Mental Health Awareness Month March 2017 Meeting Agenda

Mental Health Awareness Month March 2017

Meeting Agenda 3: 00 PM 3: 05 PM Welcome & Introductions VMHC Business - Update on the Incarcerated Veterans Task Force - Update on the Message on Appointment Letters - Introduction of the New Website Address, Email, Phone Number & Logo - Introduction of the VMHC Veterans Outreach Program - Introduction of the New Educational Meeting Guidelines 3: 15 PM Panel Discussion on PTSD, Substance Abuse & Suicide Prevention 5: 00 PM Adjournment

Incarcerated Veterans Task Force New Task Force Leader: Ambrose Kobb Stage 1: Work with the Ester Prison Veterans Unit Create a resource binder and train the Veterans Council to become advocates Appoint one incarcerated Veteran liaison working directly with the Incarcerated Veterans Task Force Create a process to track Veterans from intake to release in order to ensure they have access to services and programs Collaborate with the Arkansas Department of Corrections and the VA Hospital on the possibility of providing services Stage 2: Create similar Veterans Units regionally to house all Veterans in the state prison system Analyze state laws and policies and determine where changes need to be made.

Appointment Letter “The Veterans Mental Health Council is an independent organization run by Veterans, dedicated to improving OUR mental health care system. To provide feedback about your appointment and services, learn more about what we do, find out about our next meeting, or get involved, go to www. cavmhc. org, email us at cavhmc@gmail. com, or leave a message for us at 501 -291 -2765. ”

New Website Address, Email, Phone, & Logo www. cavmhc. org cavmhc@gmail. com 501 -291 -2765

Veterans Outreach Program New Veterans Outreach Coordinator: Johnny Cartwright Veterans Outreach Within the VA Hospital: Visit Inpatient and Outpatient Programs informing them about VMHC Recruit Veterans to get involved in the VMHC Obtain feedback from Veterans on their mental health needs Veterans Outreach Within the Commuity: Visit with groups, organizations, and individuals to inform them of the purpose of the VMHC Recruit groups, organizations, and individuals to get involved in the VMHC Obtain feedback from groups, organizations, and individuals on their mental health needs Obtain information and/or flyers to help build our resource database and binder Veterans Outreach Meetings will begin in June

Education Meeting Guidelines Mission: To educate Veterans, providers, and stakeholders on relevant and up-to-date information and programs on mental health. v v We must create a welcoming environment for all present participants (Veterans, providers, stakeholders, and guests) v Allow presenters to speak without criticism or fear of judgement v Allow the audience to ask questions for further understanding We must provide a venue for those who are unable to attend to also learn v Provide an online location for the video recording of the meetings, along with all handouts

Educational Meeting Procedures Meetings will be held on the 1 st Wednesday of each month from 3 -5 pm Meeting reminders with information about the topic and speakers will be advertised via email and social media at least one week prior to the meeting Meetings and speakers are planned out at least one month in advance If you would like to be a speaker on a topic or have an announcement of any kind, please feel free to email cavmhc@gmail. com or call 501 -291 -2765 Questions for speakers/guests will be written and submitted to the Vice Chair or his/her designee to read Meeting agendas, handouts, and recordings will be posted within one week on our website (www. cavmhc. org) and links will be sent out via email and social media

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Panel: Dr. Reeder, David Gordy & Johnny Cartwright

Substance Abuse Panel: Royce Dobson, Harry Williams, & Larry Butler

Suicide Prevention Study Dr. Padala

Lithium Plus Study + (Li ) Double-blind placebo-controlled study of lithium for preventing repeated suicidal self-directed violence in patients with depression or bipolar disorder Prasad Padala, MD, MS, FACHE Cynthia Kilgore, BSN, RN + Li

Risk of Suicide Increases Dramatically after Age 65 Suicides per 100, 000 Living White Males 60 50 White men 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 Age 50 60 70 80 90

Suicide Often Associated with Depression/Mood Disorder Half of all people who die by suicide are clinically depressed Having depression or one of the other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder increases the risk of suicide 20 -fold Suicide Risk Management: A Manual for Health Professionals (2012)

Warning Signs of Imminent Suicide Risk Threatening or talking of wanting to hurt or kill oneself Looking for ways to kill oneself Talking or writing about death, dying, suicide, or worthlessness when this is not usual for the person Giving away sentimental personal items Living Works Education USA, 2008

Imminent Suicide Risk Statements of Concern “If I die tomorrow, I’m ready. ” “Death would solve all my problems. ” “I won’t be needing this anymore” “I can’t take it anymore” “Everything will be over soon” “You are all better off without me” “I wish I were dead” “All of my problems will be over soon” Living Works Education USA, 2008

Questions You Can Ask how the individual is feeling: How are you doing? Would you mind talking about how you feel? Tell me more about how you feel. Offer to help: Can I help you? Is there a problem that I might be able to help you with?

Questions You Can Ask a Close Friend or Loved One Ask about intent: Are you thinking about hurting yourself? Are you thinking about ending your life? Have you thought about methods you might use to take your life? Ask if they need help

Lithium Plus Study (Li+): Project Overview To test hypothesis that lithium augmentation of enhanced usual care will reduce the rate of repeated episodes of suicidal self-directed violence Self-directed violence defined as: Attempts Interrupted by self/others Aborted attempts Hospitalizations specifically to prevent suicide attempt Attempted within the past 6 months + Li

Project Overview Continued 1 year of subject participation Program goal is to enroll and randomize 1, 862 subjects over 30 VA sites Little Rock site goal is to enroll 4 subjects/month Currently over 250 Veterans enrolled nationwide + Li

Inclusion criteria Exclusion criteria • Survived episode of • Schizophrenia or history of psychotic symptoms suicidal self-directed violence within past 6 months • Concurrence from the patient’s mental health and acknowledgment primary care provider Cognitive impairment; lack of decisionmaking ability ≥ 6 previous lifetime suicide attempts Current or recent (≤ 6 months) use of lithium Currently taking diuretics, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, haloperidol, clozapine Alcohol or drug abuse requiring medically supervised withdrawal & stabilization + Li

Costs and Benefits No Cost for the Veteran to participate in the study Compensated for travel < 50 miles $50 Kroger cards > 50 miles $70 Kroger cards

How Can You Help? ? ? CONCURRENCE!!!! RECRUITMENT!!!!! + Li

Contact Information Name Dr. Prasad Padala Cynthia Kilgore Role Site Principal Investigato r Site Study Nurse Email Phone Number Prasad. Padala@v (501) 257 a. gov 2537 Cynthia. Kilgore 2@ (501) 257 va. gov 2534 + Li

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