Health Economics - The Canadian Debate

MYTHS EXPOSED: Stopping smoking does not make your mental illness worse!

Dr Mark Ragg

Smoking is more common among people with mental illness than among the general population (32% versus under 20%). However, that broad statement is too simple for a complex situation. There are significant differences in smoking rates between people with different mental illnesses. Lack of knowledge and ambivalence about addressing smoking in people with mental illness has contributed to this higher rate of smoking which in turn contributes to poorer physical health, premature death and social disadvantage among this already vulnerable group.

Recent research on the impact of quitting smoking on people with schizophrenia and depression has shown that it does not worsen their symptoms and that people with mental illness can successfully quit. There is little data on smoking rates in people with personality disorders. People with personality disorders are at high risk of substance abuse disorders and are therefore at higher risk of being nicotine dependent.

There is strong evidence that advice from clinicians is important in helping people to quit smoking. In mental health this support has been lacking. However, it seems attitudes are changing and it is now clear that ensuring clinicians have the skills and support to address smoking in their mental health clients is an important goal of both individual clinicians and health systems and policies.

Dr Mark Ragg MBBS BA and Dr Tanya Ahmed MBBS Grad Dip Hlth Serv Man

The 12th International Mental Health Conference 2011 Radisson Resort, Gold Coast
Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.

Depression - Causes and Symptoms

Skills for Psychological Recovery: basic and effective strategies to manage common psychological issues following disaster

Workshop

A significant proportion of people experience a range of psychological issues and distress in the months after a disaster. Many of the people affected in this way can be assisted by primary care and mental health professionals using brief but effective strategies. The Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) protocol was developed as an evidence-informed resource for use by health and mental health personnel of varying backgrounds and qualifications. The protocol is intended to be used in a flexible manner depending on the person’s needs, and to allow for a single session contact or contact over multiple sessions.

This workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about the SPR protocol, and to practice some key skills involved in providing this type of assistance to those affected by disaster.

The workshop will be part of 3rd Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium, "Impacts & Outcomes"
Mercure, Ballarat 14th – 16th November 2011, visit the website for more information.

Youth Ask the South Australian Government Not to Close Down Eating Disorder Unit

Young people have asked the South Australian government not to risk their lives by closing an eating disorder unit. As parliament sat for the second time this year, a second protest mounted the steps of parliament house to complain about Premier Mike Rann's government.

On Monday, it was more than 50 logging trucks and a thousand people protesting plans to sell off future forestry harvests. On Tuesday, Georgia Taylor, 22, urged the Labor government not to move patients at a special unit at Flinders Hospital to a psychiatric unit that caters for a range of disorders.

She says she lost friends when she struggled with anorexia nervosa and she wanted to eat but didn't know how, until she went to ward 4G. "They teach you how to change the voices in your head, basically, and make you be able to eat and not abuse food in a bad way and you learn to like food and be able to enjoy life," she said.

Ms Taylor was scared when she was once put in a locked ward with patients with range of psychiatric disorders.

Liza Kappelle smh.com.au

February 9, 2011

The topic of Eating Disorders will be discussed and explored at the 12th International Mental Health Conference 'Personality Disorders - Out of the Darkness' on the Gold Coast, 24th - 26th August 2011

The federal government says it is spending more than ever before on mental health services

The federal government says it is spending more than ever before on mental health services but admits it can do better.
Mental Health Minister Mark Butler said the National Mental Health Report 2010 showed total mental health spending by governments and private insurers rose by 10 per cent in real terms to $5.32 billion.

The report incorporates data for 2007-08, covering the final period of the former government and the first seven months of Labor.

Mr Butler said this 10 per cent increase was the largest since the National Mental Health Strategy began in 1993.

He said the federal government had made significant investments in mental health services, nearly tripling funding to $1.4 billion to specific mental health programs over the next three years.

'We know however there is more to do,' he said in a statement.

'We will be taking into account the lessons that have been learned from the previous National Mental Health Plans, and we intend to do better.'

The report says total federal and state government spending on mental health increased by 137 per cent between 1993 and 2008.

Australian government spending increased by 201 per cent, equivalent to $1.3 billion, while state and territory government spending increased by 110 per cent, or $1.7 billion.

Mr Butler said the report showed the number of hospital beds for mental health patients increased by eight per cent from 2003 to 2008, reversing the steady decline of the previous 10 years.

Growth of the clinical mental health workforce accelerated between 2003 and 2008, he said.

US Research - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Report

Researchers of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported on Nov 18 that in 2009, 45 million, or 20 percent, of adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. suffered from some mental disorder or mental illness in the past year. Among those with mental illness, 11 million or 4.8 percent had a serious mental illness.
The report determined that women were more likely than men to suffer mental illness, 23.8 percent versus 15.6 percent – those suffering from serious mental illness is estimated at 6.4 versus 3.2 percent of women and men, respectively.

Also in 2009, an estimated 8.4 million adults or 3.7 percent aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide the previous year. Of those who had thought about committing suicide, 2.2 million or 1 percent had a plan and 1 million or 0.5 percent had attempted suicide in the past year.

Among the 45 million suffering from some form of mental illness, nearly 20 percent or 8.9 million adults had substance dependence or substance abuse issues. 25.7 percent had substance dependence or substance abuse in the prior year, compared with 6.5 percent of adults who did not have mental illness.

Of the same 45 million adults, 17.1 million or 37.9 received mental health care services during the prior 12 months - of the 11 million adults with serious mental illness, 6.6 million or 60.2 percent received care. In 2009, 13.3 percent or 30.2 million adults received mental health services during the past 12 months.

Of the 2.8 million adults aged 18 or older with both substance dependence or abuse in the past year, 2.4 percent received treatment at a specialty facility.
In 2009, 2.0 million youths aged 12 to 17 suffered a major depressive episode during the past year. Among those who experienced major depression, 35.7 percent used illicit drugs, compared to 18.0 percent of those who did not have major depression in the past year.

12th International Mental Health Conference 2011 Radisson Resort, Gold Coast
Personality Disorders: Out of the Darkness
Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.

www.anzmh.asn.au/conference2011

Rhona Rees at RRMH Conference in 2010

Rhona Rees from AST Management on Vimeo.

Defence eyes states for health overhaul

Sean Parnell, FOI editor From: The Australian November 08, 2010 12:00AM

MORE medics will work in public hospitals and dozens of military clinics will close in a major restructuring of defence health services.

There will also be a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and mental health care.

As operations in Afghanistan become more dangerous and protracted, multi-disciplinary health hubs are being established on home bases and new links formed with state health departments and universities for high-end care, training and research.

Queensland Health has already agreed to set aside an acute care ward at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for military patients. A military surgical team will be embedded at the facility, and Defence will also fund the appointment of a chair of military surgery at the University of Queensland.

Defence documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show the ward is being provided as a quid pro quo for Queensland Health being able to use the military surgery team and facilities at Enoggera barracks for public patients.

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