Thu, Dec 16, 2010 -- 8:00 PM | Listen to the program
Tom Fudge/KPBS
Health Dialogues visits a pilot program for the seriously mentally ill in Imperial County. It's a one-stop shop, funded by Mental Health Services Act money, and early results are encouraging. Reporter: Tom Fudge, KPBS
When voters passed Proposition 63 in 2004, it raised the state income tax by 1 percent on Californians earning at least one million dollars per year. Scott Shafer speaks with the state senator who sponsored Proposition 63 about how the nearly four billion dollars in revenue have helped California's mentally ill, and how these funds have offset cuts to community mental health funding. Guest: Darrell Steinberg (D), President pro Tempore of the California State Senate.
Health Dialogues examines Laura's Law, compelling mentally ill patients to take their medication by court order. Since the law was passed in 2002, only two of California's 58 counties have adopted Laura's Law. [Note: in response to listener feedback, host Scott Shafer's recorded lede for this audio segment has been updated from the original broadcast. While the original lede was factually accurate, some confusion among our listeners led us to create the more descriptive version now included with the audio.] Reporter: Sarah Varney
Music Bridge 1: "Blues For Istanbul" by The Scott Amendola Trio, from the CD "Lift" (Sazi)
Host Scott Shafer speaks with two people from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Los Angeles about their suicide prevention service, how to recognize warning signs and what can be done to help someone who feels suicidal. Guests: Esther Bryant, suicide survivor and volunteer spokesperson for Didi Hirsch; Kita Curry, president and CEO of Didi Hirsch.
Health Dialogues looks at the impact of violence on young people in Oakland, and programs that are helping them cope. Reporter: April Dembosky
Music Bridge 2: "All The Guitar Players Around Sean Smith Say He's Got It Coming, But He Gets It While He Can" by Mushroom, from the CD "Naked, Stoned & Stabbed" (Royal Potato Family)
Host Scott Shafer speaks with the husband and wife authors of a study in the December 2010 issue of the journal Pediatrics, called "Wartime Military Deployment and Increased Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Complaints." The nationwide study saw an 11 percent increase in mental and behavioral health visits for children three to eight years of age. What does this information mean for families, pediatricians and the military? Guests: Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman, LCSW, ; Gregory Gorman, MD, Navy Commander.
Music Bridge 3: "Sonate No.22 F Major op.54, In Tempo d'un Menuetto" by András Schiff, from the CD "L.V. Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas, Vol.6" (ECM)
Health Dialogues hears the story of a young Iraqi refugee and asks what services are made available to people fleeing conflict countries. Reporter: Shuka Kalantari
End Music: "Fat Mama" by Herbie Hancock, from the CD "Mwandishi: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings" (Warner Bros.)
