Practice Guidelines: Core Elements in Responding to Mental Health Crises

Individuals experiencing mental health crises may encounter an array of professionals and nonprofessionals trying to intervene and help: family members, peers, health care personnel, police, advocates, clergy, educators, and others. Their approaches in assisting those in crises often vary widely, contributing to the potential for ineffectual responses.
Developed by a diverse expert panel that included individuals with mental illnesses, providers, public officials, and advocates, the guidelines presented here define appropriate responses to mental health crises across various situations and environments.

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U.S. NEWS, NOVEMBER 7, 2009, 1:11 P.M. ET
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Amputations. Combat stress. Divorce. When service members experience physical or mental strain, a military therapist is often at their side.
But with the U.S. fighting wars on two fronts, an acute shortage of trained personnel has left these therapists emotionally drained and overworked, with limited time to prepare for their own war deployments.
An Army psychiatrist is suspected in the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, and the rampage is raising questions about whether there is enough help for the helpers, even though it is unclear whether that stress or fear of his pending service in Afghanistan might be to blame.

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Contact:  Meena Dayak, 202-684-7457, ext. 228 MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org
Press Release: National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Healthy Minds, Strong Community.

Washington DC, Nov. 10—While the Veterans Mental Health Act was signed into law more than a year ago, a new survey by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) finds that veterans still face significant barriers to accessing mental health and substance use treatment. The Act requires the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to partner with community behavioral health centers to increase capacity and expand mental health services to include marriage and family counseling.

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Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join with the Library of Congress to host a “Veterans History Countdown” on the VA Web site – www.va.gov <http://www.va.gov/>  – featuring the oral histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.
“VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans, preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and heroism will never be forgotten,” said Secretary Shinseki. “We want to encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future generations.”

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Washington, D.C.
October 23, 2009

On Thursday, October 22, 2009, President Obama signed H.R. 1016 into law.  Public Law 111-81 secures timely funding for veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).  Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the bill on February 12, 2009 in order to provide Congress greater ability to craft appropriation bills that provide sufficient funding to meet the best estimate of anticipated demand for VA health care services by allowing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical accounts one year in advance.

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