View this email in your browser

CENTER UPDATES

We're hiring!

The Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law (CMHPL) in the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is recruiting for a full-time (100%) clinical psychologist to join our core faculty as an Associate or full Professor. The option of Research Associate Professor/Research Professor is also available. This is a non-tenure track position based at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Learn more and apply. 

October Forensic Mental Health Journal Club

Join us on October 23 for Forensic Mental Health Journal Club, hosted by Dr. Jennifer Piel and Dr. Edward E. Goldenberg. Participants will discuss two articles on competency restoration. The club is open to practicing clinicians, clinical trainees, and anyone interested in topics in forensic mental health. Register to receive the Zoom link. 

WASHINGTON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UPDATES

Washington state legislative updates

During the 2023 session, the Washington State Legislature reviewed many bills with implications for behavioral health. Read summaries of several new laws that were passed this session. 

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The new national behavioral health emergency line, 988, is now a year old. And, as with human one-year-olds, it is really just starting to get its legs under it. In Washington state, we are seeing 988 call volumes of around 5,000 calls per month. Around 250 additional calls were received by the Native and Strong Lifeline (Source: Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Committee, June 2023 meeting notes).

This summer, the Washington State Health Care Authority released the Crisis System Best Practice Guide. The goal of the guide is to standardize crisis response and incorporate SAMHSA’s best practices into Washington as the infrastructure is built to support them. The guide has been written to educate system partners on the crisis system and start conversations to improve collaboration.  

The New York Times wrote an excellent piece this summer on whether (and how) the new hotline is working.

Our takeaway: While there is clear evidence that the public is using the new number, it is easy to forgot that most citizens still don’t know of its existence, or believe it should only be used in cases of extreme emergencies. How can you help? Make sure you send your agency administrators the SAMHSA 988 Toolkit so that your agency can help get the word out.

IN THE NEWS

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The following events are sponsored by other organizations of potential interest to the CMHPL community.

Essentials of Care for Supporting Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

This online training, hosted by the UW SPIRIT Lab, is an entry-level training opportunity on best practices for supporting recovery from a serious mental illness. The series begins on September 20 and will take place over 8 consecutive Wednesdays via Zoom. Register by September 19*. 

*If you register for 10 or more spots, use this promo code for a 10% discount per registrant: Fall10+Discount2023

NAMIWA State Conference in Spokane

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Washington (NAMIWA) is hosting the 2023 state conference on October 14. This event has a virtual option.

AAPL Annual Meeting in Chicago

The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) is hosting its 54th Annual Meeting from October 19–22, 2023. Dr. Jennifer Piel and Katherine Michaelsen, CMHPL core faculty, are presenting at the following sessions:

Poster Session: Attorneys’ Obligations to Clients with Suicidal Thoughts
October 19, 7:00–8:00 a.m. / 9:30–10:15 a.m. CDT
Jennifer Piel, MD, JD (Seattle, WA)

Poster Session: Criminal Defense Attorneys and Suicide Prevention
October 19, 7:00–8:00 a.m. / 9:30–10:15 a.m. CDT
Joellyn Sheehy, MD (Seattle, WA)
Jennifer Piel, MD, JD (Seattle, WA)

Research in Progress Session: Understanding Deliberate Indifference to Suicide
October 21, 8:00–10:00 a.m. CDT
Jennifer Piel, MD, JD (Seattle, WA)
Carol Barnes, MD (Seattle, WA)

Research in Progress Session: Legislative Advocacy as Entry to Learning About Forensics
October 21, 10:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CDT
Jennifer Piel, MD, JD (Seattle, WA)

Panel Discussion: Core Forensic Training for General Residents — How Do We Fill in the Gap? 
October 22, 10:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CDT
Katherine Michaelsen, MD (Seattle, WA)
Tobias Wasser, MD (New Haven, CT)
George D. Annas, MD, MPH (Syracuse, NY)