What's New | February 15, 2012

Mental Health Care for Underserved Populations

Underserved populations face multiple barriers to accessing mental health care, often lacking regular, high quality treatment and support. Intensive care coordination for underserved individuals in need of mental health services can address barriers to care and reduce disparities.

The featured Innovations describe three programs that enhanced access to necessary services and provided care coordination to improve mental health outcomes among underserved populations.

The featured QualityTools contain resources and tools that aim to increase cultural competence in providing mental health care services to specific communities.

Featured Innovations:

• Care Coordination, Peer Support, and Discretionary Fund Improve Quality of Life and Reduce Costs for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
with Story

• Public Health Nurses Provide Case Management to Low-Income Women With Chronic Conditions, Leading to Improved Mental Health and Functional Status
with Story

• Community-Wide Collaboration Provides School-Based Mental Health Services to Students and Families in Impoverished, High-Crime, Urban Neighborhoods

Featured QualityTools:

• Ensuring the Seventh Generation: A Youth Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Tribal Child Welfare Programs
Developed by The National Indian Child Welfare Association

• Toolkit for Modifying Evidence-Based Practices to Increase Cultural Competence
Developed by Center of Excellence in Culturally Competent Mental Health; Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research; New York University School of Medicine

Featured Articles:

• Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Childhood Violence and Trauma: An Interview With Carl C. Bell, MD

View Other Issues

Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Administrative Overhaul Improves Access to Substance Abuse Services for Iowa Patients

• Comprehensive School-Based Program Enhances Access to Oral Health Education, Prevention, and Treatment Services for Low-Income Children

• Comprehensive Wellness Program Improves Employees' Health-Related Behaviors and Risk Factors, Stems Rise in Employer Health Care Costs

• Hospital Systematically Screens and Initiates Treatment for Depression and Anxiety in Cardiac Patients, Improving Cardiac Symptoms and Mental Health

• Hair Stylists Who Serve as Lay Health Educators Encourage Clients To Adopt Behaviors That Reduce Health Risks