National Alliance on Mental Illness

Greenlick Wants State, CCOs, NAMI to Strike Deal on Psychiatric Meds

Psychiatric medications are carved out of the purview of the CCOs, limiting their ability to fully integrate mental healthcare. The organizations have tried repeatedly to remove this restriction, and this year the state will require them to allow any patient to stay on their preferred medication.

Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, has asked the Oregon Health Authority to negotiate with representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness if the state agency wishes to give more power to coordinated care organizations to manage psychiatric drugs.

By: 
Chris Gray

Washington County Seeks to Reduce Suicide Rate from 65 per Year to Zero

FamilyCare Advisory Council hears about mental health efforts

FamilyCare’s advisory council met for the first time outside of Multnomah County at the wellness center of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, where members heard that Oregon has the ninth highest suicide rate in the nation – and learned about efforts by Washington County to reduce those rat

By: 
Jan Johnson

Portland Police Inundated with Mental Health Referrals

The police bureau has set up a special behavioral health unit, training officers on how to handle such calls and is working with mental health providers and CCOs to observe officers in action.

During a public forum Tuesday night to discuss the Portland Police Bureau’s Behavioral Health Unit, a member of the response team, told of two situations that day, representing the spectrum of behavioral health cases.

By: 
Jan Johnson

Senate Bill 823 Outlines Courtney’s Vision for Mental Health

Sen. Brian Boquist of McMinnville, the Republican co-sponsor, said the bill sets guidelines in place so the state will be more prepared to actually show results as funding becomes available

April 10, 2013 — Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, teamed up with Sen. Brian Boquist, R-McMinnville, on Tuesday to press for Senate Bill 823, a broad-sweeping set of policy guidelines aimed at providing more comprehensive and proactive community mental health across the state of Oregon.

By: 
Christopher David Gray
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