Mental health, substance use treatment on their way for Tucson’s low-level offenders
January 10, 2019By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Mental-health and substance-use treatment are on their way for low-level offenders who otherwise might fall through the cracks, thanks to nearly $3 million in federal grant money awarded to the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
The Attorney’s Office is launching a misdemeanor problem-solving court that will provide mental-health and substance-use treatment, along with a battery of other services, for high-risk or high-need defendants.
There hasn’t previously been a way to provide drug treatment and services to people arrested Read More
Mental Health Training Available To Arizona Teachers
By Maria Dale
Arizona’s Medicaid program is teaming up with the state’s Department of Education to offer mental health training to educators.
“Part of the goal that we’re trying to accomplish here is reducing the stigma around mental health issues,” said Tracey Sridharan, director of professional learning and sustainability at the Arizona Department of Education.
Teachers will be trained to recognize the biological effects of trauma and how it can impact a student’s mental health.
“It is really easy for folks in Read More
Mental health in veterans is crisis across Arizona
PHOENIX – The tragedy in California is highlighting the mental health care crisis prevalent all over the nation, including here in Arizona.
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a minimum of 50 beds per 100,000 people is considered necessary to provide minimally adequate treatment for individuals with severe mental illness. Like every state, Arizona fails to meet this minimum standard with 302 beds, that is just 4.4 beds for every 100,000 people.
Staff at the Phoenix VA healthcare systems said despite the Read More
US to give states leeway to expand inpatient mental health
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is opening the door for states to provide more inpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness by tapping Medicaid programs.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the announcement Tuesday in a speech to state Medicaid directors.
The lack of inpatient treatment beds for people with serious mental illness is a common denominator among several national concerns: homelessness, police shootings, and mass violence by people with serious mental problems.
A longstanding federal law barred Medicaid from Read More
How To Be Supportive Of Your Partner With Mental Illness
Being in a relationship with someone you love can be beautiful. It can also be difficult, as you face the hurdles of everyday life. But if your partner struggles with mental illness, those issues can become much more intense for both of you. Understanding the needs of someone with mental illness is challenging. And you may not know how to support your partner living with mental illness while caring for your own needs, too. Here are a few ways you Read More
NAMI Excited With New Opportunities To Improve Medicaid Mental Health Care
Secretary Alex Azar, U.S. Health & Human Services, announced that the Administration will allow states to apply for Medicaid waivers to pay for mental health treatment in inpatient settings known as IMDs, or institutions of mental disease. Historically, Medicaid has not paid for treatment in these settings for most adults. While this policy was intended to reduce inhumane institutionalization, it also resulted in unequal coverage of mental health and, tragically, a lack of appropriate options for people with severe mental health Read More