Use your senses to connect
APNA President Lora Peppard encourages you to be aware of the role our senses play in fostering connection with all that is around us this summer, including those in our care. See her full President’s Message.

Featuring your colleagues!
Celebrate APNA members highlighted in the news this month. View their accolades.

Presenter looks ahead to Annual Conference
Sexual violence is a significant problem in the U.S., and it is essential PMH nurses are equipped with evidence-based tools to support those who have experienced it. At the APNA 38th Annual Conference, Leslie Miles will present Navigating Healing Paths – Evidence-Based Treatments for Sexual Assault Survivors to teach how to support and foster healing. What can I expect?

Recently released: APNA Resource on ECT
The Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Considerations Checklist was made to support psychiatric-mental health nurses providing individualized care for patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy by outlining considerations. Hear from the chairs of the APNA Neuromodulation Task Force about this useful tool.

Another nurse luminary!
Discover how Shari Harding stands out amongst nurses and exemplifies PMH nursing. Be uplifted by her compassionate care.

New APNA Position on DEI
A new APNA position outlines the essential connection between consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion and providing the most effective PMH nursing care. Get more info on the Position.

Celebrate scholarship recipients
Joshua Moran Jiménez and Amy L. Weaver received this year’s APNA Memorial Scholarship. Discover why!

Skill building opportunity for nurses
New program provides nurses in non-mental health settings with skills to screen and provide life-saving interventions for patients at risk for suicide. Take the Practical Nursing Strategies in Suicide Prevention Course. 

Special JAPNA issue seeks papers on the topic of workplace violence in the healthcare setting
Learn more and answer the call by December 1!  There are also 2 online sessions and one at the Annual Conference to discuss this upcoming JAPNA issue. Sign up to attend the online sessions.

Be recognized in APNA Member News!
Received an award? Featured in an article? Or want to share another exciting achievement? Send your stories to APNA News.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced grant awards totaling $45.1 million to expand mental health and substance use services. The funding will also improve opportunities for historically underserved populations and support recovery for individuals and communities affected by substance use disorders. Full Story

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced notices of $27.5 million in funding opportunities aimed at improving women’s behavioral health across the U.S. Full Story 

A workgroup convened by the Alzheimer’s Association has published revised criteria for the diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s disease that are based on the biology of the disease and reflect recent advancements in Alzheimer’s research, diagnostics and treatment. The 2024 update includes an updated biomarker classification system that includes blood-based biomarkers (BBM) and a revised disease staging system. Full Story

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Kisunla (donanemab-azbt) injection for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with Kisunla should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was studied in the clinical trials. Kisunla is administered as an intravenous infusion every four weeks. Full Story

There has been an "alarming" increase in mental health hospital admissions involving methamphetamine use, new research showed. Investigators found that between 2008 and 2020, such admissions increased by more than 10-fold, reported MedScape. Full Story

Boston University researchers say they have designed a promising new artificial intelligence (AI) computer program, or model that can predict, with an accuracy rate of 78.5%, whether someone with mild cognitive impairment is likely to remain stable over the next six years—or fall into the dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers say their work could also help make cognitive impairment screening more accessible by automating parts of the process—no expensive lab tests, imaging exams, or even office visits required. The model is powered by machine learning, a subset of AI where computer scientists teach a program to independently analyze data. Full Story

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), proposed new policies in the calendar year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule to advance health equity and support whole-person care. The proposed rule would also expand access to behavioral health. Full Story

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released two new resources that highlight crucial steps policymakers can take to help people experiencing a mental health crisis. More than 10 million contacts have already been made to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline since July 2022, however, today’s new polling, conducted with Ipsos, and a new state legislative issue brief show the pressing need to raise awareness of 988 while strengthening the crisis response system to meet the growing demand. Full Story

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force released a new report Online Health and Safety for Children and Youth: Best Practices for Families and Guidance for Industry. The report includes recommendations and best practices for safer social media and online platform use for youth. Task Force members also committed to future actions, including providing more resources for kids, teenagers and families, guidance for pediatricians and conducting more research. Full Story

Click here to see letters APNA has signed on to as a part of its participation in coalitions that further policy for nursing and mental health.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.