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Latest News Around the Web
Young Adults Caring For Terminally Ill Parents With Cancer Experience Greater Psychological Vulnerability Than Older Caregivers, Research Finds
Oncology Nurse Advisor (5/28, Garlapow) reports, “Young adults caring for terminally ill parents with cancer experience greater psychological vulnerability than older caregivers, with significantly poorer mental health during end-of-life care and elevated depressive symptoms during bereavement, according to” research. The findings are “based on a large cross-sectional study of” more than 18,000 “bereaved caregivers who had provided parental cancer care.” The findings were published in Psycho-Oncology.
Related Links:
— “Young Adults Face Higher Depression Risk While Caring for Parents With Cancer at EOL,” Megan Garlapow, PhD, Oncology Nurse Advisor, May 28, 2025
Studies Highlight Rise In Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts Among High School Students
Psychiatric News (5/28) reports a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that “suicidal thoughts and attempts steadily rose among high school students between 2007 and 2021, with similar trends seen in students at low and high risk of suicide.” Researchers observed the “percentage of students reporting past-year suicidal ideation rose from 14.4% to 22.1% between 2007 and 2021, while those reporting suicidal plans rose from 11.2% to 17.6% and those reporting suicide attempts rose from 6.9% to 10.1%.”
Meanwhile, a second study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry “revealed that adolescent Black females have significantly higher risks of suicidal ideation compared with their White and/or male peers.” Researchers observed that “girls had had 1.75 times the odds of past-year suicide ideation compared with boys and 1.81 times the odds of a past-year suicide attempt.” However, they noted that “Black girls had 1.26 times the odds of suicidal ideation compared with all their peers; there were no significant race and sex disparities for suicide attempts.”
Related Links:
— “Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviors Rise in Adolescents; Black Girls Have Highest Risk,” Psychiatric News, May 28, 2025
One In Three Pediatric Patients Facing Mental Health Crisis Experienced ED Visit Lasting 12 Or More Hours Between 2018 And 2022, Study Finds
American Journal of Managed Care (5/28, Jeremias ) reports a study found that “one in 3 pediatric patients facing a mental health crisis who presented to the emergency department (ED) waited more than 12 hours to be admitted for transfer for further treatment between 2018 and 2022.” Investigators analyzed “pediatric mental health ED visits from 2018 to 2022 using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.” They observed that “9.5% of visits resulted in hospital admission, and 15.7% led to transfer to a psychiatric facility. Among the estimated 1.41 million visits that ended in admission or transfer, 70.8% involved blood testing, 32.1% lasted 12 or more hours, and 13.1% lasted at least 24 hours.” In addition, “multivariable analysis found that the odds of boarding (≥ 12-hour visits) were significantly lower for 10- to 14-year-olds, non-Hispanic patients of other races, those with private insurance, and weekend visits.” The study was published in JACEP Open.
Related Links:
— “1 in 3 Minors Facing Mental Health Crisis Experience 12-Hour ED Waits,” Skylar Jeremias, American Journal of Managed Care, May 28, 2025
Self-Reported Maternal Mental And Physical Health Declined In Recent Years, Study Suggests
MedPage Today (5/27, Robertson ) reports a study suggests that “self-reported maternal mental health declined in recent years, as did maternal physical health, though less drastically.” Researchers found that “after adjustments for secular changes in sociodemographic groups, ‘excellent’ physical health decreased by 4.2 percentage points, ‘excellent’ mental health decreased by 12.4 percentage points, and ‘fair/poor’ mental health increased by 3.5 percentage points from 2016 to 2023.” They noted that “mothers with lower education levels and publicly insured or uninsured kids, as well as single mothers, had higher odds of self-reporting worse physical and mental health.” Overall, investigators concluded that the “decline in mental health was even greater than what” they “were expecting to find. Recent research has focused on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, but this study indicated that the downward population-level trends were happening before 2020.” The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Related Links:
— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)
Most Fatal Drug Overdoses Among US Youth Aged 15 To 24 Years Involve Fentanyl, Study Finds
HealthDay (5/27, Thompson ) reports a study found that “fentanyl-only deaths among 15- to 24-year-olds soared by 168% between 2018 and 2022, and now account for most fatal ODs among that age group.” In the study, “researchers analyzed federal death records to examine trends in ODs among teens and young adults. They specifically looked at synthetic opioids like fentanyl used alone or in combination with other drugs like benzodiazepine, cocaine, heroin, prescription opioids or stimulants.” They found that the “largest increase in OD death rates occurred among young people taking fentanyl alone, rising to 4.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2022 from only 1.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2018. By comparison, the death rate of fentanyl combined with benzodiazepines was 0.33 deaths per 100,000 in 2022, while the fentanyl and cocaine rate was 0.89 deaths per 100,000.” Additionally, “young males are 2.5 times more likely to have a fatal overdose involving fentanyl compared to females, researchers said.” The study was published in Pediatrics.
Related Links:
— “Fentanyl Fueling OD Deaths Among Teens, Young Adults,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, May 27, 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.