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PETITION
for a Mental Health Awareness Commemorative
POSTAGE STAMP

Your Association-AMHCA

Who Has Inspired You?
Nominate outstanding colleagues and AMHCA state chapters for 2009 AMHCA Awards by May 15. The 11th Annual Awards Ceremony honors AMHCA members, chapters, and groups nominated by their peers for distinguished achievements in promoting high standards for mental health practitioners. These awards are more than just another wall plaque-they are granted by fellow professionals to fellow professionals.
> Request information on award categories and nomination requirements

Air & Space Visit the Air and Space Museum when you’re in Washington, D.C., for AMHCA's Annual Conference and see the spacesuits astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore in July 1969 when they first landed on the moon.

Photo by Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Two Pre-Conference Workshops Extend Conference Educational Opportunities
Earn up to 4 additional CEs by attending one of two AMHCA Annual Conference pre-conference workshops-one is on "Private Practice: Minding Your Own Business in Tough Financial Times"; the other is on "Ethical Challenges in Supervision/Consultation."
> Learn more and register for the 2009 conference

Your Profession

Abused Women Want Respect From Healthcare Providers
Women who suffer intimate partner violence (IPV) are very aware that the abuse is related to mental and physical symptoms, and they want their healthcare providers not to dismiss symptoms of depression and pain purely because they are IPV survivors. A recent study concluded that health providers can demonstrate their sensitivity about IPV issues by ensuring that an appropriate preface takes place before the discussion of violence can begin.
> Read more
> Download the podcast of the interview with study author Dr. Christina Nicolaidis

Depression Linked to Cardiac Death in Women Without Known Heart Disease
New data show that relatively healthy women with severe depression are at increased risk of cardiac events, including sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary heart disease. Women with clinical depression were more than twice as likely to experience sudden cardiac death. Surprisingly, this risk was associated more strongly with antidepressant use than with depressive symptoms. The research was based on a study of nearly 64,000 women.
> Read more

Your Practice

Mental Disorders and Heart Conditions
Are Most Expensive Medical Conditions
That information comes from a study that for the first time provides annual estimates of national personal health spending by medical condition. The study indicates that spending from 1996-2005 for mental disorders-such as anxiety, depression, and dementia-was the highest, accounting for $142.2 billion in 2005, or 9 percent of personal health spending. Heart conditions were the second most expensive condition in the United States, amounting to $123 billion in 2005, or 8 percent of personal health spending.
> Read more

Timely Appointments Elusive for Patients
Referred to Mental Health Treatment
Two-thirds of patients referred for psychiatric services following an emergency room visit are likely to reach only an answering machine when they call for help, compared to about 20 percent of patients calling medical clinics with physical symptoms. Only 10 percent of all calls to mental health clinics in nine U.S. cities resulted in an appointment scheduled within two weeks.
> Read more

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Remains Steady Over Past 5 Years
Approximately 38 percent of adults in the United States and nearly 12 percent of U.S. children aged 17 years and under use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a new nationwide government survey. This survey marks the first time questions were included on children's use of CAM, which is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products (such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic, and acupuncture) that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.
> Read more
> Download the full report

Advocate Preview

Look for these articles in the April 2009 Advocate.

FEATURES

U.S. Rep. Filner to Chair National Mental Health Counseling Week: Filner chairs the House of Representatives' Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

VA to Request New Job Category for Counselors: The Department of Veterans Affairs, in a move AMHCA applauds, has approved the establishment of a new occupational category, or categories, for licensed mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.

AMHCA Regions Get Technical With Chapters: Three of AMHCA's regions pilot a social networking platform among chapter leaders.

Leadership Training Participants to Visit Legislators: Annual Leadership Training takes place July 22-23, immediately prior to AMHCA's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

PLUS REGULAR DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING

AMHCA Foundation: A list of the donors to the AMHCA Foundation, highlighting the most recent donors
Counseling TIPS: How Can My Personal Trials Help My Clients?
The Last Word: Can You Hear My Hands? Counseling the Deaf
News From Washington:Beth Powell Says Farewell to AMHCA
Noteworthy:

AMHCA's Clinical Liaison to ADA Solicits Information Documenting Depression Treatment
Survey Shows Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the U.S. (with two tables)
How Does Modern Technology Affect Counseling Practice?

The President's Say: Goodbye to Beth Powell, AMHCA's former director of public policy and professional issues
Risk Management:

Confidentiality-Exception
Mandatory Continuing Education-Does It Work?

Student Corner: Equipped for a New Generation

AMHCA Welcomes New Director of Legislative Affairs

Alexandria, VA - April 20, 2009 - AMHCA is pleased to announce the arrival of Julie A. Clements, JD, as the new Director of Legislative Affairs. Previously, Clements served as legislative director for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

U.S. Representative Bob Filner to Serve as Honorary Chair of Mental Health Counseling Week

Alexandria, VA - March 5, 2009 - The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is pleased to announce that U.S. Representative Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has agreed to serve as Honorary Chair of Mental Health Counseling Week, to be held May 3-9, 2009, during National Mental Health Month.

High-Quality Malpractice Insurance is New Student Membership Benefit

Alexandria, Va., February 4, 2009 - The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is pleased to now offer liability insurance as a benefit of AMHCA Student Membership.

Salazar Urges VA to Expedite Implementation of Law Allowing Hiring of Counselors

Alexandria, Va., December 12, 2008 - U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), on December 11, 2008, sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary James Peake, M.D., voicing his concerns about the delay in implementing provisions from the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act (P.L. 106-491), that allows the Department to hire licensed mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists as authorized mental health providers.

AMHCA Launches Regional Social Networking

Alexandria, Va., December 9, 2008 - American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) North Atlantic Region Director Amy Simonds and Western Region Director Karen Langer have launched social networking group sites for their respective regions.

Louis Cozolino to Keynote AMHCA Annual Conference

Alexandria, Va., December 3, 2008 - The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Louis Cozolino will provide the keynote address for the Association's annual Conference July 23-25, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

WMHCA and AMHCA Featured in Mental Health Weekly Article on "Registered Counselor" Issue

Legislation passed in Washington State and signed into law in March 2008 will beef up standards for individuals who currently fall under the category of "registered counselor."

AMHCA Applauds Enactment of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

By a vote of 263 to 171, the U.S. House of Representatives, on October 3, 2008, gave final approval to the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, as part of the Emergency Stabilization Act (H.R. 1424). President George W. Bush signed the legislation into law several hours later.

AMHCA Addresses Hurricane Gustav

In the wake of Hurricane Gustav AMHCA appeals to its members to assist those victims struggling with trauma and disaster.

Mental Health Awareness Postage Stamp Project Continues to Gain Support

The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), in an effort to promote the issuance of a U.S. commemorative stamp promoting Mental Health Awareness, has secured the support of more than a dozen national organizations representing mental health, substance abuse, patient advocacy, as well as a variety of health related organizations.

Dr. Linda Barclay is AMHCA President-Elect

AMHCA is pleased to announce that Dr. Linda Barclay has been elected President-Elect and will serve in 2009-2010.

AMHCA Applauds House Passage of Mental Health Parity Bill

In a historic vote on March 5, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by an overwhelming vote of 268 to 148, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 1424).

California Mental Health Counselors Association (CAMHCA) Launches First Website

AMHCA is proud to announce that California Mental Health Counselors Association (CAMHCA) has its first website. Please visit them at www.camhca.org.

AMHCA Launches Electronic Petition for Mental Health Awareness Stamp

The American Mental Health Counselors Association is pleased to launch a website petition for a Mental Health Awareness Commemorative Postage Stamp.

Rhode Island Chapter Joins Unified Dues

AMHCA now has 18 state chapters in the Unified Dues Program with the recent admission of Rhode Island.

AMHCA Welcomes Puerto Rico Chapter

AMHCA is pleased to announce the establishment of a Puerto Rico chapter. The Puerto Rico leadership has been working over several months with the AMHCA national office addressing the chartering process.

AMHCA to Publish New Membership Directory

AMHCA in partnership with Harris Connect will publish early in 2009 a new edition of the AMHCA Membership Directory.

Congress Passes Legislation to Include Mental Health Counselors in VA Programs

The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) today applauded the passage of S. 3421, the Veterans Benefits, Healthcare, and Information Act," legislation that, among other things, will allow the Department of Veterans' Affairs to hire mental health counselors.

AMHCA's Mental Health Awareness Year is Official!
Make the Mental Health Awareness Stamp a Reality-Join the Petition Now.
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack signed a proclamation designating The Year of Mental Health Awareness and supports a nationwide petition drive for a new Mental Health Awareness stamp. To join the petition use this form or contact AMHCA at 800-326-2642.

Join or Renew Now

American Mental Health Counselors Association
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800-326-2642 | 703-548-6002
Fax 703-548-4775

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