The Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium provides the latest scientific developments in Addiction Psychiatry for physicians and allied health professionals who treat patients with substance use disorders and mental disorders. The meeting is structured to encourage interaction among clinicians from various disciplines, approaches, and settings.

Counties across the country have committed to creating data-driven, systems-level plans to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in their jails. As part of these efforts, many communities are focusing on the small number of people who frequently cycle in and out of emergency rooms, shelters, crisis services and the justice system, a population that disproportionately contributes to the high utilization of these resources. People who come into frequent contact with these systems have some of the highest mental health and substance abuse treatment needs and utilize significant county resources, often without positive outcomes due to a lack of collaboration between the various systems.

In Part 2 of a series on collecting and using data, Stepping Up and the Data-Driven Justice project will host a webinar that features counties that have implemented policies and practices that identify frequent utilizers of these systems and use this information to connect people with appropriate treatment and services.

This webinar explores the benefits of peer support in combating loneliness and social exclusion, two factors that destroy health and happiness. Research has shown that the lack of “connectedness” to friends and community worsens psychiatric problems and leads to chronic illness and early mortality. Adults with mental health problems are one of the most excluded groups in society. People living with thought disorders, like schizophrenia, have the most difficulties in forming personal relationships of all disabilities. Social inclusion offers opportunities to re-engage with the community and form positive relationships. Mental Health America’s Social Self-Directed Care program and work compiled by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion emphasize the value of peer support in assisting individuals with serious psychiatric disorders form social connections and personal relationships.

Presenter: Patrick Hendry, Mental Health America

For complete details visit: SMIadviser.org/endexclusion

Individuals with SMI who have been involved in the criminal justice system face numerous challenges including additional stigma. They may also exhibit behaviors that were adaptive in correctional settings, but become maladaptive in other settings. Many of these persons have histories of trauma and their exposure to criminal justice processes can be further traumatizing. Many will have antisocial personality features that the mental health treatment provider may feel ill-equipped to support and may even not enjoy the work of working with these individuals, which can lead to personal burn out and difficulty with compassion. This can be especially true for patients with histories of aggression or even violence. In addition, individuals with SMI in the criminal justice system often have co-occurring substance use disorders and medical conditions that compound their complexity. The criminal justice system utilizes a rubric called the Risk-Need-Responsivity paradigm to identify individual risk of criminal recidivism. Interventions such as specific cognitive behavioral strategies are often used in criminal justice contexts to address some of the criminogenic thinking associated with such recidivism. This framework has been applied to broad populations even while more research is needed to determine how these methods can best fit for persons with SMI. This webinar will review these various topics to assist mental health professionals in supporting their patients who have had criminal justice involvement.

Presenter: Debra Pinals, MD, University of Michigan

For complete details visit: SMIadviser.org/justice-involved

AADPRT invites you all to contemplate the motivation and process of being an educator. How does this role bring satisfaction (or does it)? How has it informed our personal trajectory and that of the learners? How have we leveraged teaching to help expand our purpose, that of future psychiatrists, and the field of mental health?

AADPRT invites you all to reflect on this year’s Annual Meeting theme: Reclaim Meaning through Teaching which takes place March 4-7, 2020 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas.

Annual Meeting ~ Wednesday Afternoon, March 4 – Saturday, March 7

BRAIN Conference ~ Wednesday Morning, March 4

Experience the insight of unequaled speakers, hear from the top thought leaders and experts on mental health and addictions, and dig deep into the issues you care most about. NatCon is the premier conference for behavioral health, responding to today’s issues and challenges.

Experience the meeting of the profession. Join more than 2,000 social workers, like-minded professionals, and social work thought leaders for four days of unparalleled opportunities for professional development, continuing education, networking, and thought-provoking conversations tackling the most pressing issues facing the social work profession across the world.