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Biased policies put lesbians, gays, bisexuals at risk of psychiatric disorders |
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Friday, 12 March 2010 06:14 |
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Washington, Mar 3 (ANI): Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals, who live in states that instituted bans on same-sex marriage are more at risk of developing psychiatric disorders, according to a new study.
The Mailman School of Public Health examined the effects of institutional discrimination on the psychiatric health of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals.
It found an increase in psychiatric disorders among the LGB population living in states that instituted bans on same-sex marriage.
Dr. Deborah Hasin, professor of clinical Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and senior author, and colleagues at the NYS Psychiatric Institute and Harvard University analysed data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).
Participants were initially interviewed during 2001 - 2002 (Wave) and again during the period 2004-2005 (Wave 2), at which time participants' sexual orientation was assessed.
"To address the impact of institutional discrimination on mental health, we examined whether LGB individuals living in states that instituted constitutional amendments banning gay marriage via the 2004-2005 elections evidenced increased rates of psychiatric disorders between Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the survey," according to the authors.
Among LGB study participants living in these states, the prevalence of mood disorders, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorders increased significantly between Wave 1 to Wave 2, with the greatest increase, more than 200 percent, in generalized anxiety disorder.
The prevalence of any psychiatric disorder also increased slightly among heterosexual respondents, but to a much lesser extent than their LGB counterparts.
"Before this study, little was known about the impact of institutional discrimination toward lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals in our society. The study highlights the importance of abolishing institutional forms of discrimination, including those leading to disparities in the mental health and well-being of LGB individuals," said Hasin.
Institutional discrimination is characterized by societal-level conditions that limit the opportunities and access to resources by socially disadvantaged groups.
During the 2004 election and soon after, the authors note, 14 states approved constitutional amendments restricting marriage to unions between heterosexual couples.
The study was published in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health. (ANI)
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New Federal Definition for Community MH Providers |
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Tuesday, 23 February 2010 13:19 |
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President Obama Backs National Council Position on New Federal Definition for Community Mental Health Providers
Statement from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
To speak with experts on Community Mental Health Centers, contact Meena Dayak at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 202.684.3728
Washington, D.C. (February 23, 2010) – In the compromise health care reform proposal released by the White House yesterday, President Obama calls for a new federal definition for Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and other community-based mental health and addiction providers. The details of the Administration proposal are strikingly similar to the Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Center (FQBHC) definition that the National Council has been actively pursuing throughout the health reform care debate.
In July 2009, the House Energy and Commerce Committee adopted an amendment co-sponsored by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY) to the House health care reform bill that authorizes the new FQBHCs. This legislation takes a critical first step toward achieving parity between community behavioral health providers and other parts of America’s safety net including public hospitals and Community Health Centers. In addition, the House measure more accurately reflects the evidenced-based and recovery-focused services that National Council members provide while establishing nationwide accountability and reporting requirements.
These new standards should help to avert instances in which unscrupulous entities have exploited the 1981 CMHC definition to engage in fraudulent Medicare billing practices. After nearly three decades of minimal federal leadership, the Matsui/Engel FQBHC proposal will achieve the goals that President Obama announced today while, at the time, improving health outcomes for millions of low-income Americans living with mental illnesses and addiction disorders.
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,600+ behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families in communities across the country. The National Council and its members bear testimony to the fact that medical, social, psychological, and rehabilitation services offered in community settings help people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders recover and lead productive lives.
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Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 |
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Tuesday, 23 February 2010 08:21 |
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Oppose the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 bill
New Bill Seeks to Ban Consumer Access to Dietary Supplements Senator
John McCain has introduced a bill that if passed, will drive up the cost of dietary supplements and restrict your access to them. The bill being spearheaded by Senators John McCain and Byron Dorgan supposedly originates from the controversy surrounding the use of steroids by Major League Baseball players. Since some unethical companies illegally sold steroid drugs as “dietary supplements,” certain members of Senate appear to have been deceived into believing that the FDA needs to be given additional power to ban dietary supplements across the board.
In order to mislead the public about the true nature of this bill, it has been named the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 (DSSA). Despite nutritional supplements’ safety record, McCain’s bill would give the FDA authority to draw up a list of allowed and disallowed supplements (and supplement potencies). This bill would cause any dietary supplement to be classified as “adulterated” if it is “manufactured, packaged, held, distributed, labeled or licensed by a dietary supplement company not registered with the Secretary.” The “Secretary” in this case is the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the department of the federal government that oversees the FDA.
The FDA already requires manufacturers to maintain records of serious adverse reaction reports. This bill would require that all “non-serious adverse events” be submitted to the federal government. The problem is that when a large group of people take any product, there are always coincidental “adverse reactions”. This means that for any given product, the FDA can arbitrarily take the list of adverse reports submitted to it and use it as a basis to remove the product, even if there was not a single valid adverse reaction! Pharmaceutical companies would be able, under the Freedom of Information Act, to gain access to these reports, and petition the FDA to remove the supplement from the market. If McCain’s bill is passed, it will make it far easier for pharmaceutical companies to file use patents on what are now inexpensive dietary supplements and convert them into outrageously priced “drugs.”
Please alert your two Senators and Representatives about this oppressive legislation that should not be co-sponsored and should instead be vigorously opposed.
http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=2fe2fa5d-636b-4705-97df-8318a24f718f
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 07:04 |
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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to classify and diagnose mental disorders in children and adults. The DSM has historically had a very significant impact on the treatment of mental illness and on the payment of mental health treatment and related services. A committee created by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has been working on revising the DSM to reflect current scientific understanding about mental disorders. Earlier this week, the APA posted the draft of the revised DSM, known as the DSM-5. The draft DSM-5 can be found on-line.
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Application (DOC)
Application (PDF)
