April 2007

In this Issue: Healthcare Feature | Larry Lucas | Partner Spotlight | Calendar | Welcome New Partners | In the News | Interesting Information

The Impact of Depression in the Workplace

Article provided by the Mental Health Association in San Diego

Clinical depression affects employees at all levels of the corporate ladder. It ranks among the top three workplace problems, following family crisis. At any one time, one in every 20 employees experiences depression. An estimated 200 million workdays are lost each year due to employee depression. Depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and, if left untreated, may last a lifetime.

Many things can contribute to clinical depression. For some people, a number of factors seem to be involved, while for others a single factor can cause the illness. Oftentimes, people become depressed for no apparent reason.

Read more to learn about the causes and symptoms of depression and what you can do ...

Colorectal Health Screenings Can Make Life or Death Difference

I’d like to think I’ve learned a lot about human behavior over the years. For example, I’ve learned that nine times out of 10, people will tell you darn near anything if you just listen – they’ll give you the play-by-play of their son’s soccer game, the intimate details of recent spats with their spouses, even the particulars of their health concerns. In my work to represent America’s pharmaceutical research companies, I’ve heard my fair share of the latter. Even so, there are certain important health topics that remain relatively under wraps. Colorectal health is one of them. Read more...

Mental Health Association,
San Diego County

Mission
The Mental Health Association is dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders and achieving victory over mental illnesses through advocacy, education, research and service.

About
The Mental Health Association (MHA) in San Diego County was founded in 1942 as the first mental health advocacy organization in San Diego County. MHA brings together client, families, professionals, providers, community leaders and the public to collaborate, cooperate and ensure available, affordable care to all citizens. Over the years, MHA has offered numerous programs and services focused on the following four areas: advocacy, education, services and research.

Web site
www.mhasd.org/

CPAT Welcomes our 200th Member!

We are delighted to welcome PALS for Health as our 200th member!

PALS for Health, established in 1993, is the language access program of Special Service for Groups (SSG) 1952, a non-profit United Way agency that provides innovative services to diverse ethnic minority and disenfranchised communities. Specifically, PALS for Health offers trained health care interpreters and translators in Spanish and 12 Asian and Pacific Islander languages. They work directly with both the provider and health consumer population of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

The philosophy behind the PALS for Health program is that everybody has the right to fully understand critical medical information given by health or social service providers.

Communication is a crucial factor in promoting ongoing and effective patient/provider relationship. Without the ability to establish two-way communication, health care delivery can become ineffective, inaccurate, inefficient, and costly.

Website:
www.palsforhealth.org/

“CPAT Counterfeit Drugs Luncheon Seminar”

Thursday, May 10 - Los Angeles & Friday, May 11 - San Diego

The California Partnership for Access to Treatment invites you to a complimentary luncheon seminar on the impact of counterfeit prescription drugs in California.

Featuring Guest Speaker:

Bryan A. Liang, Professor of Law
Executive Director, Institute of Health Law Studies
Co-Director & Adjunct Associate Professor of Anesthesiology,
San Diego Center for Patient Safety, University of California,
San Diego School of Medicine

Please RSVP to: Andrea at (323) 466-3445 x 240
or e-mail: andrea_s@cerrell.com

Please check the CPAT Web site for specific times and locations for these events.

Be sure to check out the CPAT Calendar of Events to find out about upcoming partner conferences, seminars, fundraisers, and other activities in your area. If you would like your event listed, please contact Dorothy at dorothy@perrycom.com

• The Birth Connection
• The Birthing Project (Center for Community Health and Well-Being)
• Mexican American Business & Professional Association
• PALS for Health
• PEACE at Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Roberts Family Development Center
• Tomás Rivera Policy Institute
• Thai Health And Information Services, Inc (THAIS)
• Trilogy Integrated Services, LLC
• Vet to Vet/NAMI Vocal
  

Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression a Deadly Mix
The Washington Post
March 9, 2007
By Steven Reinberg

Heart disease, diabetes and depression can be a lethal triple-play -- boosting a patient's death risk by 20 percent to 30 percent, new research shows. "We do not know what this increased risk is due to, but it could either be that depression influences crucial aspects of self-care behaviors needed to manage diabetes or that a more severe disease process is reflected in more depressive symptoms…” Click here for the full article.

A mental-health insurance parity bill might finally pass Congress
Contra Costa Times
March 9, 2007
By Rob Hotakainen

He was a pioneer by circumstance, not by choice. But 35 years after former Democratic Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri was forced to abandon his bid for vice president after he disclosed that he'd been treated for depression, politicians no longer keep their and their families' battles with mental health in the dark... Click here for the full article.

Lawmaker Says Mental Health Missing in Prison Reform
KCBS
February 23, 2007
By Rebecca Corral

A new proposal introduced in Sacramento today would establish mental health courts that could send mentally-ill defendants to treatment facilities instead of prisons. Click here for the full article.

Mental health providers say stigma keeps Latinos away
The Orange County Register
February 8, 2007
By Blythe Bernhard

Latinos are more likely to commit suicide and suffer depression than other ethnic groups, but less likely to get assistance. Breaking down the cultural barriers that prevent some Latinos from seeking treatment for mental health issues was the topic when some 200 health care workers, students and patients met at Santa Ana College. Click here for the full article.

Basic Facts About Clinical Depression:

• Clinical depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 19 million Americans each year.[1] This includes major depressive disorder, manic depression and dysthymia, a milder, longer-lasting form of depression.

• Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide.

• Depression can occur to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race or ethnic group.

• Depression is never a "normal" part of life, no matter what your age, gender or health situation.

• Unfortunately, though treatment for depression is almost always successful, fewer than half of those suffering from this illness seek treatment.[2]

• Many people resist treatment because they believe depression isn't serious, that they can treat it themselves or that it is a personal weakness rather than a serious medical illness.

References
1. National Institute of Mental Health: "The Numbers Count: Mental Illness in America," Science on Our Minds Fact Sheet Series. Accessed August 1999. Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm

Rupp A, Gause E, Regier D: "Research Policy Implications of Cost-of-Illness Studies for Mental Disorders," British Journal of Psychiatry Suppl 1998; 36:19-25.

CA Access News welcomes contributions from our partners. Please contact us if you have suggestions for future events and stories by calling CPAT at (916) 658-0144, Attn: Janet.

925 L Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.caaccess.org

Supported by America's Research Based Pharmaceutical Companies

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