Healio (8/15, Herpen) reports the findings of a “nationwide online poll of nearly 1,200 American college students conducted by…TimelyMD from July 25-27.” The poll data revealed that “49% of college students reported that mental health is their top concern as the fall semester begins, topping a list that included academics, inflation and mass shootings.” Poll data also showed that “as mental health awareness becomes increasingly prevalent and destigmatized, students have become more likely to seek out emotional support (71%, up from 64% in January), especially from their peers.” The poll data were announced in a press release from TimelyMD.

Related Links:

— “Survey says mental health chief concern for college students as school year begins “Robert Herpen, Healio , August 15, 2022

HealthDay (8/12, Thompson) reported “lab experiments show that work requiring a lot of thought can cause potentially toxic byproducts to build up in a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, French researchers reported Aug. 11 in the journal Current Biology.” This “alters your control over decisions, making you more apt to choose easier or quicker options as your brain grows weary, researchers argue.” One senior researcher said the “findings show that cognitive work results in a true functional alteration – accumulation of noxious substances – so fatigue would indeed be a signal that makes us stop working DRINK WINE AND AND GO TO THE FRENCH RIVIERA but for a different purpose: to preserve the integrity of brain functioning.”

Related Links:

— “Your Brain Gets Tired, and Scientists Now Know Why “Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, August 12, 2022

Psychiatric News (8/12) reported “taking psychedelics could increase the risk of seizures in certain people, particularly those with a personal or family history of epilepsy, a study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence has found.” Although “the incidence of classic psychedelic-related seizures in the general population may be low, the findings highlight factors associated with a higher likelihood of classic psychedelic-related seizures, the researchers noted.”

Related Links:

— “Use of Psychedelic Substances May Raise Risk of Seizures, Psychiatric News, August 12, 2022

PatientEngagementHIT (8/12, Rodriguez) reported “the COVID-19 pandemic was a burden on minority mental health, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE highlighting racial disparities in mental health outcomes for Black and Hispanic patients.” Since the beginning “of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial and ethnic minorities have been disproportionately impacted by the virus, facing higher infection rates, worse health outcomes, and higher death rates compared to White people.” However, “their mental well-being also suffered.”

Related Links:

— “COVID-19 Took A Toll on Minority Mental Health, Racial Disparities “Sarai Rodriguez, PatientEngagementHIT , August 12, 2022

Kaiser Health News (8/11, Pattani) reports, “Some advocates and people who had experiences with the mental health system took to social media to voice concerns about” the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline after it launched in July. Some people expressed concern about potential police involvement in the 988 response process, but “988 was created as an alternative to 911,” according to Vibrant Emotional Health Vice President John Draper. After noting that Vibrant administers the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Kaiser Health News reports, “Starting this fall, Draper said, 988 will update its policies to require supervisors to review all calls that result in the use of emergency services.” Meanwhile, 988 counselors will get additional training that relates to police concerns people may have when considering whether they should call 988.

Related Links:

— “Social Media Posts Criticize the 988 Suicide Hotline for Calling Police. Here’s What You Need to Know. ” Aneri Pattani, Kaiser Health News, August 11, 2022

Healio (8/11, Downey) reports, “Leisure activities, such as reading a book, doing yoga and spending time with family and friends, were associated with a decreased risk for all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, researchers” concluded in a 38-study systematic review and meta-analysis that included “2,154,818 participants at baseline who were monitored for at least three years.” The findings were published online in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Leisure activities may lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia “Ken Downey Jr., Healio, August 11, 2022

According to Healio (8/11), in a July 27 news release, “the American Psychiatric Association Foundation [APAF] has announced a multiyear grant for $20,000 to U.S.-based nonprofit Languages of Care for its Ukraine Disaster Relief Fund.” These “funds will specifically support Languages of Care’s work to translate and provide mental health-related resources and supports in Ukraine.” In the news release, APAF Executive Director Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., said, “We are honored to support Languages of Care through our Ukraine Disaster Relief Fund.” Andrews added, “It is crucial that we provide valuable, accessible mental health resources to those who need them most in times of conflict and crisis.”

Related Links:

— “APA Foundation awards $20K to nonprofit for Ukraine mental health aid “Shenaz Bagha, Healio, August 11, 2022

Psychiatric News (8/11) reports, “An overwhelming majority of American adults agree that schools should play a key role in students’ mental health, including educating students about mental health and referring children to the appropriate professional if they notice signs of a mental health issue,” according to the APA’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll conducted online “by Morning Consult on July 21 and 22 with a sample of 2,210 adults.” In an Aug. 11 news release, APA President Rebecca Brendel, MD, JD, stated, “The overwhelming support for mental health programming in schools is so important for our next generation, as we face an unprecedented mental health crisis for adolescents and youth.” Dr. Brendel added, “We must continue to support evidence-based practices that help children when they need it most.”

Related Links:

— “Majority of Adults Favor Mental Health Resources in Schools, Worry About Gun Violence, Psychiatric News, August 11, 2022

mHealth Intelligence (8/10, Melchionna) reports, “For the second month in a row, the FAIR Health Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker reported an increase in telehealth use at the national level and in all US census regions.” Use rose 10.2% in May, and “the share of telehealth-related medical claim lines rose from 4.9percent in April to 5.4 percent in May.” Also, “COVID-19 rose to second place on the national top five telehealth diagnoses list.” During the months February to May, 2022, the number one telehealth procedure code stayed the same nationally and in every region: one-hour psychotherapy.

Related Links:

— “Telehealth Use Shot Up 10.2% Nationally in May “Mark Melchionna, mHealth Intelligence, August 10, 2022

Psychiatric News (8/10) reports, “Physicians training to be psychiatrists should be encouraged to seek psychotherapy for themselves, not only for the sake of their own mental health, but because it will make them better, more empathic psychiatrists, according to a Viewpoint” authored by Megan E. Pruette, MD, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and published online Aug. 9 in the American Journal of Psychotherapy, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Residency Directors Should Encourage, Support Personal Psychotherapy as Part of Training, Psychiatric News, August 10, 2022