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Latest News Around the Web

More People Died By Firearms And Suicides In States That Have Relaxed Open Carry Laws, Study Shows

HealthDay (3/12, Miller) reports, “Significantly more people died by firearms and suicides in states that have relaxed open carry laws, a nine-year study of death data from all 50 states shows.” During “the study period, firearm deaths jumped 45% nationwide, from 33,636 in 2013 to 48,830 in 2021.” The data indicated that “total suicide rates rose by about 57%, while suicides by firearm rose 18% in states that switched to permitless open carry.” The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Related Links:

— “Permissive Gun Laws Linked to Higher Suicide Rates,”Carole Tanzer Miller, HealthDay, March 12, 2024

Report details teenagers’ relationship with smartphones, social media

The AP (3/11, Ortutay ) says, “Nearly three-quarters of U.S. teens say they feel happy or peaceful when they don’t have their phones with them, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.” In the survey, “Pew also found that despite the positive associations with going phone-free, most teens have not limited their phone or social media use.” Additionally, “majorities of teens say smartphones make it a little or a lot easier for people their age to pursue hobbies and interests (69%) and be creative (65%). Close to half (45%) say these devices have made it easier for youth to do well in school.”

CNN (3/11, Duffy ) says, “Around 40% of teenagers say they have cut back on their time on social media, according to” the report. Around “the same proportion of teens acknowledge that they spend ‘too much’ time on their smartphones (38%) and social media (27%).”

The Washington Post (3/11, Kelly ) reports, “Almost half of teenagers say their parents at least sometimes get distracted by their phones during conversations, according to” the survey, but just “31% of parents said this is something they do.”

Related Links:

— “Most teens report feeling happy or peaceful when they go without smartphones, Pew survey finds,”Barbara Ortutay , AP, March 11, 2024

About One In Six Intentional Firearm-Related Deaths Among Women Of Childbearing Age Occur During Or Shortly After Pregnancy, Study Finds

Psychiatric News (3/11) reports that approximately “one in six intentional firearm-related deaths in women of childbearing age occur during or shortly after pregnancy, a study…has found.” Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing data from the CDC’s “National Violent Death Reporting System from 2008 to 2019.” The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Related Links:

— “One in Six Firearm-Related Homicides and Suicides in Women Found To Be Related to Pregnancy, Psychiatric News, March 11, 2024

Cost To American Families Of Caring For Child With Mental Health Condition Rose By Nearly A Third Between 2017 And 2021, Report Finds

According to HealthDay (3/11, Mundell ), a report has found that “the cost to American families of caring for a child with a mental health condition rose by almost a third between 2017 and 2021…to an average $4,361 per year.” Altogether, “American families spent an estimated $31 billion in 2021 on child mental health services, which now make up nearly half (about 47%) of all child medical spending, the report found.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Medical Costs for Kids’ Mental Health Jumped 31% in 5 Years,”Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, March 11, 2024

Report Finds Number Of Behavioral Health Visits To Community Health Centers Up Nearly 40% Between 2018 And 2022

PatientEngagementHIT says, “The number of behavioral health visits to community health centers soared by nearly 40 percent between 2018 and 2022, but if these care sites are to continue to meet patient demand, they’ll need more federal funding, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.” The report also “showed an overall increase in behavioral health visits – meaning mental health and substance use disorder visits – of 38 percent between 2018 and 2022. This increase is largely driven by an influx of mental healthcare encounters in community health centers, the data showed.”

Related Links:

— “Behavioral healthcare access in community health centers up 40%,”Sara Heath, PatientEngagementHIT , March 11, 2024

Foundation News

The Foundation Strongly Condemns All Forms of Racism

A Message from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Board of Directors:

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry strongly condemns all forms of racism.  The Foundation calls on all Americans and all levels of government to actively oppose racism, and all related violence and brutality. The Foundation recognizes that there are wide disparities in treatment of mental illness and access to care related to race. Consistent with our mission to fight stigma associated with mental illness and to promote awareness and access to care for all individuals regardless of race, the Foundation pledges to support programs which combat racism.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry stands in solidarity with the agendas of the American Psychiatric Association, Maryland Psychiatric Society, and the Black Psychiatrists of America.  We endorse the following action items outlined by the Black Psychiatrists of America:

• Declare racism a public health problem and establish national goals for addressing this as a health equity issue. Give priority to addressing the issues of health care disparities including the mental health needs of historically marginalized communities across the US.
 
• Provide adequate funding for the clinical care, training, and research needed to eliminate health disparities and require racism impact statements for all government funded services and research. 
 
• Establish a governmental multidisciplinary and ethnically diverse commission with representatives from the major health care professional associations in medicine, nursing, psychiatry, public health, psychology, social work, etc., and the faith-based community to provide recommendations to Congress regarding policies on how best to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s Black citizens.
 
• Declare “Civic Mental Health” a national priority and incorporate it into the educational curriculum from K-college, as well as in the training of local, state and national officials, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. 
 
• Establish police community review boards with power to take action in areas of police misconduct pending formal review by the appropriate authorities. This will offer a level of empowerment when communities feel they have a voice that can be heard. 
 
• Assure adequate insurance coverage for mental disorders and emotional distress that are the outgrowth of racism, police brutality, discrimination of all kinds and violence. 

The Maryland Psychiatric Society has also put out a statement on their website.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) also condemns racism and has published their statement, too.

New Radio Ad Explores Mental Health in the Wake of the Coronavirus

A recent poll shows that more than half the people in the United States are feeling extremely worried by the coronavirus. They find they aren’t sleeping properly, are distracted, or being driven into depression. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

The Coronavirus and Your State of MindThe Coronavirus and Your State of Mind, MP3, 721KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

New Radio PSA Examines Rise in Child Suicides

Suicide rates among those under age 25 increased 56% in the last decade and tripled for 10 to 14 year olds. Getting professional help is important for the health of the child.

The Suicide Epidemic Among ChildrenThe Suicide Epidemic Among Children, MP3, 3.2MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

Foundation Chosen as Community Partner by Maryland Aviation Administration

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry was selected by the Maryland Aviation Administration Community Partners Program to display a poster in the terminal at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. It can be found on Concourse C, between Gates C-4 and C-6, on the secure side for the next six months.

 

Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Community Partner Poster

(Select to view larger image)