MedPage Today (7/27, Grant) reports, “Mental health disorders were associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related mortality, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies from seven countries.” Researchers “noted that although they were able to determine the associations between severe mental health disorders and risk of COVID-19 mortality, it wasn’t possible to identify significant differences between specific mental health disorders.” The review was published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Modern Healthcare (7/26, Hellmann, Subscription Publication) reports, “The $2.3 trillion government spending bill passed in December permanently allowed Medicare to cover mental health services delivered virtually but…beneficiaries must see the practitioner in person within six months before virtual treatment begins.” This requirement, which is anticipated “to take effect next year, has puzzled and frustrated” clinicians and “advocates, who argue it has no clinical benefit, will deter patients from seeking care and make it difficult to expand access to mental healthcare in rural communities.” Now, bipartisan legislation “would remove the requirement stating that beneficiaries must see their mental health practitioner in person before beginning virtual care and subsequent periods afterward, which is to be determined by HHS.” The American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association, among others, support such legislation.

Related Links:

— “Providers, advocates say Medicare telehealth policy poses barrier to mental healthcare “Jessie Hellmann, Modern Healthcare, July 26, 2021

USA Today (7/26, Brook) reports, “Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed deep concern about suicide among troops during a visit to U.S. forces stationed in Alaska where there has been an alarming spike in those deaths” since Dec. 30. Since then, “at least six soldiers have died by probable suicide…and suicide is suspected in several others, USA TODAY has reported.” According to the article, “Austin raised the issue of suicide in nearly every visit he had with military, civilian and tribal leaders during his visit to Alaska, according to a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.” Austin is quoted as saying, “Mental health is health period.” He added, “And we have to approach it with the same energy that we apply to other – any other health issue, with compassion and professionalism and resources. And so if you’re hurting, there are resources available.”

Related Links:

— “‘Mental health is health. Period.’ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin decries stigma in message to troops “Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, July 26, 2021

Psychiatric News (7/26) reports, “Future care planning can be difficult for aging parents and caregivers of people with serious mental illness (SMI),” so “an article…describes the important role that mental health professionals can play in helping families to prepare for the future.” The article offers “recommendations for mental health professionals on when to begin planning for future care, who should participate in this planning, and what should be included in a future care plan for the plan to be successful.” The article was published online July 20 in Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Future Care Planning Can Help Patients With SMI, Aging Caregivers With Major Life Transitions, Psychiatric News, July 26, 2021

Healio (7/23, Gramigna) reported, “Rates and severity of postpartum depression [PPD] and anxiety symptoms among women who sought treatment for postpartum depression worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic,” researchers concluded after examining the “data of 603 participants, of whom 305 enrolled pre-pandemic and 298 during the pandemic.” The findings were published online July 6 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Mothers with postpartum depression ‘highly vulnerable’ during pandemic ”
Joe Gramigna, Healio, July 23, 2021