Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

In a new analysis by our partners at The Pew Charitable Trusts , the Meadows Institute's report, “An Implementation Policy Brief on Multidisciplinary Response Teams” is used to identify six essential elements of a crisis care system that can aid multidisciplinary response teams (MDRTs).

Read the full piece here:

6 Essential Supports for Behavioral Health Crisis Responders Cities and counties seeking to implement alternative response teams for mental health emergencies can support these efforts by improving other aspects of their crisis care systems, according to a recent report from the Texas-based Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.

With pediatric mental health needs on the rise, it’s crucial that parents and caregivers have the tools to respond to challenging behaviors and help youth be their best. Collaborative Problem Solving®, an evidence-based approach developed by Think:Kids does just that, by building empathy, improving relationships and teaching youth essential skills.

Learn more about the Collaborative Problem Solving approach and our upcoming virtual trainings on our website: https://bit.ly/41EyYBn.

Depression can have a devastating impact on children and youth. Though most cases can be treated successfully, initial medical care does not help in up to 20 percent of cases, leading to what is known as “pediatric treatment resistant depression.”

To address this growing problem, the Meadows Institute has issued a groundbreaking report, made possible by the Bette Rathjen Foundation for Emotional Health, on how to implement the first-ever Center of Excellence that specifically focuses on P-TRD.

Read more:

The Need for a Pediatric Treatment Resistant Depression Center of Excellence – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute SUMMARY - Treatment resistant depression is a growing problem for children in Texas and the United States. Twenty percent of children experience an episode of m

Today marks two years since the launch of the 988 Lifeline, the national 3-digit su***de and crisis lifeline for people experiencing a mental health, substance use or su***de crisis. In the last two years, the 988 Lifeline has helped connect over 10 million people to the help they need.

Learn more about how 988 came to be, and what it looks like in practice, with Lifeline: The 988 Podcast, featuring experts from the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute , NAMI and the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) :

Lifeline: The 988 Podcast – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Learn all about 988, the new national su***de and crisis lifeline launched by the U.S. government in July 2022, in this nine-part limited series podcast. The 9

Every child grieves differently, and there is no “right” or “wrong” way to navigate it. In her debut column for Psychology Today , Executive Director of our Trauma & Grief Center Julie Kaplow explains what grief can look like in children and adolescents, grief-related behaviors parents and caregivers should be aware of, and risk markers for bereaved youth who may need a higher level of support, such as therapy.

Read the full piece here:

When Is Therapy Necessary for a Grieving Child? Every child grieves differently.

In Texas, doctors believe that primary care is well-positioned to impact the mental health crisis in the state.

Roshni Koli, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, contributes her thoughts on the Collaborative Care Model in an article by Stephen Simpson from The Texas Tribune.

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/17/texas-mental-health-primary-care/

From all of us at the Meadows Institute, Happy 4th of July!

To reduce su***de, primary care and mental health clinicians need to work together. Congress can help that happen Su***de can be prevented. A collaborative care model that combines primary care and mental health care is a proven way to do it.

In partnership with Neuroflow, we are proud to be working with 2024 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers to break the ice on mental health, promoting access and resources so that no one suffers in silence.

Read more about this winning initiative here:

Community | Florida Panthers | Florida Panthers The official National Hockey League website including news, rosters, stats, schedules, teams, and video.

Approximately half of U.S. youth will experience at least one traumatic event over the course of their lives. Traumas can leave a lasting impact and result in a range of mental and behavioral health issues, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. In honor of PTSD Awareness Day today, we’re sharing resources from our Trauma & Grief Center about how to understand and recognize PTSD in children and adolescents, as well as the different types of trauma-informed, evidence-based interventions available.

Learn more:

Understanding PTSD in Children & Adolescents – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute In recognition of PTSD Awareness Day, the Trauma and Grief Center is sharing information about PTSD in children and adolescents. The early identification and ti

“The blue chip…is a piece of hope an officer can hold in his or her hands when they think they’re having their absolute worst day.”

The Meadows Institute’s Senior Vice President of Health and Public Safety B.J. Wagner spoke with Texas Standard about the lifesaving Texas Blue Chip Program, which is now available statewide. The program allows Texas law enforcement officers to redeem specially designed poker chips for free, confidential mental health services.

Listen to the full story here:

North Texas mental health service for law enforcement expands statewide The Texas Blue Chip Program offers free and anonymous support for officers.

To prevent su***de, the time has come to integrate primary care and mental health care, the chief medical officers of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and American Foundation for Su***de Prevention argue in a joint op-ed for STAT.

Read the piece by Dr. Roshni Koli and Dr. Christine Yu Moutier:

To reduce su***de, primary care and mental health clinicians need to work together. Congress can help that happen Su***de can be prevented. A collaborative care model that combines primary care and mental health care is a proven way to do it.

Law enforcement officers across the United States are more likely to die by su***de than in the line of duty, according to the CDC. The Texas Blue Chip Program, newly expanded statewide, will improve this reality by connecting police officers to free, confidential clinical mental health services when and where they are needed.

Read more about this innovative program via The Dallas Morning News:

Mental health program for Texas cops goes statewide Texas police officers can get anonymous mental health services through the newly expanded Blue Chips program.

‘This is the future’: Meadows Institute leaders addressed American Psychiatric Association ’s Collaborative Care Model Residency Training Education Conference this week.

Read our full recap:

‘This is the future’ – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Meadows Institute leaders address APA’s Collaborative Care Model Residency Training Education Conference Meadows Institute Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshni Koli

The Path Forward is honored to support the American Psychiatric Association, which brought together psychiatry faculty and residents from over 60 programs throughout the United States at its 3rd Collaborative Care Model Residency Education Conference.

Co-hosted by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and the AIMS Center at the University of Washington, the two-day conference helped inform and empower primary care physicians and psychiatrists to implement the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) into new and existing practices.

Learn more about CoCM training and implementation at https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/professional-interests/integrated-care

Yesterday marked the statewide expansion of the Texas Blue Chip Program and a significant milestone for officer mental health: Texas is now the only state in the nation to offer both a statewide law enforcement peer network and a program that provides anonymous and free mental health services to officers when and where they need it.

Read more about this groundbreaking initiative on our blog:

Meadows Institute Announces Statewide Rollout of the Texas Blue Chip Program to Support Law Enforcement Mental Health – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute At a June 17 press conference at Dallas’ Communities Foundations of Texas, the Meadows Institute’s BJ Wagner announced the statewide expansion of this program alongside Chief Steve Dye of the Allen Police Department, Chief Special Agent Will Johnson of the BNSF Railway Police, Gregory Stevens of...

In partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement , we are proud to announce the statewide expansion of the Texas Blue Chip Program today, a groundbreaking initiative supporting law enforcement officers with confidential mental health services at no cost.

Texas is now the only state in the nation to offer both a statewide law enforcement peer support network and a program with anonymous and free mental health services.

Read more:

North Texas initiative providing law enforcement with mental health assistance expands statewide The Texas Blue Chip program, modeled after a similar program from Arlington Police, was initially introduced after a gunman shot and killed eight innocent people at the Allen Premium Outlets on May 26, 2023.

Children across Texas and the nation are facing a growing mental health crisis, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and behavioral health workforce shortages.

We partnered with Hopelab on a new policy briefing highlighting opportunities to bolster youth mental health and the existing behavioral health workforce, identifying telehealth services as a key near-term solution.

Our full briefing is out now — read it here:

A Texas Solution to a National Challenge: How Telehealth Can Bolster Youth Mental Health in the Near-Term – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute SUMMARY - The nation’s young people are facing a growing mental health challenge, one that has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health workfor

For many students, access to mental health resources can be interrupted over the summer. From K-12 students losing access to school-based mental health programs to college students facing barriers to their established therapy providers due to interstate licensure issues, summer break can take a toll on the mental health of children and adolescents.

In our newest installment of the Kasich & Keller Conversation Series, former Ohio Governor John Kasich and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute President & CEO Andy Keller discuss resources and programs to address these issues, as well as tips for parents and caregivers to help identify and support student mental health during the summer.

Watch the full conversation here:

Supporting the Mental Health of Students During the Summer – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute John Kasich and Andy Keller dive into a conversation that’s essential viewing for all parents and caregivers: how to support the mental health of students durin

‘A Paradigm Shift’ – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Meadows Institute leaders call for expanding the crisis care continuum into pretrial detention From left: Yolanda Lewis, executive vice president for justice an

We’re honored to continue our partnership with the Amarillo Area Foundation to implement integrated behavioral health care across the Texas Panhandle.

So far, this initiative has reached over 75,000 individuals in Amarillo and surrounding communities, helping to expand and improve access to care through primary care via the Collaborative Care Model ( ).

Read more:

Amarillo Area Foundation grants over $1M to mental, behavioral health care organizations The Amarillo Area Foundation awarded $1,199,400 to health focused organizations and programs in the first discretionary grant cycle of 2024.

Mental health responses by law enforcement have been under increasing scrutiny. Traditionally, police responded to mental health crises, often leading to concerns about the use of force and inadequate training. In response, new initiatives have emerged, reducing the number of individuals sent to jails and hospitals after 9-1-1 calls. Click on the link to see Dr. Drew interview Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.
https://healthuncensoredtv.com/video/foundations-committed-to-improving-mental-health-wellbeing/

Congratulations to Meadows Institute board member Dr. John Zerwas on his appointment to Governor Greg Abbott's Healthcare Workforce Task Force.

We are proud to have a member of our board as a part of this important conversation to address the state’s healthcare workforce shortages and work toward ensuring access to quality health care for all Texans.

Read more:

Governor Abbott Directs THECB To Create Task Force Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortages Governor Greg Abbott today sent a letter directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create a task force to address healthcare workforce shortages in order to meet the demands of our growing state and provide students with the tools they need to succeed.    “The State of Texas has...

The Meadows Institute joined the Texas Tribune for an important conversation on supporting the mental health of young Texans last week. Tegan Henke, Meadows’ senior vice president of community systems innovation, shared her insights and expertise as part of a talented panel:

Deborah Purge, special program and training manager for Dallas ISD

Sabrina Browne, pediatric psychiatrist at Children’s Health and assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center

Laura Vogel, director of mental health services at the Momentous Institute

“There are a lot of reasons to be hopeful” – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute The Meadows Institute shared its insights for improving youth mental health at a recent Texas Tribune panel Yes, we have a youth mental health crisis in our cou

We were proud to support The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in hosting a Capitol Hill Briefing on May 22, in Washington D.C. The Meadows Institute was joined by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Alliance for Patient Access to brief congressional staff and media on the findings and recommendations of the report "Increasing Measurement-Based Assessment and Care for People with Serious Mental Illness.” Read a full recap of the Briefing on the Meadows Institute’s website: https://mmhpi.org/topics/policy-research/meadows-institute-takes-to-capitol-hill-in-support-of-measurement-based-assessment-and-care-for-serious-mental-illness/

Today, we commemorate all members of the military who have lost their lives in service to this country. From all of us at the Meadows Institute, .

As Texas and the nation reflect on the tragedy that happened in Uvalde two years ago today, our hearts go out to the community as we remember the lives that were lost. The grief continues, and we join you in commemorating this solemn day. If you or a loved one need additional support for trauma and grief, we encourage you to view these resources:

Uvalde Resources – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute The devastating tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, will have ripple effects across communities, our state, and the nation in the months and even years to come. Similar t