As youth mental health challenges reach unprecedented levels, advocates are calling for solutions that reflect the cultural realities of young people. The Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP), a nonprofit initiative, is stepping into that gap with its new Youth Mental Health Fund, which has already distributed $5.07 million to 34 organizations nationwide. The effort prioritizes support for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) and LGBTQ+ youth, groups that often face barriers to care in traditional systems.
{"title":"DWP grants $5M to expand culturally responsive youth care","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34700","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As youth mental health challenges reach unprecedented levels, advocates are calling for solutions that reflect the cultural realities of young people. The Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP), a nonprofit initiative, is stepping into that gap with its new Youth Mental Health Fund, which has already distributed $5.07 million to 34 organizations nationwide. The effort prioritizes support for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) and LGBTQ+ youth, groups that often face barriers to care in traditional systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 48","pages":"3-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The long wait for a resolution of Pennsylvania's state budget impasse finally ended last month, but budget-related anxiety for the state's mental health provider community lingers.
{"title":"Pennsylvania budget finally clears, with not much optimism ahead","authors":"Gary Enos","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34699","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The long wait for a resolution of Pennsylvania's state budget impasse finally ended last month, but budget-related anxiety for the state's mental health provider community lingers.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 48","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Despite growing awareness of mental health needs, managing insurance decisions remains a major barrier to care. According to new survey data, 20% of U.S. adults have postponed therapy because they couldn't make sense of their coverage options during open enrollment. For those already juggling work and family demands, the added complexity of insurance decisions can be overwhelming.
{"title":"Insurance confusion keeps many from mental health care","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34702","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34702","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite growing awareness of mental health needs, managing insurance decisions remains a major barrier to care. According to new survey data, 20% of U.S. adults have postponed therapy because they couldn't make sense of their coverage options during open enrollment. For those already juggling work and family demands, the added complexity of insurance decisions can be overwhelming.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 48","pages":"6-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patients with eating disorders often face a double burden: not only do they struggle with the physical and psychological toll of their illness, but many also experience mood disorders that resist standard treatment. Depression and bipolar disorder are common among this population, and when conventional therapies fail, the risks escalate —suicidal thoughts and behaviors become more likely, and mortality rates climb, report the authors of a new study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders.
饮食失调患者往往面临双重负担:他们不仅要与疾病带来的生理和心理损失作斗争,而且许多人还经历着情绪障碍,无法接受标准治疗。发表在《饮食失调杂志》(Journal of Eating Disorders)上的一项新研究的作者称,抑郁症和双相情感障碍在这一人群中很常见,当传统疗法失败时,风险就会上升——自杀念头和行为变得更有可能,死亡率也会上升。
{"title":"Study finds ketamine safe for patients with EDs, mood disorders","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34701","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Patients with eating disorders often face a double burden: not only do they struggle with the physical and psychological toll of their illness, but many also experience mood disorders that resist standard treatment. Depression and bipolar disorder are common among this population, and when conventional therapies fail, the risks escalate —suicidal thoughts and behaviors become more likely, and mortality rates climb, report the authors of a new study published in the <i>Journal of Eating Disorders</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 48","pages":"5-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The American Psychiatric Association is holding its 2026 Annual Meeting on May 16–20 in San Francisco. For more information, visit https://psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/meetings/annual-meeting/registration.
{"title":"Coming Up…","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34704","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The <b>American Psychiatric Association</b> is holding its 2026 Annual Meeting on <b>May 16–20</b> in <b>San Francisco</b>. For more information, visit https://psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/meetings/annual-meeting/registration.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 48","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Washington's young adult suicide rate rose more than 13% from 2014 to 2024, mirroring a national trend, a recent analysis finds, and Axios Seattle reported Dec. 9. The increase underscores the toll of the country's mental health crisis — particularly in the state of Washington, where the suicide rate among young people remains higher than the national average. The suicide rate for Washington adults aged 18 to 27 climbed 13.3% between 2014 and 2024, reaching 18.8 per 100,000 people, per a new analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from Stateline, a nonprofit newsroom. Nationwide, the suicide rate among that age group saw a sharper 20% increase. Yet the national rate — 16.4 deaths per 100,000 — remained lower than in Washington. The rising suicide rate among 18- to 27-year-olds comes as Gen Z members enter that age range and the Millennials leave it. “Theories behind the increase range from bullying on social media, since Gen Z was the first generation to grow up with the internet, to economic despair, to cultural resistance to seeking help for depression,” per Stateline. Seattle officials have been looking at ways to address youth mental health. An education levy approved by voters last month will add five new school-based health centers to Seattle, which will help provide K–12 students with mental health care both in-person and virtually.
据Axios西雅图12月9日报道,最近的一项分析发现,从2014年到2024年,华盛顿的年轻人自杀率上升了13%以上,反映了全国的趋势。这一增长凸显了美国心理健康危机的代价,尤其是在华盛顿州,那里年轻人的自杀率仍然高于全国平均水平。美国疾病控制与预防中心(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)对非营利新闻编辑室Stateline的数据进行的一项新分析显示,2014年至2024年间,华盛顿18至27岁成年人的自杀率上升了13.3%,达到每10万人中18.8人。在全国范围内,这一年龄段的自杀率上升了20%。然而,全国的死亡率——每10万人中有16.4人死亡——仍然低于华盛顿。18岁至27岁人群自杀率上升之际,Z世代进入了这个年龄段,千禧一代离开了这个年龄段。“这种增长背后的理论包括社交媒体上的欺凌,因为Z世代是第一代与互联网一起长大的人,经济绝望,以及文化上对寻求抑郁症帮助的抵制,”Stateline网站说。西雅图官员一直在寻找解决青少年心理健康问题的方法。上个月选民通过的一项教育税将在西雅图增加五个新的学校健康中心,这将有助于为K-12学生提供面对面和虚拟的心理健康护理。
{"title":"Young adult suicide rate rises in Washington State","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34703","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34703","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Washington's young adult suicide rate rose more than 13% from 2014 to 2024, mirroring a national trend, a recent analysis finds, and Axios Seattle reported Dec. 9. The increase underscores the toll of the country's mental health crisis — particularly in the state of Washington, where the suicide rate among young people remains higher than the national average. The suicide rate for Washington adults aged 18 to 27 climbed 13.3% between 2014 and 2024, reaching 18.8 per 100,000 people, per a new analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from Stateline, a nonprofit newsroom. Nationwide, the suicide rate among that age group saw a sharper 20% increase. Yet the national rate — 16.4 deaths per 100,000 — remained lower than in Washington. The rising suicide rate among 18- to 27-year-olds comes as Gen Z members enter that age range and the Millennials leave it. “Theories behind the increase range from bullying on social media, since Gen Z was the first generation to grow up with the internet, to economic despair, to cultural resistance to seeking help for depression,” per Stateline. Seattle officials have been looking at ways to address youth mental health. An education levy approved by voters last month will add five new school-based health centers to Seattle, which will help provide K–12 students with mental health care both in-person and virtually.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 48","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last week could mark a major step forward for mental health care access. The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act seeks to strengthen Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) by creating a permanent funding structure and expanding coverage for their services under Medicare.
{"title":"Bipartisan bill would boost mental health care through CCBHC model","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34691","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last week could mark a major step forward for mental health care access. The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act seeks to strengthen Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) by creating a permanent funding structure and expanding coverage for their services under Medicare.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 47","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145730369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A newly awarded grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will allow a research team to evaluate a training workshop designed to promote the mental health and resilience of first responders. Prior research has already demonstrated the Worker Resilience Training (WRT) program's health-promoting benefits for disaster workers.
{"title":"First-responder study will gauge impact of resilience training","authors":"Gary Enos","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34692","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34692","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A newly awarded grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will allow a research team to evaluate a training workshop designed to promote the mental health and resilience of first responders. Prior research has already demonstrated the Worker Resilience Training (WRT) program's health-promoting benefits for disaster workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 47","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145719726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Following reports by clinicians about gaps in suicide prevention knowledge and discomfort in addressing the topic during routine medical visits, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) developed a new initiative aimed at giving medical professionals practical tools to identify and support patients at risk.
{"title":"AFSP training helps clinicians act early to prevent suicide","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34695","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34695","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Following reports by clinicians about gaps in suicide prevention knowledge and discomfort in addressing the topic during routine medical visits, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) developed a new initiative aimed at giving medical professionals practical tools to identify and support patients at risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 47","pages":"6-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145730412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
More than half of psychologists reported using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist them with their work at least once in the past 12 months, according to the American Psychological Association's (APA's) 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey. The annual survey was conducted by APA and its companion organization, APA Services, Inc., and was completed by 1,742 psychologists in September 2025.
{"title":"Psychologists embrace AI, but ethical concerns loom large","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34694","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34694","url":null,"abstract":"<p>More than half of psychologists reported using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist them with their work at least once in the past 12 months, according to the American Psychological Association's (APA's) 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey. The annual survey was conducted by APA and its companion organization, APA Services, Inc., and was completed by 1,742 psychologists in September 2025.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 47","pages":"5-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145719555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}