The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) just released an Interim Strategic Plan with a new mission and vision emphasizing a more person-centered approach. Step one as they work to complete a four-year Strategic Plan.

One of  5 key priorities and guiding principles outlined by SAMHSA in the interim plan is: Promoting Resilience and Emotional Health for Children, Youth, and Families.

Download the complete Samhsa Interim Strategic Plan to learn more.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s  (SAMHSA) newly released National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care offers best practices, implementation strategies, and practical guidance for the design and development of services that meet the needs of children, youth, and their families experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

You can download the guidelines here: National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care and a companion report  A Safe Place To Be Crisis Stabilization Services and Other Supports for Children and Youth, produced by SAMHSA in conjunction with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. The World Federation for Mental Health, established in 1948, sets the theme for World Mental Health Day via a global survey of those with lived experience. This year the theme is ‘Making Mental Health & Well-being For All a Global Priority.’  With over 1 billion people around the world struggling with mental health disorders, and the many challenges we face, the time is now to activate the world and message.

The World Federation for Mental Health, believes that now more than ever we must work together to solve the global mental health crisis. So please join us in activating hope on this important day.

What can you do on October 10th? Here are a few ideas:

• Social Media Activation: Share what you are doing in your personal life or community for mental health. Be sure to use hashtags #WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD2022 and consider tagging the World Federation for Mental Health and iFred.
• Online and In-person Events: Join one of the many online and/or in-person events found on the World Mental Health Day Website.
• Download the Toolkit: Check out the toolkit, and create your own local event or activation for your friends, family, or your community.
• Activate Hope: As hopelessness is the primary predictor of suicide and primary symptom of anxiety and depression, take time to practice hope skills or share them with others by:
  • Signing up for the Five Day Global Hope Challenge
  • Teaching Hopeful Minds in your community
  • Inspiring your employer to explore our workplace resources for hope and mental health, including the Five Keys to SHINE for Hope workplace posters.
  • Encouraging your Country Ambassador to support our UN Resolution for an International Day of Hope and your government officials to join the Hopeful Cities Movement,

You can learn more about getting involved in this week’s blog post: Read Blog Now

Share how you are participating in World Mental Health Day on social media using #WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD2022 #WMHD and if you are doing something with #Hope, please add the hashtag and tag us @ifredorg.

Thank you for your commitment to making hope, mental health, and well-being for all a global priority.

ACMH is thrilled to share that it was recently awarded a Statewide Family Network Grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The purpose of the Statewide Family Network program is to enhance the capacity of statewide mental health focused family organizations to engage with family members/primary caregivers raising children, youth, and young adults with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Providing resources to enhance family peer support, connections, participation, voice, leadership, and empowerment to effect systems change and improve the quality of mental health services and systems in states by strengthening coalitions led by family organizations, and between family members, policy makers, and service providers.

Examples of ACMH goals for this 3-year project include:

• Increasing the number of family leaders throughout Michigan able to successfully advocate for their children’s needs, support one another and use their voice of experience to improve mental health services, supports and policies for all youth and families;
• Expanding access to a continuum of family peer support across Michigan; Strengthening the organizational capacity, leadership and skills of ACMH and partner organizations to enhance statewide infrastructure to better support families of youth with SED and their families and increase access to Family-Driven, Youth-Guided care that meets their needs;
• Increasing family participation, voice and leadership within mental health service, policy and program planning to enhance development of and access to services and supports that meet their unique needs;
• Increasing public awareness about the needs, issues, and challenges of children, youth and young adults with SED and their families and the services, supports and policies that work for them.

ACMH is proud to have served as Michigan’s Statewide Family Network since 1988 and appreciates SAMHSA’s ongoing support of the work that we do and Michigan’s children, youth and families!

Want to share your experience and knowledge to guide ACMH in providing support, training, advocacy and information for youth, families, providers, community partners and decision makers across Michigan?

If so then please consider applying be an ACMH Board of Director’s member today!

Requirements to be eligible to apply for a vacant parent/caregiver seat:

• Be a parent or full time caregiver of a child or youth under the age of 18 who has a behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenge, or be a youth/young adult between 18 and 26 years old who has a behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenge and/or
• Be an individual with knowledge and/or expertise in issues, services and systems impacting children’s mental health
• Be willing to commit to attend a half day orientation meeting held in Lansing or virtually.
• Be able to attend four board meetings a year, held in Lansing and/or with virtual option
• Be willing to participate in an occasional conference call for committee work as needed

If you are interested in applying, please download and complete the ACMH Board Member Application and return to Jane shank by email [email protected] or fax (517) 372-4016 by November 15, 2023.

Or mail to: Association for for Children’s Mental Health
Attn: Jane Shank
6017 St, Joe Hwy Ste 200
Lansing MI 48917

If you have questions or would like more information, please call Jane at 231-383-1595.

Mental Health America (MHA) is now accepting applications for their 2022-2023 Young Mental Health Leaders Council!

YMHLC identifies young adults (ages 18-25) who have created programs and initiatives that fill gaps in mental health resources in their communities. From policy to apps and peer support to sports, MHA’s young adult leaders are making a difference to meet the needs of their peers. Selected applicants participate in a six-month cohort to connect and share ideas with other leaders from across the U.S.

In addition to attending monthly 90-minute meetings over a six-month term, YMHLC members will:

• Receive one-on-one mentoring for their programmatic and professional growth
• Gain leadership opportunities at MHA and with MHA partners
• Highlight their work and ideas via MHA’s social media and young adult mental health resources
• Present at MHA local and national events and with MHA partners
• Join a network of young mental health leaders and MHA affiliates
• Receive a $1,000 stipend

In line with MHA’s founding and history of lived-experience leadership, the YMHLC centers lived experience as essential to meeting the mental health needs of youth and young adults today.

Youth and young adult mental health is worsening, and young people are living in vastly different circumstances than we have ever seen before. To improve the well-being of young people, YMHLC amplifies and grows the work of young leaders who best understand the challenges and opportunities to support their peers.

Click here to learn more or apply today!

Applications are due Friday, Aug. 19.
Selected applicants will be notified by Sept. 16.

Questions? Email Kelly Davis, MHA’s associate vice president of peer and youth advocacy, at [email protected].