A young girl's death in Norfolk, England, has been blamed on delays in getting the treatment she needed for anorexia. Greater Norfolk Coroner William Armstrong made the comments at a Nov. 6 inquest.

Mr. Armstrong said he would make recommendations to both [National Health Service] Norfolk and the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Trust after the inquest heard there had been a five-week delay between her [doctor's] referral and an assessment by a mental health nurse.

Charlotte Robinson was first referred for treatment on April 30, but was not seen by a mental health nurse until the June 5. She was not admitted to a hospital for treatment until July 20, by which time she weighed just 77 pounds. Source: EDP24

Labels: death, mental_health, treatment

In a move that mirrors the actions of many state legislatures, the U.S. Congress has approved a sweeping mental health bill that requires insurers to provide the same level of coverage for mental illnesses as they do for physical illnesses. The bill was co-sponsored by Reps. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), both of whom have struggled with alcohol or drug addictions.

"Typical annual limits include 30 visits to a doctor or 30 days of hospital care for treatment of a mental disorder. Under the legislation passed yesterday, those limits would no longer be allowed if the insurer had no limits on treatment for medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be exempt."

The only remaining obstacle is the $3.4 billion in lost tax revenue to the federal government. It's unclear whether details can be worked out before Congress recesses. Source: Washington Post

Labels: legislation, mental_health

A recent study conducted at the University of Vermont has found that people suffering from anorexia also have a significantly increased risk of suicide.

"Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. But psychologists previously believed that those high rates of death were due to patients' already deteriorated physical state... The new study's authors have shown this assumption to be wrong in most cases."

Researchers concluded that suicide attempts are not simply "cries for help," but that the patients are genuinely determined to die. They draw this conclusion based on the extreme methods that so many of the patients used to try and take their lives. Results of the study emphasize the importance of treating anorexia both biologically and psychologically. Read more at Time.com.

Worried that your teen is contemplating suicide? The Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment offers help for troubled teens by correctly diagnosing their issues and then creating a treatment plan.

Labels: death, mental_health, suicide

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto recently conducted a survey to determine the accuracy of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test in identifying preteens who are at risk of eating disorders. The test was given to 409 girls who were then interviewed.

"The questionnaire, which the girls filled out themselves, overestimated the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors, which included dieting. Colton explained that this is likely because at this young age it was difficult for them to distinguish on their own between actually going on a diet and thinking about doing so."

Girls who reported being on diets were, on average, heavier than their peers who weren't dieting. Dr. Patricia Colton called the finding "troubling" because dieting has not been shown to be an effective way for young girls to lose weight. Read more at Reuters.com.

Outdoor education therapy programs are especially effective with preteens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. Learn more about outdoor education programs at WildernessProgramsInfo.com and about outdoor therapy at BootCampsInfo.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, dieting, mental_health

In North Carolina, mental health-related insurance reform is one step closer to becoming reality. Called the "mental health parity bill", it would require private insurers to cover treatment of psychiatric diseases like eating disorders and schizophrenia. The measure was unanimously passed by the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday and will now be voted on by the full Senate.

"The North Carolina bill is considered a major reform and a step toward ending discrimination against those with psychiatric diseases by mental health providers and advocates."

Coverage for hospital stays and office visits can be limited for most mental health issues except nine that are considered the most serious. Read more at News-Record.com.

Equine therapy programs work well with children who have resisted other forms of therapy. Learn more about equine therapy for troubled teens at AspenRanch.com and TurnAboutRanch.com. Copper Canyon Academy offers equine therapy at their boarding schools for girls.

Labels: insurance, mental_health, treatment

May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a good time to begin setting the record straight about mental illness like depression and eating disorders.

"The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that in any year one in four Americans suffer from some diagnosable mental illness."

Many people fail to seek treatment, out of embarrassment or shame, even though most mental health issues are very treatable. Read more online.

Teenagers suffering from an eating disorder, depression, or other forms of mental illness can significantly benefit from a residential treatment center. A residential treatment center like The Aspen Institute can provide an assessment and treatment plan for teens struggling with a variety of issues, including substance abuse and learning disabilities.

Labels: mental_health, mental_illness, treatment

Though it's not officially recognized as an eating disorder, orthorexia involves the same obsession thinking and behavior patterns as other eating disorders. Orthorexia is an obsession with "healthy or righteous eating" and often involves highly restrictive eating habits in the name of "eating healthy".

"As with anorexia, many people with orthorexia can become pathologically fixated with food, although in this case, it is with eating 'proper food'. The insidious part is that it is all done in the guise of health…As it is with some of the officially recognized eating disorders, this type of approach to nutrition begins to take over, and you find yourself spending inordinate amounts of your mental energy, time and, in many cases, resources to meet the needs and expectations of the approach."

One of the dangers of orthorexia is that a person's diet can become so restricted that, in the name of "being healthy", the restricted diet becomes unhealthy and potentially dangerous. Read more at StateNews.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, mental_health, orthorexia

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health is launching a four-year study on early intervention treatments for adolescents with eating disorders. The study will begin accepting patients on May 1st.

"The study... will examine two early intervention treatment approaches in 240 young people, ages 12 to 18, who've been diagnosed with anorexia. The children's parents will play an important role in the study."

Recent research has found that some people may be genetically pre-disposed to eating disorders, making early intervention extremely important. Intervention programs that involve family members often prove to be the most successful, which is why they're the focus of this particular study. Read more online.

Labels: anorexia, intervention, mental_health