Veterans participating in extended outdoor group recreation show signs of improved mental health, suggesting a link between the activities and long-term psychological well-being, according to results of a new University of Michigan study. 98 veterans were surveyed before and after a multi-day wilderness recreation experience, which involved camping and hiking in groups of between six […]
Atlas of Integrated Behavioral Health Care Quality Measures
Integrated behavioral health care is an emerging field with the potential to improve health outcomes for patients and health care delivery within practices. Integrated behavioral health care can systematically enhance a primary care practice’s ability to effectively address behavioral health issues that naturally emerge in the primary care, prevent fragmentation between behavioral health and medical […]
Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health
The Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health is designed to be a resource to help those interested in holding a conversation about mental health. It is comprised of three parts described below, that will help communities and groups plan and facilitate a dialogue about mental health. Information Brief | En Español — Provides data and […]
African-Americans, Latinos Receive Less Adequate Mental Health Care than Whites
Blacks and Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites, finds a study titled Assessing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Treatment across Episodes of Mental Health Care. “We found that Blacks and Latinos [remain] in care, including using outpatient services and filling psychotropic drugs, for a shorter time than whites,” said lead study author, Benjamin Le Cook, […]
PTSD, Trauma, and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Detained Youth
This bulletin by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention examines the results of the Northwestern Juvenile Project—a prospective longitudinal study of youth detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, IL. The authors discuss their findings on the prevalence of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among juvenile detainees and PTSD’s […]
Behavioral Health Treatment Needs Assessment Toolkit for States
The Behavioral Health Treatment Needs Assessment Toolkit is intended to provide states and other payers with information on the prevalence and use of behavioral health services; step-by-step instructions to generate projections of utilization under insurance expansions; and factors to consider when deciding the appropriate mix of behavioral health benefits, services, and providers to meet the […]