GREETINGS
Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.,
NIMH Director
Our country is currently in the middle of an opioid crisis, with an average of 115 people dying every day from an opioid overdose. While the opioid epidemic has been widely covered in the news, something that has been less publicized is the role that mental illnesses play in this public health crisis.
Adults with mental illnesses receive more than half of all opioid prescriptions dispensed each year in the U.S. and a 2016 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report revealed that 1 in 10 adults with a mental disorder had misused opioids in the past year. Individuals with mental illnesses’ use and misuse of opioids is particularly concerning as research suggests that people who regularly use opioids are about 75 percent more likely to make suicide plans and are twice as likely to attempt suicide as people who did not report any opioid use.
Although these statistics are troubling, research is helping advance the fight to prevent and better diagnose and treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Earlier this year, NIH launched the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM) Initiative, an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions for countering the pain and opioid crisis in this country. The HEAL InitiativeSM seeks to support research across NIH to help prevent addiction through enhanced pain management and improve treatments for OUD and addiction.
The NIMH is actively working to support this effort. In partnership with other NIH institutes, the NIMH will support research testing the use of collaborative care models to treat individuals with OUD and co-occurring mental disorders in primary care settings (where many of these individuals already seek care). Related NIMH-funded research, under the Zero Suicide initiative, is examining how changes in opioid prescribing practices are impacting suicide in a large, nationwide network of healthcare systems. I look forward to sharing more details over the course of the next year as NIMH and NIH efforts to address the opioid crisis progress. In the meantime, thank you for your continued efforts to share NIMH research and resources with those who can most benefit from them.
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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Outreach Partners are disseminating NIMH materials and research findings throughout their states.
NAMI Alabama featured NIMH Science News on age-related racial disparities in adolescent suicide rates in its newsletter.
During a recent state legislative session, NAMI New Hampshire incorporated NIMH information in its testimony for separate bills on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders.
NAMI Ohio has a promotional concrete truck staff are taking to construction sites throughout the state to educate workers about mental health and provide them with NIMH brochures.
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On its Facebook page, NAMI St. Louis highlighted NIMH Science News on a shorter term treatment option for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Vibrant Emotional Health, the New York City Outreach Partner, re-tweeted statistics from the NIMH website during NIMH’s “Twitter Takeover” of the NIH's This is NIH Twitter campaign.
NAMI North Carolina tweeted about a 60 Minutes interview with Sarah Lisanby, M.D., Director of the Division of Translational Research, on use of ECT for treatment-resistant depression.
NAMI Virginia shared the NIMH infographic, 5 Actions Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain, on its Youth Move Facebook page.
Outreach Partners are using NIMH materials and research in their efforts to address the needs of populations that experience mental health disparities.
NAMI Indiana (NAMI IN) distributed NIMH materials at an educational event it hosted with a local Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter for African-American youth and their families.
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Mental Health America of Montana used NIMH information for a half-day presentation to a regional health foundation and Tribal health leaders about co-occurring mental and substance use disorders and co-morbid physical health conditions as they work to integrate behavioral health into primary care settings.
NAMI Oregon re-tweeted the NIMH Director’s Tweet about his Director’s Message during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
NAMI Utah posted information on Facebook about three NIMH-funded research hubs aimed at understanding and reducing suicide among Native American and Alaska Native youth.
NAMI Washington distributed NIMH brochures at PrideFest Seattle, an annual festival attended by over 200,000 people and held over Pride Weekend.
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Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs for FEP are gaining momentum around the country. Thanks to the efforts of NIMH Outreach and National Partners, communities continue to learn about FEP programs and NIMH Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) findings.
NAMI Michigan hosted a presentation about the NAVIGATE CSC program at the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards conference to help mental health agencies expand the availability of early intervention services in Michigan.
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During Mental Health Month, a NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania blog post featured a Q&A about FEP with a local CSC clinic.
NAMI National continues to spread the word about CSC. This recent blog post highlights the RAISE webpages on the NIMH website.
Greg Hansch, L.M.S.W., Public Policy Director, NAMI Texas and David Spradley, R.N., a NAMI IN board member, participated in a panel session on CSC at the 2018 NAMI National Convention. NAMI National and NAMI IN live tweeted from the presentation, sharing highlights about CSC programs in IN and findings from RAISE.
Outreach Partners are spreading the word in their communities about NIMH-funded clinical trials actively recruiting participants.
The NIH All of Us Research Program had its public debut in May 2018. From coast to coast, Outreach Partners broadcasted news of the launch and opportunity to join the program.
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In its Advocate newsletter, NAMI Minnesota featured an overview of the NIMH-funded Rapidly Acting Treatments for Treatment Resistant Depression study. The investigators are collaborating with NIMH Intramural Research Program (IRP) scientists who have pioneered research on fast-acting antidepressants.
Partners are educating their communities about the importance of research and the research process.
In a presentation to veterans at a local Veterans Administration hospital, Mental Health Association of South Mississippi highlighted NIMH and the importance of research.
Partners are providing opportunities for NIMH scientists and grantees to take their research to the community.
Thank you to the many partners who promoted the NIMH IRP Emotion and Development Branch webinars, Coping Strategies for Anxious Kids, What Parents Need to Know, featuring NIMH scientist, Erin Berman, Ph.D., and Are You Concerned About Your Child’s Irritability? with NIMH researcher, Melissa Brotman, Ph.D.
Katharina Kircanski, Ph.D., from the NIMH IRP Emotion and Development Branch, gave a presentation about childhood irritability and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder at the NAMI Maryland annual conference.
NIMH scientist Bruce Luber, M.D., from the NIMH IRP Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, presented about IRP research to address treatment-resistant depression at the 2018 NAMI New York State Education Conference.
MHA OK featured an interview with NIMH grantee Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California San Francisco, in its podcast, The Mental Health Download.
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