A Telehealth Effort to Treat PTSD and Bipolar Disorder in Rural Areas Showed 'Huge Gains.' Now Comes the Hard Part

Nov 17, 2021 - Describes the Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry (SPIRIT), a trial to offer mental telehealth services through a collaborative care model, with local care managers and clinics delivering treatment. Addresses the history of collaborative care and policy challenges related to integrating urban-based providers into rural clinics.

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SAMHSA: Notice of Meeting for the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) Federal Register

Nov 8, 2021 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) on December 16, 2021, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The meeting will include information on federal efforts related to serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED). The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the SAMHSA website before the meeting.

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IHS: Behavioral Health Integration Initiative Federal Register

Nov 4, 2021 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for grants for the Behavioral Health Integration Initiative (BH2I). This program will help to increase capacity among Tribal and Urban Indian Organization (UIO) health facilities to implement an integrative approach in the delivery of behavioral health services, including trauma-informed care, nutrition, exercise, social, spiritual, cultural, and primary care services, will improve morbidity and mortality outcomes among the AI/AN population. Applications are due by February 2, 2022.

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IHS: Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Program: Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention Federal Register

Nov 4, 2021 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for grants for a component of the Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention (SASP) Program: Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention (SPIP). The primary purpose of this program is to reduce the prevalence of suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Applications are due by February 2, 2022.

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IHS: Zero Suicide Initiative Federal Register

Nov 4, 2021 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement for the Zero Suicide Initiative (ZSI). This award will support implementation of the `Zero Suicide' model within Tribal and Urban Indian health care facilities and systems that provide direct care services to AI/AN individuals to raise awareness of suicide, establish integrated systems of care, and improve outcomes for such individuals. The `Zero Suicide' model focuses on developing a system-wide approach to improving care for individuals at risk of suicide who are currently using health and behavioral health systems. Applications are due by February 2, 2022.

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Small Towns, Cops and Mental Health Patients

Nov 4, 2021 - Describes the role of police in small towns to respond to mental health crises, focusing on a police department in Americus, Georgia, which has enrolled its officers in Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) training. Discusses the increase in 911 calls for mental health issues and the lack of mental health resources for crisis intervention and the challenges facing small police departments in Georgia.

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Study Finds Agricultural Workers 34% More Likely to Die by Suicide than General Working-Age Population

Oct 28, 2021 - Describes a study of suicide risk based on 1986-2017 data from the National Center for Health Statistics' Mortality-Linked National Health Interview Survey that found that suicide risk was an estimated 34% higher among agricultural workers, including farmers, forestry, and fishing industry workers. Notes that the suicide mortality rate for rural farmworkers was 28.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.1 for urban-dwelling farmworkers.

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