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GREETINGS

NIMH Director Insel

NIMH Director Thomas Insel, MD

There has been much public attention given to suicide recently, largely due to several events that occurred close together – the high-profile death of Robin Williams followed by the release of a World Health Organization global suicide prevention report that came out just days before World Suicide Prevention Day. These events publicly highlighted the fact that suicide does not discriminate–it occurs in every corner of the world and during almost every stage of life. But public attention has now moved on to other urgent news such as the potential spread of the Ebola virus. It is critical, however, that we in the mental health community press to keep the importance of suicide prevention efforts in the forefront of the public health agenda. Our efforts should aim to shift the conversation from a focus on the tragedy of suicide to one that underscores that suicide is preventable and there is reason for hope. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s A Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention lays out an ambitious plan to reduce suicide attempts and deaths by 20 percent in five years through coordinated, focused research efforts to implement interventions that have been proven (e.g., reducing access to lethal means) and to close the gaps in our current knowledge.

NIMH has several initiatives underway to help move from research to reality. The first major findings from the NIMH/Department of Defense Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) project were published this spring, and two recently launched studies–the NIMH-funded Emergency Department Screen for Teens at Risk for Suicide and a study supported by the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory–will test tools to help us better identify individuals who are at risk for suicide and more precisely predict who will go on to attempt suicide. These tools may also help in the treatment of individuals having suicidal thoughts through an intervention developed collaboratively with important insights from people who have experienced suicidal thoughts and/or survived suicide attempts themselves. These studies are vital; as with all science, however, it will take some time to see the results. In the meantime, we applaud your critically important efforts that are making a difference every day—from encouraging responsible media reporting and promoting suicide prevention help lines, to raising awareness and getting at-risk individuals to appropriate care. 


PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Getting Research Out

Outreach Partners disseminate NIMH materials and research findings throughout their state.

AYFN Tweet

Alaska Youth and Family Network tweeted about a new NIMH-funded study to test a suicide risk tool for teenagers.

NAMI Arkansas used NIMH statistics about mental illness in a presentation to local housing authority staff.

MHA Colorado distributed NIMH materials at Salute for Seniors, Colorado's largest senior-focused information and resource fair.

NAMI Indiana used Facebook to remind its constituents about the importance of language when communicating about suicide, and linked to the recommendations for reporting on suicide.

NAMI Indiana Facebook post
MHA SWKNWO Slide

Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio included NIMH statistics about suicide prevention and findings from the Army STARRS study in its cable show about suicide prevention.

The MHA of Maryland used information provided by the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center's Early Intervention Program (EIP), a NIMH RAISE study site, to produce an EIP and psychosis fact sheet for its updated Family Resource Kit

NAMI Minnesota live-tweeted from NIMH Director Dr. Thomas Insel's presentation at the 2014 NAMI Convention Research Plenary.

NAMI MN Tweet

NAMI Southwest Missouri posted a recent blog entry by Francis Collins, MD, PhD, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, about the team approach to treating teen depression on its Facebook page.

NAMI SWMO Facebook post

NAMI New Hampshire distributed NIMH publications at a training session with the deaf and hard of hearing community regarding mental illness and suicide prevention. 

NAMI North Carolina Google+  

NAMI North Carolina posted a photo on Google+ of an exhibit featuring NIMH publications at a local mental health expo.

NAMI Ohio used NIMH information about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in testimony to support worker compensation for first responders with PTSD.

NIMH Publication Tx Mental Disorders in Children

The Federation of Families of South Carolina (FFSC) incorporated the NIMH booklet, Treatment of Children with Mental Illness, into its parent support provider training at their annual conference.

During May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Consumer Voices are Born, the Washington Outreach Partner, distributed NIMH brochures as part of presentations to at-risk high school students and families with children in the public mental health system.

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Extending the Reach

After the Program's Annual Meeting, Partners are bringing the findings to their communities.

Michigan Newsletter

NAMI New York State (NYS) and NAMI Michigan shared summaries of the Annual Meeting presentations in their newsletters.

A number of partners, including NAMI Iowa, Mental Health America of Texas, and NAMI Virginia, linked to the Annual Meeting PPT presentations on their websites and enews.

Sherry Glied

NAMI NYS shared the NIH Record article summarizing the presentation by health policy expert Sherry Glied, PhD "Implementing Mental Health Parity in the Current Health Care Paradigm" via its enews.

Meeting Street, the Rhode Island Outreach Partner, provided updates to its Early Intervention Mental Health team, and Arizona State University gave relevant research updates to psychiatric nurse practitioner students.

NAMI IA PPT

NAMI Iowa shared research findings at its affiliate meetings through a compilation of Annual Meeting presentations.


Tackling Disparities

Outreach Partners conduct outreach projects addressing mental disorders among children and adolescents, or mental health disparities.

Mental Health Association of New York City: Mental Health and the Elder Boom

MHA NYC Logo

The Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC), through a contract jointly funded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department for the Aging, has been working to address the mental health needs of older adults. An estimated 20 percent of older adults have diagnosable mental and/or substance use disorders; that number is expected to rise as the “baby boom” becomes the “elder boom.” Older adults are more likely than their younger counterparts to live with one or more chronic physical illnesses and/or functional disabilities, which increase their risk for depression and social isolation. Yet there is a significant lack of both geriatric mental health specialists and mental health services available to provide care in the home, where older adults living with disabilities spend much of their time.

Among its efforts to address the mental health needs of older adults, MHA-NYC launched an effort in 2012 to reach underserved homebound older adults. The program featured telephone-based psychoeducation, depression screening, and linkage to evaluation and treatment services for those older adults at-risk for depression. Homebound older adults referred to the program were engaged in an interactive group workshop delivered by phone, individually screened for depression and, if indicated, linked to community-based treatment services. The telephone-based project served more than 650 older adults between 2012 and 2014. The interactive workshop incorporated NIMH information geared for older adults on topics such as depression. To learn more about MHA-NYC’s other older adult education and advocacy work, visit http://www.mhaofnyc.org/gmha/.

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Promoting Research Opportunities

Outreach Partners are informing their communities about NIMH-funded trials actively recruiting participants.

The FFSC posted a blog highlighting the benefits of clinical research.

MHA NYC Tweet

In observance of suicide prevention awareness week, the MHA NYC promoted NIMH-funded trials about suicide prevention seeking study participants via Tweeter.


Collaborating with Researchers

Partners team up to connect communities with researchers to promote research participation and findings.

The University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center, the New Mexico Outreach Partner, is participating in an NIMH-funded grant to pilot an intervention that combines group Interpersonal Psychotherapy, an empirically supported treatment, and the Historical Trauma and Unresolved Grief Intervention (HTUG), a Tribal Best Practice for American Indians. HTUG focuses on grief, depression, and trauma response resolution related to collective massive group trauma across generations and the lifespan for American Indians. UNM is working with two Indian Health Service funded clinics to deliver the interventions—one in New Mexico and the other in Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

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Taking Research to the Community

Partners provide opportunities for NIMH scientists and grantees to present their findings at local meetings and conferences.

Kenneth Kendler

At the NAMI Virginia State Convention NIMH grantee Kenneth Kendler, MD, from Virginia Commonwealth University presented the keynote, "The State of Psychiatric Genetics Research."

MHAOK Amy Goldstein

Amy Goldstein, PhD, NIMH Associate Director for Prevention Research, presented about Prediction and Early Intervention of Psychosis at the Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHA OK) Zarrow Symposium. After the meeting MHA OK posted a video and summary of the presentation in a blog post.

Wisconsin Family Ties co-sponsored the training, Translating Emerging Brain Science into Positive Impact for Wisconsin's Children and Families, featuring NIMH grantee, Pat Levitt, PhD, from the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles' Institute for the Developing Mind. 

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Outreach Connection is a service of the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) Outreach Partnership Program (OPP).

Fall 2014


New NIMH Catalog

NIMH Catalog

NIMH launched the NIMH Catalog, the redesigned NIMH online publication ordering website. New features included advanced search capabilities, ability to save “favorites,” and duplicate previous orders.  Check it out!


First Wave of Funding for BRAIN Initiative Research

Brain Image

Calling it "the beginning of an ambitious journey", the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced its first wave of grants in support of the BRAIN Initiative. This initial round of awards totals $46 million to support the goal of developing deeper understanding of the brain that will ultimately catalyze new treatments and cures for devastating brain disorders and diseases.


National Partner Activities

Thanks to the National Partners for actively promoting NIMH research.

Meeting Highlights

MHA Convention Wang

Mental Health America tweeted the "State of the Science" keynote given by NIMH Deputy Director Philip Wang, MD, DrPH at its recent Annual Conference in Atlanta.

NIMH scientist Daniel Pine, MD, Chief, Child and Adolescent Research, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program in the NIMH Division of Intramural Research Programs (DIRP), spoke about childhood anxiety at the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Discovery to Recovery Conference.


OPP Visits Outreach Partners

Mary Ellen Nudd MHA Texas

Texas Suicide Prevention Symposium

In August, Outreach Liaison Samantha Helfert participated in this symposium co-hosted by the Mental Health America of Texas.

Oklahoma: Annual Zarrow Mental Health Symposium

In September, Outreach Liaison Rajni Agarwal participated in this meeting hosted by the MHA Oklahoma.


Recent NIMH Twitter Chats

Two NIMH Twitter chats in October reached millions--thank you for your efforts promoting them!

Caregiving Advice to Support a Loved One with Schizophrenia
In observance of Mental Illness Awareness Week, NIMH scientists and Everyday Health's Sanjay Gupta, MD discussed the role of caregivers in the lives of people with schizophrenia and shared what types of resources, support groups, and therapies are available to patients and caregivers.

Depression and the Development of Novel Medications
On National Depression Screening Day, NIMH expert Carlos Zarate, MD discussed his research on new medications for treatment-resistant depression.

Miss the chats? Transcripts are available!


Studies Seeking Participants

The NIMH DIRP in Bethesda, MD is seeking participants for the following trials. Spread the word.

NIH Clinical Center

Treatment-Resistant Depression & Ketamine

(Inpatient: 6-8 weeks) This study of ketamine, a drug that affects glutamate in the brain, seeks to understand the causes of depression and whether a rapid reduction of antidepressant symptoms (within hours) can be achieved and sustained. Recruiting ages 18-65. [04-M-0222]

Treatment of Severe Mood Dysregulation

(Inpatient: 12- to 15 weeks) This study tests the efficacy of different treatments for decreasing irritability in children with severe mood and behavioral problems. Participants have symptoms of severe irritability and are not doing well on their current medications. The child must be currently in treatment with a physician, medically healthy and not currently hospitalized, psychotic or suicidal. The study includes day or full hospitalization to discontinue medication, followed by either methylphenidate plus citalopram, or methylphenidate plus placebo. Recruiting ages 7-17. [09-M-0034] 

Childhood-Onset Psychotic Disorders

(Inpatient: 3 weeks & 4-6 months) This study investigates the causes and treatment of childhood psychotic disorders that start prior to age 12. Thorough evaluations are provided including genetic studies, and further participation in a drug treatment sub-study is optional. Currently recruiting ages 6-18. [89-M-0006]


New NIMH Join A Study Webpage

The NIMH DIRP Join a Study webpage has a new look and URL.

Go to www.nimh.nih.gov/JoinAStudy to learn about the mental health research studies conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Studies enroll locally, regionally, and nationally.


NIH Clinical Research and You

NIH Clinical Trials and You

In acknowledgment of its third anniversary, the NIH Clinical Research and You was featured in the NIH Record. The site describes clinical research in familiar terms using conversational language.

Check out resources you can use to educate your community about clinical research, such as Q&A about clinical research, a glossary of terms, and a video about the importance of children’s participation in clinical trials. Posters and flyers are available to help raise public awareness of clinical trials.


About the Program

The Outreach Partnership Program, a nationwide initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health Office of Constituency Relations and Public Liaison (OCRPL), works to increase the public’s access to science-based mental health information through partnerships with national and state nonprofit organizations. The core component of the program consists of 55 Outreach Partners representing all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In addition, over 80 non-profit organizations participate in the program as National Partners, including professional, consumer, advocacy, and service-related organizations with a nationwide membership and/or audience.


Comments?

The Outreach Connection provides a vehicle to share how the Outreach Partners and National Partners are disseminating NIMH research across the country. If you have feedback about the newsletter, please contact NIMHPartners@mail.nih.gov