MedPage Today (1/21, Monaco) reported, “A ‘substantial increase’ in physicians in Canada sought mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic,” investigators concluded. After examining data on “nearly 35,000 practicing physicians in Ontario,” the study team found that “the overall annual number of outpatient mental health and substance use visits increased by 27% per 1,000 physicians – from 816.8 pre-pandemic to 1,037.5 during the pandemic.” In other words, “this equated to a 13% increase in the rate of mental health and substance use visits per physician during the pandemic…an increase that appeared driven by those who had no prior mental health or substance use history.” The findings were published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Network Open.

Psychiatric News (1/21) reported, “Psychiatrists had the highest rate of visits (3,441.5 visits per 1,000 physicians) and surgeons had the lowest rates of visits (370.9 visits per 1,000 physicians),” with “visits related to anxiety and adjustment reactions” having the overall “largest increases during the pandemic.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

PatientEngagementHIT (1/20, Rodriguez) reports, “Through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS will release $13 million in grants for organizations in rural areas to expand behavioral healthcare access.” The awards “will increase services that address health disparities in rural America, such as trauma-informed treatment for substance use disorder.” Eligible applicants “include all public or private entities…, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations.”

Related Links:

— “HRSA Slots $13M to Expand Rural Behavioral Healthcare Access “Sarai Rodriguez, Patient Engagement HIT, January 20, 2022

Modern Healthcare (1/20, Goldman, Subscription Publication) reports HHS has chosen the 45 “grantees for $103 million to address healthcare worker burnout and improve employees’ mental health and well-being, the department announced Thursday.” The grants “will fund projects including hiring resiliency trainers to support healthcare staff, establishing health system-wide wellness programs and devising initiatives to overcome the stigma associated with healthcare workers seeking mental health treatment.” Fierce Healthcare (1/20, King) reports the program “will give $28.6 million to 10 grantees to help healthcare organizations create or expand mental health and well-being programs. Another $68.2 million will go towards 34 grantees to create evidence-based training development in health and nursing training activities.

Related Links:

— “HHS awards grants to tackle health worker burnout, well-being “Maya Goldman, Modern Healthcare, January 20, 2022

Healio (1/20, Gramigna) reports, “Prolonged exposure had a slight advantage over cognitive processing therapy for PTSD symptoms, although both treatments offered meaningful improvements, according to results of a randomized clinical trial.” Because of this, “clinicians should consider patient preferences regarding these interventions, researchers noted.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Patient preferences important when considering PTSD treatments, study suggests “Joe Gramigna, Healio, January 20, 2022

HealthDay (1/19, Preidt) reports that “nearly half of U.S. adults” gained weight “during the first year of the pandemic, making a national obesity crisis even worse,” according to a study published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews. Investigators “surveyed more than 3,400 adults and found that 48% said they gained weight during the first 12 months of the pandemic.” Furthermore, the investigators “found that people were more likely to have gained weight if they were overweight before the pandemic…, had children at home…, had depression or anxiety…, or checked body weight within the last six months.”

Related Links:

— “Nearly Half of Americans Gained Weight in Pandemic’s First Year “Robert Preidt, HealthDay , January 19, 2022