The Florida Commission calls on the nationwide data manager for mental health data / public messages

At the beginning of the legislative period in Florida on Tuesday, the Florida Commission for Mental Health and Consuming substance calls legislators to prioritize the creation of a nationwide repositorie for health data.

The recommendation that was emphasized in the annual preliminary report of the Commission published in January aims to centralize data on trends, costs, access and results for mental health in order to improve the quality of care and to ensure that Floridians receive the help required.

Jay Reeve, Chairman of the Commission and CEO of the Apalachee Center in Tallahassee, is a clinical psychologist with 40 years of experience and emphasized that the repository would follow strictly federal guidelines to protect the privacy of the patients.

“We have to develop a data governance structure that is very transparent and ensure that there is really no way to violate the data that we receive that is identified data,” urge Reeve.

REEVE focuses particularly on specified data with which the proposed repository pursues the psychological health trends, improves treatment and leads nationwide planning. The work of the Commission influenced the Live Healthy Act and the Law on the Senate last year. This year the proposal for the data repository will be won this year in language, whereby the language in Senate Bill 168 is included.

The repository is recommended when Florida is increasing an increasing demand for psychiatric services, especially in children. Reeve found that the state has made progress in expanding access to care, for example through mobile crisis reaction team, Stigma remains a major obstacle for treatment.

“Every year I am increasingly convinced that the greatest obstacle to services and service usage is Stigma,” emphasized Reeve. “I think that's number one to 50.”

Opponents, including some supporters of data protection, fear that even data that could not be identified could be re -identified with advanced technology, which endangered endangered population groups. In addition, some groups for advocacy for mental health have proposed alternative solutions, e.g.

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At the end of last year, Missouri recorded his first significant decline in the overdose death since 2015 -mainly due to increased access to naloxone, also referred to as Lazarus drug because she has revived a person who has overdosed.

A report from 2024 by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows that opioid deaths have dropped from more than 700 to just over 500 nationwide, which has been due to a decrease of 30%.

Dawnelyn Schneider, Chief Network Development and Populent Health Officer of the Central Ozarks Medical Center said that it is important to wear naloxone for overdose cases.

However, it also attributed the decline in the death of the overdose to increased training in the community to factors in connection with the substance.

“On the risk factors to identify trends and behavioral factors,” said Schneider, “and if you are a person who has to deal with substance use, or a family member who has to fight with substance use, how do you get help?”

More than 73% of the deaths of drug overdoses in Missouri in 2023 were opioid.

Since 2017, Missouri has an order that enables everyone to get naloxone without a prescription from pharmacies.

This increased access enables more people, including drug users, to use it in emergencies.

According to tailors, strategies are part of the damage reduction for those who consume medication, wearing naloxone, avoiding the application and using clean needles to prevent overdoses and infections.

“Abstinence is not always the only goal,” said Schneider. “Sometimes you have to bring someone to a point where they are used safer before they are willing to no longer use.”

Nationwide, the deaths of opioids fell from around 84,000 to around 81,000, while cocaine and methamphetamine-related deaths recorded a slight increase.

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When the temperatures sink, some Georgians feel more than just the winter cold.

Almost 40% of Americans experience the seasonal mood changes, which are known as a seasonal affective disorder. The disease can leave people, unmotivated and in a cycle with low energy.

Tami Brown, Vice President of the National Alliance for Mental Disease Georgia, says that the two most common are an increased feeling of sadness and social withdrawal, but added that where they can increase life, family history and even gender, and also the risk of developing symptoms.

“It affects more people than we think,” emphasized Brown. “People who have little energy or fatigue, even after sleep at full night they could have problems with concentration. Sleeping habits could fluctuate. They could start sleeping. They could be too much or undergrowth.”

Brown emphasized when they have to fight, the deterioration in symptoms can often prevent help from looking for help from a psychiatric specialist. She encouraged herself to contact a family doctor or to call the 988 suicide and the crisis rescue line to support.

Brown emphasized that coping with the seasonal affective disorder does not have to be overwhelming. It suggested simple but effective strategies such as light therapy, physical activity, maintaining a routine and prioritizing social connections. She added that practicing mindfulness and nutritional support was important and said that her organization offers programs and support free of charge.

“All of our training courses, groups, information, education, they are carried out by people who have had experience,” emphasized Brown. “These people have a diagnosis of behavior with which they live and work through them, and they help the community.”

Dr. Rhonda Randall, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Unitedhealthcare Employer and individual said that you can also find support from your health insurer. Many now cover virtual care.

“These telegesanity services generally include the health of Telebehavioral Health, which can begin through their employee aid program or through virtual coaching and digital self -help soles,” surfing Randall.

She underlined some insurance plans or wellness programs in the workplace can also offer additional resources to support mental health and everyday challenges.

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The Senate from Alabama has passed a legislative template that has to deal with mental health problems for gun owners to voluntarily give up their firearms.

Senator Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, sponsored Senate Bill 40, named the “Houston/Hunter Act” in honor of Houston Lee Tumlin and Hunter Chase Whitley, two veterans who died by suicide.

Data from the US Ministry of Veteran Affairs showed that around 86% of the veteran self -murders in Alabama affect firearms. Kelley said that the invoice had been inspired by her stories, with hopes that can be prevented similar.

“Your mothers feel like this if this calculation had existed and they can voluntarily turn into these firearms that they would probably have saved their lives,” said Kelley.

The draft law also protects arms dealers and law enforcement authorities from court proceedings if a firearm is returned and later abused. However, if you violate laws when dealing with a returned firearm, you could still be held accountable. The invoice now moves into the house for examination.

Senator Merika Coleman Evans, D-Birmingham, expressed her support for the measure on the ground of the Senate. She also asked other legislators to consider Senate Bill 170, which is an initiative with a more proactive approach to removing firearms of people who could harm itself or someone else.

“My calculation is not a 'volunteer', but it is an opportunity for us to get these firearms away from people who viewed as a threat to themselves or others,” surfed Coleman Evans.

According to their draft law, the law enforcement authorities or the family members of a person together with teachers and school staff would have the opportunity to ask for a protection order for arms for weapons.

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