Counties Applaud Final Rulemaking to Improve 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The National Association of Counties (NACo) last week applauded a unanimous vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Board of Commissioners to move forward with georouting for the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The board’s vote approved a Report and Order to route calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline based on approximate location of the caller instead of the caller’s area code. 

The FCC’s actions mark a key success for counties, which advocated aggressively for accurate routing of 988 calls to become a national requirement. Earlier this year, NACo applauded the FCC for prioritizing the georouting of calls to 9-8-8 through the initiation of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Since launching in 2022, the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has received over 10.8 million calls, texts and chats, making it an essential tool for counties in supporting the mental health of residents. Read more here.

Upstate To Open NY's Only Care Unit for Children with Developmental Disorders in Syracuse

Right now, there are children in the emergency department of Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital that have been there for months; they arrived with specific developmental disorders causing them to lash out in ways that their families simply could not handle at home. They haven't been discharged because those emergency rooms aren't equipped for that kind of care.

Now, after 10 years of work, the hospital is unveiling a first of its kind facility in the State of New York to help those kids. The Biobehavioral Health Unit is specially designed for kids who have both mental and behavioral healh issues along with some other kind of diagnosis or condition. For years, kids have needed to go out of state for that kind of care; Upstate Hospital's Dr. Mentosh Dewan said that around 300-400 kids statewide are currently at facilities in Maryland or Rhode Island, unable to get help at home. Read more here.

NY Vets Are Reporting Higher Rates of Disabilities, More Depression and PTSD

New veterans returning home to New York from military service are about twice as likely to report having a disability today than they were in 2010, according to a new report on veterans’ health. The report, prepared by the Rand research group and commissioned by the New York Health Foundation, also found that more veterans are reporting depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. The researchers said this could be attributed to higher rates of mental health issues or less stigma around talking about them. Advocates for veterans said the dramatic increase in reported health issues was likely a result of new disability benefits that have become available in recent years and led to more thorough screening. Read more here.

Sarah Kuriakose Honored as 2024 Aspen Ascend Fellow

Congratulations to Sarah Kuriakose, Associate Commissioner, Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families at the New York State Office of Mental Health, who was recently honored as one of the 2024 Ascend Fellows by the Aspen Institute. She joins a prestigious cohort of 22 leaders recognized for their commitment to transforming systems that support children and families. The Ascend Fellowship empowers leaders with resources and connections to advance innovative solutions in early childhood development and family well-being. Kuriakose's work focuses on expanding mental and behavioral health services to ensure better outcomes for families across New York. For more details, visit the Aspen Institute announcement.

Fentanyl Deaths in the U.S. Have Dropped Faster than Expected, CDC Says

A hopeful and unexpected drop in U.S. drug overdose deaths appears to be gaining speed. Fatal overdoses are down 12.7%, according to data released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It marks another significant improvement from last month, when surveys showed roughly a 10.6% drop in fatalities from street drugs. "This is the largest recorded reduction in overdose deaths, and the sixth consecutive month of reported decreases," White House officials said in a statement. Experts say the drop in street drug mortality marks a dramatic reversal from just a few years ago when fatal overdoses were spiraling upward at devastating speed, fueled largely by the spread of street fentanyl. Read more here.

Related: Study: OUD Patients More Likely to Stay on Methadone Than Buprenorphine/Naloxone

Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies to Reduce Overdose Risk during Reentry: A Primer for Reentry Professionals

Too often, people reentering the community from incarceration experience fatal overdoses, with studies showing that they are at a highest risk of an overdose or even death during the first 48 hours after release. This is typically related to a decrease in tolerance while in prison or jail, so their body is more vulnerable to overdosing even when using at the same amount they did before they were incarcerated. This risk is highest among people using opioids. Fortunately, there are evidence-based practices that can be implemented to support safe and successful transitions. This guide outlines four best practices that reentry professionals can implement to reduce overdose risk during reentry. Read more here.

Related: The Opioid Epidemic Continues While Effective Medication Is Underutilized

BHN Releases Fall 2024 Issue: Revolutionizing Behavioral Health Care with AI and Technology

The Fall 2024 issue of Behavioral Health News focuses on the integration of AI and technology in behavioral health care, highlighting innovations that are transforming how services are delivered and improving patient outcomes. Topics include AI's role in addressing clinician burnout, improving access to care, and tailoring treatments, as well as discussions on AI's potential in substance use disorder treatment and youth mental health. For more details, you can visit the full issue here.

Well Played: Gamification Could Be Key to Treating Adolescent Mental Health 

Around 14.5 million young people in the U.S. have ADHD, anxiety or depression, according to the CDC. And rates are only increasing. While multiple treatments are effective at treating these conditions in young people, factors like clinician shortages can keep children from receiving care. Gamification, a strategy that involves adding games or game-like elements to a task, could represent an accessible method to improve ADHD and depression symptoms among children and adolescents, according to a new meta-analysis published in Jama Pediatrics. Read more here.

BROOME: Addiction Center of Broome Co. plans for clinic in Binghamton’s first ward

CHAUTAUQUA: Resa Rosen-Murray Receives NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs’ Code of Conduct Award

CLINTON: New program in Plattsburgh offers a safe place for people to recover from crisis

ESSEX: Essex County, NY, using mental health app to address backlog

FINGER LAKES: FLACRA expands its youth mental health services

MADISON: BRiDGES encourages teens to stop vaping

MONROE: Overdose deaths in Monroe County drop significantly due to increased availability of life-saving Naloxone

NYC: NY drug deaths drop slightly, but racial disparities deepen. Black residents are hit hardest.

NYC: NYC Sees First Decline In Overdose Deaths In Four Years

ONEIDA: Oneida County Suicide Prevention Program Debuts 'You Are Not Alone' Campaign

ONEIDA: Utica Police Lead Groundbreaking Efforts to Improve Mental Health Support in the City

SARATOGA: County Board of Supervisors Approves $295K for School-Based Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program; $165K to Firm for Health Insurance Consultant Services

STEUBEN: Steuben County sees spike in overdose cases for September

TIOGA: Tioga County gets additional opioid settlement money

TOMPKINS: Coalition Hosts Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Town Hall

TOMPKINS: Cornell receives $20 million gift to improve student mental health

ULSTER: Governor Hochul Announces Construction Underway on 164 Affordable Apartments in Kingston

ULSTER: Ulster County eyes opening children’s mental health clinic in Midtown Kingston in early 2025

WESTCHESTER: Westchester Disability Employment Job Fair Draws More Than 250 Job Seekers

Why overdose deaths involving antidepressants are rising

JAMA: Communities That HEAL Intervention and Mortality Including Polysubstance Overdose Deaths

Understanding the Increased Mental Health Risks Facing Emergency Medical Service

CHCS: Health-Related Social Needs in Medicaid: State Checklist for Screening

How NJ’s mental health emergency-response programs work together

Philly hospitals test new strategy for ‘tranq dope’ withdrawal – and it keeps patients from walking out before their treatment is done

Under a L.A. Freeway, a Psychiatric Rescue Mission

Medicaid can now pay for care given on sidewalks. It could help mitigate homelessness

Room for Improvement: How the struggle to find good housing messes with students’ mental health.

‘We still have a long way to go’: Thomas spearheading NFL’s mental health push

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

Examining Critical Mental Health Issues Across the Reproductive Life Cycle. A Webinar

October 23, 1 - 2:30 pm, NASEM

Suicide Prevention in Religious Communities – The Present and Future

October 24, 12 - 1 pm, AgriSafe Network

Courts Navigating the Behavioral Health Continuum

October 24, 12 - 1:15 pm, National Center for State Courts

Coalitions Work: Elevating Youth Voices

October 24, 3 - 4 pm, SAMHSA

Liability and Risk Considerations When Adopting AI Technology

October 25, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Bouncing Back: Mental Health Progress and Remaining Challenges in New York

October 29, 1 - 2 pm, NY Health Foundation

Improving Health Outcomes for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

October 30, 1 - 2:15 pm, Center for Health Care Strategies

Transforming Systems: Strategies for Gender-Responsive Reentry and Crisis Response

October 30, 2 - 3:30 pm, CSG Justice Center

Person-Centered Care: Applications in Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Outpatient Program Settings

October 30, 2 - 4 pm, NCROTAC

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Criminal Justice Settings: Developing Partnerships between Correctional Professionals and Community-based Providers

October 31, 2 - 3:30 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center

The Americans with Disabilities Act and How it Applies to Addiction and Recovery

November 6, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC

Justice Center Code of Conduct Train-the-Trainer Session

November 13, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Applying Trauma-Informed Principles for Quality Improvement Buy-In

November 14, 1 - 2 pm, Social Current

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Clinical Considerations & Unmet Needs

November 15, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU

Justice Involvement in Special Populations

November 18, 9:30 - 11:30 am, SAMHSA

Peer Recovery Support Series: Passionate Professionals; Dispassionate Practice

December 5, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC

GRANTS/FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)

HRSA Health Workforce

NYS Grants Gateway

NY Health Foundation

OASAS Procurements

Office of Cannabis Management Community Reinvestment Program - APPLICATION NOW OPEN

OMH Procurements

OPWDD Procurements

Rural Health Information Hub - New York

Better Grants Better Service (BGBS) | Rural Development (usda.gov)

SAMHSA Grants Dashboard

CLMHD CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

CLMHD Executive Committee Meeting

November 6: 8 - 9 am

Quarterly LGU Clinic Billing Staff Call

November 6: 11 am - 12 pm

LGU Clinic Operators Call

November 12: 10 - 11:30 am

Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting

November 14: 11 am - 12 pm

Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting

November 14: 1 - 2:30 pm

Mental Health Committee Meeting

November 14: 3 - 4 pm

IOCC Meeting

November 19: 1 - 3 pm - Empire State Plaza, Albany

Membership Call

November 20: 9 - 10:30 am

Children & Families Committee Meeting

November 26: 11:30 am - 1 pm

CLMHD Office Closed - Thanksgiving

November 28 - 29

Links to State Guidance and Updates on COVID-19

NYS Coronavirus Vaccination Information