How do you think of connection? 
Read APNA President Lora Peppard’s message, “We are experts in connection – let’s build a way of thinking about it together!”, and join in the construction of an innovative PMH nursing connection paradigm. Read Lora’s Message 

November Member News Features Outstanding Members 
9 members were featured in the news this month for their outstanding work in PMH nursing, and 4 more are authors of the latest JAPNA issue. Meet this month's PMH nursing standouts. 
  
Ask a PMH Nurse… Get answers on MST from Brenda Mayfield
Read for Brenda’s insights to inform your PMH nursing care for veterans who may have experienced MST, and simple practices to help ensure that veterans who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST) receive the care they need. Learn more & improve your care 

3 Winning Ideas from Annual Conference Poster Presenters! 
Three first-place posters from the APNA 37th Annual Conference offer a variety of PMH nursing insights. Discover their offerings that claimed top spots in the categories of education, practice, and student, and watch this space for more! What do winning ideas look like? 

My PMH Nurse Luminary Was My Instructor in Graduate School
In this installment of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Luminaries, APNA member John Parker, MS, RN shares how his professor in graduate school 30 years ago made a lasting impact on him and his career. Learn about John’s luminary

Recapture the Magic of I.D.E.A.S. at the APNA 37th Annual Conference 
This year’s theme, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses: Novel IDEAS Moving Whole Health Forward, was woven throughout the 100+ sessions and poster presentations that comprised the program. What did that look like? Experience the magic all over again 

Addressing Workplace Violence in Today’s Environment 
According to APNA’s 2022 report on the psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce, more than 1/3 of psychiatric-mental health registered nurses report that they do not feel safe on the job. APNA calls for action to address the prevalence of workplace violence in this new issue statement.  Read APNA’s issue statement

Calling for Nominations of Outstanding PMH Nurses
Submit a nomination today for an APNA Annual Award and recognize an exceptional psychiatric-mental health nurse. Submit before the January 8 deadline.  

Free CE in Honor of Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving 
Keep the care you provide for veteran mental health needs current with a free session for APNA members now through December 10: Veterans, Psychedelics, and PTSD: Healing the Wounds of Service
Enjoy this Thanksgiving gift for all that you are and all that we see in you: with this session free for APNA members through December 15: Psychiatric Nurses Making a Difference: Positions on Community and National Boards, Commissions and Politics 

The American Nurses Foundation released the results of its fourth mental health and wellness survey as part of the Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Survey Series. Conducted in May 2023 with more than 7,400 nurses, the findings from this latest comprehensive survey show the nursing profession is still in desperate need of sustained support or the workforce will continue to decline in both well-being and in numbers. Full Story

The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in partnership with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), has posted the proposed key questions for the systematic review on Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Mental Health in Children and Adolescents. The EPC program has posted the proposed key questions for the systematic review. EPC is seeking comments on the clarity, relevance, and usefulness of the key questions. They are available for your review and feedback until December 5, 2023 at the Effective Healthcare website.

The long-term stress sustained since the COVID-19 pandemic began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by a significant increase in reported mental health conditions and chronic illnesses, according to the results of Stress in America™ 2023, a nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA. Adults ages 35 to 44 also experienced the highest increase in mental health diagnoses—45% reported a mental illness in 2023 compared with 31% in 2019—though adults ages 18 to 34 still reported the highest rate of mental illnesses at 50% in 2023. Full Story

Applications are currently being accepted for the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)’s Distinguished Nurse Scholar-in-Residence (DNSIR) program, which provides a year-long residential health policy opportunity located in Washington, DC. This immersion experience supports the engagement of nurse leaders in a prominent role in health policy at the national level and facilitates their interaction with other health fellows and scholars. Learn more and apply

More than double the number of health workers reported harassment at work in 2022 than in 2018. This may include threats, bullying, verbal abuse, or other actions from patients and coworkers that create a hostile work environment. This finding has important implications for health worker mental health, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. Full Story

SAMHSA has released the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health results. This report provides key findings from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on substance use, mental health, and treatment among the noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged 12 or older. Learn more and access the report

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced notices of funding opportunities for $74.4 million in grant programs that address behavioral health challenges in local communities by preventing substance use initiation, reducing the progression of substance use, and addressing other related concerns. Full Story

Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Extending Access to Addiction Treatment Act, which would permanently expand coverage for medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder under Medicaid. This Medicaid coverage currently only goes through 2025, but as Congress works to reauthorize the SUPPORT Act – a landmark investment into substance misuse prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts – Senator Hassan is pushing to ensure that this Medicaid coverage continues permanently. Full Story

California voters will have the ability to transform the state’s mental health system. Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 326 (Eggman), modernizing the Mental Health Services Act, and Assembly Bill 531 (Irwin), a $6.38 Billion bond to build new behavioral health housing and treatment settings across the state. Californians will vote on this package, collectively known as Proposition 1, on the March 2024 ballot. Full Story

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced the launch of Impact Wellbeing. This new campaign provides hospital leaders with evidence-informed resources to improve workplace policies and practices that reduce burnout, normalize help-seeking, and strengthen professional wellbeing. Full Story

The American Psychological Association (APA) has released a call for comments on a draft version of the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Adults. APA is seeking comments from health care professionals, patients and families, health care organizations, patient advocacy groups, and the wider community that will provide the panel that is developing this guideline with valuable input as it works to produce the final version. The public comment portal is open until 11:59 pm Eastern, Monday, December 4, 2023. Click here to view the draft guideline and submit comments.

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.