News

The Office of Adult Mental Health Services has posted a recently-completed Web-Based Training entitled, "Providing Patient-Centered Mental Health Care in the Emergency Department." An April 1st memo from Chris Robinson and Leticia Huttman describes the training this way: "This Web-Based Training, which runs approximately 1 1/4 hours in length, was developed by OAMHS and based on input from mental health care consumers and providers. It discusses the challenges of providing mental health care in the ED, and suggests specific steps EDs can take to promote a more satisfying experience for patients and ED staff alike."

To view the training, go to OAMHS website at this link: http://maine.gov/dhhs/mh/mhed. There are opportunities on this site to download the training and access a variety of documents in the Attachments section that may serve as useful resources. Though not ready at this time, OAMHS expects to provide Certificates of Completion and to get approval for professional CEU credit.

If you have any comments or feedback, please feel free to post below.

It is with a sad heart that I inform you of the passing of William "Bill" Burke of Augusta, Maine.

Bill passed away on Saturday, March 27, after a short battle with cancer.

He was an active member of the Augusta Local Council and the Capital Clubhouse. He also loved to paint & draw, selling some of his work to the LINC Club in Augusta.

A small memorial service will be held at the Capital Clubhouse in Augusta on April 2 from 2-4pm.

The CCSM would like to extend our sympathy to Bill's family and girlfriend of 27 years, Laurie Wallace.

Bill will be sadly missed.

April 2nd Update:

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law released its summary of the new Health Care Reform Law ("Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act") listing the many benefits to people with mental health and substance abuse issues. Bazelon Summary

For more information, visit Bazelon's webpage on Health Care Reform: http://www.bazelon.org/issues/healthreform/index.htm.

March 25

"On March 23, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. This moment marks a seismic shift for health care in America, taking our country forward toward joining all the other industrialized nations in providing a national plan to bring affordable health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, including 125,000 uninsured Maine people."

So begins an open letter from Wendy Wolf, President & CEO of the Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF). The letter gives MeHAF's overall perspective on the law, as well as key points and resources to help understand what the law means. To read the letter and access information and documents linked within it, CLICK HERE. Feel free to comment below. What do you think?