Weekly Update: 5 Stories in Mental Health News March 8th

Oklahoma Lawmakers Introduce Bills Written by Special Interest Groups 

Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of model legislation introduced in the United States. Model legislation, also known as “fill in the blank” legislation, are templates for bills written by special interest groups and introduced by local lawmakers. Read more on the Oklahoma Counseling Institute. 

Newly Announced Federal Funding to Back Mental Health and Substance Abuse Initiatives 

Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced grant opportunities for programs benefiting mental health and substance abuse treatment initiatives. According to an HHS press release, $36.9 million will be available for community outreach, mental health screening services, first responder addiction recovery resources, and more. Read more on the US Department of Health and Human Services website. 

College Student Organizations Partner with ODMHSAS to Provide Naloxone Administration Training 

Students and faculty at the University of Oklahoma will soon have opportunities to be trained to administer Naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist medication that, when administered properly, can prevent an opioid overdose. Read more on News 9.  

Prescriptions for Mental Health Medications Have Increased Since 2019 

According to an analysis by USA Today, mental health prescriptions in the United States have risen by 12% over the past 5 years. An increase in anxiety and depression concerns among US adults, coupled with an increase in the availability of generic medications, may have contributed to the rise. Read more on USA Today.  

Crisis Calls Have Increased Since Death of Oklahoma Non-Binary Student 

2SLGBTQIA+ support hotlines have reported an increase in crisis calls from Oklahomans since the death of Nex Benedict, with 69% of callers reporting Nex’s death as the trigger for their distress. Nex was a non-binary, 16-year-old student from Owasso, Oklahoma who died a day after being attacked by classmates in a school bathroom. Read more on Advocate.