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Noting the lack of existing literature on Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI), researchers set out to present a transtheoretical model of PHRI they say can be integrated with a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches and treatment goals, according to a study published March 15 in Frontiers in Psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the operation of Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. as of February 2021, including the expansion of its services while establishing deeper relations with clients. According to chief executive officer (CEO) Ann Fisher Raney, they were able to innovate during the pandemic. Also mentioned is the move by the center to reopen its The Living Room & Resource Center crisis program virtually.

The article reports that the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Co-Occurring Center for Excellence has released three papers for treatment professionals, including counselors, administrators and primary care providers. The papers include "Overaching Principles to Address the Needs of Persons with Co-Occurring Disorders," "Definitions and Terms Relating to Co-Occuring Disorders" and Screening Assessment and Treatment Planning for Persons with Co-Occuring Disorders."

The article discusses the highlights of the National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors' webinar (NACBHDD) on June 15, 2014. Topics discussed include the presentation of the white paper on Lived Experience Professional (LEP) certification for licensed health care experts, the peers' involvement in California's Pacific Clinics' health navigation programs as presented by John Brekke, and addressing mental health issues through policy framework.

A survey of Medicaid enrollees with serious mental illness (SMI) in a state with significant experience in integrating behavioral health and medical care is pointing out many shortcomings in managed care's response to these individuals' complex needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calls for papers for a symposium on the developments in the treatment of sex offenders sponsored by the `New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement.' Topics for discussion; Contact information.

Many Medicaid‐eligible children are not receiving recommended timely follow‐up care in the community after a mental health‐related visit to a hospital emergency department, a newly published study suggests. The study's numbers paint an especially disappointing picture for Black children, likely reflecting a number of conditions ranging from a lack of diversity in the behavioral health workforce to limited access to school‐based services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observing a way to provide support to help patients experiencing depression, anxiety and burnout, an online mental health provider is working with insurers, such as Cigna, to provide its members with smartphone‐based treatment and access to licensed therapists and psychiatrists. Meru Health's digital therapeutic program provides remote clinician support, cognitive behavioral therapy and evidence‐based care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's (IAVA) annual national campaign for high-quality, evidence-based mental health care. Topics discussed include the Storm the Hill campaign on March 24, 2014 which includes the release of the 2014 Policy Division White Paper "We've Got Your Back: IAVA's Campaign to Combat Suicide" and a call for the U.S. Congress to pass a law that addressed suicide prevention and access to quality mental health care.

We asked readers to send us their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that await them in 2019. Several responses appeared in last week's Special Preview Issue. Here are more of their responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization that faith communities have been an underutilized resource in healing individual and community trauma has fueled a fast‐growing initiative co‐led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an exciting year for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) as we recognize and celebrate our 60th anniversary. We have been working on many issues to improve the mental health of persons in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the legislation introduced in the California Assembly would need licensed health care practitioners to screen mothers for mental health conditions at least once during pregnancy and once during the postpartum period. The case management program would have to meet standards and would need plans and insurers to notify providers of the availability of the program.

The article offers information on plans of Oklahoma to possibly wipe out its outpatient mental health services. Topics discussed include inpatient services and medication services; mental health and substance abuse service contractors of cuts to their respective outpatient services; and elimination of outpatient service with the exception of medication services.

Calls for research proposals in the area of managed care in mental health sponsored by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute Inc. Topic; Research specifications; Contact information.

The article reports on the move by mental health (MH) stakeholders to support the adoption of digital mental health treatments (DMHT) within the U.S. health care system. Among the stakeholders is The Banbury Forum for Digital Mental Health Treatment. Also cited are the barriers of MT treatments like stigma and shortage of mental health providers, as well as the comment of SilverCloud Health's Derek Richards on DMHTs.

Highlights papers published in the journal `Nature Genetics' on the search for genes that linked to mental illnesses. Lead scientists towards other disorders; Comments from David Curtis of the Institute of Psychiatry in London.

The article discusses the Treat First model of care program led by the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division for clinical practice improvement. Topics discussed include reactions of medical service provider on proposed cuts in Medicaid payment rates and fragmented service system, assessment related to patient's paper work and views of program coordinator Betty A. Downes on the same.

North Dakota officials continue to make adjustments to the state's Medicaid behavioral health program, first implemented in a state plan amendment last February. The most recent changes to North Dakota's Medicaid 1915(i) state plan amendment include an eligibility score adjustment that should expand access to home‐ and community‐based services for a broader range of individuals with mental health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the 2nd annual Destination Dignity March for Dignity and Change in Mental held during World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2016. Topics discussed include the event aimed at advocating for financial support for mental health services and policies to stop discrimination against mentally-ill people, the march as a complement to the PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! in raising mental health awareness, and the 3rd Destination Dignity March to be conducted on October 10, 2017.

Although psychiatric mental health nurses (PMH) — both registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses — represent the second largest group of behavioral health professionals in the U.S. with more than 130,000 active in the field, the workforce is aging and young people are needed to join this profession, according to a new report released by the American Psychiat‐ric Nurses Association (APNA). APNA said the report is the first research study specifically targeting the PMH nursing workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the release of a paper from the newspaper "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," concerning the poor quality of care received in Georgia's state mental hospitals. It indicated that since 2002, at least 10 patients have died after being discharged without adequate supports. However, according to the Associated Press, the paper suggested insufficient discharge planning for thousands of patients, many of whom landed in homeless shelters.

Information about several papers discussed at the conference "Impacting Healthcare Reform 08: Leadership in Moving the Mental Health and Substance Use Agenda" is presented. Topics included the key objectives and insurance strategies of state health care reform, the principles of the New Freedom Commission of U.S. President George W. Bush and other related issues on mental health and substance abuse. The summit featured mental health personnel, including Ronald W. Manderscheid and William Emmet.

The article focuses on the report "Movilizandonos por Nuestro Futuro: Strategic Development of a Mental Health Workforce for Latinos," that was released by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS') Office of Minority Health and the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health (NRCHMH) in Latin America. The report plans to create a new alliance that will tackle Latino behavioral health workforce shortage. It says that the Latino community lacks behavioral health providers.

The article argues that mental health specialists working with older adults to avoid thinking that their patients have the same problem and instead pay attention to general issues and daily needs of the people they help. Topics covered include the importance of understanding other factors that could cause chronic illnesses in patients such as sodium and potassium level imbalances and emergence of depression. Also mentioned is the call for insurers to cover coordinated care services.

The article reports on the planned expansion by the Centerstone of America's service base in the U.S. It mentions that Centerstone of Indiana and the Dunn Center have approved an affiliation wherein its operations will be integrated under the Centerstone name. It adds that the latest affiliation added 1,800 employees and 128 service locations in Tennessee and Indiana. Moreover, it states that the affiliation will also enhance the mental health and substance abuse services.

Reports on the selection and appointment of Roseann E. Netzer as the director of Geriatric Services at the Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

States are overcoming a variety of structural and financial barriers to make inroads in meeting the mental health needs of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a new report suggests. No one model has emerged as the ideal approach, though in all cases there has been a need to improve coordination of effort across multiple organizational silos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on response of the director of the U.S. Center for Mental Health Services A. Kathryn Power to the mental health commission's report published as of November 3, 2003.

Focuses on a report launched by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), in which it has offered recommendations to rebuild and reform the mental health system of the U.S., which is facing many problems. Title of the report; Principles offered by the APA for revival of the country's mental health system; Comments of APA president Paul S. Applebaum on the report; Recommendations in the report for seriously and persistently mentally ill.

Focuses on problems associated with the implementation of the TennCare mental health program in Tennessee. Concern over the application of revised federal waiver for TennCare; Impact of state budget crisis; Citation of legal problem involving TennCare services to children.

The article discusses a white paper released on June 3, 2014 by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) on workforce development model. Issues cited include the importance of creating a national lived experience workforce development plan for lived experience service providers as a health care job, a proposed Lived Experience Professional (LEP) certification and lessons that can be learned from a peer services project in New York and Wisconsin by OptumHealth.

More than a year's worth of discussions of a "brand refresh" at the National Council for Behavioral Health has led to an organizational name change, to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The National Council's president and CEO told MHW last week that the change in large part reflects the perspectives of recipients of its members' services, a group of patients that never warmed up to the "behavioral health" terminology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the American Psychological Association's stance in the emotional debate over physician-assisted suicide. Role of policy-makers in the end-of-life decision process; Assisted suicide as a rational choice in some cases; Application of treatment to mood disorder or depression before any request for assistance of suicide.

Reports that the Mental Health in Corrections Consortium is seeking presentations for its sixth annual Mental Health Corrections Symposium on June 13-15, 1996 in Kansas City, Missouri. Criteria.

Presents an obituary for Dexter Means Bullard Jr., who expanded mental health services to children and adolescents at the Chestnut Lodge psychiatric hospital in Maryland. Papers written; Career highlights.

Announces the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute Inc.'s presentation of papers on mental health services research and evaluation at the Sixth Annual Conference on State Mental Health Agency and Program Evaluation. Topics of presentations; Format for submissions; Contact information.

Mentions an editorial in the South Carolina paper `The Post and Courier' which expressed support for the SC Department of Mental Health's becoming a Cabinet agency and defended the call for Mental Health Director Joseph Bevilacqua's resignation.

Editor's note: We asked Mental Health Weekly readers how COVID has changed the way their agency or organization operates and about the challenges and opportunities that await them in the new year. Here are some comments we received. More to come next week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Momentum continues to build for 988, the new mental health crisis hotline slated to begin operation in July 2022 that would allow individuals or their families to call or text in the event of a crisis. In preparation, an unprecedented collaboration of 15 leading mental health organizations, advocacy groups and funders on Nov. 18 published a comprehensive approach to mental health care to help meet a growing demand for crisis care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of California bills signed Sept. 26 by Gov. Jerry Brown calls attention to the impact of untreated maternal mental health disorders. The legislation, expected to make a significant difference in families around the country, is considered the most comprehensive bill of its kind around the world, say advocates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the psychiatry residency training offered by the Riverside School of Medicine of the University of California. Topics covered include then focus of the program on allowing students to be more involved in community services and assist patients with an educational debt reduction incentive. Also mentioned is the impact of the program on the care access of people in underserved areas.

The article reflects on the paper published by researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Dartmouth, which details the link between parents' debts and the socio-emotional well-being of children within the family.

The article presents the call for proposals by the Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health (RTC). RTC will hold its 18th annual research conference, "A System of Care for Children's Mental Health: Expanding the Research Base," from March 6 to 9 in Tampa, Florida. RTC is accepting applications for presentations and is especially interested in proposals that address research and evaluation related to system transformation; federally supported initiatives. The center is also interested in projects representing strong partnerships with family members. Presentation formats include symposia, paper presentations, topical discussions and poster presentations.

Reports that New Jersey officials are contending that some aspects of a report issued by the Association for Children of New Jersey offer an inaccurate assessment of the Partnership for Children program, the state's initiative for emotionally troubled youths. Concern regarding the finding that contractor ValueOptions screened out 47 percent of calls; Claim by officials that these calls were not calls for service.

Reports on the recommendations of a 19-member roundtable panel of leaders in mental health and primary care convened by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Suggestion that primary care doctors do a better job of differentiating generalized anxiety disorder from other illnesses; Mental health professionals' role in advancing a treatment approach that integrates pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

Features the products related to medical care. Release of the CD-ROM presentation "Universal Screening for Domestic Violence"; Development of the evaluation and management service products by the American Health Information Management Association and the American Hospital Association.

Reports on the selection of the Council of State Governments (CSG) as the technical assistance provider for the BJA Mental Health Courts Grant Program in the U.S. Development of a website dedicated to mental health courts; Plan to coordinate a conference for all grantees of the Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program; Reference to the report produced by the CSG.

The emerging field of digital medicine explores the potential benefit of using technologies as tools for measurement and intervention in health care delivery, say researchers of a new study published in Population Health Management. Digital tools can assist physician– patient relationships, which may potentially help improve treatment outcomes, the study found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research paper on strategies to reduce self-stigma among people with mental illness. It references a study by Dinesh Mittal et al. published in the October 2012 issue of "Psychiatric Services". The study suggests that psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral therapy and contact with consumers with mental illness are effective in addressing public stigma and self-stigma.