Press Conference on Children & Psychiatric Medications to Be Held June 9 at the National Press Club

6/2/2004

From: (MEDIA ONLY) Bob Carolla, 703-516-7963 or Bobc@nami.org, Elise Resnick, 703-516-0698 or Elise@nami.org, both of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

News Advisory:

WHAT: Press Conference on Children & Psychiatric Medications; Release of NAMI Task Force Report

WHEN: Wednesday, June 9, 9 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club (Murrow Room), 529 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.

WHO: Ken Duckworth, M.D., Medical director & child psychiatrist, NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)

The report will provide important perspectives on the need for sound clinical practice and giving parents information to make decisions in the best interests of their children: which goes to the heart of any news story on children and psychiatric medications:

-- One in 10 children today have a mental illness severe enough to cause impairment, but the Surgeon General has warned that 80 percent never get the treatment they need.

-- Psychiatric medications can be life-saving for many children, but require careful weighing of risks and benefits, close monitoring, and frequent evaluation.

-- The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) currently has safety and efficacy issues under review concerning the use of antidepressants for children.

-- State and local initiatives in some cases have sought to restrict communication between schools and parents about warning signs of mental illnesses.

The report will address the need to protect rights of access to treatment, the patient-provider relationship, and promotion of partnerships for treatment. It includes policy recommendations, but warns policymakers against taking actions without sound scientific research and qualified, expert testimony. It also emphasizes that treatment decisions only can be made on an individualized basis.