The Washington Post (11/19, Searing) reported that “about a third of children ages 7 to 9 use social media apps on phones or tablets, according to a report” that was “based on data from a nationally representative pool of 1,030 parents with at least one child 7-to-12 years old.” The report also “notes an even higher social media presence among slightly older children, with half of those ages 10 to 12 using these apps.” Furthermore, investigators “found that most parents said they do some sort of monitoring of their children’s social media involvement,” yet “1 in 6 parents were found to be using no parental controls.”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

According to Healio (11/18), “one in 25 American adults will experience a serious mental illness each year, with residents of rural areas more likely to experience it, according to a” Nov. 18 “press release from the American Psychiatric Association.” What’s more, “residents of rural areas are…more likely to face barriers to receiving treatment.” Recently, “a report [PDF] from SMI Adviser outlined three obstacles to connecting these populations with mental healthcare – availability, accessibility and acceptability – and presented solutions developed by medical professionals who work in these underserved areas.” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, said, “To ensure continued improvement in care, we need to remember that tailored solutions for the resources, workforce and community in rural areas are critical.”

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— “APA highlights report on improving rural mental health care, Healio, November 18, 2021

Psychiatric News (11/18) reports in light of a CDC report indicating that “drug overdoses killed more than 100,000 people in the United States during the one-year period ending in April 2021,” the American Psychiatric Association has “renewed its call” for “improved access to mental health and substance use services through early identification,” as well as “effective substance use disorder treatment for all patients, through the development of science-based policies that are based on a thorough review and discussion with Congress, federal policymakers, and experts in the field of addiction treatment,” and “policies and programs to support accredited medical schools and residency programs to provide training for the treatment of individuals with substance use disorders.”

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— “Drug Overdose Deaths Reach Record High During Pandemic, Psychiatric News, November 18, 2021

HealthDay (11/17, Mozes) reports, “American teens are increasingly turning to the social media giant Instagram to share graphic images of their own attempts to harm themselves, a new study reveals.” Investigators “who tracked Instagram throughout 2018 found that teen postings focused on self-harm – such as cutting or burning oneself – rose significantly over the course of the year.” The findings were published in the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling.

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— “Teen Social Media Posts About Cutting, Other Self-Harm Are Soaring ” Alan Mozes, HealthDay, November 17, 2021

Healio (11/17, Holden) reports, “Using a cirrhosis-centric model” involving 304 patients with cirrhosis, “researchers found a high prevalence for anxiety in patients with cirrhosis,” diagnosing “17.1% with anxiety and 8.2% with undiagnosed comorbid depression.” The findings were presented at The Liver Meeting Digital Experience.

Related Links:

— “Undiagnosed anxiety present in 17% of patients with cirrhosis “Lisa Holden, Healio, November 17, 2021