Kaiser Health News (12/9, Stephens) reports on warmlines. Unlike hotlines “for those in immediate crisis, warmlines provide early intervention with emotional support that can prevent a crisis – and a more costly 911 call or” visit to the emergency department. Warmlines “are typically free, confidential peer-support services staffed by volunteers or paid employees who have experienced mental health conditions themselves.” Currently, “about 30 states have some form of a warmline within their borders.”

Related Links:

— “‘Warm’ Hotlines Deliver Help Before Mental Health Crisis Heats Up, “Stephanie Stephens, Kaiser Health News, December 10, 2019

The New York Times (12/8, A25, Petersen) reported on “several new psychotherapies to treat anxiety and depression in people with cognitive impairments, including early to moderate dementia.” Two examples highlighted in the article were Problem Adaptation Therapy, or PATH, which “focuses on solving tangible problems that fuel feelings of sadness and hopelessness,” and the Peaceful Mind program, which “simplifies traditional cognitive behavioral therapy and focuses on scheduling pleasurable activities and skills.” The Times added, “Early research on the new approaches is encouraging, but longer and larger studies will be needed to fully assess the effectiveness.”

Related Links:

— “New Therapies Help Patients With Dementia Cope With Depression, “Andrea Petersen, The New York Times, December 8, 2019

MedPage Today (12/8, George) reported, “Teens with epilepsy were more than twice as likely as adults to talk about suicide on the Internet, an analysis of 222,000 online posts” demonstrated. In fact, “a total of 3,200 of 41,000 posts (8%) by teens with epilepsy discussed suicide, compared with 5,800 of 181,000 posts (3%) by adults with epilepsy,” the study found. The findings were presented at the American Epilepsy Society annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Teens With Epilepsy More Likely to Discuss Suicide Online, “Judy George, MedPage Today, December 8, 2019

Psychiatric News (12/6) reported, “Almost half (48%) of children and adolescents with a psychotic disorder said they recently had suicidal thoughts or had in the past considered death by suicide when interviewed in the emergency department (ED) using a brief screening questionnaire,” research indicated. What’s more, “most of these youth did not report a chief complaint related to suicidal ideation or behavior when arriving at the ED.” The study suggested there may be utility to screening for suicide risk among pediatric patients with psychosis. The findings of the 87-child and adolescent study were published online Dec. 4 in Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Integrating Brief Screen in ER May Better Identify Youth With Psychosis at Risk of Suicide, Psychiatric News, December 6, 2019

The Wall Street Journal (12/5, Kesling, Subscription Publication) reports that mental health disorders prior to enlistment, not just the experiences in combat, may contribute to ongoing psychiatric problems in many veterans and active-duty military personnel, studies indicate.

Related Links:

— “For Many Soldiers, Mental-Health Issues Start Before Enlistment, “Ben Kesling, The Wall Street Journal, December 5, 2019