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March 5, 2021

NASMHPD’s Dr. Brian Sims Receives Elijah Cummings Award 


During Black History Month, the Caucus of African American Leaders and the City of Annapolis honor 28 individuals with awards named for Congressman Elijah Cummings and Sojourner Truth for their work in “combatting inequities in our communities and fighting for the promise of ‘liberty and justice - for all.’” Dr. Brian Sims received the Elijah Cummings Award to recognize his outstanding contributions in providing his community with thoughtful and timely updates and resources regarding COVID-19. NASMHPD congratulates Dr. Brian Sims and is grateful to benefit from his experience, grace, and commitment to his community and the country. To watch the full “Few of the Many” award ceremony, click here.

Mental Health Crisis Care Must Not Be a Blue Light Issue

March 2, 2021
Situational factors have exacerbated mental ill-health during Covid lockdown, including relationship and family tensions, job losses, financial strain, and loss of education opportunities. Our international correspondent, Sue Murray, sits down with Dr. Karen Newbigging from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom to discuss whether the mental health workforce is prepared to meet the current and long-term spike in demand. Read the March 2 #CrisisTalk.

Author of "Crazy" Shares His Story of Navigating Virginia's Crisis System with His Son

February 23, 2021
Former Washington Post reporter and best-selling author Pete Earley was introduced to the mental healthcare system when, in 2000, his son called him and said, "I can’t tell if I’m dreaming all the time or if I’m awake." Earley shares their story of navigating the Virginia crisis system and of hope and recovery. Read the February 23 #CrisisTalk. 

State Spotlight: 


Arkansas Governor Sends Appreciation Letter to Behavioral Health Staff
 
The Governor of Arkansas sent personalized letters thanking behavioral health staff for their work during COVID-19. Administrators in Arkansas also supported direct care staff by assisting in greeting and thanking staff once a week while taking precautionary temperatures. Joan Gillece, Ph.D., NASMHPD’s lead on Trauma Informed Care and Approaches, and her team have been working with direct care staff and leaders on what would make a difference for them during COVID-19. The #1 thing identified was appreciation. This type of outreach and appreciation done in Arkansas has appeared to build trust and reduce vaccine hesitancy among staff. There are multiple gestures other states have done for direct care staff as well. Please see the letter from the Arkansas Governor here.

NAMD Releases Report on Using Medicaid to Support Behavioral Health Services
The framework, crafted by an Executive Working Group of Medicaid leaders and national behavioral health experts convened by the National Association of Medicaid Directors, offers states options to consider to promote the health and wellbeing of members and expand access to behavioral health services. It includes strategies along a continuum of need, ranging from upstream prevention and health promotion for all Medicaid beneficiaries to increasing access to behavioral health treatment for unique subpopulations in Medicaid. The report includes sections on integration of BH and Primary care and also to “Strengthen and broaden Crisis Response Systems.” Read it here. 

California’s 988 Legislation

Legislation introduced February 18th will transform the way California responds to mental health emergencies to ensure those in crisis receive the urgent care they need. The system will use an easy-to-remember three-digit phone number – 988 – as an alternative to 911 so individuals and their families know and can trust that help is only one call away.

Assembly Bill 988 will implement the new nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline created last year by the Federal Communications Commission and Congress. The 988 hotline, which all states must implement by July 2022, replaces an underutilized, hard-to-remember 10-digit number.

The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) in partnership with The Steinberg Institute, The Kennedy Forum, Contra Costa County, NAMI of Contra Costa County, and the Miles Hall Foundation, the organizations sponsoring the legislation.

Read the full press release here. Read the bill text: AB 988 (Bauer-Kahan). 

Researchers Find Employing Scientifically Researched Strategies Can Reduce Suicide Mortality
New research shows that implementing scalable suicide prevention strategies nationwide is effective in reducing suicide rates. Training primary care physicians in recognizing depression and prescribing antidepressants reduced suicide risk by half. Educating high school students prevented suicidal behaviors, however educating teachers or parents (i.e., gatekeeper trainings) lacked effectiveness. Providing active outreach to psychiatric patients immediately after discharge or following a suicidal crisis prevented future suicidal behavior. Finally, reducing access to lethal means, particularly in the home environment, was effective in lowering suicide risk. The study, Improving Suicide Prevention Through Evidence-Based Strategies: A Systematic Review, was published online Feb. 18 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The abstract can be read here.
 

Principal Deputy Inspector General Grimm on Telehealth
Inspector General Grimm provided a statement on telehealth on Friday, February 26th, that “OIG recognizes the promise that telehealth and other digital health technologies have for improving care coordination and health outcomes. OIG is conducting significant oversight work assessing telehealth services during the public health emergency. Once complete, these reviews will provide objective findings and recommendations that can further inform policymakers and other stakeholders considering what telehealth flexibilities should be permanent. This work can help ensure the potential benefits of telehealth are realized for patients, providers, and HHS programs. We anticipate the first work products to be published later this year.
 
We are aware of concerns raised regarding enforcement actions related to "telefraud" schemes, and it is important to distinguish those schemes from telehealth fraud. We will continue to vigilantly pursue these "telefraud" schemes and monitor the evolution of scams that may relate to telehealth.”

Read the full statement.
The team at the IPS Employment Center has defined the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach to supported employment. The center’s activities focus on employment for people with serious mental illnesses. The center offers training, educational materials, and consultation services.  
Learn more about training available through the IPS Employment Center.
In this issue:

Don't Miss These Headlines

The latest #CrisisTalk

State Spotlight: Arkansas Governor Sends Letter to BH Staff

Announcements:

Position Announcement: NACBHDD and NARMH President and CEO

CA Introduces 988 Legislation

Position Announcement: WICHE Director of Training and Education for BH Program

Researchers Find Employing Scientifically Researched Strategies Can Reduce Suicide Mortality

NASMHPD Welcomes New USVI Commissioner

Policy Updates:

NAMD Releases Report on Using Medicaid to Support Behavioral Health Services

CDC Response to Support Health Departments

Principal Deputy Inspector General Grimm Releases Statement on Telehealth

Resource Roundup:

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

EPINET

SMI Adviser

IPS Employment Center

Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives

COVID-19 Information for SAMHSA Grant Recipients

NASMHPD 2020 Technical Assistance Coalition Working Papers

NASMHPD EIP Resource Center
Click for current funding opportunity announcements
Click for webinars, trainings, and resources from our partners

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
NASMHPD has compiled various resources that may be useful to state behavioral health leadership as they work to effectively and equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines. View them here. 

CDC's Response to Support State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Health Departments
CDC is using a multi-pronged approach to help enhance and complement the efforts of state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) staff through innovative hiring mechanisms designed to address the surge staffing needs of health departments. This CDC initiative will help provide access to a variety of mechanisms to complement local efforts to increase capacity. Learn more. 
NASMHPD Welcomes New Commissioner

NASMHPD extends a warm welcome to the new Commissioner for the US Virgin Islands, who was appointed as Acting in the month of February:

Curtis E. Callender, MS, LPC, LSAC, NCC, CAP, ICADC
Acting Director- Behavioral Health, Alcoholism & Drug Dependency Services
V.I. Department of Health

Position Announcement: WICHE Director of Training and Education for the Behavioral Health Program
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) announces the position of Director of Training and Education for the Behavioral Health Program, based in Boulder, CO. The Director will perform and coordinate a variety of tasks involving the regular exercise of independent judgment and initiative, and is responsible for the planning, development, and management of educational and training focused initiatives of the behavioral health unit. Apply for the position here.

Position Announcement: NACBHDD and NARMH President and CEO
The National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) and the National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) announce the position of President and Chief Executive Officer for the two national membership associations headquartered in Washington, DC. Read the position description.
 
Candidates are requested to submit applications electronically to the attention of Robert Sheehan at nnelson@nacbhd.org no later than close of business on March 12, including a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and at least three letters of reference. 

SAMHSA Resource: Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives
SAMHSA has published Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives, composed of SAMHSA’s National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care: Best Practice Toolkit and related papers on crisis services.

COVID-19 Information for SAMHSA Discretionary Grant Recipients
SAMHSA is allowing flexibility for grant recipients affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis. These flexibilities are available during this emergency time period. Flexibility may be reassessed upon issuance of new guidance by the Office of Management and Budget post the emergency time period. Learn more.
Don't Miss These Headlines:

March is Social Work Month
National Association of Social Workers
COVID-19 Mortality Risk More Than Doubled in Patients With Schizophrenia
JAMA Psychiatry
Teenagers' mental health claims doubled last spring
Caitlin Owens | Axios
Going from 20% to 86% Staff Acceptance of Vaccines - Interview with Derrick DeWitt
Leading Age
Black Churches Fill a Unique Role in Combating Vaccine Fears
Anna Almendrala | Kaiser Health News
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients After Severe COVID-19 Infection
JAMA Pscyhiatry
mdlogix working with Michigan School-Based Mental Health Providers Coalition
mdlogix
"Getting shots into arms”: How US states are addressing the vaccine distribution challenge
McKinsey & Company
TikTok partners with National Eating Disorder Association to curb harmful content
Hannah Mitchell | Becker Healthcare
Renewed Compliance Focus On Mental Health Parity Requires Attention Of Plan Sponsors
K Hathorn & J. Feldman | Mondaq
FDA Cracks Down On Supplement Makers Selling Mental Health Relief
Terri J. Seligman | Mondaq
EPINET is a national learning health care system from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) that links early psychosis clinics through standard clinical measures, uniform data collection methods, data sharing agreements, and integration of client-level data across service users and clinics. Clients and their families, clinicians, health care administrators, and scientific experts now have the opportunity to partner within EPINET to improve early psychosis care and conduct large-scale, practice-based research. Learn more about EPINET. Download a shareable flyer about EPINET. 
 
Visit the SMI Adviser website for evidence-based education, consultation, and resources on serious mental illness (SMI). Request a free clinician-to-clinician consultation. Access dozens of online courses and earn free continuing education credits. Learn about the My Mental Health Crisis Plan app. See data on serious mental illness in the U.S. 
Find resources on COVID-19, clozapine, and long-acting injectables.   

Upcoming Webinar:

Approaches to Conversations About Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics 
March 11, 2021, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET 
Register here
Credit: 1.0 CME, 1.0 Psychology CE 
 

Crisis Service Resources: NASMHPD's 2020 Technical Assistance Coalition Working Papers


NASMHPD's 2020 TAC papers continue the Beyond Beds theme, highlighting different aspects of crisis services: 

NASMHPD’s EIP Resource Center


The Early Intervention in Psychosis virtual resource center, made possible by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is designed to provide reliable information for practitioners, policymakers, individuals, families, and communities in order to foster more widespread adoption and utilization of early intervention programming for persons at risk for (or experiencing a first episode of) psychosis. Visit the resource center. 

These TA resources were developed with support from SAMHSA.
NASMHPD Staff
NASMHPD Board of Directors
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