• The Consumer Quality Review Team was formed in response to a demand for more information about who's receiving mental health services, and whether the existing programs are meeting consumers' needs. The following is the CQRT's 2002 report for Northeast Ohio. Performance Action Teams, made up of consumers, family members, board members, providers, and facilitators, are being formed. These teams will meet and look at the current data for their board area. they will then pick out key findings on improvements that could be made in their area, and create an action plan which is presented to their local commuity mental health boards. The boards will then asked to adopt and implement the customized action plan, to the extent possible. In the following months, a second round of interviews will be held with specific emphasis on the quality improvement activities.
  • Did you know that Ohio has consumer-run quality review teams that review the effectiveness of the public mental health system? To learn more, visit http://www.neoappcare.org/index.htm.
  • A commission appointed by President George W. Bush has been working on a comprehensive report on mental illness as a public health problem. To learn more about what they found, visit http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.

I'm Not Sick!
Involuntary Commitment of People with Severe Mental Illness
May 1, 2002
The Academy Award-winning film A Beautiful Mind exposed millions of movie-goers to some of the realities of schizophrenia. For advocates of the mentally ill, it was a refreshing change from the clichés about brain disorders that fill the popular culture. Still, some misguided ideas continue to affect both patients and their families. 90.3 WCPN®'s David C. Barnett has this report.

Looking For Leadership:
County Mental Health Board Tries To Make A Hire
May 24, 2002
Mental Health Services have traditionally held a precarious position in Cuyahoga County. The county's mental health board is subject to a complex set of rules governing the services it can provide, and how those services can be funded. The board is trying to find a new executive director, and has, in the process, run into a political dispute. While the situation is uncertain, some within the system hope it may be a jumping off point for improvement. As part of 90.3 WCPN®'s observation of mental health month, April Baer has this report on the search.

Is Your Job Killing You?
May 30, 2002
Experts at the Psychosomatic Medicine Journal say having a boring job can kill you. According to a national report released last week, the less control you have over your work can contribute to anxiety and stress that can take over your life. One psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic admits nearly 80% of patient complaints are related to stress. But all too often people don’t take care of the anxiety mostly because they don’t know how. 90.3 WCPN®’s Tarice Sims reports on methods of treating stress on the job and why people need to address anxiety sooner than later.

Mental Health Board Cutbacks
October 24, 2002
This week will be the final week of work for some staffers at the Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board. Like so many public agencies that depend on state money, the mental health board has had to find ways to get by on a shrinking budget. For that reason, it's eliminating some jobs. The chief executive officer of the board, Bill Denihan, is with us by phone.

Therapist E-Counseling Just a Click Away
October 24, 2002
Whether it's taxes or something else driving you over the edge, help can be just a click of the mouse away. Like many other things you can get over the internet, some therapists are offering e-counseling. As 90.3 continues coverage of mental health issues, we're going to talk with counselor Tim Warneka of Willloughy Hills - he joins us by phone.

Mental Health Services Suffering Under Cutbacks
November 18, 2002
It's been a fact of life in 2002: economically speaking, these are lean and mean times. In the government sector the flow of tax revenues has fallen sharply; budget cutbacks at the state and local level are being felt across the spectrum of public services and programs. Providers are weathering the storm - by tightening belts and cutting back services. But there's a growing cry that many of the people needing the services are not. That's the message coming out of Cuyahoga County's community mental health system. 90.3's Bill Rice reports.

Support for mental health issues coverage comes from the Woodruff Foundation and Saint Lukes Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio.