What's New

Drug Take Back Day was held Sat., Sept 28th

Drug Take Back Totals 10.2023

Youth Mental Health & Social Media

Report Cover

The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health highlights the impact of social media on our youth's mental health. The report states that they cannot conclude social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents and outlines immediate steps to take to mitigate the risk of harm to our youth.


Click here to read the advisory.

 

RI State Psychiatric Hospital Receives Accreditation

RISPH receives accreditation

Quickly Find a Mental Health or Substance Use Provider

Use this Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) interactive map to find a mental health and/or substance use provider in Rhode Island or anywhere in the United States.

The FindTreatment.gov site is also helpful in locating local facilities or those in a different state.

treatment finder map

Healthy Transitions Coping Cards

These coping cards are designed to help parents, caregivers, school, and community members, to provide coping strategies for young people who are experiencing emotional distress. They include coping statements which youth can use when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, panicked, and/or other emotions.

Wellness Coping Statement Cards- English

Wellness Coping Statement Cards - Portuguese

Wellness Coping Statement Cards- Spanish

Did You Know?

Call 911

Rhode Island has a Good Samaritan Law. That means, if you witness an overdose and call 911, Rhode Island’s Good Samaritan Law protects YOU. See the flyer here and if you are able, print and post to get the word out!

SBIRT Guidebook for Implementation

This guidebook provides an outline of Rhode Island’s Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (RI-SBIRT) program and its implementation processes from 2016 to 2021.

“SBIRT in Rhode Island: A Guidebook for Implementation in Rhode Island Healthcare Settings” was designed to help providers efficiently implement the SBIRT model of substance use disorder screening, identification, and treatment in their healthcare setting. It includes basic definitions, printable screening tools and helpful resources, workflow examples, and feedback and advice from RI-SBIRT providers and staff.

For more information, contact Catherine Hunter at catherine.hunter@bhddh.ri.gov

Updated Guide Books for 14 – 25 Year Old’s

Take Charge of your behavioral health Guide Book cover

This Guidebook provides a roadmap to help 14 – 25 year old's in navigating the sometimes complex system of behavioral healthcare services. There are many resources listed to guide you, should you need them. "Take Charge of Your Behavioral Health: A Guide for Transition Aged Youth (TAY) in Rhode Island," recently revised August 2021, was created for youth and young adults with a great deal of community input.

Each page was designed to stand alone so you can download and print the entire document or just select those pages of interest to you.

Hard copies of the previous version of the Guidebook are currently available and free of charge. For more information, contact Denise Achin at 401-462-0421 or by email at Denise.Achin@bhddh.ri.gov.

Guidebook in English-2022

Guidebook en Español- 2022

The RI Behavioral Health Open Bed System

There is help riopenbeds.org

In partnership with RI Quality Institute, BHDDH maintains ribhopenbeds.org to provide public information about bed availability for mental health and substance use disorder services.

The goal of the RI Behavioral Health Open Beds (RI BHOB) system is to efficiently collect and distribute bed availability information, reduce patient delays in accessing appropriate emergency, provide crisis stabilization, and recovery services. Currently, RI BHOB is the only way to view Recovery House bed availability and Substance Use Residential Treatment bed availability electronically.

Visit RI BHOB to view available beds at RI's facilities at ribhopenbeds.org

24-Hour Buprenorphine

Rhode Island’s Buprenorphine Hotline is for people with moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD).

The Buprenorphine Hotline – 401.606.5456 -- offers 24-hour telehealth access for patients who are seeking initiation of buprenorphine (also referred to as Suboxone®) treatment. This hotline gives people the opportunity to get a health assessment by a Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) waivered healthcare provider, a prescription for buprenorphine for unobserved home induction (if appropriate), and linkage to a Rhode Island Center of Excellence or office-based buprenorphine provider for maintenance treatment.

The hotline is being managed through a partnership between Brown Emergency MedicineLifespan Recovery Center, and the Rhode Island Hospital Center for Primary Care Recovery Clinic, with support from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH).

For more information about recovery, harm reduction, and treatment resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic, go to PreventOverdoseRI.org’s COVID-19 webpage or download this printable flyer.

Words Matter

Image of Words Matter

Most people know that how we use words truly matters.

"Words Matter" uses person-first language when describing individuals who have mental health issues, substance use conditions, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, or preferences on sexual orientation and gender identity. 

These general tips emphasize the person first (not their condition) and promotes dignity and respect for all. These recommendations are intended to make it easier to talk with people, write about them, and share their stories. This is simply a guide; when you are not sure which word or phrase to use, it is best to simply ask.

Click here to access "Words Matter."