According to HCPlive (6/2, Kunzmann), in an interview that took place at the American Psychiatric Association 2022 Annual Meeting, “Carol A. Bernstein, MD, a psychiatrist and vice chair for faculty development and wellbeing with Montefiore Health System, discussed the overuse of phrases including ‘wellbeing’ and ‘burnout’ in relation to mental health issues including anxiety and depression.” Dr. Bernstein “stressed the need for psychiatry specialists to become leaders in distinguishing between burnout and mental health conditions among their colleagues – and to help adequately refer and treat those who are affected by either.”

Related Links:

— “Yoga vs Antidepressants: Defining Workplace Burnout Over Mental Health Issues “Kevin Kunzmann, HCPlive, June 2, 2022

mHealth Intelligence (5/31, Melchionna) reports, “To maintain quality mental healthcare as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, four US Senators have released a discussion draft of telehealth policies for mental healthcare initiatives that focus on increasing access and directing insurers to support virtual care.” Some of these “policies include solidifying necessary access to audio-only mental healthcare coverage under Medicare, urging Medicare and Medicaid to support [healthcare professionals] using telehealth, and encouraging states to use CHIP programs to improve in-person and virtual mental healthcare services in schools.”

Related Links:

— “US Senators Release Draft Telehealth Policies for Mental Healthcare ” Mark Melchionna, mHealth Intelligence, May 31, 2022

HealthDay (5/31) reports, “Prenatal exposure to topiramate, valproate, and certain duotherapies is associated with increased risks for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability,” investigators concluded in a study including data “for 4,494,926 alive-born children with available mother-child identities and maternal prescription” information. The findings were published online May 31 in JAMA Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Prenatal Exposure to Certain Antiseizure Meds Linked to Autism, HealthDay, May 31, 2022

Healio (5/31) reports, “Transgender individuals who said they received supportive primary care were more likely to report better mental health,” researchers concluded in a survey study that “included 948 transgender individuals aged 14 to 83 years.” The study also revealed, however, that “only about half of transgender individuals who participated in the survey said they had supportive primary care physicians.” The findingswere published online March 9 in the journal Family Practice.

Related Links:

— “Study finds better mental health among transgender patients with supportive PCPs, Healio, May 31, 2022

The Hill (5/31, Barnes) reports “the number of suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among children rose sharply between 2015 and 2020,” according to a study published online in the journal Clinical Toxicology. The study found that while “all pediatric groups saw increases in suspected suicides…the largest jump occurred in children between the ages of 10 and 12 who saw an increase of more than 109 percent.” Also, “the over-the-counter pain killers ibuprofen and acetaminophen were the two most common substances used in the suspected pediatric attempted suicide cases, researchers found.”

Related Links:

— “Pediatric suicide attempts by poisoning on the rise, study says “Adam Barnes, The Hill, May 31, 2022