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John Archibald
Local Government with Kyle Whitmire
The Race for Governor
On The Line: Gay/Straight in Alabama
Gay/Straight: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Gay/Straight: Bullying Gay Students
Gay/Straight: Marie Sutton on Gay Marriage
Gay/Straight: Spirituality
Magic City Marketplace
Gay/Straight in Alabama: Domestic Partner Benefits
Scrushy Ordered to Pay $2.9 Billion
What Does Six Flags Bankruptcy Mean for Alabama Adventure?
Foreign Policy Priorities: A Local Perspective
Collins & Carns: Occupational Tax
Collins & Carns: Jeffco Sewer Hearing
New Economic Incentive Law
Scrushy Trial Update
Birmingham's Budget: Child Care Resources
Whitmire on Budget Woes and Kid One Transport
Occupational Tax: An Overview
Legislative Review and Preview
Brunos Fallout: the Glenwood Pecans
War of Words
US Steel: Fairfield Fallout
Wilcox County Unemployment
More Budget Cuts?
Swine Flu and Alabama
RealtySouth Lawsuit
City Councilwoman Miriam Witherspoon Dies
News Features Archive

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90.3 WBHM Birmingham -- Theres no denying a link between mental illness and homelessness. Approximately one in every four adults whos homeless also suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness. National advocacy groups say the number of mentally ill homeless may be buoyed by a new wave of de-institutionalization people being denied residential mental health treatment because of managed care and other cost containment measures.

A new study by a UAB doctor finds that psychological distress and functional impairments worsen, the longer a homeless person addicted to drugs or alcohol remains on the streets. In the latest installment in our year-long mental health project, WBHMs Tanya Ott spoke with Dr. Stefan Kertesz about his research.

Dr. Kertesz's research is funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse and appears in this months issue of Medical Care, a publication of the American Public Health Association.

-- Tanya Ott, June 15, 2005

Editor's note: This is our lastest piece in a year-long commitment to covering mental health issues in Alabama. You can learn more about our "Making Sense of Mental Health" project and find local mental health resources -- as our commitment continues throughout the year -- inside this website.

More | Making Sense of Mental Health