News Briefs

APA surveys public on stigma: A survey conducted for the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in April found that although stigma associated with mental illness still exists, more than a third of Americans believe that it has declined. When asked about factors that are influential in reducing stigma, 79% cited openness among friends, family, and public figures about their personal experiences with mental illnesses as at least moderately influential. Other factors cited as at least moderately influential are the increased amount of mental health information available online (75%), accurate portrayals of mental illnesses on television and in movies (72%), public figures or celebrities who talk about their experiences with mental illnesses (71%), and social networking sites related to the topic of mental illnesses (61%). When asked how concerned they are about the possibility that they would ever be given a diagnosis of a mental disorder, 38% were at least somewhat concerned and 48% said they were at least somewhat concerned for a family member. Two-thirds agreed that people with mental illnesses can get better. A total of 2,285 adults responded to the Harris Interactive online survey, which was conducted as part of the APA's Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives campaign ( www.healthyminds.org ).

Kaiser briefs address issues in of health reform: The Kaiser Family Foundation has posted several new issue briefs on its Health Reform gateway page ( healthreform.kff.org ). The reform law designates Medicaid as the coverage pathway for low-income Americans. Optimizing Medicaid Enrollment: Perspectives on Strengthening Medicaid's Reach Under Health Care Reform draws on interviews with Medicaid program directors and other experts, who describe the expansion of Medicaid as a strategic moment to recast Medicaid as an affordable health coverage program for working people and families and to improve its enrollment and renewal operations. Financing New Medicaid Coverage Under Health Reform: The Role of the Federal Government and States examines how the federal government and the states are expected to split responsibility for financing Medicaid coverage, which will be expanded to millions of low-income adults in 2014. Explaining Health Reform: Medicare and the New Independent Payment Advisory Board describes how the board created under health reform is expected to limit growth in Medicare spending over time.