Douglas Huntsinger’s Post

Couldn’t join us for our recent conversation on behavioral health in San Francisco? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the most important takeaways from PRC leaders and the statewide coalition of social rehab agencies: ✅ There’s more energy and political will around behavioral health in halls of power across California than ever before. Just last year, there were more than 300 bills introduced on behavioral health, shattering levels from previous legislative sessions. That enthusiasm for solutions is in and of itself, a good thing.  ✅ It’s important to keep conversations around public health and criminality separate. Unfortunately, we’re seeing these conversations conflated. People who use drugs aren’t universally experiencing homelessness. People without homes aren’t universally using drugs or living with mental illness. We should reject language that says otherwise. We need to prioritize getting people into treatment, because it’s proven to work.  ✅ Ensuring that everyone has the behavioral healthcare they deserve isn’t the responsibility of the government or one stakeholder. It will take all of us, government leaders, public and private health sector, nonprofits and philanthropy, and the community, working together to get more people housed and more people in treatment. Ready to be a part of the solution? Share this post and video with your community. Sign up for our newsletter in our bio to stay up to date on the latest developments in the PRC community.

According to Mount Nittany Health’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, behavioral health was identified as the most pressing concern for residents and the top missing community resource. In the Emergency Department at Mount Nittany Medical Center, case managers work alongside providers and staff to ensure patients receive the most timely, equitable, patient-centered care possible. This team of 10 case managers cares for roughly 1,800 behavioral health patients each year, including approximately 225 children and adolescents, with the goal of improving access to screening, support, education, and treatment for individuals struggling with behavioral health problems. Addressing behavioral health needs in the community: https://ow.ly/ka5f50QYGoQ

I called Gov Walz, Sen Erin Murphy and Rep Melissa Hortman this morning urging them to fix a cut to critical access funding scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. PLEASE DO THE SAME! The MN Mental Health provider community, and the low income families and kids and individuals with disabilities that we serve — NEED YOUR HELP and your voice on this important topic! Today, we are joining the MN National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and other groups to make a push to call state leaders urging them to fix the upcoming rate cut and provide the much needed funding for mental health providers to do their work. 2 minutes of your time can make a world of difference! Please call: 1. MN Governor Tim Walz: 651-201-3400 2. Majority Leader Erin Murphy: 651-296-5931 3. Speaker Melissa Hortman: 651-296-4280 Message: We cannot wait to address the mental health crisis in Minnesota. We need you to raise the Health and Human Services budget target and fix the critical access rate cut this session. ✔️share your perspective as someone who works in behavioral health and to why this is important. ✔️share your perspective as someone who has been impacted by mental illness on why this is important. ✔️share your perspective as someone who cares about the health of our community and knows that cutting behavioral health care funding can lead to children and families are on months-long waitlists for services, people boarding in hospitals or languishing in jail. Providers are closing and Minnesotans are at the losing end of this lack of action by our leaders. Please share this with your networks and encourage others to contact leaders too. #mentalhealthmatters #MinnesotaMentalHealth #MentalHealthAdvocacy #MentalHealthLegislation

The state of mental health care in Arizona is harrowing, heartbreaking, and deeply concerning, ranking 49th in the nation for adults according to Mental Health America. Local advocacy groups and charity foundations are investing significant amounts of time, money, and resources into expanding services. But Arizonans seeking care continue to face barriers through no fault of their own. A growing body of evidence shows that integrating mental health into primary care increases access to services that improve clinical outcomes, increases patient satisfaction, and reduces costs. And evolvedMD is leading the way, expanding access to integrated services to over 2,350,000 Arizonans at their preferred primary care practice. Our unique approach is the best way for Arizonans and their families to get the care they deserve and live happier, healthier lives. If you're a primary care leader who wants to meet their patients' whole health needs—physical and mental health—partner with us today to combat the state's persisting mental health crisis. #IntegratedCare #Arizona #MentalHealthMatters #PrimaryCare

Relink.org is interested in sharing an article from the Columbus Dispatch dated July 10, 2024, which highlights the significant increase in calls to the suicide hotline 988 in the Central Ohio region in 2024. The article reports that there has been a more than 50% rise in calls during the first half of 2024, with an average of approximately 1,600 calls per month from individuals in crisis in central Ohio. This surge is largely attributed to the growing awareness of the service and increased funding. As the program nears its second year on July 16, the community is urged to utilize the 988 hotline for immediate assistance if experiencing suicidal thoughts. Here is a link to the article: https://buff.ly/4f3INRb For those seeking support with Behavioral Health needs across all 88 counties of Ohio, the free and confidential website relink.org offers a wide range of resources. If you are NOT currently in a crisis, you are encouraged to explore the resources available on relink.org.

States are facing an urgent need to improve crisis response services for children, youth, and families due to increased youth behavioral health needs combined with strained behavioral health systems. On this National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, we invite you to explore our resources to find out how states are taking steps to improve access to crisis receiving and stabilization facilities to meet the growing needs of today’s youth: https://loom.ly/YYv0ZeM #ChildrensMentalHealthAwarenessDay #CMHAD2024

I called Gov Walz, Sen Erin Murphy and Rep Melissa Hortman this morning. To orge them to fix a cut to critical access funding scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. PLEASE DO THE SAME! The MN Mental Health provider community, and the low income families and kids and individuals with disabilities that we serve — NEED YOUR HELP and your voice on this important topic! Today, we are joining the MN National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and other groups to make a push to call state leaders urging them to fix the upcoming rate cut and provide the much needed funding for mental health providers to do their work. 2 minutes of your time can make a world of difference! Please call: 1. MN Governor Tim Walz: 651-201-3400 2. Majority Leader Erin Murphy: 651-296-5931 3. Speaker Melissa Hortman: 651-296-4280 Message: We cannot wait to address the mental health crisis in Minnesota. We need you to raise the Health and Human Services budget target and fix the critical access rate cut this session. ✔️share your perspective as someone who works in behavioral health and to why this is important. ✔️share your perspective as someone who has been impacted by mental illness on why this is important. ✔️share your perspective as someone who cares about the health of our community and knows that cutting behavioral health care funding can lead to children and families are on months-long waitlists for services, people boarding in hospitals or languishing in jail. Providers are closing and Minnesotans are at the losing end of this lack of action by our leaders. Please share this with your networks and encourage others to contact leaders too. Sue Abderholden Nystrom & Associates, Ltd. #mentalhealthmatters #MNleg #MHLN #MinnesotaMentalHealth #MentalHealthAdvocacy #MentalHealthLegislation

California is investing in a mental health system that works for everyone, including children & youth in underserved & marginalized communities. This #NationalMinorityHealthMonth, join us in uplifting the importance of innovative programs - co-created by youth, parents & local leaders -, that meet communities where they are. Through the state's five-year investment in the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), we are working to close historic gaps in access and treatment for mental health challenges. Learn more about how the #CYBHI uses a #HealthEquity lens in every aspect of its work: cybhi.chhs.ca.gov/about

CCBHCs provide coordinated, comprehensive access to behavioral health services in accordance with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) criteria. To better support and guide organizations, The Joint Commission now has new standards specific to CCBHCs available for behavioral health and human services organizations. #TJC #thejointcommission #collaboration #standardofcare #regulatoryupdate #evidenceofperformance #qualityassurance #integratedcare #valuebasedcare #evidencebasedpractice

Your Voice is Needed!! The City of Columbia is pressuring the Department of Mental Health to provide property on Farrow Road for the purpose of moving the homeless population away from downtown, and away from the services and assistance they desperately need. There is currently no plan in place to provide a support system to individuals when moved to the new location. The issues with the proposed move in its current state: - less access to transportation - isolation of community members - lack of access to food resources - no plans in place to support the community members moved - no commitment in place for resources to community members once moved - potential lack of access to services We ask the commission to say no until they receive plans and input from the community to best serve people in need. A long term strategy is vital to making sure the interests of our most vulnerable community members are met. Your voice is needed on this critical issue! Please join the SC Mental Health Commission’s meeting this Friday to help advocate against this move. Meeting details: What: Scheduled Meeting of the S.C. Mental Health Commission Meeting When: Friday, May 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. Where: South Carolina Department of Mental Health (DMH), 2414 Bull Street, Columbia, 29201 in Room 320