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• Virtual Town Hall Meetings for Behavioral Health and I/DD

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• Virtual Town Hall Meetings for Behavioral Health and I/DD

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• Virtual Town Hall Meetings for Behavioral Health and I/DD

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[This post was originally published in 2013.]

I spent a little more time with Jim Contopulos’ video memorial for his son and an interview he did will Bill White. There’s a lot to all of this, but a couple of things stuck with me.

In the interview, he discussed being a scared parent and seeking to buy recovery:

Yes. At the age of 15 we placed Nick in his first of many, long term residential treatment centers. This was the beginning of many years of cycling ˜in and out’ of residential treatment centers throughout the country. In the beginning, we felt, perhaps, that we could “buy” recovery. We were desperate to save his life and have our son return to us. Like many desperate and well meaning’ loved ones, we fell prey to what I call the 30/60/90 day false promises.

It took us and Nick, many years and many efforts to realize that recovery can not be purchased. Many times, we witnessed Nick’s hard work of recovery and recovery’s reward of self respect, only to experience the devastation of this relentless, chronic, terminal disease. Once we realized that “recovery could not be purchased” we continued to support Nick in his own efforts to find recovery at the many free recovery locations such as Salvation Army.

This is a message every responsible treatment program needs to hear. Families are desperate to save their loved one and they are looking to purchase something we can’t promise. It drives home the importance of providing good care and communicating the limitations of treatment. I’ve been using an obesity analogy more and more. That going to residential treatment is a lot like going to a residential weight loss program. The patient is going to get lots of structure, support, information and skills that will help them lose weight. If everything goes well, they’ll come out looking great, feeling strong, proud and motivated. BUT, we all know that what happens in the weeks and months after the program is going to be critical.

This is why it’s important for us to use approaches that:

• help patients construct personal narratives and identities around recovery rather than pathology;
• emphasize long term monitoring, support and early re-intervention;
• build social support for long-term change (social anchors too!);
• address structural/environmental factors like exposure to temptation and access to good food and exercise equipment; and
• help the patient examine the roles of other lifestyle factors, like employment.

The other thing that leapt out at me was this passage from the video:

Slowly Nick, very slowly we came to understand that there is no formula for recovery. Looking back now we recognize the common ingredients of communities that affect a true change, for not only sobriety but long-term recovery. We need more. Communities and see the addict and the mentally ill the patients not problems; facilities that are able to treat these diseases concurrently; communities that are built upon humanity not humiliation; that encourage mutual respect, meaningful work and purpose; communities that afford the individual with the necessary time in order to restructure long-held habits; communities that encourage honesty and openness; communities to see beyond addictive actions labeled as bad and envision the value of the individual–the value in his recovery. We need to grow communities to become a culture of inclusiveness and helping. Nick as you know community such as these are extremely rare, but i hope for a better day. A day seeded by the pain and loss of losing such beautiful boys as yourself a day when the words of a cancer treatment facilities–care that never quits–becomes the words of those who care for the addicted and the mentally ill.

What a beautiful and thoughtful description of the role of community and vision of support for long-term recovery from a chronic illness.

By: Roxana Hernandez, MPH; Shayla Anderson, MPH, CHES; Victoria Chau, Ph.D., MPH; Larke Huang, Ph.D., SAMHSA Office of Behavioral Health Equity

National Hispanic Heritage Month invites us to celebrate the Latinx community. The Year 2020 has been a challenging year and a difficult one to celebrate. The COVID-19 pandemic, opioid and suicide epidemics, an economic slowdown with widespread unemployment, and racial unrest simultaneously impact the nation yet affect the Latinx community especially hard. Collectively, these crises exacerbate the behavioral health concerns for this community. A recent CDC study found that Hispanics have a higher prevalence of symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders, COVID-19–related trauma and stress-related disorders, suicidal ideation and increased substance use compared to all other non-Hispanic groups. The study also found 18.6% of Hispanic respondents reported seriously considering suicide in the past month, and 52% reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health symptom, exceeding all other population groups. Among COVID-related deaths among persons younger than 21 years old, 45% were Hispanic.

Latinx individuals are at increased risk and exposure to COVID-19. They are more likely to be employed in service industries and as essential workers—often lacking the option to telework and at higher risk for unemployment—than other populations. The pandemic has starkly revealed the disparities in access to health and behavioral health care among the Latinx community due to lack of insurance, lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate care, stigma, and transportation issues. Lack of access to technology for teleservices and concerns about policies such as the public charge law, which is perceived as risking eligibility for citizenship or permanent residency, also impede access to care.

In spite of these compounding crises, the Latinx community continues to show strength and resiliency – these are reasons to celebrate. For example:

1. Effective interventions developed for, and by Latinx behavioral health professionals are especially relevant in this time of multiple stressors. Familia Adelante, a Latinx-focused family strengthening intervention, offered in Spanish, virtually or in family groups, builds resilience, and acculturation and prevention strategies for adolescent substance use and other risky behaviors. Life is Precious is a suicide prevention intervention geared for Latina adolescents and young adults. Both interventions are relevant for behavioral health issues associated with the pandemic.
2. A Latinx behavioral health workforce, including promotoras, responds to the unique needs of their culture and community by developing community-driven engagement strategies to address community crises, such as the opioid epidemic. Some of these strategies are highlighted in SAMHSA’s issue brief, The Opioid Crisis and the Hispanic/Latino Population: An Urgent Issue, also recently released in Spanish.
3. Latinx-serving community-based organizations (CBOs), such as the Mary's Center, practice their social change model, which integrates primary care, behavioral health care, education, and social services, in language, to maximize good health, stability, and economic independence. A full-service center under one roof, they now offer telehealth services for staff and clients' safety.
4. National advocacy and policy entities, such as the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA), provide critical information to the community, e.g., Facebook live sessions on Latino well-being during COVID, institutional racism, trauma and healing, suicide prevention, etc. NLBHA operates SAMHSA’s National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center and National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center to build the workforce and the substance use prevention and treatment system to better serve the Latinx population across the country. SAMHSA’s National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center provides training and technical assistance to improve the behavioral health workforce capacity for those serving the mental health needs of Latinx communities.

Communication, information, and social support are critical. Amid multiple crises, in-language communication may be lifesaving. Faith-based organizations and leaders are often trusted sources of information in Latinx communities. During the pandemic, virtual sermons, bible studies, and gatherings have provided cultural and spiritual support to provide hope and a sense of community to counter fear, anxiety, and social isolation. SAMHSA offers many useful resources in both English and Spanish, including items created to address current COVID-19 concerns. Some of these include:

Visit the SAMHSA Store for more Spanish-language products.

Last Chance to Register for RISE20 Virtual On Demand

Deadline to register: October 31, 2020

Time is running out to access RISE20 Virtual On Demand! Earn up to 60 hours of continuing education credit while learning from our most sought-after presenters as they share their expertise on topics critical to your program.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The deadline to register and receive access to the full suite of RISE20 Virtual sessions is October 31, 2020. Registration must be paid in full by October 31 to receive access!
• All content will remain available in the virtual platform until January 31, 2021.

Questions? Email registration@allrise.org.

Register now

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