Browse by topic for recent National Council press releases, advisories, reports and findings on mental health and addictions issues.

Mental Health-Addictions in the News

On Capitol Hill

Public Mental Health News and Programs

Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Other Serious Mental Illnesses

Barriers to Treating Mental Illness

Medicare Part D

For media enquiries, contact 202.684.3728 or Communications@thenationalcouncil.org.

Mental Health-Addictions in the News

• Reintegration & Welcome Back Awards recognize excellence in mental health.
• National Council Awards of Excellence recognize contributions to Mental health and addictions treatment.
• A-List Speakers Headline 2013 National Council Conference, April 8-10
• Kathleen Sebelius will keynote the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare’s conference. 
• National Council for Behavioral Health partners with myStrength.
• President Obama calls for Mental Health First Aid in gun control proposal.
• National Council introduces Youth Mental Health First Aid on Lady Gaga’s Born Brave bus tour.
• National Council will partner with Lady Gaga's Born this Way Foundation.
• New report highlights behavioral health needs of veterans.
• Key addition to National Council team.
• Statement on Supreme Court ruling of healthcare law.
• National Council to honor seven individuals and organizations in behavioral healthcare at Awards of Excellence Celebration.
• 16 people to receive Reintegration Awards at National Council Conference in Chicago.
• National Council Conference taking place in Chicago, April 15-17.
• Welcome Back Awards recognize outstanding contributions in the fight against Depression.
• National Council Magazine directs national attention on trauma.
• National Council elects a new Board Chair.
• National Council announces new VP, Health Information Technology.
• ‘Changemakers’ recognized at National Council’s 2011 Awards of Excellence.
• New directions in addictions and mental health services explored at National Council Conference, May 2-4, in San Diego.
• Survey finds behavioral health professionals earn less than fast food workers.
• National Council statement on Arizona tragedy.
• National Council Wins Technical Assistance Center to improve whole health of persons with mental-addiction disorders
• National Council commends formation of National Action Alliance to Prevent Suicide
• National Council presents 2010 awards of excellence in community behavioral health
• Emergency grants and Mental Health First Aid training available to meet mental health needs after Haiti earthquake
• Mental health partners with primary care to address whole health of patients
• Survey finds mental health services hit hard by state budget cuts
• HIT funding fails to address mental illnesses and addiction disorders
• Craigslist founder donates $15,000 to National Council’s Project Helping Hands
• National Council confers 2009 awards of excellence in mental health and addictions
• Report calls for new healthcare home to address health disparities for persons with mental illness
• NAMI gives American mental health system an overall grade of a D
• Helping veterans overcome stigma of mental illness
• Money woes cause wave of stress, anxiety
• Survey reveals positive outcomes from treating addictions
• Magazine examines veterans’ struggles with mental health and addiction disorders
• States must expand access to treatment  for mental illness and addiction disorders
• State healthcare reforms for uninsured fail to address high percentage of mental illness and substance use disorders
• Illinois campus tragedy—mental health experts available for interviews
• Help for veterans' mental health
• Statement on Virginia Tech shootings
• Mentally ill don't belong in jails
• Mental health and addictions providers in New Orleans face soaring caseloads and challenges two years after Hurricane Katrina
• Two years after Katrina, findings from a survey of mental health and addiction providers in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

On Capitol Hill

• Crucial mental health legislation to be considered next week.
• Reps. Matsui and Lance Introduce Excellence in Mental Health Act in House.
• Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich) introduces the Excellence in Mental Health Act.
• Congress urges Biden’s gun violence taskforce to push Mental Health First Aid and Excellence in Mental Health Act.
• Biden’s Gun Control Task Force urged to make access to mental health care easier.
• National Council honors as Legislators of the Year.
• Advocates gather on Capitol Hill for National Council ‘Hill Day’
• National Council calls on Super Committee to preserve Medicaid.
• National Council urges Congress to support mental health, addiction disorders during 2011 Hill Day.
• Capitol Hill offers first aid for mental health.
• State cuts to mental health take their toll, providers testify at Congressional briefing.
• The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) will hold briefing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 16 to release survey results.
• Senators Stabenow and Reed introduce Excellence in Mental Health Act
• Advocates and Legislators Call for Averting Crises
• New House bill seeks federal status for mental health and addictions safety net
• National Council outlines priorities for Hill Day
• Se. Stabenow and 2010 Legislator of the Year awards
• National Council calls on Congress to support Behavioral Health IT Act
• National Council endorses strict enforcement of mental health parity law
• New federal law to combat postpartum depression enaacted as part of health insurance reform
• President Obama backs National Council position on new federal definition for community mental health providers
• Parity rules promise better coverage for persons with mental and addiction disorders
• Senators urge support to Implement Mental Health-Addictions Parity
• National Council calls on Congress to protect substance aAbuse prevention programs in schools
• Congress proposes to strengthen community mental health and addictions treatment
• Honoring Rep. Patrick Kennedy and 2009 Legislators of the Year
  
• Mental health and addictions services advocates visit Congress for 2009 Hill Day
• National Council conducts Congressional briefing to highlight America's public mental health crisis.
• Linda Rosenberg appears before Congress to plead for help to save mental health and addictions safety net
• Parity passes with bailout bill, National Council commends advocates
• New Medicare law removes barriers to mental health treatment
• Legislators honored for exceptional efforts to improve lives of Americans with mental illnesses and addictions
• Premature death and disability among people with mental illness: Congressional briefing
• National Council hosts Congressional briefing on stigma of mental illness
• Stigma of mental illness among veterans and public: Congressional briefing
• Measuring effectiveness of mental health programs: Congressional briefing:
• House passes mental health and addictions parity bill.
• House passes legislation to give formerly incarcerated persons a second chance
• New legislation seeks to improve access to community mental healthcare

Public Mental Health News and Programs

• Eight weeks to Whole Health: National Council offers WHAM peer trainings
• National Council to Help Presbyterian Health develop an integrated health workforce.
• Invite your community to particpate in Oct 9 and 11 webinars on Depression and Mental Health for Faith Leaders.
• Media Advisory: Clergy Called to Address Mental Health Challenges
• Qualifacts donates to Mental Health First Aid in regonition of May is Mental Health Month.
• Healthcare organizations in New York focus on mental and physical health services for the elderly
• Pilot program demonstrates measureable benefits for people with Schizophrenia.
• Study finds that training program helps college students respond to psychiatric crises.
• Faith leaders embrace Mental Health First Aid.
• Mental Health First Aid helps reduce stigma in the wake of Tuscon tragedy.
• National Council selects 10 Groups for new co-occurring disorder learning community.
• SAMHSA-HRSA CIHS names new Director of Training and Technical Assistance/Substance Abuse.
• CIHS announces new integrated health provider learning collaborative.
• National Council launches new collaborative on depression.
• National Council selects 21 organizations to participate in
  trauma-informed practices learning community.
• Community Circles of Care wins Mental Health First Aid award
• 2011 class for Psychiatric Leadership program chosen
• 20 participants selected for inaugural class National Council leadership program
• 5-day Mental Health First Aid Instructor training in Decatur, GA.
• Webcast on myths of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
• Sept. 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day
• Providers use SPQM to demonstrate value of public mental health services
• Free Mental Health First Aid webcasts identify signs of mental illnesses
• Vote now for Mental Health First Aid USA
• National Council Magazine issue on prevention is released
• Helping youth with serious mental illnesses find a life in the community
• William Kyles is new National Council board chair
• Emerging addiction and mental health treatments unveiled at National Council’s 2009 annual conference
• 2009 class chosen for National Council Psychiatric Leadership program
• Psychiatrists mentored to become agents of change and improve community mental healthcare
• Increasing access to mental health and addictions services in tough times
• Mental Health First Aid expands reach across U.S.
• Project Helping Hands offers emergency mental health and addictions assistance for Gustav victims
• National Council website wins international creativity award
• National Council Conference discusses mental illnesses and addiction disorders among returning veterans
• Latest research on cycle of addiction and new medications to be presented at annual conference
• National benchmarks to improve mental health and addictions services
• Mental Health First Aid arrives in the U.S.
• National Council invites submissions for 2008 Awards of Excellence
  
• Helping Hands: Answering needs in the wake of Greensburg tornado

Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Other Serious Mental Illnesses

• Pilot program demonstrates measureable benefits for people with Schizophrenia.
• National Council launches schizophrenia pilot program.
• Bipolar depression impairs day-to-day life, according to survey of patients and physicians
• An avoidable tragedy: the relationship of premature death and serious mental illness
• Ignoring health needs of persons with mental illness proves fatal, National Council calls for comprehensive care
• Gaps in healthcare for persons with schizophrenia
• Schizophrenia and continuity of therapy overview
• Bridging gaps in continuum of care for people with mental illness
• Consensus statement on the continuity of medication therapy for the treatment of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses
• Half of mental health patients leaving inpatient facilities fail to transition to critical community-based care
• CATIE Phase 3 compares cost effectiveness of drugs: Providers must have access to full array of medications to treat schizophrenia
• CATIE Phase 2 results endorse individualized care for schizophrenia: Need for comprehensive, community-based treatment and support

Barriers to Treating Mental Illness

• Behavioral health hampered in adopting HIT, survey finds
• Survey finds barriers to veterans and mental health
• Press release: New survey shows product liability litigation may jeopardize treatment outcomes for people with severe mental illness
• Key findings from survey of psychiatrists who treat patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• PSA and safety disclaimer to limit the danger of television advertisements promoting lawsuits relating to the use of antipsychotic medications

Medicare Part D

• Community mental health system reports $304 million in uncompensated costs on Medicare drug benefit
• Testimony calls senate's attention to challenges with Medicare drug plan
• National Council offers unique resources to help mental health providers transition to Medicare Part D