The Behavioral Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Populations report highlights findings from the 2023 SAMHSA publication Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Behavioral Health: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health on the elevated rates of substance use, suicidality, and mental illness among LGB individuals compared to straight individuals. The report investigates whether these findings remain statistically significant when controlling for factors such as age, race, educational attainment, marital status, and financial hardship.
Black youth suicide rates have been on the rise over the past two decades. SAMHSA’s Issue Brief, Black Youth Suicide Prevention, highlights the pressing concern of Black youth suicide and the role state leaders can play to address Black youth suicide in their communities.
Contingency management (CM) is a proven healthcare intervention with demonstrated effectiveness in treating a variety of substance use disorders (SUDs) among diverse populations. To advance the provision of evidence-based CM services that promote abstinence from a specific substance, or encourage treatment attendance or medication adherence, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) now allows those recipients of a SAMHSA grant that authorizes SAMHSA-approved CM activities in treating SUDs, to provide a motivational incentive value of up to $750 per patient, per year, subject to the requirements and safeguards set forth in this document. To promote program integrity and effectiveness, CM incentives should take the form of items, or vouchers or gift cards for items and services, that support patient well-being and recovery – cash payments are not permitted.
SAMHSA grant programs that authorize a CM intervention support the implementation of either escalating voucher CM or prize-based CM in an evidence-based manner. While there is no set limit on the value of each motivational incentive to reinforce a specific behavior, SAMHSA encourages those grantees eligible to implement CM services under the terms of their grant to appropriately budget for the proposed duration of the CM services. It is essential that grantees adhere to evidence-based CM principles and models, and ensure that all participants in a CM intervention have equal opportunity to receive the same incentive amounts.
SAMHSA has released two recovery fact sheets designed to empower individuals navigating mental health and substance use services and expand the adoption of recovery-oriented services and supports in state, local, and community behavioral health settings.
Housing Supports Recovery and Well-Being: Definitions and Shared Values summarizes the role that housing plays in supporting recovery for recovery and housing leaders.
Countering Discrimination and Improving Recovery Supports Across Court, Corrections, and Reentry Settings highlights and addresses public misconceptions and misperceptions linking mental health and substance use conditions with crime rather than recognizing systemic barriers to accessing needed care.
Housing Supports Recovery and Well-Being: Definitions and Shared Values
Countering Discrimination and Improving Recovery Supports Across Court, Corrections, and Reentry Settings
SAMHSA has issued a new Practical Guide: Advising People on Using 988 Versus 911: Practical Approaches for Healthcare Providers.
People, including healthcare providers, have experienced confusion in deciding whether 988 or 911 is appropriate across a range of situations. Understanding the differences between 988 and 911 and being able to communicate these differences to people in ways that address their needs and concerns and respect their desired outcomes can help support effective crisis management.
This practical guide encourages and supports healthcare providers to integrate crisis care discussions into routine practice. Through intentional, informative conversations about crisis care and the appropriate use of 988 and 911, providers can assess people more holistically and educate them and their trusted networks about available crisis care options.
To support these conversations in daily practice, this guide provides practical steps and real-world scenarios. Both are grounded in research emphasizing the importance of early intervention and clear communication in improving crisis outcomes and reducing reliance on emergency response systems. The guide includes sample crisis intervention scripts, grounding exercises, and deep breathing techniques to support crisis de-escalation.
SAMHSA has released a toolkit for the first Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, to be observed January 2025. Treatment Month raises awareness of the benefits and availability of evidence-based treatments for people with a substance use disorder; addresses barriers to treatment, including stigma; and normalizes seeking help.
The toolkit includes information about weekly themes, social media graphics and messaging, a webinar background, and resources that public health organizations, treatment providers, professional associations, and others can use to spread awareness of Treatment Month.
By: Lucy Roberts, Ph.D., Public Health Advisor, CMHS
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression associated with seasonal changes. Although it’s often referred to as “winter blues,” SAD is more than just feeling “down.” In fact, SAD can be debilitating. Symptoms can interfere with an individual’s daily functioning and cause changes in mood, energy levels, sleep, appetite and more.