Helping grantmakers improve the health of all people
Mental Health
Grantmakers In Health is actively working to assist the many foundations and corporate giving programs that are making mental health services more widely available, supporting the development of a more diverse workforce, and moving the mental health field forward through research and the promotion of state-of-the-art treatment.
What's New Archive
Improving Early Identification and Treatment of Adolescent Depression
February 2010
The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation has released an issue brief examining the prevalence of adolescent depression, consequences of unidentified depression, and costs of screening and treatment. The issue brief also reviews recommendations and tools for primary care providers to identify and treat adolescent depression and shares opportunities for health plans to support providers in this identification and treatment.Making the Connection between Mental Health and Community Well-Being
February 2010
In their recently released report Minds Matter, the Foundation for the Mid South outlines their approach to comprehensive health and wellness, particularly the connection between mental health and community well-being. The report includes the stories and innovative approaches of 34 community partners and how they served the mental health needs and recovery of Mississippi Gulf Coast residents.National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Names 2010 Awards of Excellence Honorees
February 2010
The 2010 Awards of Excellence honorees were chosen from more than 125 nominations based on their demonstrated achievements in providing critical services to those with mental illnesses and addictions disorders. “Each year the National Council honors individuals and organizations that are the ‘best of the best.’ These are the programs and the people who are ahead of the trends, those who are pioneering new service delivery models, those who are advancing original collaborations, and those who demonstrate positive outcomes for individuals and families,” said Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council.Adolescents Perceive Greater Risk to Using Tobacco Products than Illicit Drugs or Binge Drinking
January 2010
Adolescents across all age groups perceive a greater risk to smoking cigarettes than the use of alcohol and other substances, including cocaine and LSD, according to a new report based on a national survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. An individual’s perception of risk about a substance can be a key factor in whether they decide to refrain from using.National Survey Tracks Rates of Common Mental Disorders Among Youth
January 2010
Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The survey also provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of common mental disorders. The results are part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a collaboration between NIMH and the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Programs Transforming Mental Health
January 2010
In their sixth collaborative competition, Ashoka's Changemakers and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation highlight three programs that boldly transform the field of mental health: building bridges from traditional healers and community leaders in Bhutan to providers of modern psychiatry; creating student-run chapters of mental health awareness groups on college campuses throughout the United States; and training clinicians to treat depression and epilepsy in post-conflict Liberia. Program descriptions are available for each winner.Consensus Guidelines for Improved Integration of Primary Care and Mental Health Services
December 2009
In California's safety net, mental health and primary care operate on parallel tracks to the detriment of patients and community needs. With support from the California Healthcare Foundation, The California Institute for Mental Health has released new consensus guidelines, which seek to improve integration between the two.Side-by-Side Comparison Chart of Healthcare Reform Bills in Congress
December 2009
The National Council has created a side-by-side comparison chart of the House and Senate bills. This chart summarizes provisions most pertinent to community behavioral health providers: general insurance market reforms, expansion of Medicaid eligibility, and workforce and other provisions that are specifically targeted to the mental health and addiction fields.Behavioral Health Position Statement
December 2009
The GIH Behavioral Health Funders’ Network has created a position statement on Behavioral Health in National Health Care Reform. The statement and list of signatories is available here. Also, an announcement of the statement ran in the November 30th Health Affairs "GrantWatch" on-line column. All interested foundations are invited to sign the statement; you do not need to be a member of the network. For more information or to sign, contact Dr. Lynda Frost, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, at Lynda.frost@austin.utexas.edu.Helping Immigrant and Refugee Students Succeed: It's Not Just What Happens in the Classroom
November 2009
School-based Mental Health Services That Partner With Families Open Doors to Academic Achievement. The immigrant experience itself brings challenges beyond learning a new language. Children often leave close relatives in their home countries, sometimes those they have lived with for years. The trip to their new home can be grueling experience, sometimes undertaken suddenly with little preparation or resources. Once in the U.S., the entire family may feel isolated as they navigate life in a new country, often with limited financial resources and institutional supports.Under the Caring Across Communities (CAC) Initiative, RWJF awarded grants totaling $4.5 million to 15 projects aimed at reducing emotional and behavioral health problems among students in low-income immigrant and refugee families. The grants support a range of innovative partnerships among schools, mental health service providers, and immigrant or refugee community organizations. Learn more about these school-based mental health services that partner with families to open doors to academic achievement.
Learn more in this article.
NIHCM Foundation Webinar "Identifying and Treating Maternal Depression: Strategies & Considerations for Health Plans"
December 2009
The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation invites you to participate in an important webinar: Identifying and Treating Maternal Depression:Strategies & Considerations for Health Plans
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST)
Approximately 20 percent of women experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy and up to 15 percent of women are affected by postpartum depression in the year following the birth of a child. Maternal depression can lead to serious health risks for both the mother and baby that can increase the risk for costly complications during birth and can have permanent effects on child development and well-being. Health plans play an important role in supporting the early identification of maternal depression and coordinating the management of depression to avoid the consequences of untreated depression.
Children's Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey
November 2009
Sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this Juvenile Justice Bulletin discusses the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, the most comprehensive nationwide survey of the incidence and prevalence of children’s exposure to violence to date. Conducted between January and May 2008, it measured the past-year and lifetime exposure to violence for children ages 17 and younger across several major categories: conventional crime, child maltreatment, victimization by peers and siblings, sexual victimization, witnessing and indirect victimization (including exposure to community violence and family violence), school violence and threats, and Internet victimization. The survey confirms that most of our society’s children are exposed to violence in their daily lives.Roadmap Poses Key Questions for Advancing Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Abuse Policy
November 2009
For the past 14 years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has funded the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP) as part of a comprehensive set of strategies to reduce the personal, social, and economic harm caused by tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Substance abuse accounts for 1 in 14 hospital admissions and generates billions of dollars in health care costs annually. In an effort to guide researchers and policymakers, SAPRP has released four separate research roadmaps aimed at addressing substance abuse policy. The roadmaps identify existing evidence that can be acted upon now and highlight the major outstanding questions that must be explored during the next five years in alcohol, tobacco, and drug policy research.SAMHSA Guide on Implementing Change in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
November 2009
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Technical Assistance Publication Series 31: Implementing Change in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs provides guidance on integrating evidence-based practices into substance abuse treatment programs. It includes steps for assessing an organization's readiness to adopt new practices, identifying priorities in adopting evidence-based practices, evaluating progress, and sustaining change overtime. This guide complements the best practices described in the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's Treatment Improvement Protocols.New Guide Helps Policymakers and Practitioners Understand Mental Health Courts
October 2009
The Council of State Governments Justice Center has released Mental Health Courts: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice. The guide examines available studies on mental health courts and translates the findings to help policymakers and practitioners understand their design and function, as well as their success. Supported by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the guide reviews how mental health courts address the issues related to people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system. Click on the title above to read more on the guide's findings.Resource Center for Primary Care and Behavioral Health Collaboration
October 2009
Building on more than six years of work in the area of primary care and behavioral health collaboration, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare launched the Resource Center for Primary Care and Behavioral Health Collaboration. The resource center is a valuable source of information and practical resources for providers, policymakers, and community stakeholders, working to provide seamless mental and primary healthcare across delivery systems. The center facilitates the expansion of collaborative health care efforts by disseminating lessons learned by early adopters, reducing barriers, and facilitating the mutual sharing of information. Information includes:- resources and guidelines for working with FQHCs;
- integrated care models and screening tools;
- report on Person-centered Healthcare Homes for Persons with Serious Mental Illness;
- National Council Magazine on behavioral health and primary care collaboration, which includes best practices and stories "From the Field";
- an updated version of the National Council's acclaimed Four Quadrant Model, a population-based planning framework for the clinical integration of health services.
Substance Abuse Policy Research Program Releases Five-Year Research Roadmaps
October 2009
Substance abuse accounts for 1 in 14 hospital admissions and generates billions of dollars in health care costs annually. In an effort to guide researchers and policymakers, the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program has released four separate research roadmaps aimed at addressing substance abuse policy. The roadmaps identify existing evidence that can be acted upon now, and highlight the major outstanding questions that must be explored during the next five years in alcohol, tobacco, and drug policy research.Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation Increases Support for Children's Mental Health
September 2009
The Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) has launched a multiyear initiative Building Systems of Care, Community by Community to improve children’s mental health services in Illinois. The state's mental health systems serving children are fragmented and underresourced, and the foundation hopes that efforts to coordinate and integrate existing services will result in a comprehensive community-based system to ensure more children receive the support they need as early as possible.Race and Ethnicity and Rural Mental Health Treatment
September 2009
A recent article in The Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved examines mental health treatment rates across different racial and ethnic groups. Findings suggest that characteristics of the rural environment may disadvantage all residents with respect to mental health treatment. In more populated areas where mental health services are more plentiful, complex racial and service system factors may play a greater role in evident ethnic/racial treatment disparities. (Subscription required to access the full article.)Updated Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available
September 2009
A new, updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The directory includes a nationwide inventory of public and private substance abuse and alcoholism treatment programs and facilities that are licensed, certified, or otherwise approved by substance abuse agencies in each state. Information is provided on more than 11,000 programs.Mentally Ill Offenders Strain Juvenile Prison System
August 2009
According to a recent cover story in The New York Times, cash-starved states are increasingly relying on the prison system to handle young offenders with mental illnesses who often need therapy more than punishment. Juvenile prisons have been the caretaker of last resort for troubled children since the 1980s, but mental health experts say the system is in crisis, facing a soaring number of inmates reliant on multiple--and powerful--psychotropic drugs and a shortage of therapists.Strategies to Support the Integration of Mental Health into Pediatric Primary Care
August 2009
The National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation recently released Strategies to Support the Integration of Mental Health into Pediatric Primary Care, which examines the landscape for mental health service delivery to children and includes a discussion of the role of federal and state agencies, as well as public and private insurance. With the aim of informing and facilitating discussions on how mental health care can be fully integrated into pediatric primary care, the issue brief reviews information on mental health programs, practices, and guidelines and discusses strategies health plans can utilize to improve early identification and treatment for children in primary care.Chronic Depression Observed in Children as Young as Three
August 2009
Childhood depression is a serious and relapsing psychiatric disorder. While previous studies have focused mostly on children aged 6 years and older, a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry is the first to show chronic depression in very young children. The article suggests that preschool depression is neither a developmentally transient nor a nonspecific clinical phenomenon, but rather represents an early manifestation of the disorder well-known in older children. (Subscription required to access the full article.)Healing Mind and Body: Behavioral Health and Reform
July 2009
As the health reform debate has heated up, little of the discussion has focused on the area of mental health and substance use disorders. The passage of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in 2008 indicated that access to mental health and substance use disorder services is a priority. Yet there are concerns that the cost of accessing this care could rise. What mental health and substance use disorder provisions are included in the health reform proposals? How do the quality and cost of these services, including those available for addiction disorders, fit into the discussion? To address these and related questions, the Alliance for Health Reform, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Open Society Institute sponsored a July 17th briefing. The Webcast; postcast; and individual speaker videos and resources materials, including speakers’ PowerPoint presentations, can be accessed here.Cross-Systems Financing Helps Assure High-Quality Care across Mental Health Services
July 2009
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s recently released Cross-Systems Financing Project Report presents an overview and key features of cross-systems financing plans aimed at improving services for vulnerable populations of children and adults with substance use disorders, mental health diagnoses, or behavioral issues. Six sites were selected for the Cross-Systems Finance Project: Franklin County, Ohio; Philadelphia; Georgia; Iowa; New Mexico; and Washington. The final project report describes the progress made by each of the chosen sites, recounting the experience, findings, and recommendations of the learning community. The project helped states and stakeholders think more broadly, focusing their efforts on developing partnerships and blending initiatives, ultimately allowing the sites to be more resourceful.What Do We Really Know About Foundations' Funding Of Mental Health?
July 2009
A new paper from Health Affairs examines mental health giving by foundations and points to a continuing downward trend in philanthropic giving to mental health, relative to overall and health giving. The authors reviewed data and interviewed staff from foundations that accounted for the majority of mental health funding in 2006. Using this quantitative and qualitative information, the authors identify important unanswered questions about foundation funding for mental health. They suggest the lack of precision in how mental health funding is defined and measured is symptomatic of the mental health field in general and may contribute to grantmakers’ low level of attention to the issue.New Policy Paper Focuses on Children's Mental Health Services in Primary Care
June 2009
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) recently released a joint position paper on improving mental health services in primary care settings. The report, recently published in AAP's Pediatrics journal, specifically discusses the administrative and financial challenges that primary care clinicians and children's mental health professionals face in providing behavioral and mental health services to children and adolescents. It also outlines 15 recommendations for behavioral health stakeholders and should help address underlying barriers associated with integrated care.Community-Based Mental Health Programs Improve Youth Performance, Save Millions in School Costs
May 2009
According to a new report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), community-based mental health services and supports for children and youth with serious mental health challenges can dramatically improve the academic, behavioral, and emotional performance of participating youth. The report Working Together to Help Youth Thrive in Schools and Communities measured performance outcomes of system of care programs and found that improvements occurred among many young people within 12 months of enrollment in these programs. The publication was released on National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (May 7), a day promoting positive youth development, resilience, and recovery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families.CHCF Issues Report on Behavioral Health IT for Kids in California
April 2009
The California HealthCare Foundation released the new report Behavioral Health IT: Toward Seamless Care for California's Kids, an overview of the current behavioral health information technologies (IT) that California is adopting to improve the efficiency and coordination of care for children and adolescents. In addition, the report outlines a number of implementation challenges unique to behavioral health care providers, as well as the broader opportunities that health IT implementation could bring to the behavioral health community--including providers, patients, and their families.Study Examines Physicians' Perspectives on Access to Mental Health Care
April 2009
According to a recent article published by Health Affairs, about two-thirds of primary care physicians (PCPs) reported that they could not get outpatient mental health services for patients--a rate that was at least twice as high as that for other specialty services. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the survey included a nationally representative sample of about 6,600 nonfederal physicians who spend at least 20 hours per week in patient care. Shortages of mental health care providers, health plan barriers, and lack of coverage or inadequate coverage were all cited by PCPs as important barriers to mental health care access. The results also suggest that implementing mental health parity nationally will reduce some, but not all, of the barriers to mental health care.Attorney General Issues $1-Million Challenge Grant to Virginia Health Care Foundation
March 2009
Virginia's Attorney General Bob McDonnell recently announced a $1-million challenge grant for the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) to provide mental health care services. The grant is the result of successful multistate settlements in 2008 with two national pharmacy benefits management companies. VHCF will use the challenge grant for a special Mental Health Leadership Initiative, and the full $2 million will be distributed by VHCF through a competitive grant process to Virginia’s health safety net providers throughout the commonwealth.SAMHSA Releases State-Level Reports on Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Public Funding
February 2009
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed 51 short reports providing key information about the level of substance abuse and mental health problems prevalent in the population of each state and the District of Columbia. Entitled States in Brief, the reports also include data on treatment facilities and admissions, prevalence rates for alcohol and substance abuse, as well as the total annual funding each state has received from SAMHSA.NYSHealth Funds Center of Excellence for Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
February 2009
The New York State Health Foundation recently announced the award of a grant to fund the first statewide Center of Excellence for the Integration of Care to transform the system of care for 1.4 million New Yorkers suffering from both mental health and substance use conditions. The $3.2-million grant, awarded to National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., will directly benefit patients and work to address the enormous costs in lost productivity, re-hospitalization, and related health care costs.Report: 1 in 10 Adults Suffered Serious Psychological Distress in the Past Year
January 2009
According to a recent report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 24.3 million people--more than 1 in 10 Americans aged 18 years or older--experienced serious psychological distress (SPD) in the past year. In addition, the report found that only 44.6 percent of adults suffering from SPD received any kind of mental health treatment services.Center for American Progress: Changing the Course of Mental Health
December 2008
The Center for American Progress recently released Changing the Course of Mental Health, the latest in their series of issue briefs focused on the U.S. health care system. The policy-focused brief explores the issue of mental health care and parity legislation, providing both a historical background on policy efforts as well as a point-counterpoint feature focused on the merits and challenges of market-based mental health services.Study: Kids Receive Inadequate Mental Health Care in One in Five States
December 2008
Children with serious mental health problems do not receive adequate care in more than one in five states, according to a study by the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University. The survey included responses from state and local officials, as well as others involved with mental health care for children. In addition, only seven states reported consistent support and public funding for children and youth across the age span.Medicaid and Mental Health Services
November 2008
Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health services in the United States, contributing more than any other private or public source of funding. This background paper from the National Health Policy Forum highlights the variety of services and supports needed by individuals with mental illness and Medicaid's increasing role in mental health coverage. It provides an overview of Medicaid coverage of mental health services and identifies some of the key challenges in providing that coverage.Mental Health Parity Signed Into Law
October 2008
More than one-third of all Americans will soon receive better mental health insurance coverage because of a new law that requires equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses, The New York Times reports. The requirement, included in the economic bailout bill that President Bush signed earlier this month, is the result of 12 years of advocacy by friends and relatives of people with mental illness and addiction disorders. For decades, insurers have set higher copayments and deductibles and stricter limits on treatment for addiction and mental illnesses. According to doctors, by wiping away such restrictions, the new law will make it easier for people to obtain treatment for a wide range of conditions, including depression, autism, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and alcohol and drug abuse.Mind and Body: Foundation Journal Focuses on Mental Health
October 2008
The link between mental and physical health, and the need to integrate care for both, is the theme of the fall edition of The Colorado Health Foundation's quarterly journal Health Elevations. Experts discuss the need to increase access to mental health care, advocates for better mental health care describe harrowing personal experiences, and grantees share success stories. To view the journal on-line, click here.Improving Responses to People with Mental Illness
September 2008
The Council of State Governments' Justice Center released Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program, which identifies 10 key components found in law enforcement initiatives to provide better outcomes in officers’ encounters with individuals with mental illnesses. According to the publication, law enforcement officers nationwide regularly respond to calls for service that involve people with mental illnesses, which have the potential to result in injury or death for the individual, officer, or others at the scene. Officers find that they spend long periods of time on these repeat calls only to see the person cycling through the criminal justice system without any positive long-term effect.Mothers Face Persistent Emotional and Physical Health Problems
August 2008
Childbirth Connection released New Mothers Speak Out, National Survey Results Highlight Women’s Postpartum Experiences, which presents new data from the national Listening to Mothers II Postpartum survey. According to the report, 43 percent of mothers at six or more months after birth were still feeling stressed, and one-third reported that their postpartum physical health or emotional health during the first two months after birth interfered “some” with their ability to care for their baby. It also found that a "notable portion" of mothers experienced symptoms of depression and traumatic stress many months after giving birth.Adolescent Mental Health
May 2008
The Mental Health of Adolescents: A National Profile, 2008 highlights existing national data about adolescent mental health status, assesses shortcomings of current data, and offers recommendations to address these shortcomings. The brief, produced by the National Adolescent Health Information Center at the University of California, San Francisco, with support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, reviews definitions of mental health and describes methods for assessing mental health status.Invisible Wounds of War
May 2008
RAND recently released the first large-scale nongovernmental assessment of the psychological and cognitive needs of military service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan over the past six years. According to the study, nearly one in five, or approximately 300,000, returning soldiers has post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression - illnesses that could cost the United States up to $6.2 billion over two years in services, lost productivity, and lost lives through suicide.Societal Benefits of Treating Drug Users
May 2008
A new report from the Urban Institute estimates an annual benefit to society of $46 billion if drug-using arrestees participated in treatment programs. Giving more arrestees access to treatment would reduce citizens’ risk of being victimized and police and corrections departments’ costs. The authors point to drug courts—court-managed treatment programs for arrestees—as a promising model, but the drug court system's limited size and tight restrictions on who may enroll severely constrain potential advantages.SAMHSA's Focus on Prevention
March 2008
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed a guide to successful substance abuse prevention strategies. Focus on Prevention provides useful information about performing a community assessment, choosing an audience for your prevention strategy, and information on practical models.Women's Mental Health
March 2008
The Office of the Surgeon General recently published a report summarizing issues addressed at a 2005 workshop on women's mental health. The workshop examined a variety of important issues, including access to treatment and health insurance, social stress factors and stigma related to mental health disorders, and the impact of trauma and abuse.Disparities in Mental Health Care
February 2008
A recent article in Psychiatric Services reports on trends in disparities in mental health care. The authors used data from the 2000-2001 and 2003-2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys to estimate trends in two global measures of racial-ethnic disparities in mental health care: having any mental health visit and total mental health care expenditures in the past year. Results showed that the mental health care system continues to provide less care to persons in African-American and Hispanic minority groups than to whites, suggesting the need for policy initiatives to improve services for these groups. Read more here.Medicaid and Mental Health
January 2008
Medicaid funds more than half of all mental health services administered by states and could account for nearly two-thirds of such spending by 2017. A recent report from Mathematica Policy Research, Administration of Mental Health Services by Medicaid Agencies, examines how Medicaid and mental health agencies are structured in each state, the degree and extent of their collaboration, how they share authority, and how Medicaid mental health services are funded.Where Does Your State Rank?
January 2008
Mental Health America recently released “Ranking America’s Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States,” a first-of-its-kind study examining state and national data for statistical associations between access-to-care factors and actual health outcomes, namely a state’s mental health status and suicide rate. Included in the study is a ranking of the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on rates of depression and suicide. South Dakota is found to lead the nation with the best depression status while Utah ranked last. For the complete rankings, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/state-rankingNew Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Services
December 2007
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released findings from its 2006 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS). The study indicates that a growing proportion of patients are being treated in private for-profit facilities (from 26 percent in 2002 to 29 percent on March 31, 2006) and that approximately 8 percent of clients in treatment were under age 18.Rates of Suicide Increase Among Youth, Particularly Girls
September 2007
According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2004, suicide was the third leading cause of death among 10- to 24-year-olds in the United States. The suicide rate for this age group rose 8 percent from 2003 to 2004. But for girls aged 10 to 14, the rate increased 67 percent from 2003 to 2004. Suicide rates among older teen girls shot up 32 percent. For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5635a2.htmBehavioral Health Workforce Development
June 2007
The Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce has released a report that outlines a comprehensive plan to address the nation's growing crisis surrounding efforts to recruit, retain, and effectively train the mental health and addiction services workforce. The Action Plan for Behavioral Workforce Development reviews the current workforce and its environment; outlines a set of general findings; identifies seven core strategic goals; and outlines the objectives and actions necessary to achieve each goal. Detailed implementation plans link action to recommended stakeholders, providing a detailed blueprint for use by individuals and organizations of all types. A section on focused topics examines the workforce issues germane to selected populations, settings, and the critical issue of workforce financing.Updated Mental Health Information
May 2007
Mental Health, United States, 2004 addresses recent recommendations by the Institute of Medicine for coordinated primary and mental health and substance use care and the application of quality improvement to the mental health field. The 2004 compendium, the latest in a series published every 2 years since 1983 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), focuses on quality improvement in mental health services, the role of mental health care provided in primary care settings, mental health care financing, and annual service statistics.Knowledge to Action: Mental Health
This excerpt from the GIH resource book, Knowledge to Action: Critical Health Issues and the Work of Health Philanthropy over 25 Years, examines mental health, considering both changes in the health sector and in health policy over 25 years and the work of health foundations in addressing these challenges. The excerpt includes an essay, fast facts, and recommended readings.Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Community Hospitals
April 2007
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released a fact book, Care of Adults with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders in U.S. Community Hospitals, 2004. In 2004, adults with a mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis accounted for 1 out of 4 stays at U.S. community hospitals—7.6 million hospital stays. The fact book presents information on patient characteristics, length of stay for various conditions, and costs is presented as well as detailed statistics on stays related to dual diagnosis, suicide, and maternity care. Access the document here.Increased Suicide Rate Among Children & Youth
March 2007
The recently released Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: 2005 measures death rates in youth, noting an increase in deaths attributable to suicide between 2003 and 2004. Overall death rates for youth, however, did not change significantly during this period. For youth aged 14-19, the suicide rate increased by 11 percent; similarly for youth aged 10-14, the rate increased by 8 percent. Read the abstract here.Mental Health Disparities
February 2007
The Colorado Trust's newly released Policy Brief on Mental Health Disparities in Colorado addresses the need for the provision of quality mental health care for individuals from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and it sets forth a number of policy recommendations to strengthen care. The brief is based on an extensive literature review, input from community members and an advisory group comprised of Colorado community mental health leaders, as well as input from participants in the 2006 Colorado Mental Health Disparities Summit.Mental Health America's Advocacy Network
January 2007
Mental Health America, formerly known as the National Mental Health Association, announced the launch of its Advocacy Network to create a community of citizen advocates for mental health. The network allows individuals from all over the country to take an active role in promoting awareness of mental health issues and advocating for sound public policies that recognize the importance of mental health is vital to overall health and well-being.Study Suggests Decline in Rates of Suicide
October 2006
In the October 2006 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, researchers from the University of South Carolina report a decline in suicide rates among the oldest and youngest groups of Americans. The study also suggests that recent concerns of suicidal behavior related to anti-depressant drugs are not founded. Click here for an abstract of the study.Depression Is Real Coalition
January 2007The Depression Is Real Coalition is a public education campaign that seeks to raise awareness about depression. Sponsored by seven prominent physcian, patient, and civic nonprofits, including The American Psychiatric Foundation, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the League of Latin American Citizens, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the campaign consists of public service announcements, print and radio advertisements, and other educational activities.
Commonwealth Fund Report on Behavioral Health
October 2006The Commonwealth Fund recently released a report, State Behavioral Health Innovations: Disseminating Promising Practices. The report outlines strategies that states have used to promote efficiency and improve the performance of mental health and substance abuse services. Some of the innovative efforts include providing housing options for mentally ill adults, integrating systems, and developing performance incentives.
Mental Health and the Juvenile Justice System
September 2006The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice recently released a report, "A Blueprint for Change: Improving the System Response to Youth with Mental Health Needs Involved in the Juvenile Justice System." The report draws on research from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)'s largest mental health research project and outlines the model developed as a result.
Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
August 2006Research suggests that individuals with a substance abuse problem may not receive adequate treatment. "Substance Use Treatment Need Among Adolescents: 2003-2004," released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), looks at data from the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Read the results of the study here.
Depression in Reproductive Age Women
August 2006The Women's and Children's Health Policy Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health issued a policy brief, Considering Interventions for Depression in Reporductive Age Women in Family Planning Programs. The brief explores family planning programs as possible sites for assessing and treating depression. Access the brief through the center's Web site.
SAMHSA's National Anti-Stigma Campaign
August 2006The federal government will soon launch its National Anti-Stigma Campaign (NASC) with public service announcements developed in conjunction with the Ad Council. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) developed the campaign at the recommendation of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. SAMHSA is seeking grassroots support and will be holding regional meetings during August and September 2006. Click here for more information.
Treatment Costs Tripled for Those with Limited Access
August 2006A recent survey sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) revealed that individuals with depression and limited access to treatment incurred an average of nearly three times the annual out-of-pocket costs than individuals with less restricted acccess to services. The costs of depression, however, are not only financial; the study also found that those with limited access to treatment also reported feeling less satisfied in personal relationships, had trouble keeping employment, and suffered other financial repercussions, such as damaged credit. Read more about the study here.
Foundation Roles in Mental Health Featured in Health Affairs
July 2006The July/August edition of Health Affairs features an article coauthored by GIH president and CEO Lauren LeRoy, Margaret Heldring of America's HealthTogether, and GIH program associate Elise Desjardins. The article, "Foundations' Roles In Transforming The Mental Health Care System," focuses on philanthropy's role in addressing the national call for transformation. It highlights foundation work in several areas, including childhood trauma, service integration, access to mental health services, and mental health advocacy.
Military Mental Health
June 2006Recent research has pointed to the mental health needs of troops serving in Iraq. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated that only 22 percent of military service members at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder are referred for a mental health examination. In response, the Department of Defense has started an online self-screening program for service members and their families. Learn more about the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program here.
May/June Health Affairs Devoted To Mental Health
May 2006The May/June issue of Health Affairs focuses on mental health. The issue includes reports on mental health financing, spending and costs, substance use, children's mental health, mental health services for people with low incomes and mental health policy and regulation. View the table of contents.
May is Mental Health Month
May 2006This year's observance of Mental Health Month focuses on the mind-body connection. Experts agree that good mental health is key to good overall health. Help spread the word! Visit the National Mental Health Association's Web site to learn more about Mental Health Month.
The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati Announces Harm Reduction RFP
April 2006The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati will award grants totaling $500,000 for projects that involve the integration of services for people with substance abuse disorders. In particular, the grants are intended to help organizations combine primary care, behavioral health care, and other supportive services with the intention of reducing harm related to the use of alcohol or other drugs. Read the RFP.
High Rates of Mental Disorders Among Katrina Evacuees
April 2006A study conducted by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the Children's Health Fund examined the health issues of families living in FEMA housing. Researchers found that displaced families are suffering from mental disorders at rates that are much higher than average. More than half of female caregivers ranked very low on a mental health screening exam. Those women were more than twice as likely to report that a child had developed an emotional or behavioral problem since the hurricane. Read more about On The Edge: The Louisiana Child & Family Health Study.
NEJM Study on Mental Health Parity
March 2006A study released by the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that increased access to mental health services may not translate into higher costs. The study uses data from the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and finds that an increase in the use of services is not directly linked to the parity requirements. Read a summary from The Kaiser Family Foundation.
JAMA Study Examines Maternal Depression
March 2006A study recently released by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that treating maternal depression can improve or prevent mental disorders in children. The authors concluded that the remission of maternal depression translated into an overall 11 percent decrease in rates of psychiatric diagnoses in children.
NAMI Grades Nation a "D" in Mental Health Care for Adults
March 2006The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released its first comprehensive survey and grading of state adult public mental healthcare systems conducted in over 15 years. The report, including individual state narratives and scoring tables, is available online here. Eight states received failing grades; no state received an "A". The report calls on states to make better choices through proven, cost-effective practices.
Decreased Federal Funding for Mental Health in FY 2006
At the end of 2005, Congress passed the appropriations bill that funds the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It allotted increases only to the State Incentive Transformation Grants (up $6 million) and the suicide-prevention program (up $10.5 million).All other CMHS programs were funded at the fiscal 2005 level, but an across-the-board one-percent cut left final amounts slightly less.
Advancing Colorado's Mental Health Care
A joint effort of the Colorado Trust, Caring for Colorado Foundation, The Denver Foundation, and HealthONE Alliance
Advancing Colorado's Mental Health Care, a joint effort of The Colorado Trust, Caring for Colorado Foundation, The Denver Foundation, and HealthONE Alliance, announces the selection of six projects throughout the state of Colorado to receive a total of $3.3 million over the next five years. Each project represents a collaborative among numerous nonprofit and public agencies to improve the integration and coordination of mental health services in their community.