November 26, 2007 - Vol 1, Issue 26
GMHA Has Moved!
We've moved! The Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York is now located at 50 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004. But that's the only change as our phone numbers and email address remain the same.
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NYS Division of Budget Hearings
The NYS Division of Budget is hosting a series of public hearings on the upcoming 2008-9 budget. Unfortunately, registration is closed for the Syracuse, Brooklyn, and Long Island Hearings. However, we encourage you to submit comments online about the need for more funding for geriatric mental health services! You can send comments to: BudgetHearing@budget.state.ny.us
For more information on the hearings, click here. If you plan to testify or submit comments, please let us know.
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Here is a schedule of the upcoming hearings:
Location: Syracuse
Address: Syracuse Common Council Chambers, 233 East Washington Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Location: Utica
Address: SUNY IT, Kunsela Hall Auditorium, Route 49, Edic Road, Marcy, New York 13504
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Location: Brooklyn
Address: Brooklyn Borough Hall, Ceremonial Courtroom 2nd Floor, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Date: Thursday, November 29, 2007
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Location: Long Island
Address: H. Lee Dennison County Office Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788
Date: Friday, November 30, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
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GMHA Upcoming Events
December 6, 2007 - Sex and Mental Wellness in Old Age: A Best Practices Presentation in Geriatric Mental Health hosted by the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York and the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity of Hunter College.
The event will be held from 3:00 - 5:00PM at the Hunter College School of Social Work - Auditorium, 129 East 79th Street, NYC, (Between Lexington and Park Avenues). Please register by clicking here. If you have any questions, please email or call Yusyin Hsin at yhsin@mhaofnyc.org or (212) 614- 6356. The event is free but pre-registration is required.
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Article on Effect of Antidepressents
Hyponatremia: A Potentially Serious Side Effect of Antidepressant Treatment in the Elderly
November 12, 2007
Norman Sussman, MD, DFAPA
From Psychiatry Weekly
Editor, Primary Psychiatry and Psychiatry Weekly, Professor of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine
First published in Psychiatry Weekly, Volume 2, Issue 43, on November 12, 2007
The wide margin of safety associated with the use of the SSRIs and SNRIs are a major reason these drugs have been so widely adopted. It is nevertheless important to remember that all patients treated with psychotropic agents may experience a rare, but potentially serious reaction. One of these side effects is hyponatremia. Hyponatremia typically develops within the first few weeks of treatment, the result of the development of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).
A recently published report illustrates a typical case.1 It describes a 54-year-old who was being treated for hypertension and was also taking the antidepressant citalopram for depression. She admitted to the hospital with symptoms of drowsiness, paresthesia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and visual hallucinations. A work-up revealed that she had SIADH. All her presenting symptoms disappeared after discontinuing citalopram, fluid restriction, and a careful hypertonic saline infusion.
To read the entire article, click here.
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Other Upcoming Events
December 18, 2007 - Medication Side Effects Matter: Let's Deal with Them! A workshop sponsored by the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Consumer Affairs. The workshop will take place from 3-5pm at 80 Centre Street, 1st Floor Training Room
April 12, 2008 - Save the Date: The Paradoxes of Aging: Psychotherapy with Older Adults A conference sponsored by The Met Chapter of the New York State Society of Clinical Social Workers and co- sponsored by the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service.
Educational Activities for Healthcare Professionals Focusing on Older Adults sponsored by the Consortium of New York Geriatric Education Centers. Programs include reinventing senior centers and senior programs, new trends in discharge planning, falls prevention and more. Programs are from 8:45am -4:30pm and registration is $50.
Educational Seminar Series at Service Program for Older People (SPOP) This training opportunity features SPOP clinicians who have extensive experience with older adults and mental health. It is offered to the professional geriatrics community and all who work with seniors. Each seminar is held at: 302 West 91st Street at West End Avenue, New York, NY. Seminar fee: $15. Discount for 3 or more attendees from the same organization. Space is limited. Please register in advance by mail or online at www.spop.org or call: 212-787-7102 ext.515.
For topics, dates, and registration information, click here.
