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News & Announcements
Motivational Text Messages Double Smokers’ Quit RatePosted: July 04, 2011
Text messages that urge smokers to quit can double smoking cessation rates, a new study suggests. The “txt2stop” study found that 10.7 percent of smokers receiving motivational texts about quitting smoking were smoke-free six months later, compared with 4.9 percent of smokers not receiving supportive texts.
The study of 5,800 British smokers sent half of participants text messages with encouragement and advice about topics such as keeping weight off while quitting smoking, and dealing with cravings. The other half received texts that thanked them for participating or included messages not related to smoking. The motivational text group received five text messages a day for the first five weeks, and then three per week for the next 26 weeks. Group members also could text the words “crave” or “lapse” to receive instant messages if they felt they needed them. A typical text said, “Cravings last less than 5 minutes on average. To help distract yourself, try sipping a drink slowly until the craving is over,” according to a news release by the Medical Research Council, which funded the study.
The researchers confirmed the participants’ reports that they had stopped smoking by testing the levels of a chemical found in tobacco called cotinine in their saliva.
Read more on The Partnership at Drugfree.org. Read the news release by Medical Research Council.
July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness MonthPosted: July 02, 2011
This July is a time to celebrate minority mental health in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a unique time to raise awareness about health, treatment, cultural and linguistic competence, and research in diverse communities. Learn how you can celebrate by visiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website where they have resources to help develop and implement your multicultural efforts. This year's month coincides with the 10th Anniversary of U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity. Read the report and see how far we've come, and how far we have to go. "Ten years later, the same problems [outlined in the report] remain," says Michael Fitzpatrick, executive director of NAMI. "The mental health care system needs to make greater progress for all of the people who make up our nation." Read more on NAMI's website. Celebrate by:
Bebe Moore Campbell was an accomplished author, advocate, co-founder of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and national spokesperson, who passed away in November 2006. Campbell advocated for mental health education and support among individuals with mental illness and their families of diverse communities. July is a month of national recognition of her ideals:
Addressing Trauma’s Impact on Children, Youth and Communities ConferencePosted: July 02, 2011
On June 23 the Hogg Foundation held the second conference on children's mental health - Young Minds Matter: Addressing Trauma’s Impact on Children, Youth and Communities. The conference presentations are now available online, and include: Evidence-based care for children affected by trauma: This presentation traces the science of child trauma with a focus on child abuse, beginning with recognition and progressing through what is now known and not known about treatment, the impact on the brain, diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and assessment. Psychological First Aid – Overview and applications of the model: This presentation discusses the rationale behind Psychological First Aid’s development and use, the modules and their purpose, and consider possible applications of the model in their communities.
Children affected by trauma – What works and what doesn’t: This presentation is about the different types of trauma a child may experience, the impact on the child’s development, a tool for assessing the trauma, and effective treatment approaches.
Through the looking glass – Understanding trauma through a cultural competence lens: This presentation has information on working with immigrant/refugee populations and the impact of community violence on children, youth, families, and special populations, such as youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning. Presenters discuss strategies for enhancing resilience within children and youth.
Download the slides from the Hogg Foundation website.
Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse Problems on the RisePosted: July 02, 2011
Treatment admissions for prescription drug abuse and alcohol abuse problems are on the rise, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The report found that in 2009, opioids accounted for 33 percent of admissions related mostly to prescription drugs, up from 8 percent in 1999. The percentage of alcohol-related admissions had declined from 48 percent in 1999 to 39 percent in 2005, but rose to 44 percent in 2009.
Five substance groups accounted for 96 percent of the almost 2 million admissions of people 12 and older in 2009. These include: alcohol (42 percent), opioids (21 percent), marijuana (18 percent), cocaine (9 percent) and methamphetamine/amphetamines (6 percent).
Read the complete article on The Partnership at Drugfree.org website.
Family-to-Family Education & Support Program Helps Caregivers Cope with Relative’s Mental IllnessPosted: June 29, 2011
The Family-to-Family (FTF) education and support program is a free, nationally available12-week course offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members of individuals with mental illnesses. In a recent study entitled Outcomes of a Randomized Study of a Peer-Taught Family-to-Family Education Program for Mental Illness, researchers suggest the program can positively influence how family members solve problems and "navigate emotional difficulties" surrounding their loved one's illness. The study found that participants showed greater improvements in illness knowledge, an increased acceptance of their family member's illness, as well as reduced distress and improved problem solving. Two previous studies suggested that FTF reduces caregivers' stress and helps them gain a sense of empowerment over their situation. For this most recent evaluation of the program, Lisa Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Maryland, and colleagues aimed to determine its effectiveness using a randomized controlled trial. Half of the 318 participants were assigned to the program immediately after enrolling in the study, while the other half were waitlisted for the program for at least three months (control condition). Those who were waitlisted were free to seek assistance from other sources.
Participants were interviewed at the beginning of the three-month program and again three months later. They were asked about their problem-solving and coping skills, their overall distress level and worries about their ill relative's situation. They were also asked about their sense of empowerment to manage challenges within the family, the mental health system, and the community. They were also tested regarding their factual knowledge about mental illness.
Read the abstract of the study. Read more on the NAMI website.
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The NNED is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation Home • Contact | Web Site Maintained by |
