Bizzell Group: Addressing Suicide Prevention

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing and assisting in substantive public discourse around suicide and suicide prevention. Through various contracts, Bizzell works with organizations, Federal clients, non-profits and partners to make an impact with the hope of reducing suicide rates across the country. Some of Bizzell’s work in the area of suicide prevention includes: American Indian and Alaskan Native suicide, military suicide and Arctic region suicide.

The American Indian/Alaskan Native communities have strikingly higher rates of suicides than the overall population in the U.S. The Indian Health Service identifies suicides as the second leading cause of death among AI/AN youth (5 and 24 years old). These AI/AN adolescents are also at greater risk for suicide contagion and suicide clusters, which can be particularly devastating for the often close-knit and rural AI/AN communities. Bizzell examined the research on suicide clusters and contagion in general and within AI/AN communities.

In addition to researching rates of suicide among American Indian/Alaskan Native populations, Bizzell has supported suicide prevention efforts among Veteran and Service member populations. According to a recent study by the Department of Veterans Affairs, roughly 20 veterans a day nationwide commit suicide. Researchers concluded that veterans are at a 21 percent higher risk for suicide than civilian populations. In 2014, the latest year available, more than 7,400 veterans took their own lives, accounting for 18 percent of all suicides in America. Veterans make up less than 9 percent of the U.S. population. Military suicide also has a significant impact on the family members left behind. The University of Southern California found “that military connected adolescents have a higher rate of suicidal thoughts than their civilian counterparts, and other studies indicate that military spouses— particularly those serving as caregivers to support their wounded veterans—are more at risk to suffer mental health problems.” The untold costs of military service on family members is difficult to measure. The National Military Family Association, a nonprofit that serves a quarter of a million military relatives, reported “hearing about an increasing number of stories about family members killing themselves.”

Bizzell recognizes that high suicide rates are not limited to American Indian/Alaskan Native populations or military communities; suicide rates in the Arctic are among the highest in the world. Historically, indigenous people in circumpolar regions had very low rates of death by suicide. However, there is currently no other region that suicide has had such a strong impact and social burden on than in indigenous populations—specifically those in circumpolar regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that suicide accounts for roughly 800,000 deaths per year worldwide—although rates differ within countries according to geography,gender, ethnicity and cultural variables. Greenland and the arctic regions of the United States, Canada and Russia have considerably higher suicide rates than the non-Arctic Regions, and where data is available by ethnicity (Alaska, Canada and Russia), the increased risk of suicide in indigenous communities is evident. Bizzell is assisting RISING SUN, an initiative under the U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council that is designated to identify a toolkit of common outcomes to be used in evaluating suicide prevention efforts to assess the key correlates associated with suicide prevention intervention across Arctic states. The goal is to generate shared knowledge that will aid health workers in better serving circumpolar communities, and help policymakers measure progress, evaluate interventions, and identify regional and cultural challenges to implementation.

Bizzell Develops Medscape Article on the Interactions Between Dementia, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) has recently developed an article, published on Medscape, which explores the interactions between dementia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.  The article, Bidirectional Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and Common Comorbid Conditions, is available as an online CME activity and was developed under a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in collaboration with the HHS, Office of Women’s Health.

It is intended for primary care providers, neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, and other health care team members and addresses the complexities of treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease and common coexisting conditions, specifically cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes (T2D).

These comorbidities can impact the severity and progression of the disease and require individualized, patient-centered approaches and thoughtful medical reasoning. The module discusses common challenges and considerations in the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and T2D or CVD.  Useful diagnostic tools, guidelines, and patient resources are provided.

National Family Caregivers Month—November 2015

At some point in our lives, most of us will become caregivers to someone we love—whether offering support as they age or providing care due to a medical issue or chronic health condition. The recent National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP joint report, Caregiving in the U.S. 2015, indicated that nearly 43.5 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last year.

In addition to dealing with day to day living activities, family caregivers are often managing complex interactions with various providers, agencies, and healthcare professionals. They average about 24 hours a week on caregiving activities, although nearly a quarter provide more than 40 hours of care per week while also attempting to manage their personal health and wellness. These intense hours of caregiving can take a toll on the caregivers who, as a result, are more vulnerable to stress, financial strain, and health issues. During November, National Family Caregivers Month, we have an opportunity to recognize the critical and challenging role of family caregivers and to consider how to support these important members of society.

One way The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is supporting these often unrecognized champions is through our current project to develop helpful resources for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Several caregiver modules are being developed for the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provide caregivers with strategies for more efficiently managing their personal health and wellness and that educate providers on how to integrate caregivers as active members of the care team. The caregiver modules will supplement a broad set of curricula for healthcare professionals on the identification and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. With a rapidly growing population of Americans over 65, many of whom are also family caregivers, it’s critical that caregivers have a source for accurate information, cutting edge strategies, and available resources.

Bizzell CEO Contributes Chapter to The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine

Anton Bizzell, M.D., CEO of The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) celebrates the publication of the fifth edition of The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine.  The publication is the go-to textbook in the specialty field of addiction medicine, with the fifth edition providing core knowledge by “blending scientific principles underlying addiction with the practical essential of clinical addiction medicine.” The chapter, Ethical Issues in Addiction Practice was co-authored by Dr. Bizzell, H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH, CAS, FASAM and Anthony Campbell, RPh, DO.

Dr. Bizzell brings significant experience within the health care community having served as a medical officer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).   The chapter itself, details core ethical principles, aspects of dealing with denial, establishing an ethical stance, and potential future developments that could stimulate unprecedented paradigm shifts that may influence health care decision-making that would impact the disenfranchisement underlying health disparities in addiction treatment.

“It’s always an honor to be asked to participate in developing a narrative for something I’ve always been very passionate about,” Dr. Bizzell said in a statement.  “Its one thing to manage programs and work with people addressing addictive behaviors nationwide, but to be able to contribute to the field, and educate others is equally as rewarding. “

The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine Fifth Edition may be ordered through the publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and includes a fully searchable online app version of the text and appendices and review questions. Phone orders dial 1-800-638-3030.