(CLOSED) Strategic 8: Public Awareness and Support
This forum is closed.
The ideas and comments below are part of the feedback received during the development of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives. The final document that reflects the input provided in these forums is available at: http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA11-4629.
Questions about this forum can be directed to newmedia@samhsa.hhs.gov
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20 votes
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Consider trauma and older adults
Older adults differ from younger populations in their awareness and understanding of behavioral health issues. Tailored messaging has been proven to be an essential component of effective public health interventions). A few strategies for addressing outreach to older adults may include: addressing the stigma associated with mental illness among some older adults; being strategic in use of media targeting this population (i.e. using means most accessible and acceptable to this population); and acknowledging that older adults are not a homogeneous group by developing culturally competent outreach and intervention strategies for this diverse and growing group. As with younger populations, older…
4 votes -
National education campaign on the effects of Trauma on adults and children
Trauma is at the root of most mental illness, substance abuse,violence and incarcerations. The public needs a general understanding of what it looks like and the language to communicate to each other about it.
3 votes -
20 votes
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Streamlining the message will facilitate communication and promote SAMHSA’s mission.
We applaud SAMHSA’s intention to employ a marketing strategy that will facilitate communication and promote the overall SAMHSA “brand”. There are many internal improvements that can be made to an otherwise fragmented organization. Uniform formats for all media to be disseminated to the public, as well as a common/user-friendly interface for general use, are all good ideas. The initiative’s placement at the end of your Strategic Initiative paper also seems to indicate its inclusion as a more general, overarching strategy upon which the other stated initiatives are implemented. Streamlining your organizational structure and message are both positive steps in informing…
3 votes -
Continue partnership with all health entities related to public outreach and shared messaging
Activities such as partnership with the CDC to offer communications continuing education and integration of behavioral health messaging with all other public health messaging is imperative to advance these issues to the forefront of public health concerns.
7 votes -
Help to develop packaged awareness programs targeting businesses, civic groups and others
There are existing state efforts being tested that target business organizations, civic groups and others and offer packaged educational programs and awareness activities. It would be wise to look at some of these programs and work to incorporate their ideas into a national product that can then be disseminated through state behavioral health authorities. The effort not only reaches the workforce, but also be used to build local support and expand partnership opportunities to groups outside of traditional stakeholders.
6 votes -
Create a system of partnership between state communication/public info programs and SAMHSA
SAMHSA media and public outreach efforts could be coordinated with state communications/public information programs to more effectively gain media attention and reach intended target audiences. Development of a state public information director's association and sponsorship of training/continuing education opportunities could strengthen efforts to disseminate consistent messaging and support a broad-scale public response.
10 votes -
dedicate funding to support state behavioral health public information and outreach
The limited funding that does exist for state behavioral health programs must be used to meet overwhelming demand for treatment services. Public information and outreach efforts therefore have limited access to necessary funding supports, yet these services are vital to linking consumers to care, overcoming public stigma and advancing understanding that would altimately lead to increased behavioral health funding.
18 votes -
7 votes
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24 votes
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Increase anti-stigma campaigns
Anti-stigma campaigns focusing on education about mental illness, from pre-teens and up, to increase awareness of the physical, psychological, economic, and social aspects of all types of mental illnesses with the hope that upcoming generations will be more tolerant, understanding, and accepting of mental illness in peers, family, and themselves.
32 votes -
Conduct family member presentations to all cross systems around childrens MH
educate all cross systems around children from a family member prespective.
11 votes -
Start awareness of mental health in elementary schools. Thus beginning to erase stigmas.
My son had a program at his highschool talking about Mental Health and had exercises etc.. What about starting programs in elementary school? Teaching kids the importance about not judging each other, erasing stigmas before they have a chance to begin.
3 votes -
12 votes
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5 votes
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end prescription drug ads targeting consumers
direct to consumer advertising on television and in magazines keeps US citizens drug dependent
39 votes -
46 votes
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Expand their vision to wellness and the health of the whole person and how BH fits into the paradigm
We cannot continue to keep ourselves silod from the rest of healthcare. We have a lot to offer the entire healthcare system. Also, a large number of the people we serve are not getting the physical healthcare they need. We will not bridge this until we are recognized as healthcare, not and add on.
2 votes -
35 votes
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