Zyprexa

Court Asked to Release Controversial Eli Lilly Documents on Psychiatric Drug

Thu, 8 Feb 2007 16:29:25 -0500

Washington, DC—Mental health professionals, researchers and consumer groups told a federal court today that it should release evidence that the Eli Lilly company’s largest-selling drug, Zyprexa, prescribed for treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has a significant risk of severe side effects.

Bazelon Center Statement on Judge Boyle's Withdrawal

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:24:30 -0500

January 9, 2007 —We are very pleased that Judge Terrence Boyle has withdrawn his quest for confirmation to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Like many others in the disability community, we had grave concerns about Judge Boyle's many rulings that show a lack of concern for the rights of people with disabilities.

Unjust Denial of Parental Rights Overturned

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:31:06 -0500

January 10, 2007—Angela Williams’ baby boy was born in June 2003 with a cleft palate, which meant he would require special feeding. Because Angela had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and mild cerebral palsy, Missouri’s child welfare department took baby Christopher into custody just three days later. In October 2005, a court terminated Angela’s parental rights. Angela fought back, and today the state’s highest court took a key step toward reuniting mother and son.

New CMS Restraint Rules Put People with Mental Illnesses at Risk

Fri, 5 Jan 2007 15:11:06 -0500

We are deeply concerned about the rules governing use of restraint and seclusion in hospital settings recently released by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS). These “final” regulations greatly weaken the protections for people with mental illnesses in earlier versions, developed with input from professionals, advocates and hospital administrators.

Disability Advocates Challenge Confinement in Huge Nursing Home

Fri, 5 Jan 2007 15:37:40 -0500

Residents of Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, California filed a lawsuit in federal court today to challenge their unnecessary continuing confinement at Laguna Honda Hospital, a 1,000-bed nursing home owned and operated by the city. The complaint asserts that, according to the city’s own assessment, “the vast majority” of the residents are capable of—and prefer—living in their own homes or in supportive community programs, and asks the court to require the city to offer and provide services in alternative community settings.

Lawsuit Challenges Unwarranted Confinement of People with Mental Illnesses in Connecticut Nursing Homes

Mon, 6 Feb 2006 16:36:00 -0500

A lawsuit filed today in the Federal District Court in Hartford alleges that more than 200 people with mental illnesses are “needlessly segregated and inappropriately warehoused” in three Connecticut nursing homes, and asks the court to order state agencies to develop suitable community-living alternatives for them.

Online Handbook Addresses Criminalization of People with Mental Illnesses

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:26:19 -0500

A new online resource is available for mental health organizations and advocates who want to improve the response to people with mental illnesses who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice/Mental Health Advocacy Handbook is a how-to guide that walks users through a well-organized series of five steps with concise pages, documented with examples from various states and localities.

The first step explains how and why people with mental illnesses are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and summarizes the keys to improving outcomes for them. A second section asks and answers common questions to counter misunderstandings about such matters as violence by people with mental illnesses and lack of resources for appropriate alternative programs. Subsequent web pages describe the audience for effective advocacy and explain, among other things, how to engage the media, form a coalition, conduct a campaign and build advocacy alliances. A final section has lists of and links to advocacy resources and potential funding sources.

Users can create a printed handbook by downloading a PDF version of each of the five steps.

The Advocacy Handbook is hosted by the Consensus Project of the Council of State Governments. It is the product of that entity’s effort with NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.