West Health’s Post

Addressing the behavioral health needs of older adults requires multiple approaches. Here is a blog by my colleagues at the West Health Policy Center that discusses approaches states can take. https://lnkd.in/g8zUZEHs

Washington State's yearly Prenatal through age 25 Behavioral Health Access Report is now live on the innerwebs! Get a glimpse of #access to #mentalhealth #substanceuse #providers #eatingdisorders and #lookingforward Special #thankyou to Kimberly "Kiki" Fabian and @KariSamuel for sharing their gifts and artistry in creation of this report, and the many many stakeholders in layers of input required to #makeitpossible https://lnkd.in/gWDfxUCs

In her op-ed for Going Digital: Behavioral Health Tech, our CEO, Nicoletta “Nicki” Tessler, Psy.D., M.B.A., shares her vision for how technology allows us to take what’s working in clinical practice or in the research and package it into something fun, likable, scalable, less stigmatized and easier to access. “In this digital world, teens expect immediacy & convenience, and their needs & feelings can’t always wait for their next appointment. If we want to meet them where they are, technology has to be part of the equation.” #mentalhealth #GenZ #teenmentalhealth #GenAlpha #behavioralhealth

Each July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observes National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This observance aims to shed light on the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority groups and to promote mental health equity. Understanding and addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering a healthier, more inclusive society. The Importance of Mental Health Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is as vital as physical health throughout our lives. With nearly 1 in 4 US adults living with a mental illness, addressing mental health issues is essential. These issues are not only common but also treatable and often preventable. The Role of Public Health Organizations Public health organizations play a pivotal role in enhancing mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups. They can implement several strategies to ensure their programs and policies are inclusive and effective: Best Practices: Integrate best practices for reducing racism, consider social determinants of health, and utilize data on mental health to address the unique historical, social, and cultural factors impacting minority groups. Inclusive Programming: Involve perspectives, ideas, and decision-making from racial and ethnic minority groups at all stages of programming, from planning to evaluation. Evaluation and Monitoring: Conduct evaluation and monitoring activities to assess progress toward health equity and the elimination of racial disparities. Educational Materials: Develop and disseminate culturally and linguistically appropriate, inclusive, and respectful educational materials and communication activities. Partnerships: Engage in partnership activities to fill gaps in expertise and ensure diverse representation. The Role of Healthcare Systems Healthcare systems also have a crucial role in improving mental health for minority groups. They can take several proactive steps: Screening and Referral: Screen patients for depression and other mental health conditions and refer them to accessible mental health care services. Educational Outreach: Provide mental health educational materials to all patients during appointments, through patient portals, and in waiting rooms. Diverse Recruitment: Recruit mental healthcare providers who reflect the race and ethnicity of the populations they serve. Cultural Humility Training: Offer cultural humility training to mental healthcare providers to improve their understanding and responsiveness to patients’ cultural contexts. Culturally Appropriate Services: Ensure mental healthcare services are culturally and linguistically appropriate to meet the needs of diverse populations. #autismlatino #autismlatinomagazine #news #health #parents #kids #blockworkmedia #MinorityMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters

🌟 Discover a wealth of expert insights on our latest blog posts! 🌟 At PracticeWise, we are dedicated to supporting youth and family behavioral health. Our blog is packed with valuable resources and practical tips, not just for providers, but also for caregivers, teachers, peers, and anyone involved in the care and development of young people. Whether you're looking for strategies to help students with anxiety, ways to foster positive behavior at home, or insights into the latest research in behavioral health, our experts have got you covered. 📚 Dive into our blogs to find actionable advice and support for the challenges you face every day. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gBZBk-U8 #BehavioralHealth #YouthSupport #FamilyCare #Caregivers #Teachers #MentalHealthResources #PracticeWise

The ABA puzzle: Diversification or risk aversion? This article by Behavioral Health Business explores how ABA providers can navigate changing regulations and ensure long-term success. Read it and find your missing piece! #ABA #RiskManagement #Diversification #BehavioralHealth #RegulationChanges #LongTermSuccess #TherapyServices #AutismSupport #BehavioralTherapy #HealthcareBusiness https://ow.ly/kOBw50QvCFj

Riggs-Yale Conference (virtual) According to the National Institutes of Health, almost 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a #mental, #emotional, developmental, or #behavioral disorder, with #suicidal behaviors among high #school students having risen over 40% in the last 15 years. These trends were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and have had a differential impact on systemically marginalized populations. About half of young children in the USA live in or near #poverty, also a social driver of family mental health. While individual treatment is an important approach to addressing the crisis, community-wide efforts aimed at #systemic intervention and prevention are essential. In this conference we will learn about creative approaches to building community-based partnerships to support at risk families and youth. We will examine the social and structural determinants of health and consider approaches to health equity improvement including how community narratives can build #collaboration. https://lnkd.in/ekJw9kdZ

We're thrilled to see more innovative strides being made in North Carolina's child behavioral health sector! 👧👦 The newly launched Child Behavioral Health Dashboard by NC Department of Health and Human Services is a game-changer, providing invaluable insights and data-driven solutions to address the needs of children and families across the state. 📊💡 By consolidating data from various sources, this dashboard gives service providers, policymakers, and stakeholders the tools to make informed decisions and tailor interventions effectively. 🛠️✨ What sets this dashboard apart is its ability to break down data by specific demographics, allowing for a targeted approach to address disparities and trends in child behavioral health. 🎯💬 Anyone can use it--it is open to the public and user-friendly-- and this resource marks a significant step towards ensuring every child in North Carolina receives the support they need to thrive. 🌟🏥 Thanks to NCDHHS for using data transparency to improve the lives of children and families in our community, Data-driven strategies create a positive impact and foster a healthier future for all. 🚀🌈 #ChildBehavioralHealth #Innovation #DataDrivenSolutions #NorthCarolina #MissionCatalystConsulting https://lnkd.in/eq4cfS5d

Great document detailing how to integrate voices of those with living experiences into systems of care.

I possess a unique background that appears to be undervalued in the Behavioral Health Sector in Oregon, and that's perfectly fine. I have no desire to be in a place where my contributions are not appreciated. Over the past few years, I've been exploring my role in the substance use recovery space in Oregon, an endeavor marked by ridicule, ostracism, and discrimination. These are not complaints but factual experiences. Unaware of my autism during this period, I found myself infantilized, manipulated, and exploited in many of these spaces. However, I've moved beyond these challenges. I've decided not to force myself into spaces that don't align with my authentic self, and it has become evident that these spaces are unwilling to expand to accommodate diversity. Inclusion, often treated as mere rhetoric in the behavioral health sector, is not consistently practiced and valued, which is ironic. What adds another layer of irony is that I've been marginalized for speaking up about these crucial topics. Autistic individuals, despite being particularly susceptible to developing substance use disorders, find their voices undervalued and underrepresented, as exemplified by my exclusion and that of many other autistic individuals from these spaces. Discrimination against autistic individuals is a prevalent issue in most of our state-informed or developed behavioral health initiatives, spanning policy advocacy, systems transformation, recovery spaces, and treatment providers. There's a pressing need for improvement, for our state authorities to genuinely acknowledge us. Unfortunately, the neurodivergent social exclusion intersection is consistently overlooked.