The Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) has had a busy first year. The center provides training and technical assistance in evidence-based practices to behavioral health and primary care providers and school and social service staff whose work has the potential to improve behavioral health outcomes for individuals with or at risk of developing serious mental illness. The team is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and serves all of Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington). Recent accomplishments include:

• Launch of an online course, “A Psychiatrist’s Guide to Population Management of Diabetes,” that provides a public health approach to managing diabetes among persons with serious mental illness;
• A partnership with the University of Washington’s Forefront Suicide Prevention Center of Excellence resulting in a one-day World Suicide Prevention Day conference with nearly 400 attendees and a two-day intensive training on Safety Planning with 32 people from represented states;
• Partnerships between the Northwest MHTTC’s School Mental Health Supplement and departments of education and regional training and technical assistance centers in all four states on mental health integration in schools;
• Launch of the Northwest MHTTC website;
• Launch of a Region 10 needs assessment everyone is encouraged to complete!

As the team starts year two, they are partnering to provide further training in Suicide Prevention, Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Treatment, and culturally relevant approaches as well as in our core areas of expertise. You are encouraged to sign up for their newsletters (Main Northwest MHTTC and School Mental Health) to stay informed of resources, events and trainings.