NPR (6/25, Noguchi) reports that now more than ever, “the need for mental health support is more evident,” particularly “among Black Americans, say people who study and experience the burden of racism.” Unfortunately, “the economic barriers to accessing mental health care have only increased.” For many patients of color, “access to mental health treatment often comes in places of last resort: Jails, schools, emergency” departments. Currently, “the scarcity of Black mental health professionals in the U.S. is now an acute problem, says” psychiatrist Altha Stewart, MD, “who became the first Black president of the American Psychiatric Association two years ago.”

Related Links:

— “‘Bear Our Pain’: The Plea For More Black Mental Health Workers, “Yuki Noguchi, NPR, June 25, 2020

Psychiatric News (6/25) reports, “The price of antipsychotic medications varies significantly between pharmacies, sometimes by differences of over $1,000,” investigators concluded after “calling 281 pharmacies in the Kansas City area and requesting the cash price of a 30-day supply of six generically available antipsychotic medications.” The study revealed that “compared with independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies had the highest prices for most medications,” while “prices at grocery store pharmacies and independent pharmacies averaged $180 and $415 lower than those at chain pharmacies, respectively.” The findings were published online June 24 in Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Price of Antipsychotics Varies Significantly Between Pharmacies, Study Finds, Psychiatric News, June 25, 2020

Healio (6/24, Amorosi) reports researchers found that almost a fifth “of patients who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) develop symptoms of PTSD within 6 months.” The findings were presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.

Related Links:

— “Many patients develop clinically significant PTSD symptoms early after HSCT, “Drew Amorosi, Healio, June 24, 2020

Cancer Network (6/24, Slater) reports researchers found in a population-based study that adult cancer survivors were more likely to have mental health problems than the general population. The study’s authors wrote, “These findings provide implications for future programs and policies aimed at effectively preventing and detecting mental illness and reducing unmet [mental health] treatment needs for this vulnerable population.” The study was published in Cancer.

Related Links:

— “Elevated Mental Health Problems Observed Among Cancer Survivors, “Hannah Slater, Cancer Network, June 24, 2020

Psychiatric News (6/24) reports, “The percentage of children presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with mental illness and substance use disorders rose dramatically between 2007 and 2016, with visits related to deliberate self-harm increasing by more than 300%,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data from the 2007 to 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.” The study revealed that over the period of a decade, “the total number of pediatric ED visits was stable, but pediatric ED visits for all mental health disorders rose 60% and visits related to substance use disorder rose 159%.” Meanwhile, over this time period, “ED visits for deliberate self-harm increased by 329%.” The findings were published in the June issue of Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Threefold Increase Seen in Children Visiting Emergency Departments for Deliberate Self-Harm, Psychiatric News, June 24, 2020