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Latest News Around the Web

Daily Nicotine Vaping Doubled Among US Teenagers Since 2020, Study Finds

HealthDay (11/6, Thompson) reports a study found that “daily nicotine vaping nearly doubled between 2020 and 2024 among U.S. middle and high school students who use e-cigarettes.” According to the study, “the share of teen vapers who puff every day rose from 15% to nearly 29%.” Furthermore, “teens who vape daily also found it harder to quit their habit, researchers said. The percentage of daily vapers who unsuccessfully tried to quit rose from 28% to 53% during the same period.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Teen Nicotine Vaping Trends Show Powerful Evidence Of Addiction,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay , November 6, 2025

Study Finds SAMHSA-Funded Stepped-Care Interventions Helped Youth, Young Adults At High Risk Of Psychosis

Psychiatric News (11/6) reports a study found that SAMHSA grants to “fund stepped-care intervention programs for youth and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P)” have “made a difference in young people’s lives: Individuals who participated in these comprehensive prevention and treatment programs experienced improvements across a range of behavioral, social, and medical outcomes.” Researchers observed, “Clients participating in these programs showed improved life functioning and social connectedness; decreased psychological distress; and low rates of hospitalization [and] emergency department visits.” They noted that “only 4% of participants overall experienced first-episode psychosis while enrolled in the program. By comparison, population-level studies have found that about 15% of youth at high risk of psychosis will experience a first episode within one year.” The study was published in Psychiatric Services.

Related Links:

— “SAMHSA-Funded Stepped Care Interventions Benefit Youth at High Risk of Psychosis, Psychiatric News , November 6, 2025

Heavy Drinking Tied To Earlier And More Severe Brain Bleeds, Study Finds

The New York Times (11/5, Bajaj) reports, “Heavy drinking is tied to earlier and more severe brain bleeds,” according to a study published Wednesday in Neurology. Study researchers found “so-called heavy drinkers – people who had three or more drinks per day – developed a stroke on average 11 years earlier than those who had fewer than three drinks per day.” In addition, they “had larger brain bleeds that were more difficult to manage.”

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— The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

Pediatric Patients With Precocious Puberty More Likely To Develop Psychiatric Disorders, Study Finds

Endocrinology Advisor (11/5, Neale) reports a study found that “children with precocious puberty are much more likely to develop psychiatric disorders than those with standard puberty timing.” Researchers found that “in Cox proportional hazard regression models, precocious puberty vs control was associated with significantly higher risks” for: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; anxiety; autism spectrum disorder; depression; eating disorders; and schizophrenia. In addition, “addiction, bipolar disorder, and suicide were not significantly more likely to occur among patients with precocious puberty, although the point estimates trended in that direction. The results were similar for boys and girls, but with stronger relationships among boys.” The study was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Related Links:

— “Precocious Puberty Tied to Higher Risk for Psychiatric Disorders,”Todd Neale, Endocrinology Advisor, November 5, 2025

Adolescent Girls With Greater Initial Post-Concussion Symptoms More Likely To Report Persisting Concussion Symptoms, Study Finds

Neurology Advisor (11/4, Rao) reports a study found that “adolescent girls who report greater emotional symptoms following concussion are more likely to experience persisting concussion symptoms.” The study included “included 732 adolescent girls. Most injuries (69.9%) were sport-related, and 37.5% required an emergency department visit. At 3 months, 44% of participants reported persisting symptoms.” Researchers observed that “clinical measures, including SCAT5 total and emotional cluster scores, GAD-7, PHQ-8, and PSQI, were significantly higher among those with persisting symptoms at both time points. The most common ongoing symptoms were difficulty concentrating (63.7%), difficulty remembering (56.6%), trouble falling asleep (52.3%), irritability (52.0%), and pressure in the head (45.2%).” In addition, “machine-learning and logistic-regression models both effectively predicted persisting symptoms.” The study was published in Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.

Related Links:

— “Predictors of Persisting Concussion Symptoms Identified Among Adolescent Girls,”Meghna Rao, Neurology Advisor, November 4, 2025

Foundation News

Seeking Nominations for 2023 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The annual Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award recognizes a worthy piece published in a major newspaper that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

The article should be published during the period from January 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023. A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred. Click here for past winners and published articles.

The award carries a $500 prize, which is given at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting in April. Please send nominations to mfp@mdpsych.org no later than January 16, 2023.

Foundation Talks About New 9-8-8 Suicide Lifeline in PSA

Like the national emergency number 9-1-1, the US now has a new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number: 9-8-8. The Foundation says it is for anyone experiencing any acute mental health crisis, whether that be suicidal thoughts, a substance abuse problem, or any needed emotional support. The lifeline can be used by family and loved ones to call for help with someone they know how is having a crisis.

Dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention LifelineDial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, MP3, 1.2MB

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.

Deepak Prabhakar, M.D. to Receive MFP Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

Deepak Prabhakar, M.D. will be awarded the 2022 Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize for his Op-Ed column, “Biles is leading a new generation of athletes who prioritize mental health,” which was published in the August 2, 2021 print issue of The Baltimore Sun.  The MFP board of directors felt that it very effectively expressed important ideas such as that the best athletes with “steely” inner strength can nevertheless be vulnerable to mental ill-ness, that people should not feel ashamed to seek treatment when needed, and that everybody should routinely check on friends and family to make sure they are okay, and encourage them to seek professional help when needed.

The Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award carries a $500 prize and will be formally presented at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting on April 28.

The Foundation established this annual prize for a worthy media piece, preferably local or regional, that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

Click here for information about past winners.

New Foundation PSA Examines Possible Silver Lining of the Pandemic

They say every dark cloud has a silver lining. Though the COVID pandemic has had many devastating impacts, there have been some positive consequences for mental health care.This PSA looks at the growth of TeleHealth to make and attend appointments online from the comfort of their own rooms. Unprecedented government funding for mental health was also mobilized. Listen to hear more developments.

Positive Consequences From the Pandemic For Mental Health CarePositive Consequences From the Pandemic For Mental Health Care, MP3, 1.2MB

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.

Latest PSA From Foundation Examines Rise in Suicide Among Black People

The COVID pandemic has highlighted racial disparities in health and healthcare. Suicide has mistakenly been seen as a problem primarily for white people, but now upward trends have been seen among black people, particular black adolescent girls. This new PSA from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc. examines the reasons for this and calls for further research.

Racial Disparities Seen in Suicide StudiesRacial Disparities Seen in Suicide Studies, MP3, 1.4MB

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.