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National Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month: Raising Awareness and Supporting Recovery This January
In January, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be kicking off the first national Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month – a time to raise awareness of the benefits and availability of evidence-based treatments for people with a substance use disorder. Since so many people view January as a time to take stock, reset, and take steps toward healthier living, what better time for SAMHSA to highlight information and resources that can help support treatment and recovery from a substance use disorder? You can check out the Treatment Month toolkit at samhsa.gov/sudtm, and be sure to follow all of SAMHSA’s social media platforms. Located there are tips, resources and even webinars to help people learn more about what substance use disorder is and how it can be effectively treated. There will be information for people asking questions about their own substance use, whether from alcohol to other drugs, as well as information for health care practitioners who are so vital to addressing the health condition that is addiction. Because Treatment Works, and Recovery is Possible!
Related: HHS Awards $10 Million for New Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Grant Program
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Attorney General Letitia James: N.Y. Must Lead the Way on Mental Health in 2025
During the holiday season, as we shop and dine with family and friends, we often turn our gaze away from individuals in the throes of mental illness on our streets and subways. But we can no longer ignore the obvious. It’s time we recognize that our mental health system is broken and take a hard look at our approach to care and mental hygiene laws in New York State. The numbers are stark. Three million New Yorkers live with mental illness, yet one-third do not get the treatment they need. Anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders have skyrocketed since the pandemic, leaving individuals, families, and entire communities to grapple with an immense mental health burden. Too many people continue to suffer in silence, unable to access the care they need. Read more here.
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New York State Announces Release of Daniel's Law Task Force Report and Recommendations
The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced that the Daniel’s Law Task Force has issued its recommendations for developing a statewide model for a health-led behavioral health crisis response. In a report delivered to Governor Kathy Hochul and state legislators nearly a year ahead of schedule, the task force recommends establishing health-led teams using standardized protocols for behavioral health crisis response, forming a technical assistance center, and piloting initiatives that recognize the unique character of New York communities. “The task force recommendations reflect the exhaustive efforts taken to develop a robust behavioral health crisis response model that will better serve our communities statewide,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner and task force Chair Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This report provides a roadmap for building a trauma-informed response and diversion system that will help communities effectively respond to individuals in crisis. I would like to expressly thank all the task force members for their extraordinary commitment to this process.” Read more here.
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U.S. Homelessness Jumps to Another Record High, Amid Affordable Housing Shortage
More than 770,000 people were living in shelters or outside in January, according to an annual federal report on homelessness by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The number is up 18% from last year's count — which had also jumped from the year before — and is the largest number since HUD started doing this report in 2007. HUD released its report Friday, based on the January "point-in-time" survey in cities around the country. The results punctuated a trend advocates for homeless people and affordable housing have been highlighting. "A lot of families, a lot of households, a lot of individuals are still struggling. I think we're still in — for deeply poor people — a real recovery from the pandemic," says Jeff Olivet, who until recently was executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Read more here.
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Primary Care Can Play Key Role in Suicide Prevention
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and a major public health concern. Previous research has shown that identifying and helping people at risk for suicide during regular care visits can help prevent it. Primary care clinics are particularly important in this regard, as research has shown that over 40% of people who died by suicide were seen in this setting in the month before their death. A recent study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that when primary care clinics added suicide care practices to routine visits, suicide attempts dropped by 25% in the 3 months after the visit. The findings highlight how impactful it can be for primary care clinics to take an active role in preventing suicide and help empower health systems to integrate those practices into clinical care. Read more here.
Related: Suicide Risk Lower for Veterans With PTSD Who Start Evidence-Based Therapy
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Redesigning Integrated Care For Dually Eligible People With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
More than one in 10 individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid have an intellectual disability or a related condition, and up to half of all individuals served by state intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) systems are dually eligible. Despite this, the design, implementation, and evaluation of models of care that integrate comprehensive Medicare and Medicaid services for dual eligibles rarely consider the particular needs of people with I/DD, or common challenges they face in addressing those needs. Instead, most states have taken a one-size-fits-all (or one-size-fits-most) approach to designing integrated care models for their dually eligible populations. This lack of inclusive policy making and program design suggests that existing integrated care models are not meeting the needs of people with I/DD who enroll in those programs, as many advocates in the I/DD community have argued. In fact, a 2022 Health Affairs article on integrating care for dual eligibles with I/DD noted that most state Medicaid agency contracts “lack mention of individuals with I/DD altogether as a subpopulation, instead focusing on older adults and individuals with physical disabilities.” Read more here.
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10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Healthy in 2025
Are you feeling mentally ready for 2025? Whatever your answer, there are some tried-and-true habits to help you feel sharp, alive and well in the coming year — and they’re easy to practice. As journalists who cover the mind and brain, we are continually asking experts about the behaviors, conditions and outlooks that influence mental and cognitive health. The tips listed here — some of our favorites from the past year — aren’t meant to ensure you’ll be upbeat and performing at your best 24/7 (frankly, that just isn’t realistic), but they can help you build resilience, find balance and prioritize the things that you hold most dear. Read more here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Behavioral Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Populations
January 7, 1 - 2 pm, SAMHSA
Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents: Addressing School-Based Bias and Stigma
January 8, 3 - 4 pm, CSG Justice Center
Rural Community Assessments: Building Coalitions for SUD Care
January 9, 10 am - 12 pm, NCROTAC
Becoming a MHFA Instructor
January 10, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Harm Reduction Principles: Foundations to Implementation
January 13, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, NCROTAC
Incorporating Digital Therapeutics into the Patient Journey
January 13, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Innovative Horizons: Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Substance Use Counseling
January 15, 2 - 3:30 pm, NAADAC
Person-Centered Care: Applications in Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Outpatient Program Settings
January 16, 10 am - 12 pm, NCROTAC
Resources to Support the Behavioral Health Needs of the Military/Veteran Community
January 16, 1 - 3 pm, SAMHSA
Supporting Mental Health Through Culturally Responsive Community Engagement
January 16, 3 - 4 pm, UW Forefront Suicide Prevention
How to Have the Conversation: Talking about SU and MH (in Rural Spaces)
January 17, 10 am - 12 pm, NCROTAC
The ROI of Resource Navigation: Findings from the Accountable Health Communities Model
January 21, 1 - 2 pm, Camden Coalition
Integrating Care: The Role of MOUD in Addressing Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Disease
January 29, 1 - 2 pm, PCSS
Treating People who Use Meth or other Stimulants: Leveraging Contingency Management in Criminal Justice Settings
January 29, 2 - 3:30 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center
Comprehensive Clinical Assessments with a Focus on Quality
January 19, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
The Interconnection between Health Equity, the Social Determinants of Health and the Impact of Intersectionality (in Rural Communities)
January 23, 2 - 4 pm, NCROTAC
Conducting Cultural Assessments: Engaging and Providing Treatment for Justice-Involved Individuals
February 26, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) of Peer Support in Criminal Justice
March 26, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
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CLMHD CALENDAR
JANUARY
Executive Committee Meeting
January 8: 8 - 9 am
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
January 9: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
January 9: 3 - 4 pm
LGU Clinic Operators Call
January 14: 10 - 11:30 am
Membership Call
January 15: 9 - 10:30 am
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
January 16: 1 - 2 pm
Office Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 20
Children & Families Committee Meeting
January 21: 11:30 am - 1 pm
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