Practical Tools for Addressing Pediatric Mental Health Series

“The Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Empower Centers of Excellence in Family Behavioral Health are partnering to offer 6 training workshops in psychiatry for pediatricians. The series will provide practical lessons in psychiatry for busy pediatricians.  The first workshop is focused on Treatment Resistant/Complex ADHD, and will be on Thursday February 18th at 7am at the Empower offices near Yosemite/I-25.

This series was designed by pediatricians and psychiatrists to address some of the most the most common psychiatric complaints faced by clinicians.  We intend this to be interactive, evidence based and offer practical guidelines for pediatricians to help in their management of common behavioral conditions.

The series will be split between morning workshops with coffee/bagels and evening workshops with wine tasting and hot tapas.  The cost of these seminars is $5.00 for morning sessions and $25.00 for evening sessions.  Click here for more information on location, times, and dates for the series which will extend through December 2016.  You may register for 1 or all of the 6 workshops.  The times of these seminars is intended to be before or after office hours during your busy clinic days. For more information and to register, click here.” [Source: Empower Centers of Excellence in Family Behavioral Health]

Mental Health First Aid Colorado offers Youth Instructor Training Opportunity

“Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Colorado is planning to host two Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor courses in the coming months and is now accepting applications for interested candidates. These are five-day “train-the-trainer” style courses for individuals to become certified to deliver the 8-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid training course in their community.  The Youth MHFA Application Packet asks applicants to indicate and rank their availability for the two planned courses.

Please note that the funding for this opportunity is still being confirmed and these training courses will not take place should those funds become unavailable for any reason. However, the intent is that selected applicants will receive a full scholarship to pay for their participation in the training ($2,000 value). Travel and related expenses would be the responsibility of selected applicants.

All applications must be fully completed and submitted via email to Rikke Siersbaek at rsiersbaek@cbhc.org or delivered in person to the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council at 1580 Logan Street, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203. Applications are due no later than 3:00pm, Friday, April 25th. Questions can be submitted to Brian Turner at bturner@cbhc.org.”  [Source: CBHC]

Regional Federal Partners host webinar series on mental health

“Region VIII Federal Partners are hosting "Improving the Mental and Emotional Well-Being of Communities through the National Prevention Strategy," a series of webinars based on the National Prevention Strategy. Each webinar in this series highlights ways Federal agencies are working with communities to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life – physically and mentally - by shifting the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on prevention and wellness.

The target audience for the series is staff from Federal, State, and local governments; Tribal nations and communities; community based-organizations; academia; advocacy groups; and faith-based organizations. All webinars are on Thursdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. MT.  Click here to learn more or register.

• Community and Historical Trauma: Surviving and Recovering – Feb. 20
• Recognizing and Responding to Trauma – March 20
• Reducing Stigma and Misunderstanding of Mental Health – May 22
• Prescription Drug Abuse:  Why Does it Matter and What Can We Do? – July 17
• Recovery Oriented Systems of Care – Sept. 18
• Suicide Prevention and Response: Successful Community Strategies – Nov. 20”  [Source:  COPrevent]

Mental Health Help Available for Coloradans Affected By Flooding

“The waters are receding, but for many in Colorado, the stress and sense of loss caused by the floods have not.  Because Coloradans experienced trauma, were displaced, lost homes or employment, and now are left to pick up the physical, financial and emotional pieces of their lives, many may be at an increased risk for suicide. Now is the time to be vigilant to the emotional needs of our neighbors who may have suffered a loss during this disaster.

The best and most immediate resource for those in crisis is the Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1.800.273.TALK (8255). 

For the friends, families, and professionals in the lives of those in crisis, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified resources for helping victims cope in the aftermath of a disaster: http://emergency.cdc.gov/mentalhealth.

Resources include:

• Talking to Children and Youth about Traumatic Events
• Helping Families Deal With the Stress of Relocation After a Disaster
• Preventing Violence after a Natural Disaster
• Coping Tips for Emergency and Disaster Responders
• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters

Events like the Colorado floods are reminders that continued suicide prevention education and awareness is critical. People need to know when to ask for help for themselves, and how to intervene when others need help. Communities throughout Colorado provide suicide prevention training programs, and resources like Man Therapy provide information and tools for people hesitant to access traditional mental health services.

Learn more about suicide awareness and support resources from Mental Health America of Colorado.” [Source: COPrevent]

States Prepare for the Newly Insured: A Conversation about Mental Health and Substance Abuse Needs

Date: Mon, May 13, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM EDT; Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Of the 22 million uninsured expected to gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act in 2014, more than 4 million projected to take-up coverage will have mental health or substance use disorders. On this webinar, after a brief overview of new data made available by SAMHSA, state and local officials and other experts will talk about how states are preparing to ensure service access for these individuals newly covered through Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges...Click here to register.  [Source: Stafe Reforum]

Mental Health and the ACA

Mental Health America of Colorado has created a detailed summary of the implications of the Affordable Health Care Act on mental health in Colorado.  View it online.

Mental Health Report

Mental Health, United States, 2010, the latest in a series of publications issued biannually by SAMHSA since 1980, provides in-depth information regarding the current status of the mental health field.

This publication includes national-level statistical information on trends in both private- and public-sector behavioral health services, costs, and clients. It also includes state-level data and information about special populations such as children, military families, nursing home residents, and incarcerated individuals.

Mental Health Initiatives Grants

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation: Mental Health and Well-Being

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation works to reduce health disparities by strengthening community-based healthcare worker capacity, integrating medical care and community-based supportive services, and mobilizing communities. The Foundation’s Mental Health and Well-Being initiative leverages public and private sector partners in the community and outside the clinic to increase disease awareness, educate patients about effective self-management of their illness, reduce stigma, and provide emotional support. Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations that address one of the following issues: the mental health needs of returning military service members, veterans, and their families; or the over-representation of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system. Letters of inquiry must be submitted via email by April 13, 2012. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the letter of inquiry guidelines.

Mental Health First Aid Course this month!

A 12 hour certification course to help communities better understand mental illness and respond to psychiatric emergencies.

Mondays: January 9, 16, 23, & 30
4:00pm-7:00pm
East Montclair Community Center, 6740 E. Colfax Ave., Denver 80220

Click here for more information and how to register.