Mental health crises and public policy: opportunities for change?
Mental health care is a state responsibility. Periodically, tragic incidents involving a person with a mental illness (such as the shootings at Virginia Tech) attract the public's attention. But little is known about the impact of this attention. Does meaningful change occur, and how? In this commentary we explore recent efforts to advance change in the wake of tragedy.
New York State Office of Mental Health in Albany, USA. Cocomfh@omh.state.ny.us
Michael F
MF
Hogan
Lloyd I
LI
Sederer
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D004190:Disasters / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005544:Forecasting; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D008484:Medicaid / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D009518:New York; D011057:Politics; D011640:Public Policy; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends