Albany County Looks To Expand Non-Police Responses to Crisis Calls

A shower. A walk outside. Positive words.

Those were among the ways that professionals de-escalated situations in the rural Hilltowns over the last year when responding to non-violent 911 calls that have traditionally led to visits from police.

But these responders were not armed with guns or carrying badges. They were EMS and behavioral health professionals working in a pilot program that Albany County officials on Friday called a big success - and one they say should be expanded across the county. Read more here.

New 988 Mental Health Crisis Line Sees Jump in Calls and Texts During First Month

The new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is already reaching more Americans in distress – and connecting them to help faster — than the old 10-digit suicide prevention line it replaced July 16. New data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that in August – the first full month that 988 was operational — the Lifeline saw a 45% increase in overall volume of calls, texts and chats compared to August 2021. Read more here.

Additional articles of interest: HHS Secretary: 988 Transition Moves Us Closer to Better Serving the Crisis Care Needs of People Across America

A new mental health hotline is focusing on providing support to farmers and ranchers

Governor Hochul Announces $10.25 Million to Expand Addiction Services for Underserved New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced $10.25 million in federal funding to bolster harm reduction. Administered by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, $5.75 million is earmarked to support the development of mobile medication units, and $4.5 million is being awarded to help 15 providers establish street outreach units for engaging populations that have difficulty accessing care. Read more here.

Governor Hochul Announces Statewide Initiatives to Raise Awareness During Suicide Prevention Month

Governor Kathy Hochul last week announced a new digital public service campaign and other statewide initiatives to raise awareness of suicide prevention efforts and the mental health resources available to all New Yorkers. Governor Hochul also issued a proclamation in advance of Suicide Prevention Day, and recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month, marking both by illuminating state buildings and landmarks in purple and teal for two days starting September 9. Read more here.

New York Submits Final $13.5 Billion Medicaid Waiver Proposal

The state has submitted its final proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a $13.5 billion, five-year Medicaid waiver amendment to address health disparities and systemic health care delivery issues that intensified during the pandemic. The final proposal, which was submitted Sept. 2, pares down the state Department of Health’s Office of Health Insurance Programs’ original vision of $17 billion over five years in a concept paper released last summer. Read more here.

HHS Approves Medicaid Funding For Oregon's Mobile Crisis Intervention Program, Encourages Other States to Follow Suit

The Biden administration has approved a first-in-the-nation Medicaid plan amendment allowing Oregon to connect those experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis with community-based stabilization services, rather than law enforcement.

The new Medicaid option was created through the American Rescue Plan as part of the “whole-of-government” push to flesh out the nation’s mental healthcare infrastructure, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said Monday afternoon. Read more here.

Social Workers Go Virtual, Leaving Nonprofits Shorthanded Across NY

Nonprofit social workers in New York are seeing a shortage of people coming into the field, abdicating it for telehealth work. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth began to fill the gaps for in-person visits. However, the shift to a semi-virtual landscape has left some nonprofits without applicants to fill open positions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, telehealth visits increased by 154% in 2020. Angela Piccininni, associate director of clinical services at YES Community Counseling Center, is concerned about the kind of hands-on experience new social workers are getting. Read more here.

Workforce of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners More Than Doubled, Filling Unmet Gaps amid Diminishing Supply of Psychiatrists

While the number of psychiatrists in the United States to manage unmet mental healthcare needs is lacking, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners may help fill gaps in care. Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health evaluated how the supply and use of psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners changed over time, and they compared their practice patterns. They discovered that psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners treated roughly similar patient populations with comparable services and prescriptions. Read more here.

Additional articles of interest: 1.2M Health Care Practitioners Could Be Considered ‘Mental Health Providers,’ New Data Reveal

AmeriCorps Hopes to Breathe Life into Public Health Workforce

A Successful System Of Care Is…

There has been a lot of talk about children in recent months. That tends to occur at the start of each school year. There are growing issues with their mental health. And the pandemic created an unprecedented situation with many children losing caregivers. For many policymakers, payers, and service provider organizations, it has become clear that children’s services need to address the whole person in a more seamless fashion.

Children present unique challenges for integrated care models. Among the many differences between adults and children, education is a fundamental part of children’s wellbeing. On the public systems’ side, there are more child-serving agencies to coordinate health, behavioral health, and social service planning. Each often has their own plans, referral networks, data, and success metrics. But there are many public and private initiatives to develop this whole person approach. Read more here.

'Digital Self-Harm’ Is on the Rise Among Teens: What Parents Can Do to Help

Digital self-harm is a behavior in which a person targets themselves online. This form of virtual self-bullying is especially common among adolescents. A new study led by Florida Atlantic University shows a significant association between digital self-harm and suicidal ideation among teens.

The results, recently published in the journal Child and Adolescent Mental HealthTrusted Source, indicate that teens who engage in digital self-harm were 5 to 7 times more likely to report thoughts of suicide and 9 to 15 times more likely to attempt suicide. The study collected survey data from nearly 5,000 middle and high school students (ages 12–17) across the United States in 2019. Read more here.

ALBANY: Virtual ER launches for Albany County residents

BROOME: Care Compass Network Awarded Grant Funding to Administer Critical Mental Health Trainings to Local School Districts

CHAUTAUQUA: Chautauqua County System of Care Rebrands and Launches A New Website

ERIE: Local school district expands program to address mental health issues among students

ERIE: A new survey breaks down Buffalo Public School's student behavior post pandemic

ERIE: How Dentists and Counselors Aim To Address Health Inequity in One of Buffalo's Poorest Neighborhoods

ERIE: Mental health resource center for parents and students opens in Orchard Park

ESSEX: North Country EMS squad aims for change as 1st responder suicide rates rise

FULTON: Fulton County Stuck With Big Mental Health Bill

GENESEE: Mental Health director proposes hybrid psychiatry to fill a rural need

GENESEE: Grant of $1.4 million to support student mental health in Batavia post-pandemic

GREENE: Senator Michelle Hinchey Announces the Historic Expansion of the Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Support Program to Greene County

JEFFERSON: JRC Foundation receives community impact grant from New York Life

MONROE: U of R launches early intervention mental health clinic. First-of-its-kind in Upstate New York

MONROE: URMC, First Genesis Church work to address uptick in suicides among Black youth

NYC: City’s Supportive Housing Remains Out of Reach for Most Applicants, Data Shows

NYC: City Council introduces bill to increase mental health care in homeless shelters

TOMPKINS: Tompkins County Health Department Warns Of Increase In Opioid Related Deaths

Assembly Holds Hearing for OPWDD Strategic Plan

The New York State Assembly held a hearing Sept. 13 for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities’, OPWDD, Statewide Comprehensive 5.07 Strategic Plan for 2023 through 2027. Section 5.07 of the NYS Mental Hygiene Law requires OPWDD to make a five-year plan for providing services. OPWDD begin the process of creating its five-year plan, or strategic plan, in 2021 under the leadership of the new OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld. Neifeld was nominated for the role of commissioner in November 2021 by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Read more here.

NYS OASAS Announces Launch of New Website to Promote Overdose Prevention Education

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports last week announced the launch of the new “Project COPE” website, which promotes overdose prevention and harm reduction education in New York State. The goal of this initiative is to empower people to learn how to prevent overdoses and save lives in their community. The website can be accessed by visiting https://oasas.ny.gov/projectcope. Read more here.

Governor Hochul Announces $35 Million Available for Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

Governor Kathy Hochul last week announced the availability of $35 million in funding to provide supportive services for affordable housing projects statewide. The seventh round of funding through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative will help cover operating expenses for 1,400 units of permanent supportive housing that will help reduce housing instability among vulnerable populations in New York. Read more here.

Circadian rhythm disruptions linked to mental health conditions

Insurance Payment Policies May Drive Diagnoses for Medicaid Patients 

Why do people turn down social risk assistance offered by their doctors’ offices?

Could Brain Scans Bring Psychiatry Into the 21st Century?

Medicare provides insufficient access to opioid addiction treatment, report finds

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

A Patient-Centered Complex Care Research Agenda: Recommendations for Collective Action

September 15, 12 - 1:30 pm, Center for Health Care Strategies

America’s Growing Drug Overdose Crisis

September 15, 1 - 2 pm, NIHCM Foundation

Harnessing the Power of State Perinatal Collaboratives to Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy

September 15, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Lessons Learned in Community-Based Recovery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 15, 3 - 4:30 pm, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts

Fostering Connection Across the Lifespan: 2022 New York State Suicide Prevention Conference

September 20 - 22, Virtual - OMH SPCNYS

Implementing Tech-Enabled Innovation in Medicaid Managed Care: Opportunities to Advance Health Equity and Quality

September 20, 1 - 2 pm, Center for Health Care Strategies

Using Local Innovation to Address Racial Disparities in Criminal Justice Programs

September 20, 2 - 3:30 pm, CSG Justice Center

Consent, Emergency, Quality Flag: PSYCKES Levels of Access

September 21, 10 - 11 am, OMH

Defining, Evaluating, & Implementing Digital Health Tools

September 21, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU

Solutions to Improve Workforce Retention

September 21, 2 - 3 pm, COEIHS

SAMHSA Office of Behavioral Health Equity Recovery Month

September 22, 1:30 - 3 pm, SAMHSA

Community-Level Steps for Cross-Sector Collaboration to Increase Housing Opportunity

September 22, 2 - 3 pm, (CSG) Justice Center and CSH

Suicide Prevention within the LGBTQ+ Community

September 26, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Quality Matters: An Update From NCQA On Behavioral Health Measurement Trends

September 27, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU

Alcohol Use Disorder: Our Nation’s Hidden Epidemic

September 28, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Free Talk Saves Lives Training for Agricultural Community of New York State

September 29, 9 - 10:30 am

Decreasing Disparities and Improving Outcomes: A Closer Look at Standardization Tools Around Service Intensity

September 29, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

NYS Justice Center Code of Conduct Train-the-Trainer

October 4, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, NYSJC

Identifying and Reaching Family Caregivers: Innovative State Strategies

October 6, 1 - 2 pm, Center for Health Care Strategies

Professional Boundaries for OASAS Providers

October 12, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, NYSJC

Exploring the Intersections of Gender-Based Violence and Suicide

October 21, 12 - 1:30 pm, NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

NYS Justice Center Code of Conduct Train-the-Trainer

November 9, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, NYSJC

CLMHD CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Children & Families Committee Meeting

September 20: 11:30 am - 1 pm

CLMHD Membership Call

September 28: 9 - 10:30 am

OCTOBER

Quarterly LGU Billing Staff Call

October 6, 2 - 3 pm

AOT Coordinators Meeting

October 7, 10 - 11:30 am

CLMHD Office Closed - Columbus Day

October 10

LGU Clinic Operators Call

October 11, 10 - 11:30 am

Executive Committee Meeting

October 12, 8 - 9 am

Addiction Services & Recovery Committee Meeting

October 13: 11 am - 12 pm

Mental Health Committee Meeting

October 13: 3 - 4 pm

Children & Families Committee Meeting

October 18: 11:30 am - 1 pm

CLMHD Fall Full Membership Meeting

October 20-21, Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, Rochester

Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting

October 27, 1 - 2:30 pm