Information Resources for Mental Health

Provides guidance for behavioral health practitioners, community leaders, and other stakeholders on the process of adapting evidence-based practices (EBPs) for individuals from under-resourced populations with mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs). Focuses on adaptations to make mental health and SUD treatment EBPs more culturally responsive to help address behavioral health inequities for groups that experience barriers to care, including tribal and rural populations. Describes various cultural adaptations for EBPs and supporting research, and offers program examples as well as evaluation and quality improvement resources.

Provides resources for parent training and information centers and community parent resource centers across the U.S. which support families of children with disabilities in effectively participating in their child's education and development. Offers information and training to families, professionals, and other organizations by providing access to a resource library, a directory of parent centers, an online database of experts, webinars, and other resources on a variety of topics, including mental health and trauma-informed care.

Provides information to first responder agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to support practices and approaches for first responders to connect people to substance use treatment and other support services. Offers evidence-based strategies, public health approaches, resources, and program models, including best practices for responding to opioid overdoses. Considers potential challenges, such as those faced in rural areas, and other factors when implementing initiatives to support people who use drugs.

Summarizes key focus areas, needs, and recommendations of underrepresented rural and tribal law enforcement leaders in 5 states that were the result of a series of listening sessions with federal agencies. Includes topics such as substance use, mental health, and homelessness; illicit drugs; trafficking from the southern border; relationships with tribes; and funding, among others. Provides individual state summaries and U.S. Department of Justice resources to support local efforts to enhance public safety and reduce crime in rural and tribal areas.

Summarizes key focus areas, needs, and recommendations of underrepresented rural and tribal law enforcement leaders in 9 states that were the result of a series of listening sessions with federal agencies. Includes topics such as substance use and addiction; mental health and medical care; illegal drug trafficking and related crime; school safety; and funding, among others. Describes ongoing federal responses to rural law enforcement concerns and highlights several best practices and new ideas to support local efforts to enhance public safety and reduce crime in rural and tribal areas.

Summarizes research examining how cultural-specific risk and protective factors can contribute to or mitigate substance misuse among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Aims to inform prevention planning by tribal communities and providers to include culturally responsive programs, practices, and policies that can reduce substance misuse and support the mental health and well-being of AI/AN individuals, youth, and families.

Provides an overview and highlights the benefits of using digital therapeutics (DTx) health software to treat or alleviate behavioral health conditions. Offers information on DTx research, regulatory and reimbursement considerations, and advice for providers on how to select and implement DTx in their practice. Describes issues related to DTx, behavioral health equity, and potential barriers to access, including in rural areas.

Offers focused information and guidance for employers seeking to create a mental health-friendly workplace. Includes research summaries to better inform employers about workplace mental health issues. Features a 4 A's - Awareness, Accommodations, Assistance, and Access - framework and links to resources to help organizations develop their own mental health initiatives, including accommodations and support for employees with substance use disorder (SUD). Provides descriptions of successful model programs implemented by a diverse set of companies and organizations.

Shares strategies, considerations, and information for behavioral health and other healthcare practitioners working to expand access to mental health and/or substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for people experiencing homelessness. Highlights 4 case studies of organizations working to address mental health and SUD among populations experiencing homelessness, including a rural specific example located in Colorado.

Discusses key considerations for small and rural law enforcement agencies seeking to establish and maintain peer support services. Promotes peer support as part of a wellness strategy for police officers dealing with substance use, mental, or physical health issues related to working in a high stress occupation. Provides action steps for peer support program design as well as promising practices and lessons learned from 3 small and rural departments currently utilizing peer support.

Provides an overview of how Indian Health Service (IHS) is working to address behavioral health in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Describes behavioral issues affecting individuals and families, such as alcohol and substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, suicide, domestic violence, and behavior-related chronic disease.

Provides data describing Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees, ages 12 to 64, who received at least 1 mental health (MH) or substance use disorder (SUD) service paid for by Medicaid or CHIP in 2020. Supports CMS efforts to measure disparities in healthcare access and make targeted, data-informed investments to improve health equity for Medicaid and CHIP populations. Summarizes demographic trends among enrollees receiving SUD/MH services, including analysis by age, sex/gender identity, race/ethnicity, geographic area, primary language spoken, and eligibility category.

Shares the results of the Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevalence Study (MDPS), a pilot program to determine the lifetime and past-year prevalence rates of schizophrenia spectrum disorders; past-year bipolar I disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anorexia nervosa; and past-year alcohol, opioid, cannabis, stimulant, and sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic use disorders. Includes statistics and data on rural areas.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable mental health programs in rural communities. Provides an overview of mental health in rural areas, including barriers to treatment and different factors that impact mental health.

Shares strategies to help small or rural law enforcement agencies provide mental health training for their officers. Discusses some challenges small and rural law enforcement agencies can experience when training to provide mental health training.

Shares guidance to support the design, development, implementation, and quality improvement of behavioral health program to best meet the needs of individuals who experience a mental health crisis. Defines national guidelines for crisis care and outlines tips and tools to support those guidelines. Includes discussion of unique challenges rural and frontier communities face, and recommends approaches for those working with rural and frontier populations focused on increasing access to behavioral health crisis services.

Offers information on a week-long event dedicated to promoting public awareness of mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD), increasing community engagement, and highlighting promising and evidence-based prevention approaches. Includes a planning toolkit, webinars, and other resources to support community prevention efforts and help communities organize local events and activities in support of National Prevention Week. Helps communities connect and collaborate with federal agencies and national organizations to raise awareness about substance use prevention and promote positive mental health.

Offers information on a month-long event held every September to promote public awareness and knowledge of mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD), and celebrate those in recovery. Includes a toolkit, webinars, recovery publications, and other resources and tips to engage communities, stakeholders, local officials, and others in support of Recovery Month.

Offers access to national and state-level survey data on the health status of children in the U.S. Includes data on children ages 0-17 and examines factors related to the well-being and healthcare needs of children, including accessing and using healthcare services, family relationships and health, school and after school activities, and neighborhood characteristics. Includes data on physical and mental health conditions, health insurance type and status, healthcare access and utilization, specialty care, nutrition, health activities, and more.

Toolkit sharing field guidance, resources, and presentations to support clinical decisions about starting, continuing, or tapering opioid therapy, and other challenges related to safe opioid prescribing. Includes patient and provider education, clinical tools, and other resources.

Offers comprehensive information and resources on the use of prescription opioids, managing chronic pain, and opioid use disorder (OUD) for patients and providers, specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and Indian Health Service (IHS) providers. Includes online tools, technical assistance resources, guides, and training for patients and providers on topics such as opioid crisis data, opioid prevention, proper pain management, opioid prescribing/stewardship, culturally appropriate practices, maternal health, harm reduction, naloxone use, child health and wellness, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), tele-MAT, trauma-informed care, best practices, supportive services, wellness courts, and training opportunities. Resource is an initiative of the IHS Alcohol and Substance Abuse Branch (ASAB).

Provides resources support law enforcement agencies in developing police – mental health collaboration (PMHC) programs in which they partner with mental health providers and other community stakeholders to safely and effectively respond to people with mental illness and increase access to services. Offers a PMHC self-assessment tool and modules on key aspects of designing, implementing, and managing a PMHC program that is tailored to meet the unique needs of individual communities.

Shares information for crisis counselors, outreach workers, and other supportive service providers on how to best respond to the behavioral health needs of diverse rural populations following a disaster. Considers unique risk factors, strengths, and the behavioral health impacts of disasters on rural populations. Highlights best practices to help rural individuals and communities access mental health and substance use services and treatment after disaster events. Includes a summary of recommendations, resources, and a customizable tip sheet for outreach to rural residents.

Lists policy briefs, working papers, journal articles, and other publications on mental and behavioral health in rural areas published by federally-funded Rural Health Research Centers. Includes links to upcoming and archived webinars on the topic and other related research projects.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to implement, evaluate, and build sustainable suicide prevention programs in rural communities.

Offers information and resources to support and promote behavioral health equity by removing barriers and providing prevention and treatment services for mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Includes links to data, reports, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs and federal programs and initiatives for the following populations: Hispanic or Latino; Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI); American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN); Black or African Americans; and the LGBTQ+ populations.

Provides access to data, reports, and other information from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) on various aspects of behavioral health, including substance use and mental health treatment services. Includes data on household substance use and mental health; treatment, admissions, and discharges; mental health facilities; substance use facilities; emergency departments; client-level mental health information; and uniform reporting system statistics.

Provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) efforts to address the challenges incarcerated and justice system-involved individuals face when attempting to seek treatment for and recover from mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Seeks to increase access to behavioral health services, minimize costs, and other consequences related to the unnecessary and repetitive incarceration of people with behavioral health issues. Discusses strategies to identify individuals with mental illness and SUD, implement diversion programs, enhancing reentry services, evidence-based practices, screening and assessments, and more.

Shares national guidelines for behavioral health crisis care best practice toolkit from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and a 2020 technical assistance paper series focused on crisis services. Offers information to support mental health authorities, agency administrators, service providers, and other state and local leaders in the design, development, implementation, and quality improvement of behavioral health crisis systems. Details components of crisis services and best practices, along with tools for implementing and evaluating care that aligns with national guidelines. Addresses key issues related to crisis services, including homelessness, technology advances, substance use, legal issues, financing crisis care, diverse populations, children and adolescents, rural and frontier areas, and the role of law enforcement.

Provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) efforts to improve the behavioral health of communities and responders while they prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. Provides links to technical assistance resources, a helpline, and treatment locators designed to help states, territories, tribes, and responders effectively plan for and respond to disasters to minimize negative outcomes, such as developing new or exacerbating existing substance use disorder (SUD) or mental illness.

Provides communities, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and others with a searchable resource center including reports, guides, toolkits, and other resources to implement evidence-based practices for mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Focuses on opioid use disorder (OUD) and other SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery options.

Provides information to support partnerships between faith-based and community organizations and federal programs to offer effective programs and activities for substance use prevention, mental health services, and addiction treatment. Offers resources for training, technical assistance, publications, and existing faith-based coalitions and collaborations focused on decreasing violence, combating substance use, improving behavioral health, reducing homelessness, and providing crisis counseling to those in need.

Interactive map that can be sorted by fiscal year (FY) and state to show formula and discretionary funding amounts and detailed summaries for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants.

Offers a collection of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs and resources designed to prevent and end homelessness among men, women, youth, and families with mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD). Includes grant programs and services as well as publications, videos, and webinars on behavioral health treatment, employment assistance, housing/shelter programs, case management, trauma, as well as links to help individuals find immediate help and treatment.

Serves as a national clearinghouse for recovery-oriented care to address substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. Promotes collaboration across key sectors to more effectively integrate recovery into systems of care, increase recovery services, and reduce barriers to recovery for underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Offers information and resources on challenges faced by children and youth, such as those related to bullying, mental health, substance use, and violence. Highlights several Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs for educators and parents, including Project AWARE, Trauma-Informed Services in Schools (TISS), and the campaign "Talk. They Hear You."

Presents the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) 4-year strategic plan detailing the agency's guiding principles, priorities, goals, and objectives to address behavioral health needs in the U.S. Focuses on 5 key areas: preventing substance use and overdose; access to suicide prevention and mental health services; promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and families; integrating behavioral and physical healthcare; and strengthening behavioral health workforce. Emphasizes behavioral health equity for underserved and/or historically marginalized populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (OTAP) that seeks to address behavioral health issues facing American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Details programs, policy and advisory resources, and supports to promote self-sufficiency, prevent and treat substance use disorder (SUD), offer recovery and support services, reduce violence and suicide rates, and increase access to behavioral health services.

Provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) efforts to increase the supply of trained, culturally aware behavioral health professionals, including psychiatrists, therapists, addiction counselors, homeless outreach specialists, recovery coaches, and other professionals in fields related to prevention, healthcare, and social services. Includes links to programs and resources to help address workforce shortages and provide culturally competent care to individuals with mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD).

Provides an overview of treatment options for veterans experiencing substance use issues. Includes information on different therapies, medications to reduce opioid and other substance use, intensive outpatient treatment, residential care, continuing care and relapse prevention, self-help groups, and more.

Outlines strategies, technologies, and successful models rural communities can adapt to support crisis response and pre-arrest diversion for individuals with mental health and substance use issues in their communities.

Provides guidance on evidence-based counseling approaches to help individuals achieve and maintain recovery from substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs). Supports licensed counselors and other providers, including non-specialists, nurses, interns, administrators, clinical supervisors, peer specialists, and other staff, seeking to adopt or expand a recovery-oriented framework in their programs. Offers information and resources on how to implement recovery programs and counseling approaches to prevent recurrence, sustain recovery, and promote harm reduction and healthy lifestyles for those in recovery. Includes strategies, resources, and examples focused on providing services in rural settings.

Provides access to education materials developed by the VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services (PBM) Academic Detailing Services (ADS) sharing evidence-based treatments to help providers improve the health of veterans. Offers provider and patient education tools and outreach resources to encourage evidence-based decision making for a variety of medical conditions and diseases, including opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD), pain, suicide, dementia, depression, HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.

Describes the enterprise-wide initiatives currently supported by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health. Shares the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) national programs to provide healthcare services in VA hospitals and health systems to veterans residing in rural areas across the nation. Outlines programs to address primary care, specialty care, mental health, care coordination, workforce training and education, transportation, and more. Includes virtual training for providers on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery, as well as a pharmacy-based program to increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for rural veterans with opioid use disorder.

Describes a patient-centered approach to healthcare that supports veterans' overall physical, mental, and emotional health and wellness through a personalized health plan and health inventory assessment. Includes veteran-led wellness courses. Offers educational materials, online tools, mobile applications, videos, and resources designed to assist veterans in adopting whole health approaches and for healthcare providers in implementing a whole health perspective in their clinical practices.

Offers evidence-based information, recommendations, guides, and tools for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) healthcare providers and patients to assist in the decision making process to improve the treatment and outcomes for patients with substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), methamphetamine use, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Describes best practices to help patients avoid preventable complications, reduce substance use, and improve their overall health and wellness.

Provides an overview of violence and abuse in rural America. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.