MHI Weekly Update 5

News and Announcements

Fertility Experts Debate Ethics of Multiple Births (USA)
Fertility specialists and medical ethicists are debating who should be a candidate for fertility treatments and how much help they should get following the birth of octuplets to a women in California. The chance of developmental delay and disability for children in extreme multiple births is much higher than for single births. The woman reportedly used fertility treatments to conceive, however, professional guidelines for fertility doctors recommend implanting no more than two embryos at a time in a woman under age 35. More...

Good Childhood Study Claims Too Much Television and Computing Can Lead to Mental Health Problems In Children (UK)
The Children's Society Good Childhood study "A Good Childhood: Searching for values in a competitive age", claims that excessive amounts of time spent in front of the TV makes children more materialistic and puts strain on their relationship with their parents. The study also shows that children's lives have become more difficult than in the past, and they trace this to excessive individualism.  More...

Hungary Proposes Deaf Candidate to European Elections
The national committee of FIDESZ has approved the selection of a deaf person, Dr Ádám KÓSA, in its list of European Parliament representative candidates on 17 January 2009.  The European Parliamentary elections will be held in 7th June 2009.  Further information and latest news on the disability dimension of the 2009 European Parliament elections is available at: www.disabilityvotescount.eu

Disability Equality Research Debated At European Parliament
On 21 January, representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission as well as stakeholders of the disability, academic and research communities from around 15 European countries gathered for a briefing seminar on the outcomes of the Consultation Survey "European Research Agendas for Disability Equality" in the European Parliament in Brussels. A full report on the briefing seminar together with presentations by keynote speakers will be published shortly on the EuRADE website.

Watchdogs Warn That Thousands Of Mentally Ill People Are Regularly Dumped In And Out Of The Prison System (UK)
A report published today by the Prison Reform Trust, reveals that many people who should have been diverted into mental health or social care from police stations or courts are entering prisons, which are ill equipped to meet their needs, and then being discharged back into the community without any support. More...

Obama Signs Healthcare Bill Including Parity for Children's Mental Health Services (USA)
President Obama has signed into law a bill, which will extend subsidized coverage to 4 million more children across the country. The bill on the State Children's Health Insurance Program costs nearly $33 billion and covers children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but find it expensive to buy private insurance.  The legislation also includes parity for mental health services under the program.  More...

The Observatory on Mental Health Systems (IOMHS) Launched To Improve Global Mental Health (Australia)
The Observatory on Mental Health Systems (IOMHS), an international observatory led by the University of Melbourne, Australia, aims to help eradicate human rights abuses against people suffering mental illness in developing countries.  The first of its kind in mental health, the observatory will develop research, monitoring and evaluation programs at national and district level. More...
 
Mental Health Europe Calls On The French Policy Makers Not To Worsen The Situation Of Persons In Mental Health Facilities
Mental Health Europe shares the concerns of Advocacy France as well as of other organizations, carers and users representatives and calls on the French policy and decision makers not to give support to the security strategy of President Sarkozy regarding persons with severe mental health problems. Mental Health Europe's view is that such a policy will inevitably amplify the stigma and discrimination against those persons who suffer from mental health problems. More...

Publications and Reports

Health Care Reform: Long-Term Services and Supports for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
Published by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), Health Care Reform: Long-Term Services and Supports for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities outlines the factors to be considered in the reform of U.S. health care.  The goal is to ensure that health care reform efforts fully consider the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

A Good Childhood: Searching For Values In A Competitive Age
The Children's Society Good Childhood study "A Good Childhood: Searching for values in a competitive age", claims that excessive amounts of time spent in front of the TV makes children more materialistic and puts strain on their relationship with their parents. The study also shows that children's lives have become more difficult than in the past, and they trace this to excessive individualism. More...

Antisocial Personality Disorder
A new clinical guideline from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) set to improve treatment and management of people with antisocial personality disorder. The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care, treatment and support that people with antisocial personality disorder and their families or carers should be offered. More...

Borderline Personality Disorder
A new clinical guideline from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) outlines how healthcare professionals can identify, treat and manage people with borderline personality disorder.  More...

Addressing The Socioeconomic Safety Divide: A Policy Briefing
This policy briefing from WHO-Europe summarizes evidence on the socio-economic safety divide from a large systematic review: Socio-economic differences in injury risks.  For more information about the book, how to order and a link to the electronic version, please click here.

Homeless and Special Education Administrative Collaboration:  Recommendations (October 2008).
This document from the National Association of State Director's of Special Education's Project Forum discusses the unique challenges that administrators face in supporting implementation of services for children with disabilities who are homeless.

European Network of Homeless Health Workers (ENHW) Newsletter n°8, Winter 2008
The European Network of Homeless Health Workers (ENHW) Newsletter n°8 - Winter 2008 is now available online. The newsletter is published in the framework of the European Network of Homeless Health Workers, which brings together health professionals working with people who are homeless across the EU. It is a multi-disciplinary initiative, aimed at all persons working with homeless people in a health capacity, across all areas of mental and physical health.

CRPD, Forced Treatment And Alternatives
CRPD, Forced Treatment And Alternatives is a presentation by Tina Minkowitz, Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (Co-chair, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, www.wnusp.net).  This presentation was given in Norway to a government sponsored working group considering reform of their mental health laws, that includes the user/survivor group We Shall Overcome, as well as relatives, psychiatrists, psychologists and lawyers. 

Too Little, Too Late: An Independent Review of Unmet Mental Health Need in Prison
This report, published by the Prison Reform Trust and supported by the Mercers' Company, draws on information and evidence provided by the Independent Monitoring Boards of 57 prisons. From the unique perspective of these boards, the report sees a system under pressure struggling to respond to the complex needs of people, many of whom are in the wrong place.

Announcements of Funding and Other Opportunities

Executive Sectrary, Inclusion Europe
Deadline: February 15, 2009
The selected candidate will report to the Director of Inclusion Europe. The main purposes of the job will be to oversee and support the organisation and running of the Secretariat of Inclusion Europe and to provide secretarial support to the Director (and other staff members, if necessary).  More...

Work Experience in Journalism or Public Relations in Brussels
Deadline: February 17, 2009
The Information Unit of Inclusion Europe offers graduates in the areas of journalism or public relations a six months work experience in Brussels. The work experience should start on 1 March 2009 and last for six months. Interested candidates are asked to apply by submitting a detailed CV by 17 February 2009. More...

Call for Applications, International Leadership Forum
Deadline: February 27, 2009
The UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights at the University of Connecticut invites applications for the fifth annual International Leadership Programme: A Global Intergenerational Forum, to be held August 1 - 9, 2009 in Storrs, Connecticut, USA.  More...

International Diploma in Mental Health Law and Human Rights
Deadline: April 30, 2009
After the sucesssful launch of first academic year of International Diploma in Mental Health Law and Human Rights, at the ILS Law College, (Pune, India), Indian Law Society in collaboration with World Health Organization, Geneva, is pleased to announce admissions for academic year 2009-10. More...

Call for Papers
Deadline: May 1, 2009
The World Religions and Disability: Cross-Cultural and Interdisciplinary Perspectives editors invite contributions for an inter-disciplinary and cross-cultural collection of essays that critically examine how the religions of the world represent, understand, theologize, theorize and respond to disability. Send contributions by email to dschumm@hollins.edu or mjstoltz@valdosta.edu

Events

Workshop on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Date: February 24, 2009
Location: Gallaudet University, Washington D.C., USA
Jointly sponsored by the Legal and Human Development Vice Presidencies, Gallaudet University and the Global Partnership on Disability and Development. More...

Learning Disabilities Association 46th Annual International Conference
Date: February 25, 2009 - February 28, 2009
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
The conference will focus on recent research and findings in learning disabilities.  More...

Making our Rights a Reality Human Rights in the Age of the CRPD
Date: March 16, 2009 - March 20, 2009
Location: Kampala, Uganda
The WNUSP General Assembly and Conference is open to users and survivors of psychiatry from all regions of the world.   More...

The Implementation Of Common Principles Of Flexicurity During The Economic Crisis : Czech Presidency Conference
Date: March 25, 2009 - March 26, 2009
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
More...

Are We Mad? Critical Perspectives on the Canadian Mental Health System
Date: March 27, 2009 - March 28, 2009
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
The purpose of this Conference is to bring together researchers and practitioners from various disciplines for a critical discussion of the Canadian mental health system, and the problems this system may create. More...

Social Services - A Tool For Mobilising The Workforce And Strengthening Social Cohesion:  Czech Presidency Conference
Date: April 22, 2009 - April 24, 2009
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
More...

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Date: April 24, 2009
Location: London, UK
This one-day conference provides an important update on the ‘No Secrets' guidance - released by the Department of Health on 16 October 2008. More...

International Conference on Self-Determination
Date: May 3, 2009 - May 5, 2009
Location: Winston, SC, USA
Sponsored by the Center for Self-Determination. More...

Celebrating the Legacy, Shaping the Future
Date: June 10, 2009 - June 14, 2009
Location: Washington, DC, USA
The conference will celebrate Mental Health America's Centennial and discuss upcoming steps to take for mental health.  More...

Eighth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder
Date: June 25, 2009 - June 27, 2009
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
This conference will impart new information on diagnosis of bipolar disorder across the lifespan; suicide; medical prevention and intervention; combined treatment for
bipolar disorders; and treatment strategies for comorbid conditions.  More...

World Congress on Mental Health
Date: September 2, 2009 - September 6, 2009
Location: Athens, Greece
The 2009 Congress theme, "Working Together for Mental Health", reflects WFMH's call to action to "Make Mental Health a Global Priority" and recognizes the crucial role of informed, concerted, and coordinated advocacy across the entire mental health movement - consumers and service users, family members and carers, professionals, citizen advocates, and the informed public - if mental health and mental illnesses are to gain the attention and priority needed.  More...

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