Support Our Work

Please donate so we can continue our work to reduce the stigma of psychiatric illness, encourage research, and support educational activities for behavioral health professionals and the public. Ways you can donate and help are on our Support and Donations page. Thank you!

More Info

Latest News Around the Web

Thyroid Dysfunction Linked With Increased Risk For Depression, Study Suggests

Endocrinology Advisor (3/4, Nye) reports a study found that “thyroid dysfunction is related with increased risk for depression.” Prior studies “suggest an association between depression and abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function.” Researchers concluded, “[T]hyroid dysfunction was associated with depression. Increasing TSH levels were associated with a small increase in the odds of [clinically relevant depression], especially among women, and patients who were not prescribed [antidepressants] or were on [thyroid hormone replacement].” The study was published in Thyroid.

Related Links:

— “Elevated Thyrotropin Levels Associated With Depression,” Jessica Nye, PhD, Endocrinology Advisor, March 4, 2025

UnitedHealthcare to reduce prior authorization requirements

Modern Healthcare (3/3, Berryman , Subscription Publication) reports UnitedHealthcare“plans to cut nearly 10% of prior authorizations this year, the company said in a notice Saturday.” Under the “initiative, the insurer said it will remove pre-approval requirements for home health services managed by its home and community division.” These changes, effective April 1, “will apply to Medicare Advantage and dual special needs plans in 36 states and Washington, D.C.” The decision follows a broader industry trend, with other insurers like Cigna and some Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies also reducing prior authorization requirements.

Related Links:

— “UnitedHealthcare to reduce prior authorization requirements,” Berryman, Modern Healthcare, March 3, 2025 — Free Registration Required

One In 10 Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Begin Buprenorphine Treatment Via Telehealth, Study Finds

Psychiatric News (3/3) reports a study found that “one in 10 buprenorphine initiations is provided via telehealth, and about 20% of those involved no in-person visit within two years prior or 30 days after.” Researchers said, “Our findings suggest that telehealth initiation of buprenorphine without a prior in-person visit is an important pathway for accessing this lifesaving treatment for adults with opioid use disorder.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “One in 10 Patients Starts Buprenorphine Treatment for OUD via Telehealth,” Psychiatric News, March 3, 2025

Study Suggests Suicide Prevention Campaigns Are Overlooking At-Risk Seniors

HealthDay (3/3, Thompson ) reports a study suggests that “suicide prevention campaigns are overlooking seniors, even though people 75 and older have the highest rates of suicide for any age group.” Researchers found that “none of the seven most prominent suicide prevention programs include any messaging aimed at at-risk seniors on their web sites.” Moreover, “older adults are ignored even though five of the programs specifically acknowledge older adults as a high-risk population for suicide on those very web sites.” They concluded, “Our hope is that shedding a light on this imbalance may lead to major suicide prevention organizations considering ways to make their resources more easily accessible to older adults.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Seniors Overlooked By Suicide Prevention Programs,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, March 3, 2025

Many women in mid-30s have untreated perimenopausal symptoms

HealthDay (2/28, Thompson ) reported a study suggests that “many young women entering menopause suffer needlessly from symptoms related to the transition” because they think they are too young. Researchers found that “more than half of women aged 30 to 35 have already developed moderate to severe symptoms of impending menopause,” which include “mood swings, delayed or absent periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, painful sex, heart palpitations and frequent urination.” Most of these women “wait decades before seeking treatment, under the mistaken belief that menopause symptoms…shouldn’t appear until their 50s, researchers said.” Researchers “said they hope their results will help fill an ‘alarming gap’ in the understanding of perimenopause symptoms among younger women.” The study was published in npj Women’s Health.

Related Links:

— “Young Women Suffer Menopause Symptoms In Silence, Study Says,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, February 28, 2025

Foundation News

John Lion, M.D. Wins 2017 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The Board of Directors of the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry voted in February to present its 2017 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award to Dr. John Lion for his piece, “Steadfast talking is the only cure for suicide” published December 18, 2016 in the Baltimore Sun. The board felt it reassured readers that even serious mental illness like depression can be overcome, even if there are setbacks along the way that evoke suicidal thoughts.

The award was established to recognize the article that best fulfills the following goals:

Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.
A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.

The award carries a $500 prize which the foundation plans to award at the April 27 Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting. The 2016 winner was Amy Marlow, whose article “My dad killed himself when I was 13. He hid his depression. I won’t hide mine.” was published February 9, 2016 in the Washington Post.

Amazon Smile Celebrates With Extra Donations For Organizations

Amazon celebrated its #1 ranking in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) On March 16th, 2017. The ACSI surveyed over 10,000 customers to measure perceptions of quality and value across retailers nationwide. March 16th only, Amazon donated 5% (10 times the usual donation rate) of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Maryland Foundation For Psychiatry Inc.

While the amount is lower now, you can still make your purchases count at smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1701356.

New PSA Examines Anxiety from Political and Social Media

The Foundation has released a new Public Service Announcement now playing on local Maryland radio stations. It examines the wide variety of feelings people experience after a particularly divisive political campaign or a significant event getting 24 hour coverage across networks and online. Those feelings can include alienation from family and friends, anger at a system or event out of their control, and grief or helplessness at what may come. There are things that can be done to help, ranging from breaks from Facebook and Twitter and similar sites to seeking actual help from professionals.

Listen to the PSA on our home page or on our PSA collection here, where you can listen to or download other advice given in past PSAs, also.

“This is My Brave” Event Coming December 7

1478645916439

This is my Brave – Baltimore event will be held Wednesday, December 7.
Doors Open at 5 PM – Show starts at 6 PM at Towson University’s West Village Commons, Towson, MD 21252. The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry is supporting this inspiring, monologue-based production featuring people sharing their stories of living with and recovering from mental illness through original essay, poetry, dance and music.

Foundation Establishes Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry has established the Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award. It is designed to recognize a worthy piece published in a major newspaper that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.
  • A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.

The award carries a $500 prize, and has its own dedicated page here.

The winner for 2016 is Amy McDowell Marlow.

My dad killed himself when I was 13. He hid his depression. I won’t hide mine.
Published February 9, 2016 in the Washington Post

In this piece, Ms. Marlow gives a very poignant description of dealing with her own depression and emotional experiences beginning in childhood while dealing with a parent’s depression and eventual suicide.