Division of Behavioral Health Survey

Now’s a good time to tell the Division of Behavioral Health what you think should be included in the draft strategic plan for Nebraska’s behavioral health system.

“I’d like to encourage consumers, family members and providers to take our short, quick online survey,” said Scot Adams, director of the Division of Behavioral Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. “We want to hear from as many people as possible. Your information will be combined with others to help guide the Division as it crafts a strategic plan to prioritize activities for 2011 through 2014.”

The online survey and ideas on other ways to participate in the strategic planning process can be found at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/behavioral_health

“The plan will provide a framework to guide activities and priorities for the Division as a principal leader, a partner and a participant in the statewide behavioral health system.” Adams said. “It will include broad priorities for the entire behavioral health system, and the plan’s goals and objectives will help gauge progress toward meeting critical system priorities.”

Adams is leading the process with the help of a Joint Strategic Planning Committee that includes members from the Gambling Advisory Group, the Mental Health Advisory Group, the Substance Abuse Advisory Group, Regional Behavioral Health Authorities and the Division of Behavioral Health.

In addition, three national experts are providing critical expertise, especially in how health care reform relates to behavioral health services. They are: Shery Mead, Shery Mead Consulting; Monica E. Oss, CEO Open Minds; and Thomas Kirk, Ph.D., Kirk Consulting.

The draft strategic plan will be available for review this fall. It builds on the vision developed by the Behavioral Health Oversight Commission, whose members were appointed by the Governor.

Veterans and Suicide - We Must Overcome

Approximately 58,000 U.S. soldiers died during the Vietnam War. Sadly, it has been reported that more than 160,000 Vietnam veterans that returned home have committed suicide since the war! In fact, as of January 2009, the army suicide rate exceeded the civilian suicide rate in America. So, as active duty soldiers (man and women) continue to fight in the global war on terror, NAMI Kern County’s Front Line, a network of weekly support groups facilitated by NAMI trained family facilitators, vows to offer support to vets and their families with the mission to “save lives and save families”.

Front Line holds quarterly educational and resource conferences to educate the public on issues faced by veterans and their families, has experts and veterans who speak at service organization to increase community understanding, and network with individuals to provide resources and benefits for vets and their families.

Click here to view a video on You Tube put together by Kern County NAMI.

Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team Receives Horizon Award

Recognizing special individuals who enrich the Lincoln community by sharing their time, resources, and talents to make Lincoln a healthier place, the Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team was recently awarded the prestigious Horizon Award by the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln, Neb.

Nominated because of their commitment to offer resources, support, and serve as sources of hope to the newly bereaved, the LOSS Team, a group consisting of trained survivors and mental health professionals, is dedicated to helping others through the difficult experience of suicide. Volunteers are: Barb Scholz, Kimberly Mundil, Chaplain Ray Reimer, Cynthia Surrounded, Colette Wheeler, Kathy Rowoldt, Terri Marti, Sue Bell, Jana Langhorst, Amanda Bell, Dr. Don Belau, David Miers, and Travis Parker,

Programs like the LOSS Team have been shown to reduce the risk to survivors and increase the likelihood that survivors will seek help for their own emotional response. Dispatched in tandem with first responders, volunteers provide immediate assistance to survivors to help them cope with the trauma of their loss, provide follow-up contact with survivors, and coordinate the utilization of services and support groups with the community.

Dr. William Marcil Recognized as a “Hero in the Heartland”

Dr. William Marcil, supervising psychiatrist for Creighton University’s Magis Clinic, has been selected by the American Red Cross Heartland Chapter as a “Hero in the Heartland”. Nominated for his work with the Magis Psychiatry Clinic, Dr. Marcil was recognized in the Good Samaritan category at an awards luncheon in March. Click here to view a video tribute honoring Dr. Marcil for his outstanding work.

Congratulations Dr. Marcil on this well deserved recognition.

For additional information on the Magis Clinic please visit http://medicine.creighton.edu/magis/.

Optumhealth Honors "Forgotten" Mental Illness Patients, Recognizes Important Progress in Behavioral Health Care

OptumHealth Inc. is supporting a national memorial being built to honor people nationwide who died in state psychiatric hospitals and are buried in unnamed graves.

While noting the significant advancements in behavioral health care that today are helping millions find paths to recovery, OptumHealth unveiled a traveling fund-raising display for the memorial and presented a $50,000 donation. The announcement was made at the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare conference.

Click here to read more.

Growing Evidence Points to Peers Directly Affecting Client Outcomes

While peer support services generally have been seen as a pivotal element in recovery-focused mental health programming, much of the formal research into the services has focused simply on the presence of peer support staff and their level of training. Now mental health facilities that have prioritized peer involvement have begun to probe peers’ actual effects on consumer outcome, and are finding that their ability to establish an alliance with clients is yielding results that would be the envy of some trained professionals.

Click here to read the full story as published in Mental Health Weekly.

Celebrating Those Who Make a Difference for Mental Health

Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in recognizing entertainment industry professionals and mental health consumers who have given a voice to people with mental health problems.

The Voice Awards honor film and television writers and producers who incorporate dignified, respectful, and accurate portrayals of people with mental illnesses into their scripts, programs, and productions. The awards also recognize the accomplishments of consumer leaders who have been instrumental in both raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues and promoting the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.

If you know of an eligible film or TV show that was released between March 15, 2009, and April 15, 2010, please nominate it for a 2010 Voice Award. Similarly, if you know of a consumer who has led efforts to promote the social inclusion of people with mental health problems, personally demonstrated that recovery is real and possible, and made a positive impact on their communities, workplaces, and/or schools, please nominate them for a 2010 Voice Award.

Nominations are open to anyone, are free, and there is no limit to the number
an individual can submit. All entertainment industry nominations must be received by April 30, 2010. All mental health consumer nominations must be received by May 14, 2010.

The Voice Awards will be presented at a gala ceremony on October 13, 2010, in Los Angeles. Please consult the Voice Awards Web site to learn more or to download a nomination form.

Obama Administration Issues Rules Requiring Parity in Treatment of Mental, Substance Use Disorders

January 29, 2010 - The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders.

The new rules prohibit group health insurance plans—typically offered by employers—from restricting access to care by limiting benefits and requiring higher patient costs than those that apply to general medical or surgical benefits. The rules implement the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA).

Click here to read more.

Voices for Children Releases 17th Annual Kids Count Report

Voices for Children in Nebraska recently released their 17th annual Kids Count in Nebraska report. Kids Count in Nebraska provides pertinent information on how all children in Nebraska are faring in areas such as child abuse and neglect, early childhood care and education, economic well-being, education, health (physical and mental), juvenile justice, nutrition, and out-of-home care.

The report continues to provide tips for advocates, trend data for several indicators, and information about the online data system, CLIKS, provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Kids Count in Nebraska is used as a resource across the state by government agencies, media outlets, education and child welfare organizations, and concerned citizens.

To download a copy of the 2009 Kids Count in Nebraska report please visit www.voicesforchildren.com/kidscount.

Funds Available for Families Needing Short Term Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Services

In the face of growing need for mental health and substance abuse treatment, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are notifying states about how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds can be used to help families in their communities in need of short term mental health or substance use treatment services.

The grant notification includes an explanation of how resources under the TANF Emergency Fund – a provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – can be used to support such services.

The TANF block grant provides states and tribes federal funds and wide flexibility to develop time-limited assistance programs, employment services for parents, and a broad array of specialized services – including mental health and substance abuse services - for struggling families in their communities. For example, a jurisdiction can use federal TANF funds to provide appropriate short-term counseling services such as mental health services.

“ACF and SAMHSA are working together to help ensure that TANF funds are available to states to support substance abuse and mental health services,” said SAMHSA Administrator, Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “These funds can be used to provide relief to families coping with these disorders and trying to achieve self-sufficiency. All too often mental and substance use disorders are overlooked and go untreated which undermines the potential for recovery.”

For pertinent information TANF jurisdictions can contact the Office of Family Assistance on its Welfare Peer TA website at http://www.peerta.acf.hhs.gov/. In addition, technical assistance can be obtained through the SAMHSA website at http://www.samhsa.gov/.