Final Edition of the SAMHSA MH/AIDS Newsletter
Dear Colleagues and Readers of MH AIDS Newsletter:
The final edition of the MH/AIDS newsletter was disseminated on September 6, 2011, and is posted on the Behavioral Health HIV/AIDS site where the last 10 years of newsletters are archived. This final edition is dedicated to you--the providers who are working in the HIV/AIDS arena; the clients who have ensured that our services were culturally relevant. We are particularly grateful for the significant contribution to the field by Dr. Abraham Feingold, Psy.D.
The MH/AIDS Newsletter was launched in 1999 and over the years, the AIDS mental health research news -- greatly needed -- was sponsored by SAMHSA in partnership with many other organizations. Unfortunately, SAMHSA no longer has the funds to support this effort and the decision to discontinue this newsletter has been difficult. We regret the timing when there are unprecedented scientific developments and this newsletter played a significant role in communicating these developments.
MH/AIDS Newsletter has provided a significant contribution to the field by maintaining knowledge about HIV and AIDS, a comprehensive and 'bio-psychosocial' approach to care for persons with and at risk for HIV/AIDS, co-morbid mental health and substance abuse, prevention and treatment, and a unique “tool-box” specific to providers. With literature searched and compiled from over 99 journals, 4 issues compiling newly published research was posted annually on the SAMHSA website and have been disseminated widely. The archive was converted to pdf formatting in March 2011, and the archive, now also inter-referenced 'issue to issue', will remain posted http://www.samhsa.gov/HIV/mhaids.aspx.
The MH/AIDS Newsletter has served as a resource to consumers, providers, teachers and students, and many more. I have attached some of the comments that we have received.
Sincerely,
Ilze Ruditis, MSW
CAPT, USPHS
SAMHSA/CMHS/DSSI
Ilze.ruditis@samhsa.hhs.gov
Comments on the SAMSHA MH/AIDS Newsletter
“Thanks for providing the mental health letter. I draw strength from this information and will definitely incorporate the assessment with my patients. "
"Many thanks, as always, for your good work. We share your publication with all our clinicians and find it very helpful to keep up-to-date. "
"I would so much love to subscribe to your list, if you have a periodic update via email or snail-mail. "
"I want you to know how much I appreciate your current issue of Mental Health AIDS (Spring 2007) and the tool box on Spirituality Assessment. . . Thanks so much for your excellent and important work. "
Posted: 12/17/2011
"Clinical depression is the most commonly observed mental health disorder among HIV-infected patients, affecting up to 22% of patients. The prevalence may be even greater among substance users," according to the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute and Johns Hopkins University Division of Infectious Diseases.
