Politico (6/4, Smith) reports, “States looking to address gun violence are overhauling mental health laws – and sometimes exposing rifts over how to best address the small but serious threat of violence.” However, “changing policies on involuntary commitment, or requiring therapists to report potentially dangerous patients, are stirring fears that well-intentioned policies could increase stigma and deter the very people who most need treatment from getting it.” While the majority of people with mental illnesses are not violent, “some of the horrific mass shootings in recent years have been carried out by people with serious mental diseases, reinforcing stereotypes.” Now, some mental health advocates are concerned about a “backlash.”

Related Links:

— “With mental health legislation stalled in Congress, states act, “Kathryn Smith, Politico, June 02, 2013.

The Washington Post (6/4, Montgomery) reports, “Numbers released in May by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a dramatic spike in suicides among middle-aged people, with the highest increases among men in their 50s, whose rate went up by nearly 50 percent to 30 per 100,000; and women in their early 60s, whose rate rose by nearly 60 percent (though it is still relatively low compared with men, at 7 in 100,000). The highest rates were among white and Native American and Alaskan men. In recent years, deaths by suicide has surpassed deaths by motor vehicle crashes.” The findings “suggest that more suicide research and prevention should ‘address the needs of middle-aged persons,’ a CDC statement said.”

Related Links:

— “Baby boomers are killing themselves at an alarming rate, raising question: Why?, ” Tara Bahrampour, The Washington Post, June 03, 2013.

Politico (5/31, Slack) reported that President Obama and Vice President Biden “will address a White House conference Monday on mental health as part of an effort to launch a national conversation to increase understanding and awareness.” HHS Secretary Sebelius and Education Secretary Duncan “are scheduled to moderate two of the sessions” during the day. Politico lists some of the stakeholders expected at the conference.

Related Links:

— “Obama to speak on mental health, “Donovan Slack, Politico, May 31, 2013.

HealthDay (6/1, Dallas) reported, “Children who are bullied in elementary school are almost five times more likely to engage in self-harm by the time they are teenagers,” according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. For the study, researchers focused on some 5,000 children in the UK. “After taking into account other factors, such as domestic violence, parenting styles or poor family life, the findings still demonstrated a clear link between being bullied at a young age and self-harm as a teen. Bullying, the researchers said, may increase children’s risk for depression or worsen the negative effects of a difficult family situation.”

Related Links:

— “Bullied Kids More Likely to Self-Harm as Teens, “Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay, June 01, 2013.

Medwire (6/3, Lyford) reports, “Poor sleep increases women’s risk for depression by reducing their experience of positive affect in daily life, thereby leading to increased negative reactivity,” according to a study published online May 9 in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers arrived at that conclusion after studying “553 women who were monitored for sleep and affect for five days using the experience sampling method (an ambulatory diary technique).” Next, “471 participants who were free of depression at baseline were then periodically assessed for depressive symptomatology over a mean follow up of 432 days.”

Related Links:

— “Pathway from poor sleep to depression elucidated, “Joanna Lyford, Medwire, June 03, 2013.