Behavioral Health

Smokers in Nevada can get free medications gum, patches and lozenges from the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health between June 20 through July 1 or while supplies last.

Suicide has reached epidemic levels in Nevada, according to numbers from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH), and the state has been stepping up efforts in recent years to combat the problem.

"We lose more than 500 Nevadans and 100 veterans to suicide per year," said Luana Ritch, Ph.D., a Community Health Planner with the Nevada DPBH. "It's really looking at this now as a public health crisis for Nevada."

This week's It's Your City celebrates National Public Health Month. Host Cortney Bloomer talks with Taylor Radtke, public information officer for Carson City Health and Human Services.

Carson City Health and Human Services, Carson Tahoe Health and Partnership Carson City will host a public health town hall meeting April 28 as part of Public Health Month.

Carson City Health and Human Services, Carson Tahoe Health and Partnership Carson City will host a public health town hall meeting as part of Public Health Month.

The event aims to provide an opportunity for residents to speak with area leaders, public officials and health officials about issues such as access to healthcare and mental/behavioral health services. The meeting also serves as an opportunity to collect input for the next Community Health Needs Assessment that will be published by CCHHS later this year.

The Division of Public & Behavioral Health (DPBH) is working with healthcare, public health, emergency management, ethical and legal partners to develop Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) Guidance for the state of Nevada. It is very important that the public provide feedback on the guidance as CSC standards will assist healthcare professionals to decide how to provide the best possible care when resources are limited and/or unavailable.

Carson High School’s HOSA — Future Health Professionals, one of four Career Technical Student Organizations that are part of the CHS Career and Technical Education program, sent more than 100 students to compete in the state HOSA Future Health Professionals Leadership Conference in Las Vegas this month thanks to a $4,400 grant from Partnership Carson City and fundraising efforts by students.

State of Nevada
Division of Public and Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Prevention and Treatment
Request for Qualifications: 0001
For
Behavioral Health Treatment and Supportive Services
Release Date: February 24, 2016
Deadline for Submission and Opening Date and Time: April 4, 2016 @ 2:00 PM
A Kick-off Meeting will be held March 4, 2016 from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon in Room 303,
4150 Technology Way, Carson City, video conferenced to the following sites:
Elko: DHCFP, 1010 Ruby Vista Drive, Suite 103
Las Vegas: HCQC South, 4220 Maryland Pkwy, Building D, Suite 810

Partnership Carson City is seeking applications for primary prevention services within Carson City.

The purpose of this funding is to implement direct service primary prevention programs and strategies at the community level. PCC receives funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency.

Free, easy-to-use radon test kits are available Dec. 1 through Feb. 29 at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices and partner locations statewide. Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, comes from the ground and can enter homes and accumulate to elevated concentrations. At elevated concentrations, the odorless, colorless gas can raise the risk of lung cancer for unsuspecting homeowners.

During this year’s legislative session, my wife and I approached our state legislators about resources for Nevada’s most underserved population: The mentally ill.
There is a health crisis in our state, one which has grown into an epidemic across the nation, but one that is especially endemic right here in the Silver State.
Having lived more than twelve years in a state that seems to cater to many human vices, this comes as no surprise to me.

Seven Nevadans are among nearly 300 people nationwide who have reportedly been sickened with salmonella by cucumbers sold under the name and label of A&W Limited Edition Pole Crown Cucumbers, Nevada health officials announced Friday. The company, San Diego-based Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce, has voluntarily recalled all cucumbers sold between Aug. 1 through Thursday, Sept. 3.

Patients interested in applying for a medical marijuana card can do so by working directly with the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. It is as simple as getting a physician recommendation and filling out some forms at a total cost of just over $100. According to Patient Registry Program Officer Kari Ward, roughly half of patient applicants needlessly pay up to $500 to consulting firms for this service.

During this year’s legislative session, my wife and I approached our state legislators about resources for Nevada’s most underserved population: The mentally ill.
There is a health crisis in our state, one which has grown into an epidemic across the nation, but one that is especially endemic right here in the Silver State.
Having lived more than twelve years in a state that seems to cater to many human vices, this comes as no surprise to me.

Dr. Leon Ravin is Nevada's new statewide psychiatric medical director, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday.

Ravin has an active history in Nevada medical practice and education serving as the acting statewide psychiatric medical director in Nevada, and previously served as an associate medical director.

Since 2006, he has worked in clinical and administrative roles at Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, including taking an active role in testifying on mental health laws and community standards before the Nevada Legislature.

With coast to coast harvesting of fruits and vegetables and Americans continuing to enjoy their summer outdoor barbecues, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a report acknowledging the nation has entered peak season for E. coli outbreaks.

A Carson City man was jailed Wednesday on felony assault and child endangerment charges after officers responded to an apartment complex where the suspect allegedly said he was going to throw his infant into a swimming pool, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health urges Nevadans to “Start Talking. Stop HIV.” Knowing your status is important, and testing is quick and easy. Free HIV testing is available in Carson City and Reno.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, too many people are unaware they have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the United States, nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in seven (14 percent) do not know they are infected. In 2014 in Nevada, there were 420 new HIV diagnoses and more than 9,831 persons living with HIV/AIDS.

The Nevada Rural Housing Authority received a Partnership Innovation Award from the Pacific Southwest Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment officials Monday, May 18.

Carson City Parks and Recreation is still accepting registrations for Summer Kamp 2015! Come check out our family-first atmosphere which provides numerous hours of summertime fun and excitement through far reaching crafts, games, and field trips.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval officially signed Senate Bill 196 into law Wednesday, creating a statewide stroke system of care and paving the way to help save thousands of lives each year.

“We’re very pleased to see this important bill become a law. Legislation like Senate Bill 196 is part of the efforts going on nationwide to improve the system of care that have led to significant reductions in stroke deaths and improved care,” said Rick Casazza, Board Chair, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Northern Nevada.

Immunize Nevada shared an important statistic Thursday from the Nevada State Division of Public and Behavioral Health: According to data from Nevada WebIZ, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and MMR-V (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccination coverage rates jumped 23 percent in the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.

Officials attribute the increase, at least in part, to the high-profile measles outbreak that was linked to Disneyland, along with reported cases in Nevada and many other states between December 28, 2014 through April 24 of this year.

Legislative Counsel auditors identified $780,000 in overpayments for behavioral health claims, and $285,000 in overpayments and improper billings for dental claims....

Health professional shortages have been a challenge in Nevada for decades. The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act has increased health care access to hundreds of thousands of Nevadans, creating even higher demand for health care professionals.

In anticipation of this increase, the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health facilitated a pipeline mapping project to identify challenges across multiple sectors, and to make recommendations for bringing more health professionals to Nevada.

A toddler from Churchill County with symptoms consistent with the measles is being evaluated with laboratory results are pending, health officials there announced Tuesday. Two similar cases were reported by Washoe County health officials on Monday.

According to the recent CDC Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report, the number of reported flu cases in Carson City, and Douglas and Lyon counties is higher than the national baseline. Dustin Boothe, Epidemiologist at CCHHS, identified a 53 percent increase in documented flu cases in the tri-county region over last year’s numbers.

A radon presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Carson City Senior Center, 901 Beverly Drive, beginning at 6 p.m. Learn about radon and how many homes in the Carson City area have elevated levels.
Learn about testing and receive a free radon short-term test kit.

The Nevada Office of Vital Statistics announced Tuesday that for the first time, it joins many other states in being able to send vital event data such as birth and death certificates automatically and electronically through an application named STEVE.

Here is the full text of Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's speech delivered to the Nevada Legislature Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Members of the Legislature, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Officers:

Nevada will receive up to $2 million to design health care payment and service delivery models that will improve health care quality and lower costs, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell announced Tuesday.

As of the last week in November of 2014, a large increase of influenza (flu) has occurred in Churchill County. According to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Churchill County has experienced 61 cases of influenza in this flu season, almost all occurring within a two week period. Churchill County has not experienced such a large influx of influenza cases in such a short period of time since 2009.