Deaths of Despair Anthony Bourdain Suicide

Deaths of Despair – Suicide & Self Injury Crisis in US

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Policy Leave a Comment

The news of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade’s death by suicide as well as the CDC’s report on increasing suicide rates in the US reminds us of a larger public health crisis that was given the name “deaths of despair” by researchers Case and Deaton (see below). We have been collecting information on this topic in preparation for an effort …

Huge Victory on Mental Health Parity in California

Peter ForsterCosts of Treatment, Policy

On September 10th the California Supreme Court let stand a California Appeals Court decision that the California mental health parity law requires coverage of treatment that may have no equivalent in other medical specialties. Specifically, the Appeals Court held that Blue Shield of California must cover residential treatment for eating disorders. The Court noted that residential treatment was among the …