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Latest News Around the Web

Study Finds Community Coalition-Engaged Intervention Leads To Reduction In Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid, PsychostimulantsOther Than Cocaine

Healio (10/29, Jenkins ) reports, “A community coalition-engaged intervention led to a statistically significant reduction in overdose deaths involving any opioid and psychostimulantsother than cocaine, according to a study.” T

he researchers said that the “results suggest that community-focused, data-driven interventions that scale up evidence-based practices with a communications campaign may collectively contribute to successes in addressing the evolving nature of some opioid-involved polysubstance overdose deaths.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Community-engaged intervention reduces polysubstance overdose deaths by 37%,” Cassandra Jenkins, Healio, October 29, 2024

Marijuana Use Among US Teenagers Fell Over Past Decade, Study Suggests

HealthDay (10/29, Thompson ) reports, “Weed use among U.S. teenagers fell dramatically over the past decade, a new study shows.” Researchers found that “by 2021, only about 16% of teens said they were currently using marijuana, down from 23% in 2011.” Study results indicate that “all grades experienced a notable decline in current weed use, particularly among ninth graders.” The findings were published in Pediatric Reports.

Related Links:

— “Marijuana Use Has Fallen ‘Dramatically’ Among U.S. Teens,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, October 29, 2024

Individuals With Diabetes Have Higher Risk For Suicide Than General Population, Study Suggests

Endocrinology Advisor (10/28, Kuhns) reports, “Individuals with diabetes have a significantly higher risk for suicide than the general population, according to study results.” Researchers found that “over time, the suicide risk increased from 1999 to 2015 and then slightly declined from 2016 to 2020, though it remained higher than in earlier years, among individuals with diabetes.” The findings were published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Related Links:

— “Suicide Risk Factors Could Include Diabetes,” Lisa Kuhns PhD, Endocrinology Advisor, October 28, 2024

Americans Turning To AI For Mental Health Assistance

The Washington Post (10/25, Gilbert ) reported that Americans who cannot find or afford a professional therapist “are turning to artificial intelligence, seeking help from chatbots that can spit out instantaneous, humanlike responses – some with voices that sound like a real person – 24 hours a day at little to no cost.”

Organizations that operate mental health chatbots “say their users collectively would total in the tens of millions, and that doesn’t count those who use apps like ChatGPT that aren’t marketed for mental health but are praised on social media as a popular therapy hack.” The Post added that more than 6 million people with a mental illness last year “wanted but didn’t receive treatment.”

Related Links:

— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

Research Reveals Fatal Drug Overdoses Among Black Americans Up Despite National Decline

The New York Times (10/25, Weiland ) reported that according to new federal data, overdose deaths in the US “decreased by more than 12 percent between May 2023 and May 2024,” which represents “a major development in the nation’s efforts to combat the effects of fentanyl.” However, according to a Georgetown University analysis, the number of “fatal overdoses among Black Americans typically increased between 2022 and 2023, while deadly overdoses among white Americans often decreased.” The Times said the findings “reveal a continuation of what federal and state health officials have described as a two-track epidemic, with white Americans experiencing better outcomes and Black Americans struggling to keep up.”

Related Links:

— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

Foundation News

Depressed Adolescents Often Struggle Alone

The Los Angeles Times (4/29, Healy) “Booster Shots” blog reported that although “some 2-million Americans adolescents experienced a bout of major depression last year,” only about one-third of them received help, according to a report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to “kick off a month of national activity aimed at raising awareness of childrens’ mental health.”

Overall, about “8.1% of the population between 12 and 17 years old reported experiencing a period of depressed mood lasting two or more weeks in the preceding 12 months.” Depressive episodes increased with age; and adolescent boys were “consistently less likely to report depression.” Nearly 15 percent of “girls 15 to 17 years old” described a “major depressive episode in the preceding year, compared to an average of 6.4% of boys” of the same age “who did so.”

Related Links:

– “Depressed teens mostly struggle alone,” Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2011.

John Plaskon Wins 2011 Outstanding Merit Award

At the MPS annual meeting in April, the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry presented its 2011 Outstanding Merit Award to John Plaskon, executive director of Crossroads Community, Inc. in Centreville, for his vision and leadership in opening a new mental health clinic in rural Queen Anne’s County during the height of the recession.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry established the annual Outstanding Merit Award for a worthy program in Maryland that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Increases public awareness and understanding of mental illness
  • Enhances the quality of care for psychiatric illness
  • Reduces the stigma of mental illness

The award, open to the entire Maryland community, carries a prize of $500. Find information on nominating for the 2012 award here.

2012 Outstanding Merit Award Entries Open Now

Nominations are now being accepted for the Foundation’s 2012 Outstanding Merit Award.

The annual Outstanding Merit Award is given for a worthy endeavor in Maryland that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Increases public awareness and understanding of mental illness

  • Enhances the quality of care for psychiatric illness

  • Reduces the stigma of mental illness

Nominations for this award of $500 are being invited from the entire Maryland community. A short nomination form must be submitted with a cover letter by March 1, 2012, to the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, 1101 Saint. Paul Street, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21202-6405. The form is available as PDF or Word document.

Foundation’s Latest Radio Spot Examines Disaster and Crisis

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc. recently began airing a new public service announcement on local Maryland radio stations. It focuses on the psychological effects of disasters such as the recent tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan as well as the toll personal crises can take on the mind.

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.

Adolescent Depression Awareness Program Wins 2010 Outstanding Merit Award

At the MPS annual meeting in April, the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry presented its 2010 Outstanding Merit Award to the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program of the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins.

The Board was particularly impressed with this outstanding program, which through student, parent and teacher education seeks to increase awareness of adolescent depression and bipolar disorder while reducing the stigma associated with these illnesses.

In addition, the foundation awarded Honorable Mentions to the Southern Maryland Community Network in Prince Frederick, which offers essential services to persons with severe and persistent mental illness, and to Helping Other People through Empowerment, Inc. Wellness and Recovery Center in Baltimore, which assists adults with mental illness in becoming empowered to rejoin mainstream society by increasing awareness of available resources through peer support.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry established the annual Outstanding Merit Award for a worthy program in Maryland that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Increases public awareness and understanding of mental illness
  • Enhances the quality of care for psychiatric illness
  • Reduces the stigma of mental illness

The award, open to the entire Maryland community, carries a prize of $500.

Related Links:

– Johns Hopkins Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP)
– Southern Maryland Community Network
– Helping Other People through Empowerment