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News & Views - November,
2001 Issue (page 3)
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Page 3 of 3 - Previous
URBAN MYTH - WTC BOMBING ORPHANS
(October 26, 2001) The New York Times reports authorities
in New York state there is no evidence of the existence of any uncared for orphans from the 9/11/01 World Trade Center bombings,
despite public comments from several sources including US Senator Hillary Clinton, that there were as many as 10,000 or more children
who were orphaned by the tragedy. Officials say there is not a single documented case of any child losing both parents, and
only a handful of verified cases where children lost their only parent, and those all have close relatives who have taken over their
care.
THE SENATE VOTES TO BROADEN MENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
(Nov. 5, 2001) According to a New York Times article by Robert Pear, a plan newly passed by the Senate to broaden health
insurance coverage for mental illness, has touched off an intense lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill. The measure, approved by the
Senate last week and now headed for a conference with the House, would outlaw disparities in coverage between mental and physical
illness under all group health plans sponsored by employers with more than 50 employees. “All too often insurance discriminates against
illnesses of the brain,” said Senator Pete V. Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, who offered the proposal with Senator Paul Wellstone,
Democrat of Minnesota. The drive for parity has gained momentum with the discovery that many mental illnesses have a biological basis
and can be treated with drugs. The two authors have also worked with lobbyists from groups like the National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill, the National Mental Health Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association. Nearly three
dozen states and the federal government have experimented with various types of parity for their own employees, and they say the costs
have not been significant, with premiums typically rising less than 1 percent.
SNOPES.COM AIMS TO DISPEL URBAN LEGENDS
(Nov. 8, 2001) According to a Detroit Free Press article by Julie Hinds, the Mikkelsons, “a Los Angeles-based couple
are the voices of reason behind www.snopes.com, a website that serves as a clearinghouse
for urban legends…Snopes.com has debunked several rumors,” and “the site has
become so popular, it’s drawn more than 2 million hits on some days.” It color-codes the latest rumors, as to which are true, which
are false, and which are still being scrutinized. To check the facts, the Mikkelsons scour the Web and nearby libraries, sometimes
turning to government agencies or private businesses for help. They claim, “urban legends are a reflection of society’s fears and
coping mechanisms.”
THE SLEEPY TEENAGER
(November, 2001) Kyle P. Johnson, M.D., writes in the Harvard Mental Health Letter: “Teenagers need more sleep than
school age children but usually get less, and the shortfall causes many problems. Daytime fatigue and drowsiness may affect schoolwork
by reducing concentration and short-term memory. Sleepy teenagers are more easily injured, especially in traffic accidents, and lack
of sleep raises the risk of depression and the use of alcohol and drugs.” He discusses the various factors, both environmental as
well as physiological, that interfere with sleep, and states: “Many teenagers will have fewer problems if they are allowed to start
school at a time that accommodates their biological tendency to delay circadian rhythms. Several school districts across the country
have taken this measure, and systematic studies in Minnesota suggest that it is effective,” though he points out those with severe
delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) may need more measures taken. Resources include: the National
Sleep Foundation, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
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