a hearing where defense lawyers for Gail Coontz sought to have reporter Jason Riley explain how he got a court file that the lawyers say was sealed.

Coontz is charged with murder in the shooting deaths of her two children, 14-year-old Greg and 10-year-old Nikki.

The children were found in their bedrooms at their Okolona home March 27.

Coontz, who could face the death penalty, was arrested after she showed up at the University of Louisville's counseling center with a gun earlier that day.

On July 9, the Courier-Journal published an article that detailed documents that were filed as part of the discovery in Coontz's criminal trial.

Those documents included information about Coontz's past mental health treatment.

The file also detailed a call Coontz made in January to a crisis hot line in which she threatened to kill herself and her children.

That call led to an investigation by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services that ended with the cabinet finding Coontz was not a risk to her
children.

If there was ever a time when the people of Kentucky need more state money for mental health treatment, it is now. Instead, most mental health service providers are facing huge cutbacks and budget shortfalls. Let Governor Beshear know that Kentucky's mental health system is in crisis, and we cannot afford to lose more programs.

Wyeth and Impax settle Effexor suit

2008-07-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

Wyeth Press Release:

Madison, N. J., July 16, 2008 – Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) and Impax Laboratories Inc. today announced that all conditions of a settlement of the U.S. patent infringement litigation pertaining to Impax’s proposed generic capsule formulation of Wyeth’s EFFEXOR XR® antidepressant have been approved by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The Court entered a consent judgment resulting in termination of the litigation effective today.

Under the terms of the settlement, Wyeth has granted Impax a license that would permit Impax to launch its capsule formulation of Effexor XR on or after June 1, 2011, subject to earlier launch in limited circumstances, but in no event earlier than January 1, 2011. Impax will pay Wyeth a royalty on sales of this generic product.

The parties also have agreed that Impax will utilize its neurology-focused sales force to promote a product to be named by Wyeth. Other terms of this agreement are confidential and were not disclosed.

KY Attorney General Conway Announces Bristol-Myers Squibb Settlement

2008-07-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units announced on July 15, 2008 that 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government have settled with Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company (BMS) and its former wholly owner subsidiary Apothecon, Inc., to resolve allegations of illegal drug marketing and pricing of prescription medication paid by the participating states’ Medicaid programs totaling $389 million plus interest. The federal portion of the settlement was concluded last fall. The Commonwealth of Kentucky will receive $3,078,211.78 of the settlement amount. The settlement addresses allegations that BMS engaged in a number of improper marketing and pricing practices, including:

Reporting inflated prices for various prescription drugs knowing that Medicaid and various federal health care programs would use these reported prices to pay for BMS and Apothecon products used by their recipients.

Paying illegal remuneration to physicians, health care providers, and pharmacies to introduce them to purchase BMS and Apothecon products;

Promoting the sale and use of Abilify, an antipsychotic drug, for pediatric use and for treatment of dementia-related psychosis, uses which the federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved; and

Misreporting sales prices for Serzone, an antidepressant, resulting in the improper reduction of the amount of rebates paid to the state Medicaid programs.

The settlement reimburses the federal government and the participating states for excessive amounts paid by Medicaid programs as a result of this conduct. As a part of the settlement, BMS has also entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under which BMS will be required to report accurately its average sales prices and average manufacturers process in the future.

A team from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units participated in the investigation and represented the states’ interests in the settlement negotiations. Team members include Unit Directors from Ohio and Vermont as well as Assistant Attorneys General form Massachusetts, New York, and New Mexico.

Attorney General Jack Conway praised the settlement, stating "I am pleased that auditors and attorneys from our Medicaid Fraud Division, working in close cooperation with this team, have recouped these state Medicaid funds. In these tight budget times, it is more important than ever that we be diligent in our efforts to recoup state funds that have been obtained improperly."

Contact Information: Allison Gardner Martin, Communications Director

502-696-5651 (office)

Kentucky settles lawsuit over services to persons with disabilities

2008-07-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

From the Courier-Journal:

A federal judge has approved an agreement that could bring services to thousands of Kentuckians with mental disabilities.
U.S. District Judge Joseph M. Hood today endorsed a settlement of a long-running lawsuit between the state and advocates for people with mental and other disabilities. Hood said he expects to issue an order late this week to make the settlement final.Under the plan, the state will spend millions of dollars to provide therapy, adult day care, housekeeping and home health services, among other things, with the intention of allowing those with disabilities to remain at home and out of institutions.
The agreement calls for the state to help as many as 3,000 people this year and add 1,500 a year until it reaches 10,000 individuals.The state will use Medicaid money to help pay for the services and had committed about $17 million for the first two years.

I have also been told that the settlement includes the provision of legal services for persons with mental illness and other disabilities, which public defenders had been phasing out, after facing many budget cuts. -- Tony

Psychiatric ER Death

2008-07-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Click here for the video that has many Americans outraged. NAMI has called for an investigation.

NAMI Kentucky's Major Depression Awareness Campaign

2008-07-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

MAJOR DEPRESSION WILL AFFECT APPROXIMATELY 6% of KENTUCKIANS THIS YEAR

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – NAMI Kentucky (The Kentucky chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness) calls on Kentuckians to take time to learn about the symptoms of major depression and to offer support to friends and loved ones who may be suffering from mental illness.

Major depression affects more than 6 percent of the Kentucky’s adult population every year, meaning that approximately 150,000 Kentuckians will have an episode of major depression this year.

All age groups and all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups suffer from major depression; however, depression occurs twice as frequently in women. It ranks as the largest cause of disability in the developed world, and the fourth largest cause of disability in the developing world.

Major depression goes well beyond temporarily feeling sad or blue, it involves some combination of several symptoms, including depressed mood, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, fatigue, appetite disturbances, excessive guilt and even suicidal thoughts.

Although major depression can be a devastating illness, it’s highly treatable. Some individuals may require long-term treatment, and more than half of those who experience a single episode of depression will continue to have episodes that occur as frequently as once or twice or a year. Without treatment the frequency as well as the severity of symptoms of depressive illness tend to increase over time.

Many treatment options are available, and the type chosen depends on the individual and the severity and patterns of the illness. There are three well-established types of treatments: psychotherapy, antidepressant medications and electroconvulsive therapy. These treatments may be used in many combinations, and there may be some trial and error to work out a treatment plan for each individual.

If you or someone in your family is being affected by major depression, NAMI Kentucky can help. NAMI Kentucky represents those diagnosed with mental illnesses, as well as their families and friends.

NAMI Kentucky is part of a nationwide network devoted to improving the lives of persons with serious mentally illness and to decreasing the prevailing stigma associated with mental illness. NAMI’s primary focus is to provide support, education and advocacy. NAMI Kentucky represents more than 1,100 members/households and has 21 affiliates plus newly forming affiliates throughout the state. Please call (800) 257-5081 or visit KY.NAMI.org if you would like more information about mental illness in Kentucky. This public awareness campaign is made possible, in part, with the support of Eli Lilly and Company.

Oakwood editorial

2008-07-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

From Kentucky.com:

Oakwood just part of nightmare

Some have long said that Oakwood is an unjustified drain on public resources. The money could be better spent, they argue, serving greater numbers of Kentuckians who have mental retardation in smaller, less costly settings closer to their families.

There's no disputing that Oakwood has become a financial drain on the state now that the federal government has ended funding of the Somerset institution because of a record of brutality and neglect.

At a time of financial struggle, the state must come up with an additional $3.5 million a month to replace the lost federal share.

Legislators recently expressed frustration that officials are not moving faster to seek Oakwood's recertification, which would restart the flow of federal dollars.

But the reason for the delay is obvious. Oakwood couldn't yet make the grade.

Opened 36 years ago at the end of the era of institutionalization, Oakwood must pass the same test as a new facility seeking certification.

Among the requirements: Each of Oakwood's 200-plus residents must have a therapy plan that the caregivers know and understand. That's not too much to ask of an institution that spends more than $300,000 a year per resident. That it remains a hurdle says a lot about the low quality of life available to those who live at Oakwood.

Two years ago, Oakwood had become a place where no one was safe. Under the management of the Lexington-based Bluegrass Regional Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, Oakwood residents are much safer. And that's a huge relief.

But Oakwood is still not — and never will be — a place where residents can live full lives or realize their potential as human beings. And, as John Cheves recently reported in the Herald-Leader, Oakwood is still not entirely safe or accountable.

An examination of records revealed that residents still are hurt by staff, poor medical care and one another. Internal investigations are flawed and incomplete, and state inspectors say they've been harassed and threatened with personal lawsuits by Bluegrass president Joseph Toy and his staff, a charge denied by Toy, who last week announced his retirement.

For several years now, we've said that Oakwood has outlived its usefulness and should be closed.

Officials in the last administration made strong efforts to find new homes for those at Oakwood, and the population has declined from 400 to 221.

But Oakwood can't close until there are places for all its residents. And recent days have brought disturbing news about community-based alternatives to Oakwood:

In Carter County, a grand jury indicted nine employees of an adult-care facility where a 25-year-old mentally retarded resident died last year. Two other employees had already been indicted for manslaughter in the death of Michael Price.

In Mercer County, a residential facility for adults and children, New Hope Agency, is being investigated for allegations of abuse, including the rape of a resident. The director has been charged with sexual abuse and rape of former employees.

If it's true that a society should be judged by how it treats its weakest members, Kentucky is failing tragically.

Seven Counties enacts deep cuts

2008-07-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

From the Courier-Journal:
Facing a $3 million cut in state funding, Seven Counties Services is cutting jobs and services for people with mental illness and mental disabilities in the Louisville area.
Beginning today, the regional mental health agency will cut as many as 10 staff positions and eliminate programs, including a popular "clubhouse" for teens recovering from drug or alcohol abuse.

"For the last three decades we have seen incredible progress in this business we call behavioral health," said Dean Johnson, the agency's vice president for community relations. "We're reversing that progress."

Seven Counties President Howard Bracco said in an e-mail to employees that the budget was the "most problematic" he has seen in 30 years at the agency, which serves about 32,000 people a year in Jefferson and the six surrounding counties.

"Individuals and families will feel the pain," he said.

Kentucky's 14 community mental health agencies are all seeking ways to manage about $20 million in cuts over the next two years, said Steve Shannon, who represents the agencies. Seven Counties, through its board's action Thursday, is the first to announce specific cuts, he said.
The agencies, which have not had a funding increase for the past 12 years, have nothing left to cut that won't hurt their clients, Shannon said.

"The resources are shrinking while the demand continues to grow," he said.

This is terrible news for Louisville's mental illness community. Seven Counties has been understaffed and cash-strapped for years. These continued cuts to Kentucky's mental health system will cost far more in the long term than these cuts will save in the short term.

These cuts are likely to lead to more people in prison, more people in the hospital instead of getting treated at home, and more families ripped apart by mental health crises.

If you live in Louisville or Kentucky, and you care about the 140,000 mentally ill people in Louisville and the more than 1 million mentally ill people in the Commonwealth, you better start putting the pressure on your elected representatives to find the funding for mental health care. It affects us all.

Kentucky among states with highest levels of "psychological distress"

2008-06-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

New study reveals regional patterns of substance abuse and mental illness:

On the mental health side of things, serious psychological distress also
appears regional. If you live west of the Rockies, you are probably in good shape. Except for small pockets in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, the West seems to be a pretty happy bunch, while the middle portion of the eastern U.S. seems to be struggling, with the largest populations in distress being in Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Click the link above to read the entire article.

Click here to read the Report on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Survey.

NAMIWalks Louisville Kickoff Luncheon is July 23rd!

2008-06-24T08:44:00.001-07:00

When: July 23, 2008 at 12:30 p.m.

Where: The Metro United Way Community Room

334 East Broadway, Louisville

Why: To raise awareness, excitement and enthusiam for

the NAMIWalks Louisville event on Sept. 13, 2008

Who: You! Your family, your friends, your co-workers

What: Free food!

The Kickoff Luncheon is limited to the first 100 registrants, so please RSVP as soon as possible, and no later than July 15. Call Tony Baize or Tammy Haysley at (502) 245-5287.

For more info about NAMIWalks Louisville, click here:

http://www.nami.org/namiwalks/KY/Louisville

We hope to see you at the Kickoff Luncheon and the Walk!

Toy to retire from Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board

2008-06-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

From the Herald-Leader:

Joseph Toy, president and CEO of the Bluegrass Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, is retiring.

In an e-mail Toy sent Friday to staff at the Communities at Oakwood and Eastern State Hospital, he said he would continue working for two to four months to allow the board time to appoint a successor.

In addition to running Eastern State in Lexington and Oakwood in Somerset, Bluegrass provides community mental-health services and other social services.

Toy's retirement comes as Bluegrass is under pressure to fix problems at Oakwood, a historically troubled institution, so the facility can regain funding from Medicaid.

All but $18 million of Oakwood's $78 million annual budget normally comes from Medicaid. Until the facility is found in compliance by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the state is paying for the full cost of running the institution.

(Image courtesy Somerset Commonwealth Journal)

From the NAMI Convention again

2008-06-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

So, I'm sitting in the Internet suite, because once again, the session I wanted to attend was placed in one of the smaller salons, and it is overflowing into the hallway.

If there's a criticism of what has been otherwise an excellent convention, it's this: the logistics people failed to realize which topics were going to be really big draws.

On Saturday, I really wanted to attend the workshop on fundraising, but it, too, overflowed. Fortunately, NAMI Louisville's Board President Bob McFadden shoehorned a seat. Today, it's the session on the "VA at War" that has drawn an overflow crowd.

Meanwhile, larger salons are not filled while focusing on more specialized topics.

I suppose I'll find a comment card or send an e-mail.

I guess it should be said that this is my personal opinion only. It may not (and probably does not) represent the thoughts or feelings of NAMI Louisville, its board, or the attendees at the convention under the NAMI Louisville banner.

Blogging from the NAMI National Convention

2008-06-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Overwhelming schedules and overwhelming crowds. This is by far the biggest special interest convention I have ever attended.

During NAMI's town hall meeting this morning, the Obama campaign sent a senior staffer. The McCain campaign sent no one.

I think the crowd took that as a hint.

WaPo: Soldiers with PTSD kept near firing ranges

2008-06-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

According to the Washington Post, soldiers at Fort Benning and other bases diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and placed in the "Warriors in Transition" unit were kept too close to firing ranges, aggravating their disorders.

Lifespring loses mental health grant

2008-06-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

From the News and Tribune:

About 360 people that receive substance-abuse and mental-health treatment as a diversion to a jail sentence annually through the Jeffersonville-based Turning Point Center may have to look elsewhere for help this year.

The organization — which provides inpatient treatment to residents in six counties, including Clark and Floyd — lost a $500,000 grant funded through the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction earlier this year.

Podcast: Obama's Homes for Heroes Act

2008-06-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

Last year, Senator Obama introduced a bill that would strive to reduce homelessness among U.S. Military veterans. Persons with mental illness tend to be overrepresented in that population.

Listen to Obama talk about it here:

powered by ODEO

Two interesting new articles about mental health

2008-05-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Newsweek: Growing Up Bipolar

Related Newsweek video here

Conde Nast Portfolio: The Ultimate Cure
(about brain/neurological disorders)

Military suicides may exceed combat deaths

2008-05-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

May 5 (Bloomberg) -- The number of suicides among veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may exceed the combat death toll because of inadequate mental health care, the U.S. government's top psychiatric researcher said.

Community mental health centers, hobbled by financial limits, haven't provided enough scientifically sound care, especially in rural areas, said Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He briefed reporters today at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in Washington.

Insel echoed a Rand Corporation study published last month that found about 20 percent of returning U.S. soldiers have post- traumatic stress disorder or depression, and only half of them receive treatment. About 1.6 million U.S. troops have fought in the two wars since October 2001, the report said. About 4,560 soldiers had died in the conflicts as of today, the Defense Department reported on its Web site.

Based on those figures and established suicide rates for similar patients who commonly develop substance abuse and other complications of post-traumatic stress disorder, ``it's quite possible that the suicides and psychiatric mortality of this war could trump the combat deaths,'' Insel said.

NAMI Louisville hires Tony Baize

2008-04-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

Allow me to toot my own horn and introduce myself. I am Tony Baize, and I am the new executive director of the Louisville affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

I have more than a decade of experience as a nonprofit professional, including more than five years in nonprofit management. I am also a family member of a person who suffered from mental illness.

I look forward to working with persons with mental illness, their families and their advocates in Louisville and the rest of Kentucky.

Please feel free to e-mail information to me about mental health issues or events that you want publicized, and please make comments on the site. Also, please visit the NAMI Louisville web site at www.namilouisville.org, and please keep your eyes open for information about NAMI Louisville's Fall Walk for the Mind of America.

Kindest regards,

Tony