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Mental Illness and Violent Acts: Protecting the Patient and the Public

Article Abstract:

Researchers discussed the link between mental illness and violent crimes at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in June, 1998. Fifty studies from around the world have documented that the mentally ill are more likely to commit crimes. However, most do not, and alcohol and drug abuse are still greater risk factors for violent behavior than mental illness. There is good evidence that appropriate treatment can lower the risk of violent behavior in the mentally ill. This requires better antipsychotic drugs, open access to treatment, better patient monitoring and more supportive living situations.

Conferences, meetings and seminars, Mentally ill persons, Mentally ill, Crime, Insane, Criminal and dangerous, Criminally insane persons

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Nationwide study of health and coping among immigrant children and families

Article Abstract:

State laws denying immigrant children health care and public education have led the Board on Children, Youth and Families to begin a 2-year task force beginning in 1996. Immigrant children make up the fastest-growing school-age group and will represent 20% of the school-age population by the year 2010. Most live in California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois and most come from Mexico, South America and Asia. One physician on the task force believes attempts to deny services to immigrant children will create a population of uneducated, chronically ill adults.

Psychological aspects, Analysis, Services, Children, Immigrants, Children of immigrants, Refugees, Assimilation (Sociology)

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Some schools agree to let sleeping teens lie

Article Abstract:

High school students in Edina, MN will be able to sleep a little later in the morning. The school system decided to begin classes at 8:30 a.m. rather than 7:15 or 7:30. The Minnesota Medical Association actively lobbied for this change, citing evidence that puberty resets the biological clock and that too little sleep can have disastrous consequences. As teenagers get older, they get less sleep so that older students lose 40 minutes a night compared to younger students. Studies have shown that students who get more sleep get higher grades.

Health aspects, Behavior, High school students, Sleep deprivation

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