GREETINGS
NIMH Director Thomas Insel, MD
It was great to see all of you in April. As always, I value the opportunity to dialogue with you and get a better sense of the mental health landscape in your states. As we at NIMH begin to shape future scientific questions and disseminate the results of the research we support, it’s important that these efforts are informed by the issues and concerns currently having the greatest impact on individuals living with mental illness, their families, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback and for your work following the meeting to get the science you heard disseminated to your constituents. We’re pleased to be able to highlight several of these efforts below. Keep sending us your examples!
|
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Outreach Partners disseminate NIMH materials and research findings throughout their state.
Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD) has incorporated NIMH information throughout its newly designed website. NIMH statistics and publication content appear on "illness-specific" webpages like the anxiety page.
As part of a law enforcement training at Tulsa Community College, Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK) distributed thumb drives with electronic versions of NIMH publications.
NAMI Minnesota (NAMI MN) is using NIMH's men and depression brochures and posters for its anger management group for African American males, many of whom are transitioning from jail to community.
|
|
|
In April, representatives from the Outreach and National Partner organizations met on the NIH campus for the OPP's 2014 annual meeting. Dr. Sherry Glied, Dean of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, delivered the keynote address, "Improving Behavioral Health in the Era of Healthcare Reform." In addition to updates from Dr. Insel on the state of mental health research, presentations covered the use of technology in mental health interventions and peer support services; updates on the NIMH Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) and Early Prediction and Prevention of Psychosis research initiatives; and the new Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention.
|
Partner Sharing
The 2014 meeting featured a number of Partner sharing opportunities. As one Partner said, "It was very helpful to hear from other OPP organizations because there were practical and concrete ideas to take home and immediately implement."
On the first day, NIMH communications staff facilitated a dialogue with NAMI Utah (NAMI UT), MHAOK, and Mental Health America of Illinois about how to take advantage of the changing media landscape to disseminate NIMH information to communities.
In addition, over 30 Partners shared their education and outreach activities in the Partner Sharing Session, a hands-on opportunity to learn how others are disseminating research in their states. In a breakout session NAMI UT, Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio (MHA-NKY&SWO), and NAMI South Dakota shared lessons learned from implementing Crisis Intervention Training programs in their communities. In another breakout session, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) staff joined NAMI Virginia (NAMI VA) and NAMI MN to talk about communication activities to respond to tragic events and build dialogue about mental health in communities.
|
Community-Research Collaboration
Social Media Shout Outs
Extending the Reach
Since the meeting, Partners have been sharing research findings and taking outreach ideas back to their organizations. The Federation of Families of South Carolina (FFSC) prepared a Top 10 Meeting Takeways blog post and SC CTSI, NAMI NC, and MHA-NKY&SWO posted meeting summaries in their e-newsletters. In addition, NAMI New York State promoted OnTrackNY, the second generation RAISE program in its state, which was presented by NIMH grantee Dr. Lisa Dixon.
Thank you to all the Partners for making the 2014 Annual Meeting a success!
Back to Top
Outreach Partners conduct projects addressing mental disorders among children and adolescents, or mental health disparities.
NAMI Ohio M.I.N.D. Movement
Out of the tragedy in December 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a new initiative was born in Ohio to address the stigma surrounding mental illness that too often prevents young people from seeking the treatment they need. NAMI Ohio (NAMI OH), in collaboration with 17 other mental health groups in the state, established the MIND (Mental Illness-No Discrimination) Movement Ohio (MMO). This multi-pronged, two-year campaign is aimed at youth ages 15-25. It is designed to change attitudes about mental illness and eliminate the discrimination individuals with mental illness experience all too often. MMO utilizes social media, personal contacts, and other age-appropriate strategies that are guided by an active steering committee. A website has been developed, which will feature all campaign materials.
|
MMO was rolled out in mid-April at Ohio State University and 9 other college campuses in the state featuring a screening of the movie, Silver Linings Playbook followed by remarks from an individual living with mental illness and discussion. Each event had a literature table featuring NIMH educational materials. This summer, NAMI OH and the MIND Movement will take to the highway with the NAMImobile, visiting over 100 communities across Ohio to educate the public about mental health and advocate for the nearly three million Ohioans and their families who are affected by mental illness.
Back to Top
Outreach Partners are informing their communities about NIMH-funded trials actively recruiting participants.
A FFSC blog post increased awareness about participation in clinical trials by sharing a staff member's experience of bringing her son for an NIMH study interview at the NIH Clinical Center.
Wisconsin Family Ties informed its constituents about the NIMH-funded study, Family Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder, being conducted by University of Wisconsin-Madison via its website and social media.
Partners team up to connect communities with researchers to promote research participation and findings.
The New Mexico Outreach Partner, the University of New Mexico (UNM), is working with community groups concerned with behavioral health and brain conditions through its Brain and Behavioral Health Institute (BBHI) to develop a coalition with the UNM Health Sciences Center researchers and clinicians. To support this effort, they are bringing these groups together for educational and networking activities, such as Neuroscience Day during Brain Awareness Week. In addition to distributing NIMH publications to the participants, the event featured poster and plenary sessions as well as interactive panel discussions to encourage conversations between researchers, students, clinicians, and community members about how the brain works and the underlying causes of brain-related disorders. To promote the importance of communicating science to a lay audience, BBHI sponsored a poster competition in which judges assessed researchers’ scientific abstracts and their ability to speak clearly, answer questions, and explain the importance of their work.
Back to Top
|
Partners provide opportunities for NIMH scientists and grantees to present their findings at local meetings and conferences.
NIMH DIRP scientist Dr. Ken Towbin presented research findings about pediatric bipolar disorder and severe mood dysregulation at the annual conference of the DC Behavioral Health Association.
As part of the Children's Mental Health Matters! Campaign, MHAMD hosted a webinar for family members and providers with NIMH DIRP scientist Dr. Erin Berman on coping strategies for anxious children.
Nevada PEP hosted a training session by former NIMH grantee Dr. Eric Bruns of the University of Washington on the effectiveness of Wraparound, a program focused on community-based, family-driven, and youth-guided systems of care.
In honor of Mental Health Month, NAMI VA and its partners hosted Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Dr. Danielle Dick to share her NIH-funded research at a lunch session for mental health providers, family members, and consumers. Her work examines the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to alcohol use and emotional health.
Back to Top
|
|