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ERs Are Flooded With Kids in Mental Health Crisis, U.S. Doctors' Groups Warn
America’s emergency rooms are being flooded by children suffering from psychiatric emergencies like anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts, a new joint report from three leading medical associations warns. This surge in pediatric mental health emergencies has overwhelmed ERs in the United States, says the joint paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Unfortunately, the kids coming to the ER are less likely to receive the ongoing mental health care they truly need, said lead author Dr. Mohsen Saidinejad, director of pediatric emergency medicine at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Read more here.
Related: American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Brief: The Management of Children and Youth With Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Emergencies
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Over $6 Million in Funding for Youth Mental Health Initiatives in NYS
To support residents of New York through mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders, over $6 million in federal funding was announced for treatment along with youth mental health initiatives and programs in New York State. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the funding, which totals $6,837,883, on Wednesday and says it will help develop and support school and community-based mental health programs and services, as well as expand access to substance use disorder treatments. Funds were allocated through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Read more here.
Related: School-based health clinics found to benefit rural New York state communities
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Governor Hochul Announces More Than $38.6 Million for Supportive Housing Projects
Governor Kathy Hochul last Friday announced more than $38.6 million for housing projects in the New York City, Long Island, and Southern Tier regions that will provide permanent supportive housing for individuals who have experienced homelessness. Supported by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, the awards will fund the creation of 410 units to serve formerly homeless individuals, including those with a mental illness or substance use disorder, and survivors of domestic violence among others. The grants were awarded through a competitive process by the New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation, a public benefit corporation staffed by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Read more here.
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Caring For People with Fentanyl Addiction Often Means Treating Terrible Wounds
In a van parked outside a church in Baltimore's Carrollton Ridge neighborhood, Gerald A. Hill Sr. is preparing wound care kits for people addicted to opioids. Baltimore's harm reduction vans have long been a place for people to exchange used needles for clean needles. In recent months, more people have been coming to Baltimore's two mobile harm intervention vans in need of serious wound care due to a drug called xylazine. Among users, it is commonly referred to as Tranq. Used for decades by veterinarians to tranquilize large animals, xylazine is being used by drug dealers to amp up the effects of fentanyl and other opioids. In humans, the drug causes deep flesh wounds that sometimes bore down to the bone. Read more here.
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‘A Criminal Justice Approach to a Public Health Problem’: How the Justice System Can Improve SUD Support
In the 1980s, Haner Hernández only requested to attend a drug treatment program in order to get out of prison. Back then, he was only approved to be released from prison and go into treatment because the prison was overcrowded. For him, the treatment program changed the trajectory of his life. It was located in Boston and was geared specifically toward Latino males. Hernández received his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD. and now works as an addiction recovery specialist. And while treatment benefited him, it’s not for everyone, he said. There are “multiple pathways of recovery,” including faith-based recovery, holistic approaches like meditation and medications. But that’s not the way the justice system treats addiction in the U.S., he said. Read more here.
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Recovery Friendly Workplace Landscape Analysis Report
In collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program published the Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Landscape Analysis Report and the addendum State Profiles document. The report documents the emerging movement to implement RFW programs in workplaces throughout the country; however, resources are lacking to accomplish the main components of these programs, such as outreach, training, and certification. The report highlights the need to increase resources for RFW programs and provides recommendations for policymakers. The State Profiles document showcases the great work that states are doing to create and implement RFW programs, in spite of a lack of resources. Read more here.
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U.S. Suicide Deaths Rose in 2022, C.D.C. Estimates Say
The estimated number of suicide deaths in the United States rose to nearly 50,000 in 2022, according to provisional data released last Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total would be an increase of approximately 2.6 percent since 2021. The C.D.C. estimates the overall number of deaths to be 49,449 but has not yet calculated the suicide rates for 2022. Given that the U.S. population grew by about 0.4 percent in 2022, a 2.6 percent increase in deaths indicates that suicide rates are continuing to rise, although not universally among all groups. Read more here.
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How States and Health Plans Can Meaningfully Engage Dually Eligible Individuals in Plan Governance
Beneficiary engagement has been a federal statutory requirement in Medicaid since 1971 with varying degrees of effectiveness, but beneficiary engagement in Medicare is still new, relatively speaking. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services took a significant step in advancing engagement of dually eligible beneficiaries when it required that Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) establish and maintain enrollee advisory committees (EACs) in January 2023. Luckily there are already examples of effective EAC design and beneficiary engagement through demonstrations under the federal Financial Alignment Initiative. Read more here.
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Nonprofits Can Now Apply for Excellus BCBS Health Equity Innovation Award (HEIA) Funding
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is once again inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for 2023 Health Equity Innovation Award (HEIA) funding. The awards help fund health and wellness programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities in upstate New York. The online application period opened on Monday, August 14 and closes on Thursday, September 14. 501©(3) organizations in Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s service area are invited to apply for Health Equity Innovation Award funding up to $30,000. Read more here.
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Call It 'Stealth Mental Health' — Some Care for Elders Helps More without the Label
The pandemic drew a lot of attention to young people's mental health. But older people have suffered, too. Many are struggling with loneliness, anxiety, or substance abuse. Fewer than half of older adults who need mental health care get it, according to the National Council on Aging. "One reason is that professionals are under-trained to treat the mental health needs of older adults," says Regina Koepp, a clinical psychologist based in Vermont, and the founder of the Center for Mental Health and Aging. "Many professionals feel quite incompetent and will say that they just don't treat older adults." Read more here.
Related: How New York is prioritizing mental health care for elders
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Promising Practices for Utilizing Motivational Interviewing (MI) to Improve Care Coordination and Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
August 17, 2 - 3 pm, Resources for Integrated Care
Medicaid 1115 Justice Waivers and Special Populations: Meeting the Needs of Justice-Involved Youth
August 17, 2 - 3 pm, HMA
The Future of 988: Increasing Accessibility
August 21, 1 - 2 pm, Vibrant Emotional Health
Ask the Expert: Crisis Response in Rural Areas
August 21, 2 - 3:30 pm, CSG Justice Center
Access & Affordability: Exploring SMI Coverage & Trends In The U.S. Behavioral Health System
August 22, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Strategies for Service Providers
August 22, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Supporting Veterans in the Criminal Justice System (Part 2): Responding to Co-occurring PTSD and SUD
August 22, 2:30 - 4 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center
Embedding Equity into 988
August 23, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Professional Perspectives of Cultural Awareness and Humility Revisited
August 23, 3 - 5 pm, NAADAC
How To Improve Poor Data Quality Across the Healthcare Ecosystem and Make Workflows More Manageable
August 24, 1 - 2 pm, Intelligent Medical Objects
Introducing SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) for Children and Youth
August 24, 3 - 4 pm, NTTAC
Employing Peer Workers: An Organization’s Perspective
August 29, 2 - 3 pm, Homeless Housing Resource Center
Emerging Drug Trends and the Effects on Safety and Risk to Children and Parents
August 31, 2 - 3 pm, NCSAC
Medication-Assisted Treatment Services and Community Reentry
August 31, 2 - 3:30 pm, CSG Justice Center
Peer Recovery Support Series, Part 7: Storytelling for Recovery Professionals
August 31, 3 - 5 pm, NAADAC
Getting Candid: Practical Guidance for Framing the Conversation Around Youth Substance Use Prevention
September 7, 1:30 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
State Medicaid programs breaking new ground to address the social drivers of health: A discussion on opportunities for states and implications for community-based care
September 7, 3 - 4 pm, Camden Coalition
NY Council on Problem Gambling: Shine a Light Recovery Picnic
September 9, 11 am - 5 pm, Bowdoin Park, Wappingers Falls, NY (Dutchess County)
Care Coordination Coming (Or Changing) In A State Near You
September 19, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Harm Reduction Vending Machines
September 19, 1:30 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
The Poison Center’s Role in Suicide Prevention: Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications and the Risk for Harm
September 20, 10 - 11 am, NYC and Upstate NY Poison Centers and the NYS OMH Suicide Prevention Center
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CLMHD CALENDAR
AUGUST
Mental Hygiene Planning Committee Meeting
August 17: 1 - 3 pm
Deputy DCS Call
August 22: 10 - 11 am
SEPTEMBER
CLMHD Office Closed - Labor Day
September 4
CLMHD Executive Committee Meeting
September 6: 8 - 9 am
LGU Clinic Operators Call
September 12: 10 - 11:30 am
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
September 14: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
September 14: 3 - 4 pm
Children & Families Committee Meeting
September 19: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Membership Call
September 20: 9 - 10:30 am
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
September 21: 1 - 2:30 pm
Deputy DCS Call
September 26: 10 - 11 am
Mentoring: Steps to Developing a Threat Assessment Group in Your County
September 27: 11:30 am - 1 pm
SAVE THE DATE: Fall 2023 Full Membership Meeting
October 25 - 27, Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
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