Mental Health Weekly最新文献

Precision medicine is revolutionizing some health care disciplines but has had comparatively little impact in mental health. An ambitious research initiative funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will explore whether innovations in the collection of patient data can improve the understanding of mental health disorders, leading to more accurate prediction of whether a patient will respond to a specific treatment.

In response to the increasing volume and accessibility of video content for youth on streaming channels and various online platforms, the American Psychological Association (APA) has issued its first ever set of recommendations to help parents, policymakers and tech companies empower teens to manage their viewing habits, an APA news release stated last week. The APA Recommendations for Healthy Teen Video Viewing summarizes the scientific research on adolescents' video viewing habits to offer steps that can be taken immediately by parents, youth and educators, as well as recommendations for substantial changes by policymakers and technology industry professionals. The report recommends educating adolescents so they can be more selective regarding the videos they view. It notes that videos can “assist with homework, teach new skills or hobbies, or provide insights into different cultures and experiences.” By being taught video literacy in schools at all levels, teens can expand their knowledge and abilities while resisting manipulative platform features designed to prolong engagement and profit from their attention. The report also calls for tech companies to modify the built-in features of their platforms that can impact adolescent well-being.

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) is now accepting proposals to present at the NJAMHAA Spring Conference — “Looking Beyond the Horizon in Behavioral Health.” Anyone who has expertise in any area related to mental health and addiction treatment is encouraged to submit a proposal. The conference will take place on April 8-9, 2025 in Woodbridge, N.J. NJAMHAA is looking for engaging and informative presentations that will help attendees stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices. The application deadline is Jan. 6, 2025.

The National Association for Children's Behavioral Health is holding its NACBH 2024 Emerging Best Practices Conference: Cultivating Tomorrow's Excellence Dec. 4–6 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. For more information, visit https://nacbh.memberclicks.net/emerging-best-practices-conference.

In recognition of National Career Development Day, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced on Nov. 13 the launch of the Behavioral Health Workforce Career Navigator, designed to help current and aspiring behavioral health professionals identify state requirements for a range of behavioral health careers, according to a SAMHSA release. The navigator supports President Biden and Vice President Harris' commitment to expanding America's behavioral health workforce, a key element of the Administration's Unity Agenda for the Nation.

A new survey released last week by West Health and Gallup has found that seven out of 10 Americans want their health care provider to ask about both their physical and mental health concerns during medical appointments, compared with 29% who say they want to be asked only about physical health. More than half of those surveyed say that someone in their household has been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

In recent years, mental health care has evolved to prioritize more holistic and collaborative approaches, with an increasing focus on the benefits of interdisciplinary, integrated and integrative care. Mental health disorders are inherently complex, with each patient presenting a different constellation of symptoms, histories and contributing factors. No single discipline holds all the answers to these intricate issues.

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) last week submitted public comments on proposed regulations from the Colorado Division of Insurance aimed at administering parity for mental health and substance use disorder benefits, according to a Nov. 20 news release. ERIC's public comments strongly urge Colorado regulators to reconsider the proposed rules, cautioning that if the state rules conflict with future changes to federal law, it could lead to future compliance conflicts and undermine how employers administer benefit plans. Because underlying Colorado law adopts relevant federal regulations in this space, further state codification is unnecessary and could only lead to complications down the road. ERIC has been a leader in shaping federal mental health and substance use disorder benefit parity policy for many years, dating back to the enactment of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, the news release indicated. When the federal rule was issued in September, ERIC expressed concerns that the rule is unworkable for employers who choose to offer behavioral health benefits for their workers. ERIC is a national advocacy organization exclusively representing the largest employers in the United States in their capacity as sponsors of employee benefit plans for their nationwide workforces.

Despite recent growth and its proven success, the number of Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs remains insufficient to meet the needs of individuals experiencing early or first-episode psychosis (FEP), according to a new whitepaper that provides insights from a national model and the impact of scaling access to care nationally.

Colorado voters this month approved a 6.5% excise tax on gun manufacturers and retailers, with much of the anticipated revenue targeting mental health support for crime victims. Some mental health organizations in the state officially backed the measure, although victim assistance more broadly served as the main driver of the initiative.