When you are in the military, you may see combat. You may have been on missions that exposed you to horrible and life-threatening experiences. These types of events can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When someone you love has PTSD, it can change your relationship with them. The person with PTSD may act differently and may change the way they express emotions. He or she may not want to do things you once enjoyed together. Fortunately, options are available to make things better. 

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

"Invisible Wounds": Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury , produced for the Massachusetts Trial Court as an educational tool for Trial Court personnel, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, and others, was created to increase awareness and understanding of these mental health and medical challenges that may impact a veteran's life and contribute to court involvement.

Watch"Invisible Wounds":

PTSD and TBI

By Heidi Holland, Project Director TSAI Young Adult Grant

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) implemented a regulation change last year that enables youth/young adults to become authorized for services with a "child" diagnosis up until their 22nd birthday (previous age was 19). The purpose of this change, named Reframe the Age , is to provide flexibility in meeting the service needs of young adults as they transition into adulthood. Service planning for young adults 18 through 21 now considers the person’s need for services from Child, Youth and Family (CYF) or adult Mental Health Services (MHS), making it possible to draw on the resources of both the youth serving and adult serving systems to meet young adults’ individual needs. The new regulations also recognize that some young adults will transition to adult DMH services at age 22, while others will transition to services outside of DMH. Transition planning is an ongoing process and reflects the evolving needs and competencies of young adults.

Our goal to develop a service system that is designed to support the unique needs of young adults. Young adults are at high risk for mental health and co-occurring substance mis-use challenges, but their needs are often not fully addressed within either the child or adult service system. In fact, young adults are often at risk of becoming disconnected from the service system entirely. For example, data analysis reveals that a significant number of young adults who submitted a DMH application for services did not complete the service authorization process.

DMH staff formed a cross division Work Group and developed a new Young Adult Practice Framework providing a road map for best practices and guidance for implementation throughout the DMH service system. One practice change that was already begun is increased collaboration between the CYF and adult MHS Division. Staff from each meet regularly about service authorization, service needs and transition for youth and young adults to determine how best to engage them, serve them and support them and their families throughout the process of obtaining services and communicating throughout their participation in DMH services. 

Key resources for DMH staff and provider agencies are in development. These include the practice frameworks, Enhancing Practice to Support Young Adults and Tip Sheets that were developed by the University of Massachusetts Transitions ACR in collaboration with the Work Group.

Area Forums are being planned for Winter/Spring 2019 to support the practice frameworks and implementation. 

NEW RESOURCES

TIP SHEETS

The Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC), located in Roxbury, is a refugee resettlement agency offering culturally competent, linguistically accessible and integrated mental health services, evidence based trauma treatment, psychiatric care and various other social services. Refugees are frequently exposed to horrific levels of violence prior to fleeing their countries of origin, and many continue to be exposed to trauma after resettlement in the United States. Refugees and immigrants face multiple barriers to receiving treatment including distrust of systems, stigma of mental illness and lack of linguistically and culturally responsive services.

In 2012, RIAC addressed these barriers by opening the community-based counseling center staffed by multi-cultural and multi-lingual staff with expertise in the unique mental health needs of refugees as well as a deep understanding of the cultural needs of the refugee and immigrant populations served. By offering mental health services in RIAC’s office, a frequented location for a variety of non-stigmatized services, clients are able to address their trauma in a comfortable, safe, familiar environment. Clinical staff are often able to provide services in a client’s native language including Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Farsi and French. Additionally, RIAC has clinical staff who understand the cultural nuances as they themselves are from similar cultures as the clients. RIAC’s holistic approach to social services allows clients to access support in all aspects of their lives. RIAC has been providing extremely important linguistically and culturally responsive mental health services to the refugee and immigrant population of Greater Boston and looks forward to growing its program to meet the ever-growing need for these services.

Pictured left to right: From RIAC Dr. Lisa Fortuna, Psychiatrist, Mariam Gas, Executive Director, and Saida Abdi, one of RIAC's therapists. The photo was taken on World Refugee Day this past June

Services provided include:

STAFF NEWS

On October 24th, Commissioner Mikula awarded the 2018 Performance Recognition Program (PRP) Citations for Outstanding Performance. It is important to recognize the hard work and commitment to public service our employees embody every day on behalf of adults, children, youth and families living with mental health challenges. The Commonwealth’s PRP program is one of the ways we honor outstanding performance.

The PRP awards recognize state employees whose contributions speak to exemplary performance in public service. This distinction is a testiment to the quality of their performance in public service as well as within our agency. They highlight the consistent, positive achievements by both teams and individuals who demonstrate innovation and dedication in their work. The outstanding efforts put forward by our staff make a significant impact in the lives of the people we serve. Congratulations DMH PRP citation winners!

Looking for new learning and development (LD) opportunities? Use the DMH LD Calendar to search for a variety of opportunities in your area or statewide. The learning calendar is updated on an ongoing basis with personal and professional development opportunities as well as continuing education events. Easily filter your search by clicking on any of the color-coded categories displayed on the calendar.

The DMH Events Calendar features upcoming mental health related events and groups planned around the state. These events are free or low cost, and generally open to the general public.

VOLUNTEERS SERVE AT THE FRIENDS OF METRO BOSTON 15TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER

Get into the holiday giving spirit! Volunteers serve Thanksgiving Dinner to 500 individuals living with mental health challenges in Metro Boston.

Wednesday November 21, 2018

11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Florian Hall, 55 Hållet St., Dorchester, MA

For more information contact Kenny Mack or 617 626-8979

Sponsored by: Senator Nick Collins, Billy Higgins, Massport, Boton Firefighters, The Department of Mental Health, Friends of Metro Boston/Vinfen.

The correct answer is more than 300 million people.

Thank you to those who responded!

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