Psychiatric News (6/28) reports, “More research on the prevention of suicide among Black youth is urgently needed, yet clinicians can and should address suicidality within this population in their practices now, according to two viewpoints published” online June 28 in JAMA Pediatrics. The authors of one viewpoint contend that “over the past several decades, data have clearly illustrated the rising trend of suicide among Black youth.” The editorialists “suggest a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methodology, such as interviews and focus groups with youth, families, and clinicians, to better understand culturally relevant risk and protective factors.” The authors of the second viewpoint “emphasized the importance of universal screenings for suicidality across health care settings, but they noted that clinicians should be aware that suicidality and risk factors may differ for Black youth compared with other groups.”

Related Links:

— “Research to Prevent Suicide of Black Youth Must Take Ground Zero Approach, Say Experts, Psychiatric News, June 28, 2021

The New York Times (6/28, Caron) reports that “interviews with mental health [professionals] and data from hospitals across the country reveal that while [professionals] are continuing to see a surge in teenagers visiting the emergency room for mental health problems, the number of children in crisis under the age of 13 is also on the rise, and has been for years.” Even prior to the pandemic, “a mental health crisis was brewing among children struggling with bullying, abuse, eating disorders, racism or undiagnosed mental health conditions.” Children are now “facing even more stressors, like the loss of a family member to Covid-19, adjusting to remote school or the anxiety of returning to in-person school.”

Related Links:

— “8-Year-Olds in Despair: The Mental Health Crisis Is Getting Younger “Christina Caron, The New York Times, June 28, 2021

HCPlive (6/26, Alicea) reported research “indicates that simultaneous treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for mental health disorders in children may have negative impacts on cardiometabolic health.” The 569-patient study consisted of four cohorts: “SSRI and SGA treatment-naïve (n = 242), SSRI only (n = 123), SGA only (n = 112), and SSRI + SGA (n = 92).” The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 81st Scientific Sessions (virtual).

Related Links:

— “Antidepressant Plus Antipsychotic Use Linked to Cardiometabolic Complications “Jonathan Alicea, HCPlive, June 26, 2021

The Hill (6/25, Wilson) said that more than half of public health workers surveyed by the CDC reported symptoms of at least one mental health condition, according to a new study by the agency. The study “found nearly a third of the 26,000 health care workers polled suffered from symptoms of depression in the last two weeks. Three in 10 reported suffering from anxiety, and more than one third say they have experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder”

Related Links:

— “Half of public health workers experiencing mental health strain: study “Reid Wilson, The Hill, June 25, 2021

Psychiatric News reports, “Regardless of a patient’s level of engagement in psychiatric care prior to being hospitalized, having an appointment scheduled when discharged from the hospital may increase the likelihood that the patient receives follow-up care,” results published in Psychiatric Services show. Researchers found that “the less patients were engaged in care prior to their admission, the less likely they were to have a follow-up appointment scheduled as part of their discharge plan. … However, regardless of the patients’ level of engagement, scheduling an outpatient appointment as part of the discharge plan was significantly associated with attending an initial outpatient psychiatric appointment within seven or 30 days after discharge.”

Related Links:

— “Discharge Planning Improves Engagement With Psychiatric Care, Study Finds, Psychiatric News, June 24, 2021