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SAMHSA
Announcements
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
To receive SAMHSA enews, go to http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/consumersurvivor/
SAMHSA announces suicide hotline and website
The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) today announced the launch of the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK. The national hotline is part of the National
Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI)-a collaborative effort led by SAMHSA
that incorporates the best practices and research findings in suicide
prevention and intervention with the goal of reducing the incidence of
suicide nationwide. In addition to the national hotline, a new website
is being launched www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis
centers located in communities across the country that are committed to
suicide prevention. Callers to the hotline will receive suicide prevention
counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in
the network. A nation-wide public education campaign to raise awareness
about suicide and the national hotline is under development.
Publication on coercive practices
SAMHSA recently released a publication
focused on reducing coercive practices, including seclusion and restraint,
in a wide range of psychiatric settings.
Included are a review of legislative
and regulatory issues, personal accounts from a mental health consumer
and a parent, and a discussion of pharmacological interventions and approaches
to reduce coercive practices in health care, correctional, and juvenile
justice settings. It also focuses on diverse populations, including those
with developmental disabilities, children, adolescents, and older adults.
The publication is available by calling
the National Mental Health Information Center at (800) 789-2647, or at: www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma04-3869/default.asp.
The publication is intended to help
increase awareness of the clinical and ethical issues as they relate to
coercive practices with persons with mental illnesses.
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