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Scope Note: The spectrum from mental illness to mental wellness.

Achieving the promise: Transforming mental health care in America
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/freedomcomm.pdf
The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was charged with studying the mental health service delivery system and making recommendations that would enable adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbance to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. Six goals and corresponding recommendations have been identified. Includes Executive Order 13263 of April 29, 2002.
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Anxiety disorders on campus: The growing need for college mental health services
URL: http://www.adaa.org/Bookstore/Publications/ADAA%20Report%20-%20FINAL%20embargoed.pdf
This report seeks to review the counseling and mental health resources available at America’s top colleges and universities to help determine whether these institutions are prepared to assist students who have an anxiety disorder with appropriate diagnostic counseling and other mental health services.
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Assessing and responding to mental health needs after a disaster
URL: http://www.sprc.org/grantees/pdf/2006/Crosby_Disaster.pdf
State/Tribal/Adolescents at Risk Suicide Prevention Grantee Technical Assistance Meeting. December 12–14, 2006, North Bethesda, MD. Discusses: definition of and types of disasters; psychological impact; and results from field investigations.
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Building bridges: Mental health consumers and members of faith-based and community organizations in dialogue
URL: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA04-3868/default.asp
This monograph summarizes findings and recommendations from the SAMHSA’s CMHS sponsored dialogue between mental health consumers and members of the faith community.
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The campaign for mental health reform
URL: http://www.mhreform.org/
A collaboration of mental health organizations from across the nation working with federal policymakers to make the transformation of the United States's mental health care system a national priority. The Campaign is guided by the Final Report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.
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Child and adolescent mental health toolkit
URL: http://www.mhatexas.org/2006CHILDandADOLESCENTMHToolkit.htm
Includes: bilingual children’s mental health brochures and mini-posters; "Positive parenting" fact sheet; relevant state and national resources; materials for "Children’s mental health" presentation; "Working with the media to promote children’s mental health" tip sheet; and a radio Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the subject.
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Cultural competence in mental health
URL: http://www.upennrrtc.org/var/tool/file/142-CulturalCompetency.pdf
This brochure briefly describes: what is culture; what is cultural competence; diversity in the United States; how to incorporate cultural competency standards into practice; and an example of cultural competence in practice (a community-based intervention for elderly Chinese Americans).
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Cultural competency: A practical guide for mental health service providers
URL: http://www.hogg.utexas.edu/PDF/Saldana.pdf
Defines the term "cultural competency". Provides guidance for mental health professionals on: developing essential knowledge, skills and attributes; building counselor/client rapport; translator and interpreter challenges; connecting with families; and confidentiality issues.
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Early childhood mental health consultation: An evaluation tool kit
URL: http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/files/products_publications/TACenter/ecmhc_toolkit.pdf
Combines a brief review of the literature and current research addressing the effectiveness of early childhood mental health consultation with guidance for designing and implementing program evaluation. It will help states, communities, and programs increase their capacity for high-quality evaluation of early childhood mental health consultation in community-based settings.
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Effects of the Vermont mental health and substance abuse parity law
URL: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/PDFs/vtparity.pdf
Vermont implemented the Nation’s most comprehensive parity law in 1998, extending equality of health insurance coverage to both mental health and substance abuse services. This evaluation includes an implementation case study, an employer survey, and an analysis of health plan claims/encounter data. Much of the analysis focuses on the experiences of two health plans—Kaiser/Community Health Plan and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont, which covered 80 percent of the privately insured state population at the time.
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Evidence-based practices and multicultural mental health
URL: http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Fact_Sheets1&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=63974
The mental health field is increasingly requiring evidence based practices (EBPs) in an effort to boost quality, effectiveness, and accountability in mental health care services. This resource was created to provide information to NAMI stakeholders—individuals with mental illness, families, providers, and partners—on the literature discussing EBPs, with special consideration of multicultural issues. Discusses: the basics of EBPs; history of the EBP movement; EBP challenges; cultural adaptations of EBPs; utilization of culturally specific interventions (i.e., practice-based evidence models); and policy considerations.
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Evidence-based practices for preventing substance abuse and mental health problems in older adults. - Excerpt: Prevention of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems
URL: http://www.samhsa.gov/OlderAdultsTAC/EBPCo-OccurringProblemssectionFINAL.pdf
This report discusses: demographic imperative for addressing late-life substance use and mental health problems; current terminology of the subject; published evidence base for the prevention and early intervention; and implementation issues that align with state needs and priorities. Five specific areas are addressed: alcohol misuse; medication misuse; depression and anxiety; suicide; and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems.
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Federal Action Agenda: First Steps
URL: http://www.samhsa.gov/Federalactionagenda/NFC_TOC.aspx
This agenda is part of Transforming Mental Health Care in America, a multi-year effort to alter the form and function of the mental health system. The agenda is a collaborative product of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies and offices, along with five other Departments and the Social Security Administration. Each participating Federal Department and agency created an inventory of its current mental health activities. An additional list was created by each Federal partner outlining proposals for transforming programs and practices. From these inventories and lists of transforming activities, the agenda was developed.
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GLBTQI mental health: Recommendations for policies and services
URL: http://www.upennrrtc.org/var/tool/file/222-GLBTQI_MH_Recommendations_for_Policies_and_Services-1.pdf
This resource guide provides important considerations for service providers and policy makers, including an assessment of the barriers faced by individuals in the GLBTQI community who are seeking mental health care and practical strategies to address these obstacles. The information is based on both a growing body of literature on the topic and the focus groups conducted by the authors.
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Goals & model programs identified in The President’s New Freedom Commission On Mental Health report
URL: http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Public_Policy/New_Freedom_Commission/Default1169.htm
This webpage links to the 6 goals and the 12 model programs highlighted in the New Freedom Commission Report. The page also includes a link to the full-text of the report.
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Guidelines for working effectively with interpreters in a mental health setting
URL: http://www.vtpu.org.au/docs/interpreter/VTPU_GuidelinesBooklet.pdf
These guidelines from Australia are intended to assist mental health staff to understand the characteristics of interpreted meetings and to develop the knowledge and skills that are necessary for working in partnership with interpreters.
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Improving the quality of health care for mental and substance-use conditions
URL: http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11470&page=R1
Quality Chasm Series. Quality Chasm strategy, put forth by the IOM in 2001, is a strategy for improving health care overall. It attained considerable traction in the United States and other countries. This report finds that the Quality Chasm framework can be applied to health care for mental and substance-use conditions and describes a comprehensive strategy for doing so.
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Issues of access to and inclusion in behavioral health services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex consumers
URL: http://www.upennrrtc.org/var/tool/file/223-OMHSAS%20LGBTQI%20Workgroup%20Recommendations.pdf
Recommendations to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS from the LGBTQI Workgroup on how to ensure that OMHSAS, county mental health programs, behavioral health managed care organizations, and mental health provider agencies reduce disparities in outcomes between LGBTQI individuals with a mental illness and the general population.
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Legacy Wheel
URL: http://www.promoteprevent.org/Resources/legacy_wheel/
This online manual educates the Center grantees on eight key program development areas: relationships among community entities (agencies, coalitions, schools, and parent groups), and between individuals; community awareness of mental health or youth violence issues; leadership across and within systems; policies and procedures; the use of evaluation data in decision making; staff competencies and other program capacities; strategic planning approaches; and funding streams.
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The mental health of adolescents: A national profile, 2008
URL: http://nahic.ucsf.edu/downloads/MentalHealthBrief.pdf
This brief highlights existing national data about adolescent mental health status, assesses shortcomings of current data and offers recommendations to address these limitations.
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A mental health recovery and community integration guide for GLBTQI individuals: What you need to know
URL: http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Multicultural_Support1/Fact_Sheets1/GLBTQI_Recovery_Community_Integration_booklet.pdf
This 12-page booklet covers a range of key issues in mental health recovery and community integration, such as treatment and rehabilitation, financial support, housing, employment, and peer support, with specific information to address the unique needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (GLBTQI) individuals with a mental illness.
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Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General
URL: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html
This report recognizes the intertwined relationship between mental and physical health. Focuses on following aspects of the subject: age groups (children, adults and older adults); services' organizing and financing; and confidentiality of information.
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Mental health: Culture, race, and ethnicity. — A supplement to Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General
URL: http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/SMA-01-3613/sma-01-3613A.pdf
Considers mental health services for the following racial and ethnic groups: African Americans; American Indians and Alaska Natives; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and Hispanic Americans;
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Mental HealthWorks
URL: http://www.workplacementalhealth.org/news/mental_healthworks_newsletter.aspx
A new quarterly publication of the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychiatric Foundation, focuses on mental health/workplace issues.
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Mental illness and suicide
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/mentalillness.pdf
Data is listed for deaths by suicide and diagnosis. Adapted from the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action.
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National healthcare disparities report
URL: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr05/nhdr05.htm
This report represents the first national comprehensive effort to measure differences in access and use of health care services by various populations. The report includes a broad set of performance measures that can serve as baseline views of differences in the use of services. The report presents data on the differences in the use of services, access to health care, and impressions of quality for seven clinical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, heart disease, HIV and AIDS, mental health, and respiratory disease as well as data on maternal and child health, nursing home and home health care, and patient safety. It also examines differences in use of services by priority populations.
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National Mental Health Awareness Campaign
URL: http://nostigma.org/about_us.php
NMHAC, a nationwide nonpartisan public education campaign, was launched as part of the 1999 White House Conference on Mental Health organized by Tipper Gore. It has a two-pronged goal: encourage people to identify, discuss, and seek help for mental health problems; and create a more accepting environment for them to do so. The website includes materials for campaign speakers, students, adults, and professionals.
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No longer alone: A resource manual for rural sexual minority youth and the adults who serve them
URL: http://www.nyacyouth.org/docs/ruralyouth/NoLongerAlone.pdf
This resource manual assists concerned adults in creating safe environments for rural gay youth. Includes information for students, teachers, and social service providers. Offers a comprehensive list of resources.
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Protecting your child’s mental health: What can parents do?
URL: http://www.jedfoundation.org/documents/parentsguide.pdf
A brochure for parents of college students. Explains the basics of college metal health system.
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Quick guide to working with interpreters in mental health settings
URL: http://www.vtpu.org.au/docs/interpreter/VTPU_Poster.pdf
A manual from Australia on how to: book an appropriate interpreter; check him/her; communicate with an interpreter before, during, and after meeting.
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Research on the mental health consequences of disaster (Presentation)
URL: http://www.sprc.org/grantees/pdf/2006/Tuma.pdf
State/Tribal/Adolescents at Risk Suicide Prevention Grantee Technical Assistance Meeting. December 12–14, 2006, North Bethesda, MD. Considers the following aspects of the research on the mental health consequences of disaster: the reasons to study the effects of disasters and mass trauma; what has been studied; what has been learned; and implications for intervention.
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Schizophrenia-NIMH
URL: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
Section of the NIMH website that covers the topic of schizophrenia. Discusses the definition, symptoms and treatments, and links to other resources on the topic.
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State mandates for treatment for mental health illness and substance abuse disorders
URL: http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/Ken/pdf/SMA07-4228/CMHS17a_StateMandates_web.pdf
Focuses on state-mandated benefits, state laws regulating mental health and addiction treatment workers, and state-recognized mental health clinicians with authority to prescribe psychotropic medications.
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Student mental health
URL: http://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/uploads/documents/spectrum/Spectrum_Current_Version.pdf
Student Health Spectrum. 2008 April; Special Issue. Largely drawn from NASPA’s 2008 Strategies Conference on Mental Health: Intervention and collaboration.
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Student mental health and the law: A resource for institutions of higher education
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/Jed_legal_resource.pdf
A tool to aid colleges in developing awareness of various issues and concerns relating to students' mental health and in developing or revising policies, protocols and procedures suitable to the unique environment of each particular college.
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Suicide prevention efforts for individuals with serious mental illness: Roles for the State Mental Health Authority
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/SeriousMI.pdf
This report is the fourteenth in a series of Technical Reports produced by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). The report outlines the State Mental Health Authority’s (SMHA) leadership role in preventing suicide among persons with serious mental illness. It suggests ways in which SMHAs can increase collaboration, raise awareness of the signs of suicide, and intervene to save lives.
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Surgeon General's workshop on Women’s Mental Health. November 30 – December 1, 2005, Denver, Colorado
URL: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/womensmentalhealth/mentalhlth_rpt.pdf
Summarizes the views and issues addressed at the workshop. Includes: an executive summary; an introduction to the background and purpose of the workshop; the Surgeon General's Women's Mental Health Project; and the state of women's mental health.
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What a difference a friend makes (National Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign)
URL: http://whatadifference.org/
SAMHSA launched this campaign to encourage, educate, and inspire people between 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. The prevalence of serious mental health conditions in this age group is almost double that of the general population, yet young people have the lowest rate of help-seeking behaviors. This group has a high potential to minimize future disability if social acceptance is broadened and they receive the right support and services early on.
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