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Recent news stories have highlighted growing concerns about children and adolescents “boarding” in Emergency Departments – waiting days and sometimes weeks for help in response to a mental health crisis. To fix this, we need to provide children and families with the help they need when they need it, before a crisis occurs. Pediatric behavioral health urgent care is an important part of that solution. Read a message from MAMH President and CEO Danna Mauch here. |
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Thank You! Thank you to our honorees, sponsors, and all our supporters who helped make our 2022 Friend & Leader Award Dinner a huge success!! If you missed joining us in person or live online, you can still watch our program virtually! Thank you for your support! Find a recap of the night here. |
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Book Release Celebration! MAMH celebrated the release of MAMH Board Member Dr. Ken Duckworth's new book, You Are Not Alone, with a discussion with four of the 125 individuals who shared their personal mental health journeys throughout the book. Offering a guide to navigating mental health services and supports, this book is a powerful reminder that help is available and you are never alone. |
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Reflecting on Suicide Prevention Month |
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In Massachusetts, we lose someone to suicide every 12 hours, with suicide being the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-34. We all have a role in preventing suicide and supporting healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities. Learn more about available suicide prevention resources. |
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Resources for Latinx/Hispanic Communities September 15 through October 15 was Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing and honoring the culture, contributions, and diversity of Latinx/Hispanic communities. The following resources support mental health and wellness for Latinx and Hispanic people. NAMI's Compartiendo Esperanza is a three-part video series that explores the journey of mental wellness in Latinx/Hispanic communities through dialogue, storytelling, and guided discussions. Watch the video series here. Mental Health America (MHA) provides general mental health Spanish-speaking resources. In addition to Latinx mental health statistics, the site also links to MHA's general resources, like its Center for Peer Support and its Advocacy Network. Find MHA's general mental health Spanish-speaking resources here. The American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry promotes research, education, advocacy, and support to Hispanic communities. They offer a "Find a Physician" feature on their website. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides links to resources in Spanish. It aslo includes likes to health-relate Spanish-language resources that come from other sources. View NIMH resources in Spanish here. |
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Older Adult Behavioral Health Supports |
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New Elder Mental Health Outreach Team and Behavioral Health Innovation Grant Awardees Announced MAMH’s Older Adult Behavioral Health Network led a successful advocacy campaign to more than double the amount in the EOEA Geriatric Mental Health Line Item, resulting in 18 grants awarded by MCOA to improve older adult access to behavioral health support. Learn more here. |
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Culturally Responsive Older Adult Behavioral Health Support To help us understand the importance of culturally responsive older adult behavioral health support, we interviewed Nandy Barbosa, a bilingual homecare case manager and member of the Older Adult Behavioral Health Network's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup. Read the full interview here. |
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The United States is a rapidly aging nation, with the total number of older adults expected to increase by 33 percent from 2020 to 2030. A vast majority (88 percent) of older adults wish to remain living in their homes for as long as possible as they age; however workforce shortages and labor challenges pose significant problems for older adults and their families seeking home and community-based services. Learn more about this issue here. |
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Research and News of Note In a recent study supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, researchers examined the impact of a family-based intervention on suicide risk in youth and found risk-reduction benefits up to 10 years. Read more about the study here. Higher rates of alcohol and other drug problems for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are well documented but little is known about their recovery experiences. This study compared pathways to recovery and indicators of functioning and well being among LGB and heterosexual adults revealing important differences. Read more about the study here. Greater understanding of how recovery residences link people to other services can inform public health recommendations and recovery residence standards. This study examined people in treatment to examine predictors of living in recovery housing, and whether living in these venues increased treatment retention. Read more about the study here. COVID-19 has contributed to increased levels of stress and isolation that can lead to increases in alcohol and other drug use for some. This study examined whether alcohol use increased during the pandemic and for whom in particular. Read more about the study here. |
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Events Take advantage of the many opportunities for in-person and online training across the Commonwealth! Check out our Events page to see what's happening in the behavioral health community this month! Interested in trainings for supporting older adults with behavioral health needs in the community? Check out our Older Adult Behavioral Health Training Calendar! |
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Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
50 Federal Street 6th Floor | Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(617) 742-7452 | kathyfranklin@mamh.org |
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