Research conducted at M. Becker and co-authors has provided new information about mental health
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research from the United States, "Demographic, diagnostic, and service expenditure characteristics of Florida Medicaid enrollees who died by suicide were investigated." "Among persons receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), findings indicate the most powerful predictors of suicide were involuntary psychiatric examination, mental health hospitalization, and high mental health service use. Among Medicaid enrollees not receiving SSI, strongest suicide predictors were mental health hospitalization, high expenditures for physical health medications, and involuntary psychiatric examination," wrote M. Becker and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Suggest reducing involuntary psychiatric examinations and mental health hospitalizations while improving physical health may reduce suicide in the Medicaid population. Comprehensive hospital discharge planning, adherence monitoring with follow-up care, training mental health providers in assessing suicide lethality, and providing adequate assessment time are all crucial to achieve these objectives." Becker and colleagues published their study in Suicide and Life - Threatening Behavior (Risk for Suicide among Medicaid Beneficiaries. Suicide and Life - Threatening Behavior, 2009;39(2):172-181). For additional information, contact M. Becker, University of Southern Florida, Dept. of Aging & Mental Health Dispar, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, College Behavioral & Community Science, MHC1419, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Suicide and Life - Threatening Behavior is: Guilford Publications Inc., 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012, USA. Keywords: United States, Tampa, Behavior, Diagnostics, Health Policy, Medicaid, Mental Health, Psychiatric, Psychiatry, Suicide. This article was prepared by Managed Care Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Managed Care Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
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