GREETINGS
Acting Director Bruce Cuthbert, PhD
NIMH is pleased to share this latest issue of Outreach Connection with you, featuring highlights of the many ways your organizations work to ensure that mental health research makes its way to the community. We applaud your efforts and look forward to working with you in May for Mental Health Month and beyond to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of mental health.
Of special note, this May 5, in observance of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, NIMH will conduct a Twitter Chat with Dr. Ellen Leibenluft, Chief of the Institute’s Section of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders. Many of you may recall hearing from Dr. Leibenluft at the 2010 and 2013 Outreach Partnership Program (OPP) annual meetings about her landmark research with children diagnosed with bipolar disorder. What Dr. Leibenluft and her team discovered is that many of these youngsters have a disorder that is distinctly different from bipolar disorder that has been named Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), and is characterized by frequent, severe outbursts and constant, debilitating irritability. This finding led to the inclusion of DMDD in the DSM-5. By fine-tuning the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children, and teasing out which kids have DMDD, Dr. Leibenluft’s research is transforming the care of children suffering from these two mental disorders which require entirely different treatments.
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Recently released findings from another NIMH-funded study called the Pittsburgh Bipolar Offspring Study, or BIOS, has similarly advanced the understanding of which children will go on to develop bipolar disorder as adults. The BIOS researchers identified three types of symptoms that were strong predictors of whether a youth with one parent with bipolar disorder will go on to develop the disorder. This offers a much more precise roadmap for assessing the risk of bipolar disorder early in at-risk youth, one that is based on symptoms, not traditional psychiatric diagnoses. I’m reminded how important it is that we make the public aware that mental disorders often occur early in life and can have lifelong, devastating impacts if not caught early and diagnosed and treated correctly. Please join us on May 5 and let your constituents know about the Chat to help ensure that these advancements make their way to clinical care and have the greatest public health impact. The more we spread the word about these research findings, the more likely any child with bipolar disorder or DMDD will get the right diagnosis and the right treatment(s) at the right time. Thank you for amplifying the message that Research = Hope!
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Outreach Partners have been disseminating NIMH materials and research findings throughout their States.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Arkansas used NIMH facts and figures in a presentation about mental illness in youth and young adults at a local Alpha Kappa Alpha college event on transition age youth heading to college.
NAMI New Jersey shared findings from NIMH's BRIGHTEN Study as well as other science news through its quarterly research e-newsletter, Science and Research Update quarterly.
The Missouri Outreach Partner, NAMI St. Louis, shared the availability of NIMH publications via its Facebook page.
NAMI North Carolina announced the release of new NIMH publications on its Google+ page.
Meeting Street, the Rhode Island Outreach Partner, distributed NIMH autism and depression publications to staff and family members at its Early Learning Center.
New Educational Resource
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NIMH released a printable fact sheet and checklist on the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) model, a recovery-oriented treatment program for FEP.
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New RAISE Cost-Effectiveness Findings
NIMH released findings from a new analysis of the RAISE study showing that CSC for young people with FEP is more cost effective than typical community care.
Many Partners disseminated these findings to their communities, including Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio, which reported on the findings in its cable show.
Community Education
The New Mexico Outreach Partner, the University of New Mexico's Division of Community Behavioral Health, in collaboration with the National Association for State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), created a fact sheet on establishing CSC programs for FEP in rural and frontier settings.
NAMI Minnesota offered a workshop for families, young adults, and professionals to convey the importance of early intervention for FEP.
During its statewide Children Come First Conference, Wisconsin Family Ties offered a workshop to highlight a Wisconsin FEP program based on CSC, and the importance of early identification and intervention in young people experiencing psychosis.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) features FEP programs in a recent SAMHSA News article discussing changes in the state Mental Health Block Grant funding targeting efforts to address early psychosis.
Sharing Virtually
The National Council for Behavioral Health created a new webpage with resources to educate its constituents about FEP and early intervention treatments for psychosis.
NAMI Washington promoted the NIMH video of RAISE investigator, John Kane, M.D., discussing the treatment of FEP with CSC via its e-newsletter.
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NASMHPD maintains an Early Intervention in Psychosis virtual resource center that provides information for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, consumers, and families on addressing the needs of persons at risk for, or experiencing a FEP. In addition to linking to the NIMH RAISE webpages, it links to the materials that emerged from the NIMH RAISE research initiatives, OnTrackNY and Navigate. NASMHPD has also hosted a number of educational webinars on CSC, which are now archived for public access.
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Outreach Partners are using NIMH materials and research in their efforts to address mental health disparities.
The Mental Health Association in Delaware shared NIMH brochures at its annual Community Mental Health Conference, which educates urban communities and people of color about mental wellness and suicide prevention.
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The Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas disseminated NIMH information at an Asian Wellness Day event, focusing primarily on depression, grief, substance abuse, and stress.
The Nebraska Federation for Families and Children's Mental Health distributed NIMH materials on depression and suicide prevention at a wellness conference hosted by the Chadron Native American Center, reaching Native American college students, community members, and families.
The Federation of Families of South Carolina (FFSC) distributed NIMH brochures at the Native American Cherokee Trail River Festival. Pictured: Adrian Bailey, Flute Player, Soulful Echoes; Chief Thelma Hamilton Ballard, Circle of Native Americans; Pheobe Malloy, Outreach Specialist, FFSC.
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Outreach Partners are informing their communities about NIMH-funded trials actively recruiting participants.
NAMI Alabama has created a Join a Study webpage on its website to promote clinical trials seeking participants.
Southern California Outreach Partner, Special Service for Groups (SSG), identified a selection of NIMH intramural research studies recruiting for participants nationally, and shared them in its e-newsletter.
The Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida promoted an NIMH-funded study about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder by distributing study information at its offices, at staff training sessions, and through its email lists.
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The University of Idaho Institute of Rural Health tweeted about an NIMH intramural depression study recruiting nationally.
NAMI Maryland promoted a University of Maryland NIMH-funded brain imaging study in its e-newsletter.
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NAMI Virginia shared information about NIMH intramural research studies in response to a post on its Facebook page about an individual's willingness to participate in a research project.
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Partners are educating their communities about the importance of research and the research process.
SSG held a workshop about community-based participatory research at an annual promotores and community health workers conference. To increase awareness of basic research ethics and participant rights, SSG adapted NIMH clinical research resources into an English and Spanish-language handout for the workshop presentation.
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NAMI Indiana hosted a special "NIMH Research Table" at its state conference, encouraging participants to think about getting involved in research by understanding the process and possibly joining a clinical trial. NIMH materials such as Neuroimaging and Mental Illness, NIMH Strategic Plan for Research, and About NIMH, were distributed. In addition, pages from the NIH Clinical Research Trials and You website such as "What Questions to Ask" were download and shared with participants.
NAMI Minnesota and the University of Minnesota partnered on their annual research dinner to bring new research findings on mental illnesses to the community in a way that can be easily understood by lay people. Steven Miles, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Bioethics, kicked off the event by talking about research and human subjects protection at the university.
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In addition, NIMH grantee, Kathryn Cullen, M.D., from the University of Minnesota, presented on the current research on new treatments for adolescent depression.
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The University of New Mexico's Division of Community Behavioral Health distributed NIMH publications at a New Mexico Tribal Prevention Project grantee meeting as part of efforts to educate communities about research. Approximately 40 tribal members representing seven to eight tribes discussed prevention research outcomes, evaluation, and reporting.
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