MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND TRENDS The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, provides resources, publications, links, and funding information related to substance abuse and mental illness prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services. Mental Health Issues and Trends President Bush's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health website offers an important overview of national mental health priorities and trends. The Commission recently released its interim report on mental health, which can be accessed by clicking here. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General This landmark report from the Surgeon General's office offers an excellent overview of current trends and national priorities related to mental health. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization, provides resources such as handbooks, manuals, issue papers, up-to-date press releases and other reports related to federal laws, regulations, legislative proposals and court decisions that pertain to mental health and implications for families and consumers. National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), a division of the National Institutes of Health, works to accomplish a better understanding of treatment and prevention of mental illness through research. This website provides information for the public, practitioners, and researchers regarding news and events, clinical trials for medications, and funding opportunities. The Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health at the University of South Florida's Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute provides information, publications and links related to improved services and outcomes for children with serious emotional/behavioral disabilities and their families. The Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health at Portland State University provides resources, publications and links relating to the Center's recent research, publications and other activities, as well as information about developments in the field of Children's Mental Health. The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute website provides information relating to each state's public mental health system. The National Empowerment Center contains information and related links with practical information to help people who have been labeled with a mental illness recover. National Conference of State Legislatures' Mental Health website contains articles, charts and briefs on current and anticipated public policy trends as they relate to specific mental health issues and needs. The National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) 50-state survey on the status of states' implementation of Olmstead Plans can be accessed from the organization's website. The site also provides some history and background related to this influential court decision. Substance Abuse Issues and Trends National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) provides resources, publications and links related to practice and policy issues in substance abuse and treatment. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is one of three centers within SAMHSA. It focuses on substance abuse prevention, research, and practice. This website provides a range of resources from programs, to funding opportunities, to conferences and publications. National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) is an information clearinghouse from SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, supports and conducts research to advance drug abuse and addiction prevention, treatment, and policy. This website provides resources on grant funding, programs, publications, and press releases related to research findings in this area. National Conference of State Legislatures' Substance Abuse website contains articles, charts and briefs on current and anticipated public policy trends as they relate to specific substance abuse issues and needs. Back to Top