National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the Latino Community (posted 10/16)
Posted: October 16, 2010
On September 23, 2010 Latino leaders met in Washington, D.C. to discuss the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the Latino community. Leaders discussed how the NHAS can be implemented at the community level so that it complements work already being done, and strategies that community leaders know are successful. James Albino, Senior Program Manager in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, stated that the meeting was important because community leaders were able, "Lift up the work that's already being done at the community level to the White House level." To learn more and watch a video of James Albino, Senior Program Manager in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, talking about the meeting and the NHAS in the Latino community visit the AIDS.gov website.
The week of October 3-9, 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). This week marks an opportunity for communities, families, and individuals to celebrate mental wellness, destigmatize mental illness, and raise awareness. This year the theme for MIAW is "Changing Attitudes. Changing Lives."
In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of advocates' efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since 1990, mental health advocates across the country have joined together during the first full week of October to celebrate.
Activities that take place during this week include:
HHS Awards Nearly $100 Million in Grants for Public Health and Prevention (posted 9/30)
Posted: September 30, 2010
Six months after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighted another important facet of the law with the announcement of nearly $100 million in grants made possible primarily by the new law’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. The grants will support a variety of critical public health programs in states and local communities; everything from tobacco quit lines to HIV testing to programs that help address and tackle substance abuse and mental health issues. Read the full press release.
“This investment in prevention and public health will pay enormous dividends both today and in the future,” said Sebelius. “In order to strengthen our health care system, we need to stop just focusing solely on sick care and start focusing more on proven evidence-based ways to keep people healthy in the first place. These grants made possible by the Affordable Care Act will support programs across the country that will make Americans healthier. From providing tools to help people stop smoking to new HIV testing and prevention programs to a critical investment in mental health, these Affordable Care Act prevention grants will help people get what they need to stay healthy and live longer.”
Grants being announced represent proven programs run by divisions and centers across the Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly $68 million worth of the grants will go to fund key state and local public health programs supported through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another $26.2 million worth of grants will go to state and community substance abuse and mental health programs from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). One grant from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) will go toward launching the Healthy Weight Collaborative at the Prevention Center for Healthy Weight. For more details read the full press release.
$21.6 million to promote HIV/AIDS prevention and testing
$3.8 million in support of tobacco prevention and control
$26.4 million to strengthen epidemiology, laboratory and health information systems capacity
$6.8 Million for Capacity Building Assistance to Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure and Performance
$9.3 million in support of obesity biometric effortsMore than
$26.2 Million to Expand Primary Care to Individuals with Behavioral Health Disorders
$5 Million to Address Obesity
National Survey on Drug Use and Health Unveiled in Conjunction with Recovery Month (posted 9/27)
Posted: September 27, 2010
In conjunction with the 21st Annual Recovery Month Observance, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) unveiled the results of the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The annual survey is the largest of its kind and is the Government's primary vehicle for determining how many people are abusing illegal drugs, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and tobacco. Read the full results of the survey.
The survey shows that the use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2009, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs rose from 2.5 percent of the population in 2008 to 2.8 percent in 2009. Additionally, the estimated number of past-month ecstasy users rose from 555,000 in 2008 to 760,000 in 2009, and the number of methamphetamine users rose from 314,000 to 502,000 during that period.
“These results are a wake-up call to the nation,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “Our strategies of the past appear to have stalled out with generation ‘next.’ Parents and caregivers, teachers, coaches, faith and community leaders, must find credible new ways to communicate with our youth about the dangers of substance abuse.”
“Today’s findings are disappointing, but not surprising, because eroding attitudes and perceptions of harm about drug use over the past two years have served as warning signs for exactly what we see today.” said Director of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske. “Fortunately, this Administration’s National Drug Control Strategy, with its focus on prevention, treatment, smart law enforcement, and support for those in recovery, highlights the right tools to reduce drug use and its consequences. But our efforts must be reinforced and supported by the messages kids get from their parents. Past month marijuana use was much less prevalent among youths who perceived strong parental disapproval for trying marijuana or hashish once or twice than among those who did not -- 4.8 percent versus 31.3 percent, respectively.”
Despite some troubling trends, the 2009 NSDUH shows continued progress in lowering levels of tobacco consumption among people aged 12 years and older. Current cigarette use among this population has reached a historic low level at 23.3 percent. However, even in this case, the pace of improvement is stagnating. The use of cocaine among those aged 12 or older has also declined 30 percent from 2006. Read the full press release.
U.S. Accelerates Suicide Prevention with National Action Alliance Leadership (posted 9/27)
Posted: September 27, 2010
On World Suicide Prevention Day earlier this month on September 10th, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Department of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced acceleration of efforts to respond to what has become a foremost, preventable public-health tragedy in our nation: suicide. Together they announced the founding membership of the executive committee and public and private sector co-chairs of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Read the full press release.
"This alliance gives us an opportunity to engage every sector of society—public, private and philanthropic," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Now we will be able to work together more effectively than ever before to reach people at risk and help them stay safe."
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention provides an operating structure to catalyze planning, implementation and accountability for updating and advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Out of this alliance will grow advancements for practitioners, policymakers, service providers, communities, families, agencies and other partners that play a vital role in reducing the burden of suicide in America.
Creating the Action Alliance was a key recommendation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2001). The Action Alliance will build on noteworthy achievements reached thus far in national suicide prevention. These achievements include: Federal and state legislation that has advanced suicide prevention planning and programming; programs to improve detection of suicide risk and access to care; the establishment of the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center, a national Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK); and development of the National Violent Death Reporting System.
As the Action Alliance moves forward its focus will include:
Updating and advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Development of effective public awareness and social marketing campaigns, including targeted messages for specific segments of the population that can change attitudes and norms and reduce suicidal behaviors
Advancing suicide prevention among high-risk groups.
The work of the Action Alliance will be guided by an Executive Committee drawn from public and private sector leaders who can bring the needed experience, expertise and/or resources needed to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Success of the Action Alliance will be measured in the near term by changes in policies and practices and in the longer-term by fewer attempted and completed suicides; the Action Alliance will suggest course corrections as necessary.
