Artest advocates, mental health assistance in visiting DC

WASHINGTON (AP)--Ron Artest speaks in favour of more mental health services for schools.

Los Angeles Lakers forward and boxers Mia St. John was in the nation's capital on Thursday to support proposed mental health in schools Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Grace Napolitano, Democrat of California.

Artest referenced his colorful background that he spoke in support of the Bill. He said he has "personally experienced the benefits and transformation as a person can have, only by having access to a qualified mental health professionals."

The legislation would create a grant program allowing school districts to recruit mental health counselors.

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Mental health officials say proposed cuts pose security risk

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval leaner budget will mean a cut in the core mental health services, and will lead to increased risks for citizens, witnesses legislative budget subcommittees today.

Clark County District Judge William Voy said budget "will be back on the Constitution" that requires the State to provide treatment for the mentally ill. He characterized Sandoval budget irresponsible and "a significant risk to public safety."

Dr. Harold Cook, administrator of the Division of mental health and developmental services, acknowledged the proposed budget cuts to core clinical services.

Sharing is eliminating 168 full-time positions, of which 96 are free.

Complaints lodged with the Senate Finance and House ways and means Subcommittee on State, cutting $ 2.5 million over the biennium to support triage centers in Las Vegas and Reno. Concern was also expressed about the Elimination of outpatient counseling services.

The Subcommittee Chair, Assemblywoman April Mastroluca, D-Las Vegas, "said the loss of outpatient counseling would mean 1,200 people would not have these services.

Cook said these people can be moved to other applications, which would still have his medication.

The older Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, called the cuts as "a mental health disaster."

Mastroluca complained that the Governor is proposing that the cost of mental health courts to be transferred to counties, which may have money to pay for them.

Cook said mental health courts are valuable, but the State does not have the money to continue to support them, he admitted it would result in an increase in those who have mental health problems in prisons or psychiatric hospitals.

Judge Voy said Clark County is on a pace to commit 23 percent more patients this year and these patients may be held outside the hospital.

"Revolving door will increase," he said, which means that patients will continue re-entering mental health programs.

"There will be a major crisis," he said. The judge suggested that perhaps a little money in the State budget for public safety and corrections could be moved to maintain mental health care.

correction: Judge William Voy surname was originally reported as Boyd. | (February 17, 2011)

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Mental health move eases pressure on ageing hospital

Moving mental health patients in the hospital and returned home has seen a 40% drop in enrolments.
Health paramount chiefs, supported by mental health charities, has worked hard to banish the legacy of psychiatric ' institutions ', see increasing integration as an important means to achieve it.

As a result, the numbers are going through doors at

Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside has dramatically accelerated over the last three years.

But while has welcomed, critics say it was a little choice given the number of beds that have been cut.

Results were revealed in a presentation of Edinburgh community health partnership demonstrates progress on mental health in the region.

Consultant psychiatrist for NHS Lothian Mark Taylor said: "mental illness is a common health problem in this area. Until 2008 was a traditional hospital service and there were several ways to the hospital.

"So we invested ￡ 1.6 million to develop a new model."

Now there are only about 3000 admission to hospital, compared with more than 5000 years ago.

In addition, the number of repossession-task of a patient could not have been entitled benefits also declined sharply.

Thanks to the initiative to care for people in your home or supported community settings, occupy fewer hospitals.

Mr Taylor added: "what we have now is a virtual hospital ward in our team. We offer nursing visits two or three times a day to maintain their autonomy while dealing with their mental demands. It has been a cultural change. "

Health chiefs said decrease places less strain on ageing hospital behind Morningside road.

After years of discussion, it was decided to rebuild hospital gradually over the next decade for patients and staff complained about the current premises was not "fit for purpose".

But a mental health source said the Evening News: "part of what has been said is welcome, but really have no choice but to move people out of the hospital due to the beds that have been deleted.

"Not everyone can be removed from a hospital setting, some really is not ready for this and we must be careful not to create a culture where people are rushed out too early because the consequences can be really terrible."

Experts say integrate psychiatric patients back to the community were decisive in order to reduce stigma.

Director of see me campaign Suzie Vestre said: "every move that reduces hospital admissions must be welcomed if it means that we are finding better ways to provide treatment."

amorris@edinburghnews.com

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Not just the poor, the unemployed person going without health insurance

SACRAMENTO — so that more Americans lose health coverage because of unemployment, the latest snapshot of the uninsured reveals a grim picture: it is not only the poor and unemployed people now go without health insurance.

The percentage of uninsured among families earning between $ 50,000 and $ 75,000 per year has almost doubled in the last decade.

' It is precisely the trend, which has a driving force in the conversation around health care reform, "said Anthony Wright, Executive Director for Health Access California, a consumer health advocacy group.

"As it has been a real crisis in the middle class, it required a larger correction--which is why the big push for a federal health law," Wright said.

Even as the country begins rolling out President Barack Obama Patient protection and affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March, continue to the number of Americans without medical insurance grow--to an estimated 50 million nationwide.

Robbin Gaines, a senior program officer with the California health care Foundation, said she could not fully explain the increase in the insured, but said unemployment is specific reason.

"As people lose their jobs, they also lose their health insurance," she said.

Fifty-two percent of Californians working people and their families now have health insurance from work-based coverage--from 65 percent in 1987, according to the Foundation.

As a consequence, the more people buy health coverage on their own, that small businesses do away with the advantage.

Often, but they cannot afford the same coverage you had once through work, and many choose policies with higher premiums and deductibles.

The cost of prescription drugs and medical services also continues to rise, to add to the financial burden on families, said Patrick Johnston, President of the California Association of Health plans.

"The Rising cost of health care will inevitably put pressure on more people and let them uninsured, unless we can lower health care costs and to assist these families which is not really can pay for coverage with a grant," said Johnston.

The increase in the number of uninsured can go unabated for another couple of years, until the key provisions in the health legislation are implemented.

The good news, said Wright, is that help is on its way.

"The bad news is the key provisions are not kick until 2014,? he said.

It is when many key features of the federal health law go into effect, including the opening of the health insurance exchanges, where millions of Americans who are struggling with the costs of health care will be able to take advantage of the Government subsidies if they qualify to purchase coverage.

It is also, when most Americans will be required to obtain coverage through their employers--or through exchanges--or face tax penalties that will eventually exceed $ 695 per year for a person or more than $ 2,085 per year per family.

The Federal law, the subject of months of intense debate in Congress and public forums across the country, was meant to increase access to health care to the country's millions of uninsured.

In the years kept the percentage of lower-income families without health insurance is generally constant--with approximately 37 percent of those earning $ 25,000 a year or less ongoing without health coverage.

From 2000, about a quarter of families earning between $ 25,000 and $ 50,000, no health care coverage. And around one-tenth of those who earned more than $ 75,000 a year not enrolled in a health plan.

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