What's New September 2005

The country observes the second annual National Preparedness Month 2005 this September, an event cosponsored by the Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross. During this time, public and private agencies work together to highlight the importance of citizen emergency preparedness.

One essential in times of disaster and crisis is that people of all ages and walks of life maintain emotional and mental well-being. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) developed resources to help individuals cope with traumatic events. You can access these resources at SAMHSA's Emergency Mental Health and Traumatic Stress Web site: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/emergencyservices/default.asp. Recently, we added a selection of Federal and local disaster relief resources to assist individuals and communities who suffered the devastation brought on by hurricane Katrina.

We also are offering you access to a crisis resource designed specially for public officials, and an evidenced-based tool developed by CMHS, to aid in mental illness recovery efforts, along with information about current health events.

You can link to any of these online features from your Web site 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 any print publication, go to http://nmhicstore.samhsa.gov/publications/ordering.aspx or call 1-800-789-2647 for bilingual information services; (TDD) 866-889-2647.

Featured Publications

Communicating in a Crisis: Risk Communication Guidelines for Public Officials (SMA02-3641) This brief, readable primer is designed to help public officials meet the challenge of getting timely, accurate information to the general public and the media in times of crisis. It describes basic skills and techniques for clear, effective crisis communications and information dissemination and provides some of the tools of the trade for media relations. Download this free communications tool at http://www.riskcommunication.samhsa.gov/ or order a copy online or by phone.

Evidence-Based Practices: Shaping Mental Health Services Toward Recovery-Co-Occurring Disorders: Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment One of six Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Resource Kits developed to encourage the use of evidence-based practices in mental health, this resource is for people who have co-occurring disorders-mental illness and substance abuse addiction. The treatment approach outlined in this document guides an individual to recovery by offering both mental health and substance abuse services at the same time and in one setting. It is available for download online at http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/communitysupport/toolkits/cooccurring/.

CMHS Program Spotlight: Prevention Initiatives and Priority Programs Development Branch (PIPPDB)

PIPPDB is part of the Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress, and Special Programs within CMHS. CMHS serves as the focal point for Federal efforts to make high-quality, community-based services available and accessible for people with, or at risk of developing, mental illness and their families. To learn more about this program, visit http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/KEN99-0075/default.asp.

September National Observances

Healthy Aging Month
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/september2005/Aging/default.asp
* This national observance promotes the positive aspects of aging and offers ways to avoid the declines in physical, mental, and emotional health that often are associated. The main focus of this event is to encourage involvement in local healthy-aging events.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day, September 9, 2005
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/september2005/fetal/default.asp
* FASD Awareness Day is dedicated to increasing awareness of the dangers of alcohol consumption on the growing fetus. People around the world gather for events on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year as a remembrance that women should abstain from alcohol during the 9 months of pregnancy.

National Suicide Prevention Week, September 4-10, 2005
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/september2005/Suicide/default.asp
* This annual observance intends to promote international awareness and advocacy about suicide prevention. This year's theme, "Partnerships for Change: Advancing Suicide Prevention Services and Practices," recognizes the wide variety of people and organizations working together to promote suicide prevention.

Thank you for your efforts to promote mental health awareness and to provide support and services to those in need.

Please send us your feedback.

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

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Mental Health Information Center's Web site http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov and call center (1-800-789-2647) offer users of mental health services-families, the general public, policymakers, providers, and the media-reliable information and resources to support mental health needs and objectives. These services are administered through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) division.

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