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Topics in the News
New Hampshire Court Sees Veterans as More than Defendants
Eight flags dignify the first-floor courtroom inside the Ninth Circuit Court: the Stars and Stripes, the state flag, one for each branch of the armed forces and the black POW-MIA flag. It's a powerful symbol that here, veterans are treated with the honor and respect that they've earned. This is New Hampshire's first Veterans Behavioral Health Track court. Those who created it are determined it won't be the last.
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New Monument at Minnesota State Capitol Honors Military Families
A new memorial has been installed on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol. The Minnesota Military Family Tribute recognizes the families of active military members and veterans. Tribute spokeswoman Jenifer Skjerven said it's a way to honor and thank families for their sacrifices.
Read more…
Webinar: Assessing and Reducing Violence in Military Veterans
June 25, 2015; 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EDT
Research shows that up to one-third of military service members and veterans report engaging in violence or aggression toward others, highlighting the need to improve violence risk assessment. Health care providers have a unique opportunity to identify, treat and refer patients who may be at high risk. The discussion will review the complex link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and violent behavior in the military population, particularly when combined with alcohol misuse.
Learn more and register…
Webinar: Evidence-Based Trauma-Specific Interventions for Persons with Behavioral Health Needs in the Justice System
June 29, 2015; 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
SAMHSA's GAINS Center is pleased to announce the first in a three-part series of webinars on the application of evidence-based practices for adults with mental and co-occurring disorders in the justice system. The webinar will focus on what the research says and how to bridge the gap from research to practice. Identifying "what works" and applying the evidence-based knowledge to service delivery is critically important to achieve better outcomes. Too few people with mental illness and substance use disorders who are justice-involved receive comprehensive and appropriate services. A goal of the webinar series is to promote the implementation of evidence-based practices with justice-involved persons.
Learn more and register…
DoD Updates Equal Opportunity Policy to Include Sexual Orientation
The Defense Department has updated its military equal opportunity program to protect service members against discrimination because of sexual orientation, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said. Speaking at a DoD-Pentagon Pride Month event, the secretary said the department has made a lasting commitment to living the values it defends, including treating everyone equally.
Read more…
Study May Help Department of Veterans Affairs Find Patients With High-Risk of Suicide
Clinicians are challenged every day to make difficult decisions regarding patients’ suicide risk. Using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health system electronic medical record data, Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Institute of Mental Health scientists were able to identify very small groups of individuals within the VHA’s patient population with very high, predicted suicide risk -- most of whom had not been identified for suicide risk by clinicians. Such methods can help the VHA to target suicide prevention efforts for patients at high risk, and may have more wide-ranging benefits.
Read more…
Study Shows Risk for Suicide Lower among Men and Women Veterans Who Use VA Care
Understanding and identifying risk factors among patients who receive care is a top priority for clinicians and researchers in VA’s VHA. This is especially true when developing and analyzing the effectiveness of treatment for those most susceptible to suicide.
Read more…
A Veteran Suicide Prevention Network Built by Veterans
Six weeks ago, Special Forces veteran Johnny Primo logged on to his Instagram account and says he was horrified to see a suicide note from a veteran who lived just a few miles away. The note read: "Very few people know the truth ... I want this in everyone's memory." Desperate to help, Primo tracked down his address.
Read more…
VA Campaign Encourages Public to Help Raise PTSD Awareness
As the country recognizes PTSD Awareness Month, the VA National Center for PTSD is inviting the public to participate in its “PTSD Awareness: June 2015” campaign, which began June 1. This year’s goal is to help more veterans, their families, caregivers, and community members understand what PTSD is and know that there are specific treatments that can help improve and save lives.
Read more…
Read more…
New Monument at Minnesota State Capitol Honors Military Families
A new memorial has been installed on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol. The Minnesota Military Family Tribute recognizes the families of active military members and veterans. Tribute spokeswoman Jenifer Skjerven said it's a way to honor and thank families for their sacrifices.
Read more…
Webinar: Assessing and Reducing Violence in Military Veterans
June 25, 2015; 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EDT
Research shows that up to one-third of military service members and veterans report engaging in violence or aggression toward others, highlighting the need to improve violence risk assessment. Health care providers have a unique opportunity to identify, treat and refer patients who may be at high risk. The discussion will review the complex link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and violent behavior in the military population, particularly when combined with alcohol misuse.
Learn more and register…
Webinar: Evidence-Based Trauma-Specific Interventions for Persons with Behavioral Health Needs in the Justice System
June 29, 2015; 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
SAMHSA's GAINS Center is pleased to announce the first in a three-part series of webinars on the application of evidence-based practices for adults with mental and co-occurring disorders in the justice system. The webinar will focus on what the research says and how to bridge the gap from research to practice. Identifying "what works" and applying the evidence-based knowledge to service delivery is critically important to achieve better outcomes. Too few people with mental illness and substance use disorders who are justice-involved receive comprehensive and appropriate services. A goal of the webinar series is to promote the implementation of evidence-based practices with justice-involved persons.
Learn more and register…
DoD Updates Equal Opportunity Policy to Include Sexual Orientation
The Defense Department has updated its military equal opportunity program to protect service members against discrimination because of sexual orientation, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said. Speaking at a DoD-Pentagon Pride Month event, the secretary said the department has made a lasting commitment to living the values it defends, including treating everyone equally.
Read more…
Study May Help Department of Veterans Affairs Find Patients With High-Risk of Suicide
Clinicians are challenged every day to make difficult decisions regarding patients’ suicide risk. Using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health system electronic medical record data, Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Institute of Mental Health scientists were able to identify very small groups of individuals within the VHA’s patient population with very high, predicted suicide risk -- most of whom had not been identified for suicide risk by clinicians. Such methods can help the VHA to target suicide prevention efforts for patients at high risk, and may have more wide-ranging benefits.
Read more…
Study Shows Risk for Suicide Lower among Men and Women Veterans Who Use VA Care
Understanding and identifying risk factors among patients who receive care is a top priority for clinicians and researchers in VA’s VHA. This is especially true when developing and analyzing the effectiveness of treatment for those most susceptible to suicide.
Read more…
A Veteran Suicide Prevention Network Built by Veterans
Six weeks ago, Special Forces veteran Johnny Primo logged on to his Instagram account and says he was horrified to see a suicide note from a veteran who lived just a few miles away. The note read: "Very few people know the truth ... I want this in everyone's memory." Desperate to help, Primo tracked down his address.
Read more…
VA Campaign Encourages Public to Help Raise PTSD Awareness
As the country recognizes PTSD Awareness Month, the VA National Center for PTSD is inviting the public to participate in its “PTSD Awareness: June 2015” campaign, which began June 1. This year’s goal is to help more veterans, their families, caregivers, and community members understand what PTSD is and know that there are specific treatments that can help improve and save lives.
Read more…
