What's New December 2005

The holiday season is here! While many of us look forward to the festivities and traditional events shared with family and friends, others dread this time of year because of the deep sadness and melancholy they experience. These feelings are associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—a form of depression that occurs based on seasonal changes in sunlight.

December is designated as Seasonal Depression Awareness Month, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering information and resources about SAD among the special monthly features on SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center Web site http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov.

All of this month’s features are listed below along with new and related publications, including SAMHSA’s recently released national survey report, School Mental Health Services in the United States, 2002–2003.

You can link to any of these resources or post the content to your site with a link back to the National Mental Health Information Center’s Web site as your source. To order copies of print publications, go to http://nmhicstore.samhsa.gov/publications/ordering.aspx or call 1-800-789-2647 for bilingual information services, TDD: 1-866-889-2647, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 a.m., EST.

Features for December 2005

• Featured Publications
• CMHS Program Spotlight
• Remarks by the CMHS Director
• National Observances
• New Hurricane Mental Health Awareness Campaign Resource

Featured Publication

School Mental Health Services in the United States, 2002–2003 (SMA05-4068)
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma05-4068/
This report describes the first national survey of mental health services in a representative sample of the approximately 83,000 public elementary, middle, and high schools and their associated school districts in the United States. Topics explored in the survey report include types of mental health problems common in school settings, types of services available, numbers and qualifications of school mental health services staff, provision for mental health services delivery—including partnerships with community-based providers, and funding sources.

Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children With Mental Health Needs http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma05-4054/
This publication provides information to help parents and caregivers seek help for children with mental health needs. It is also available in Spanish—Guía para la familia sobre los sistemas de cuidado para niños con necesidades de salud mental http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma%2D4054S/

Children’s Mental Health Facts (available online only): Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma%2D4059/

Bipolar Disorder http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma05-4058/
This report provides basic information on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder in children—approaches to getting services and supports, called “systems of care,” are also described in these fact sheets.

Blueprint for Change: Ending Chronic Homelessness for Persons With Serious Mental Illnesses and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders (SMA04-3870)
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA04-3870/default.asp
This report offers practical advice for how to plan, organize, and sustain a comprehensive, integrated system of care designed to end homelessness for people with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders.

CMHS Program Spotlight: Homelessness

An estimated one-fourth of individuals who are homeless have serious mental illnesses. CMHS’s Division of Service and Systems Improvement, Homeless Programs Branch, supports programs to assist people who are homeless and have mental illnesses in obtaining treatment and other services while making the transition from homelessness. Follow this link to get details about these programs and related resources. http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/homelessness/about.asp

Recent Remarks by A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed. Director, CMHS

• System Transformation: Strategies for Achieving Our Goals for Change
  November 4, 2005
  
  
• Vermont Association for Mental Health 67th Annual Meeting
  November 3, 2005
  
  

December National Observances

World AIDS Day, December 1, 2005
Established by the World Health Organization (WHO), this 18 th annual global AIDS awareness event has two themes that work together to promote the World AIDS Campaign goal. The first theme, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise,” is an international campaign to ensure accountability from national leaders for their promises, commitments, and future actions. The second theme, “Stop AIDS. Make the Promise,” encourages individuals to promise to respond to HIV and AIDS at family and community levels. To learn more and get resources, visit http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/December2005/aids/default.asp.

Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
SAD is a form of depression that occurs based on the seasonal changes in sunlight. This annual observance is intended to raise public awareness about the signs and symptoms of seasonal depression and to provide resources where individuals can get help. Details about this event and related resources are available at http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/December2005/sad/default.asp.

New Hurricane Mental Health Awareness Campaign Resource

SAMHSA created a Hurricane Mental Health Awareness Campaign Web page at http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/disasterrelief/ to support a recently launched national public service announcement (PSA) campaign developed to encourage adults and first responders who may be experiencing emotional distress following the recent hurricanes to seek mental health services.

Users may view these PSAs at the site and obtain other disaster-related resources that include:

• Brochures and fact sheets to help parents, families, educators, and other caregivers care for their own and their children's mental health during a Disaster.
• Guidelines for first responders and relief workers.
• Best practices, reports, and policy guidelines for program planners.
• Links to State and local disaster relief agencies and referrals.
• A 24-hour service hotline.
• Other mental health and substance abuse facility locator services.

Please send us your feedback.

SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center nmhic-info@samhsa.hhs.gov