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Youth Suicides Declined After Creation of National Hotline
Over the two and a half years following the 2022 rollout of the 988 national suicide prevention hotline, the rate of suicides among young people in the United States dropped 11 percent below projections, decreasing most sharply in states with a higher volume of answered 988 calls, a new study has found. The findings, published on Wednesday as a research letter in JAMA, compared suicide deaths from July 2022 to December 2024 with sophisticated mathematical projections that were based on historical trends. This yielded good news, with 4,372 fewer suicides of adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 34, than had been projected. To ensure that the decline was related to the use of the hotline, researchers at Harvard Medical School teased out the trends in states with high and low usage of the hotline. The findings were striking: The 10 states with the largest increases in 988 calls experienced an 18.2% reduction in observed suicides compared with expected suicides; in the 10 states with the lowest uptake, the reduction was smaller, 10.6%. Read more here.
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Animal Sedative is Quietly Penetrating New York’s Opioid Supply
A veterinary tranquilizer that can knock users unconscious for hours and trigger a dangerous withdrawal has quietly become one of the most common hidden ingredients infiltrating New York’s illicit opioid supply, according to new peer-reviewed research from state and New York City health officials. The drug, medetomidine, showed up in about one in every four opioid samples tested at community drug-checking sites in New York from May 2024 through December, according to researchers from the state Department of Health and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Last May, the detection of the drug peaked when it was discovered in more than 44% of samples tested. The findings offer the clearest picture yet of how fast a new adulterant can take over a street drug market, and of the emerging human toll. Read more here.
Related: Historic decline in U.S. overdose deaths threatened by changing street drug supply
JAMA: Cascade of Care for Opioid Use Disorder Among Medicaid Beneficiaries
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How States Can Solve Mental Health Workforce Shortages
Hospitals and health systems are a critical point of intervention for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In just five years, the share of emergency department visits because of suicide attempts or intentional self-harm more than tripled—climbing from 0.6% in 2015 to over 2% in 2020. The effective delivery of evidence-based suicide screening and care in hospital settings relies heavily on a sufficiently staffed, knowledgeable, and supported workforce. However, workforce shortages continue to strain health system staff and affect consistent, quality health services for people in crisis. In fact, according to a nationally representative survey conducted by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Joint Commission—an independent nonprofit organization that accredits 70% of hospitals in the U.S.—examining the implementation of universal suicide screening in accredited hospitals, about half of hospitals reported challenges stemming from insufficient staffing that affected their ability to provide suicide care interventions. Read more here.
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Advisory: Peer Recovery Supports for Behavioral Health in Rural Communities
Rural America is facing a behavioral health crisis—marked by high rates of suicide, substance use, and limited access to care. Workforce shortages, transportation barriers, and stigma make it harder for individuals to get the help they need. This SAMHSA advisory highlights peer recovery support as a powerful, community-driven solution.
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Cannabis Policy in 2026—Setbacks, Rollbacks, and Roadblocks
For more than a decade, cannabis policy in the United States has steadily moved toward legalization. Since Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2012, a growing number of states have adopted regulated cannabis markets. Today, 40 states have legalized medical and/or recreational cannabis. Approval of the legalization of cannabis, for either medical or recreational use, continues to be strong among Americans. However, there are signs that there may be a turning of the tide in 2026 regarding continued cannabis legalization. While legalization continues to advance in some places, a countermovement is emerging that seeks to roll back existing programs, restrict cannabis markets, or prevent new legalization efforts from reaching voters. These efforts take a few different forms: ballot initiatives aimed at repealing legalization laws, legislative revisions that alter voter-approved measures, and procedural changes designed to make it harder for cannabis reform campaigns to qualify initiatives for the ballot. Read more here.
Related: JAMA: Adolescent Cannabis Use After Cannabis Legalization and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Fact Check: Why do people think cannabis is not addictive?
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Audit Shows Health Department Improves Maternal Mortality Monitoring Amid Rising Rates
The state Department of Health has made progress evaluating measures aimed at reducing maternal deaths after an audit found the agency failed to monitor its own mitigation efforts, according to a new report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The Health Department has been examining programs aimed at reducing pregnancy-related deaths in the two years since a 2024 audit, also from DiNapoli, found major gaps in its analysis of the work as deaths and racial disparities worsened, according to the follow-up report issued last Thursday. The 2024 audit evaluated maternal death rates in the years after the state established a task force to make recommendations for reducing mortality and entrenched racial inequities in perinatal care. The state, led by the Health Department, largely implemented the task force’s recommendations but had not taken steps to track all of them or collect data on serious pregnancy-related illnesses, according to the 2024 audit. During that time New York’s maternal mortality rate and disparities for Black mothers grew, driven by public health disruptions during the pandemic and persistently high C-section rates. Read more here.
Related: BabySTEPs Digital Helpline Launches in New York State with $300,000 Grant from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
OMH Perinatal Mental Health
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Merger to Create Nation's Largest Suicide Prevention Nonprofit
Two suicide prevention nonprofits announced Tuesday morning their plans to merge and become the largest such organization in the country. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and The Jed Foundation (JED) said they expect their combination to close this fall, regulatory pending approval from the New York State Attorney General. Together, they would have an annual operating budget of about $75 million and net assets of around $140 million. “At this time of urgent and growing demand for mental health and suicide prevention support, the combining of AFSP and JED represents a bold leap forward, and will strengthen the future of suicide prevention in our country,” AFSP CEO Bob Gebbia said in the announcement. “Suicide is a health outcome that impacts people from every walk of life. While our organizations could continue to make a positive impact operating separately, this merger will enable us to better fulfill our mission of saving lives and bringing hope to people impacted by suicide across the entire lifespan." Read more here.
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An Agenda For CMS: Strengthen Integrated Care Programs For Dually Eligible Adults With Behavioral Health Needs
About 60 percent of the four million full-benefit, dually eligible (FBDE) adults younger than age 65 have behavioral health (BH) conditions. This population is more likely to report worse health status, a higher number of chronic conditions, and more activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental-ADL difficulties, and to have more visits to the emergency department (ED) and hospital than those without BH conditions. FBDE adults with very high BH needs may also die decades earlier than people without BH conditions. To sum up, FBDE adults younger than age 65 with BH conditions need person-centered, whole-person care and access to a robust continuum of community-based BH services and home and-community-based services (HCBS) to support their independent living and recovery goals. However, access to HCBS is lagging for FBDE adults younger than age 65 with BH needs. Read more here.
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NY Ranked Among Most Gambling-Addicted States. Here’s Where It Lands
New York is one of the most gambling-addicted states, a new WalletHub study found. Gambling exists basically in every state, but there is a huge difference between those who gamble recreationally and socially, versus those addicted to gambling, which is considered a real medical addiction disorder in the DSM-5. Gambling disorder, according to WalletHub, affects anywhere between 1-3% of adults in the United States. This addiction can cause debilitating financial struggles for Americans, the study states. In 2025, the gambling industry made $78.72 billion in revenue, a 9.2% increase from the previous year, according to the American Gaming Association's Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. However, Americans, according to WalletHub, experience over $100 billion in total gambling losses per year. Read more here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
New Insights on Veterans' Health in New York State
April 23, 12:30 - 1 pm, NY Health Foundation
Responding to High Acuity Challenges in Supportive Housing (Part 1)
April 23, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, CSH
Youth Mental Health: Trends, State-Level Strategies & the Role of Digital Technology
April 23, 2 - 3 pm, NIHCM Foundation
Peer Education & Support for People with SMI in Correctional Facilities
April 27, 2 - 3 pm, NAMI
Ethics in Aging and Mental Health
April 29, 10 am - 12 pm, SPOP
Ethical Issues and Best Practices in Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Clinical Supervisors, Counselors, and Interns
April 29, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
From Data to Dollars: Using American Community Survey Data to Strengthen Grant Proposals
April 29, 2 - 3 pm
Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) Proposed Part 599 Regulation Changes Webinar
April 29, 2:30 - 4 pm, MCTAC
An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Young Children: Part II
April 30, 11:30 am - 1 pm, TTAC
Wait...What’s Due Now? Inside Cognitive Overload and the White-Knuckle Effect Among College Students with Mental Health Conditions
April 30, 12:30 - 1:45 pm, Transitions ACR
Hospital and Community Transitions: Webinar for MHOTRS Providers
May 5, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, MCTAC
Innovations in Substance Use Care Delivery for Medicaid Members: A No Wrong Door Approach
May 6, 2 - 3:30 pm, CHCS
Stronger Together: Elevating the Family Peer Role in Multidisciplinary Teams Part 2: Strength Based Collaboration
May 6, 3 - 4:30 pm, CTAC
9th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium
May 7, 10 am - 5 pm, National Council on Aging
Responding to High Acuity Challenges in Supportive Housing (Part 2)
May 7, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, CSH
Beyond the Court Order: New Long-Term Evidence from Mobile County’s AOT Program
May 7, 2 - 3 pm, Policy Research Associates
Update from the Field: Crisis Response and Co-response to Support Individuals Experiencing Mental and Substance Use Disorders
May 13, 12 - 1:30 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center
Supporting Individuals Engaged in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Peers
May 13, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
Best Practices to Provide Integrated Care for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) & Neurodevelopmental Needs
May 18, 1 - 2:30 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Brain Injury: Practical Strategies for Engagement
May 19, 10 - 11 am, DOH/OMH/OASAS
Integrated Care in MHOTRS Webinar
May 28, 2 - 3 pm, MCTAC
Beyond Dual Diagnosis: Understanding the Relationship Between Personality Disorders and Substance Use Disorders Among Adults
June 10, 12 - 1:30 pm, CTAC
Balancing Public Meeting and Records Transparency Amid Rising Threats and Public Pressure
June 11, 2 - 3 pm, NACo
Essential Clinical and Peer Supervision Practices in Substance Use Disorder Services
June 17, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
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CLMHD CALENDAR
May
Quarterly LGU Billing Staff Call
May 5: 10 - 11 am
Executive Committee Meeting
May 6: 8 - 9 am
CLMHD Spring Full Membership Meeting
May 11 - 13, Albany, NY
Children & Families Committee Meeting
May 19: 12 - 1:30 pm
Membership Call
May 20: 9 - 10:30 am
June
Executive Committee Meeting
June 3: 8 - 9 am
Mental Hygiene Planning Committee Meeting
June 4: 1 - 3 pm
Quarterly AOT Coordinators Call
June 5, 10 - 11:30 am
LGU Clinic Operators Call
June 9, 10 - 11 am
Addiction Services & Recovery Committee Meeting
June 11: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
June 11: 3 - 4 pm
Children & Families Committee Meeting
June 16: 12 - 1:30 pm
Membership Call
June 17: 9 - 10:30 am
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
June 18: 1 - 2 pm
CLMHD Offices Closed - Juneteenth
June 19
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