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