The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is releasing “A Practitioners Resource Guide: Helping Families to support Their LGBT Children.” This resource Guide is designed to help health care and social service practitioners provide greater insight to families on how they can support their children who are coming out or identifying themselves as […]
Mental Health Clinic
Congolese and Somali Beliefs about Mental Health Services
Despite high levels of traumatic exposure, refugees often do not seek mental health services upon resettlement. The purpose of this study was to examine both concepts of mental illness in addition to attitudes and beliefs about treatment as well as potential barriers to accessing mental health services. To that end, qualitative research was done using […]
Trauma-Informed Care for Displaced Populations: A Guide for Community-Based Service Providers
People displaced by war, natural disasters, extreme poverty or persecution face complex challenges as they leave their homelands to settle in new places. Many are subjected to traumatic experiences before, during and after migrating to an unfamiliar land. Caregivers serving displaced people should understand the impact of trauma and how to provide care that is […]
Screening for War Trauma, Torture, and Mental Health Symptoms Among Newly Arrived Refugees: A National Survey of U.S. Refugee Health Coordinators
A total of 44 state refugee health coordinators returned a survey assessing mental health screening practices and barriers to screening. Results show that less than half the states ask refugees about a history of war trauma or torture. Of the 25 states that provide mental health screening, 17 (70.8%) utilize informal conversation rather than standardized […]
Psychotropic Medication Use Among Adolescents: United States, 2005–2010
Slightly more than 6 percent of U.S. teens take prescription medications for a mental health condition such as depression or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new survey shows. The survey also revealed a wide gap in psychiatric drug use across ethnic and racial groups. The survey showed that white teens were much more likely to be taking […]
Health Care Providers’ Role in Screening and Counseling for Interpersonal and Domestic Violence
The Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health has released a fact sheet titled Health Care Providers’ Role in Screening and Counseling for Interpersonal and Domestic Violence. The fact sheet provides answers to some common questions, including: What are the new preventive services guidelines? Why does screening for interpersonal and domestic violence matter? How […]