Sociologist David Mechanic Receives Institute Of Medicine's 2009 Sarnat Prize In Mental Health

The Institute of Medicine today awarded the 2009 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health to David Mechanic, University Professor and René Dubos Professor of Behavioral Sciences; and director, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. The Sarnat Prize, consisting of a medal and $20,000, was presented to Mechanic at IOM's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

"Through his prolific research, teaching, and writings, David Mechanic has helped to define and build the field of medical sociology," said Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine. "Dr. Mechanic has greatly influenced thinking in areas ranging from mental health to health policy, providing a sociological perspective that has complemented and enriched medical and psychological approaches to these subjects. In addition, he has been an exemplary professional colleague, teacher, and mentor."

The Sarnat Prize was presented to Mechanic in recognition of his decades of effort to increase scientific knowledge about the causes and factors shaping mental health and to improve mental health care services. His books on medical sociology, mental health, and social policy laid a foundation for looking at mental illness through a sociological lens. His early research in social psychology focused on how patients' behavior can affect their ability to obtain care, pioneering a line of research that has extended to other areas of medicine where behaviors such as medication compliance and smoking cessation affect the success of treatment. His work on factors that contribute to high rates of unmet treatment needs has been influential in guiding policy planners in improving mental health care and has been especially important in the treatment of persistent and severe mental disorders.

With his skills in translating research into effective policy recommendations, Mechanic has been a valued adviser to several state, federal, and private mental health system developers. He has also been an influential mentor to many researchers and clinicians through the National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored training programs in mental health services that he has led for years at Rutgers University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and through his direction of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Awards Program in Health Policy Research.

Mechanic received his undergraduate degree from City College of New York and his Ph.D. in sociology from Stanford University. He has earned many professional honors, including his election as one of the first nonmedical members of the Institute of Medicine in 1971. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has received numerous awards including the American Sociological Association's Distinguished Career Award for the Practice of Sociology, its Distinguished Medical Sociologist Award, and its Lifetime Contributions Award in Mental Health; the Health Services Research Prize from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and the Baxter Allegiance Foundation; the Distinguished Investigator Award from AcademyHealth; the first Carl Taube Award for Distinguished Contributions to Mental Health Services Research and the Rema Lapouse Award for Scientific Contributions to the Epidemiology and Control of Mental Illness from the American Public Health Association; and the Benjamin Rush Award from the American Psychiatric Association. He also was selected for the first annual Riley Award and Lecture by the National Institutes of Health. He has been a Guggenheim Fellow and a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.

Since 1992, the Institute of Medicine has presented the Sarnat Prize to individuals, groups, or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in improving mental health. The prize recognizes -- without regard for professional discipline or nationality -- achievements in basic science, clinical application, and public policy that lead to progress in the understanding, etiology, prevention, treatment, or cure of mental disorders, or to the promotion of mental health. As defined by the nominating criteria, the field of mental health encompasses neuroscience, psychology, social work, nursing, psychiatry, and advocacy.

The award is supported by an endowment created by Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat of Los Angeles. Rhoda Sarnat is a licensed clinical social worker, and Bernard Sarnat is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and researcher. The Sarnats' concern about the destructive effects of mental illness inspired them to establish the award. Nominations for potential recipients are solicited every year from IOM members, deans of medical schools, and mental health professionals. This year's selection committee was chaired by Jack D. Barchas, Barklie McKee Henry Professor and chair, department of psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, and psychiatrist-in-chief, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. National Academy of Sciences

New Wave Of Talking Therapy Sites For World Mental Health Day, UK

More than 100,000 people will benefit from a new wave of talking therapy services going live across the country from today, World Mental Health Day, Care Services Minister Phil Hope has announced.

The 52 new sites will help people with depression and anxiety disorders access NICE approved treatments including cognitive behavioural therapies, counselling and guided self-help.

The 52 new sites going live between World Mental Health Day and March 2010 join 35 sites launched in 2008 and a further 28 that went live earlier this year. This is part of £103 million being spent by the Department of Health on making a total of 115 services available by March next year.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:

"From World Mental Health Day, 52 new talking therapy services will go live, helping thousands more people recover from debilitating anxiety disorders.

"The talking therapy services that are already up and running have been very successful, with 73,000 people entering treatment and 1,500 more therapists being employed under the scheme. I look forward to seeing the programme go from strength to strength in the future."

One in four people suffer from a mental health problem at any one time and mental ill health costs the economy over £77 billion a year, according to estimates. The Government is developing a new strategy for mental health for the coming years called New Horizons, currently out for consultation.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope continued:

"World Mental Health Day will raise awareness and help break down the stigma that all too often surrounds mental health problems. But I want to go a step further and prevent people developing mental health problems in the first place.

"Our New Horizons strategy aims to create more mentally healthy communities as well as continuing the improvements in services we've seen in recent years. I want as many people as possible to have their say on the best way to achieve this. "

The 52 new sites are Wakefield, Great Yarmouth & Waveney, Peterborough, Derby City, Derby County, Leicester City, Leicester County & Rutland, Northamptonshire, Nottingham County, Islington, Lambeth, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, Sutton & Merton, Westminster, Bolton, Liverpool, Stockport, Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale, North Lancashire, Cumbria, Bury, Trafford, Tameside & Glossop, Ashton, Wigan & Leigh, Surrey, Southampton, Portsmouth, Devon, Gloucester, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucester, Torbay Care Trust, Wiltshire, Birmingham East & North, South Birmingham, Heart of Birmingham, Telford & Wrekin, Coventry, Warwickshire, Solihull, Rotherham, North Yorkshire & York, Hampshire, Gateshead, Northumberland, Luton. Department of Health, UK

Chest Physiotherapy What Is It and How Does It Work?

How do you know if you are at risk of getting cystic fibrosis? It can affect males and females and people from all ethnic groups. The disease is most common in Caucasians. Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited disease among American Caucasians. Caucasians who have ancestors that came from Northern Europe are most susceptible to getting cystic fibrosis.

The thick mucus that is clinging to the linings of the air passages and lungs must be dislodged and removed. There are several ways removing the mucus. Many have been used since the disease was first diagnosed and named in the 1940's. New treatments are being discovered every year and the average life span of a CF patient has risen from 16 to the late 30's.

One of the most classic methods of dislodging the thick mucus is called chest percussion. This involves tapping on the chest and the back. This seems a cruel way to ease the suffering of a cystic fibrosis patient but has been effective. The parent of a CF child is taught how to tap the chest and back to loosen the mucus and without hurting the child. Another method is to change the patient's position as often as possible.

There are many mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene. Some will have more severe symptoms than others born with cystic fibrosis. Scientists estimate that as many as one of every 3600 Caucasian babies born in the United States this year will be born with cystic fibrosis. In comparison, there will be one of every 17,000 African American babies born with the disease, and only one of every 90,000 Asian babies will be born with cystic fibrosis.

In severe cases of cystic fibrosis a doctor may prescribe an oxygen machine. These are used for patients who have damaged lung capacity from the damage mucus has done to the lungs. This condition could be potentially life threatening and a constant supply of oxygen may help. There are many types of oxygen machines on the market including portable oxygen tanks you can take with you when you go out. No longer is a patient confined to his or her house with a big green oxygen tank sitting next to them. There are machines that provide a constant flow of oxygen. It can be set in one room of the house but have long enough hoses to allow the patient to freely roam in their home.

Sometimes, a medical doctor may recommend a lung transplant. The conditions need to be just right for the patient to be put on a list for a potential lung transplant. A lung transplant will not cure cystic fibrosis! Candidates for lung transplants should not have severe damage to other parts of their body, have cancer, are obese, have HIV, or are susceptible to a major psychiatric illness. Patients who do not have these severe complications can be considered for a lung transplant. Nicholas Pipens