NPR (8/28, Chatterjee) reports the US Preventive Services Task Force released recommendations urging physicians to “screen pregnant women and new moms” for depression so that “they can be treated before they show symptoms and a diagnosis of depression can be averted.” The task force said that physicians “should look for these risk factors: a history of depression, current depressive symptoms (like sadness, hopelessness about the future, lack of sleep, etc.), and socioeconomic risk factors like being low income, very young or a single parent.”

MedPage Today (8/28, Monaco) reports the group found “convincing evidence” that “referring these women to counseling services, including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, will have a ‘moderate net benefit’ in helping prevent perinatal depression among women who are at increased risk.”

Related Links:

— “Panel: Doctors Should Focus On Preventing Depression In Pregnant Women, New Moms, “Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, August 28, 2018.

USA Today (8/28, O’Donnell) reports “preteen suicides…remain rare. But as their numbers rise, they’re getting new attention from researchers.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the death rate among 10- to 14-year-olds more than doubled from 0.9 per 100,000 in 2007 to 2.1 per 100,000 in 2014.”

TIME (8/28, Ducharme) reports the recent “suicide of a 9-year-old Colorado fourth grader underscores the challenges surrounding youth mental health – particularly the risks LGBTQ kids face.”

Related Links:

— “Preteen suicides are rare, but numbers are on the rise, “Jayne O’Donnell, USA Today, August 28, 2018.

HealthDay (8/27, Norton) reports on a study published in Injury Prevention finding that “more Americans are now dying from suicide and drug overdoses combined than from diabetes” with “29 deaths from suicide or drug overdose per 100,000 Americans” in 2016, “compared to just under 25 deaths per 100,000 from diabetes.” The researchers said that “people who die from suicide or drug overdose often have similar histories – including trauma, untreated depression and a lack of social support.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. Deaths From Suicide, Drugs Surpass Diabetes, “Amy Norton, HealthDay, August 27, 2018.

Endocrinology Advisor (8/22, Rice) reports, “Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased risk for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder,” researchers concluded in a 57-study review that encompassed some “172,040 patients.” The findings were published online July 31 in the journal Endocrine.

Related Links:

— “Are Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome More Likely to Develop Psychiatric Disorder?,”Tyler Rice, Endocrinology Advisor, August 22, 2018.

The New York Times (8/22, Bakalar) reports, “Children whose families move homes frequently may be at increased risk for serious psychiatric illness,” researchers concluded after following “1,440,383 children from birth to age 29, including data on residential moves.” The study revealed that “the more the children under 19 moved, the greater their risk for psychosis.” The findings were published online Aug. 22 in JAMA Psychiatry. Healio (8/22, Demko) also covers the story.

Related Links:

— “Frequent Home Moves May Increase a Child’s Risk of Psychosis, ” Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times, August 22, 2018.