Publications - Stress

Pandemic demand for mental health care is overwhelming providers, by Jen Rose Smith , CNN , Dec 18 2020.

“  At a time when the ongoing pandemic is straining mental health, many people are going without care altogether. Experts say the pandemic is worsening a shortage of mental health care providers that far predates the current crisis. Even before the pandemic, one in five Americans had a diagnosable mental health condition, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. More than half received no treatment at all, found a report by the nonprofit Mental Health America. A lack of care compounds the consequences of mental illness. With nearly 41% of Americans struggling with mental health issues related to the pandemic, according to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, treatment is an increasingly scarce resource. ”

COVID-19 impacting mental health of medical professionals, by Jenni Goldstein, ABC News, Dec 12 2020.

“With the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths rising throughout much of the U.S., the mental health of medical professionals is being put to the test. Some health care workers told ABC News they are feeling hopeless amid the pandemic. ”

5 science-backed ways to stop Covid-19 pandemic stress right now, by Sandee LaMotte, CNN , Dec 11 2020.

“Pressure-cooked brains also don't work well, sending less blood flow to such frontal-lobe executive functions as creativity, compassion and emotional regulation. Those are the cognitive functions we need in order to manage uncertainty, take productive action and remain hopeful. But there are ways to short-circuit feelings of panic and helplessness, even in a pandemic. Here are five expert-vetted ways on how to put an end to stress and take back control. ”

ER visits, long waits climb for kids in mental health crisis, by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press, Dec 5 2020.

“When children and teens are overwhelmed with anxiety, depression or thoughts of self-harm, they often wait days in emergency rooms because there aren’t enough psychiatric beds. The problem has only grown worse during the pandemic, reports from parents and professionals suggest. With schools closed, routines disrupted and parents anxious over lost income or uncertain futures, children are shouldering new burdens many are unequipped to bear. And with surging numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, bed space is even scarcer. By early fall, many Massachusetts ERs were seeing about four times more children and teens in psychiatric crisis weekly than usual, said Ralph Buonopane, a mental health program director at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston. ”

Feeling election stress? Stop hitting ‘refresh’, by Alvin Powell, The Harvard Gazette, Nov 4 2020.

“"One of the things that happens with uncertainty is we often don’t think realistically about the outcome, and we tend to think catastrophically. So, you’re already thinking that if your candidate loses it’s going to be awful, it’s going to be unbearable, it’ll be disastrous,” said psychologist Shelley Carson, a lecturer at the Harvard Extension School and associate of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ Psychology Department. “We overestimate how this event — or any event — is going to affect our happiness in the future.” ”

How to talk about your mental health at work when everything is stressing you out, by Cory Stieg, CNBC, Nov 3 2020.

“As the lines between work and home life blur, and stress about Covid-19 and the presidential election builds, you might be looking for more emotional support from your colleagues than usual. “People are struggling with a very difficult situation,” Alison Holman, professor at the University of California, Irvine, who studies trauma-related mental and physical health, tells CNBC Make It. Experiencing mental health symptoms, such as stress, anxiety and depression, is “a normal response to an abnormal situation.” ”

Oregon Votes to Decriminalize All Drugs, Allow Psilocybin for Mental-Health Treatment, by Donald Morrison, The Wall Street Journal, Nov 3 2020.

“"Oregon became the first state in the nation to decriminalize the possession of all illegal drugs and also legalize the use of psilocybin—the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms—for mental-health treatment, after voters passed a pair of ballot measures this week. Both are the first of their kind in any U.S. state and represent the next frontier in the relaxation of drug laws beyond marijuana." ”

COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries, WHO survey, by News Release, World Health Organization (WHO), Oct 5 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing, according to a new WHO survey. The survey of 130 countries provides the first global data showing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health services and underscores the urgent need for increased funding. ”

Online crib sheets aid parents in dealing with children’s depression, anxiety, other issues, by Erin Blakemore, Washington Post , Oct 3 2020.

“Is it a learning disability? Is bed-wetting normal? How can you support your child through an upcoming move? These questions are enough to keep up at night parents and anyone who takes care of children — and as we spend more time with our kids during the pandemic, we’re more tuned in to their challenges. That’s where Facts for Families comes in. It’s a collection of online crib sheets for all kinds of issues that affect children, teenagers and families, from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to weight gain. The online fact sheets are the work of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), a professional organization that represents more than 9,400 psychiatrists specializing in kids and teens. Each sheet lays out common-sense information about a variety of challenges — such as bullying, delirium and grief — that can affect kids’ mental health. AD   Many of these challenges and conditions emerge during early childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 children ages 2 to 8 in the United States has a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. The older kids get, the more likely they are to experience depression, anxiety and a host of other conditions. These bumps can stress out caretakers, who may not know where to start when it comes to helping their children. The fact sheets are quick reads and give lists of symptoms and behavior changes. Most contain links to other, more in-depth resources, too. So next time you’re up at night mulling over a troubling interaction or symptom, browse the website instead — and use the information there as a starting point for conversations with pediatricians, specialists and the children. Then turn over and get some sleep, secure in your new knowledge and your preliminary plan. Facts for Families can be found at bit.ly/AACAP_facts. 0 Comments Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.   By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy PAID PROMOTED STORIES Costco's Kirkland Label Is Actually Other Brands In DisguiseInvesting.com Before you renew Amazon Prime, read thisWikibuy New poll: Mitch McConnell is trailing Amy McGrath. Chip in to defeat him.pelosiforcongress.org The Crisis is Real: 25 Cities That No One Wants to Live in AnymoreInvesting.com [Gallery] What This Mama Bear Did After Man Saved Her Cubs is HeartwarmingDaily Choices Playing Cards: Photo Gallery Playing CardsShutterfly Recommended by Sign in to join the conversation   Most ReadHealth 1 CDC says airborne transmission plays a role in coronavirus spread in a long-awaited update after a website error last month 2   Prospect of Trump’s early hospital discharge mystifies doctors 3   Perspective A doctor gave me an inept diagnosis for a neurological problem. I should know: I’m a neurologist. 4   An army of doctors. Access to an experimental drug. A special patient gets special care. 5   Little evidence that White House has offered contact tracing, guidance to hundreds potentially exposed Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.   By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy About Us Public Relations Careers Diversity & Inclusion Newspaper in Education Today's Paper WP BrandStudio Events Policies & Standards Get The Post Home Delivery Digital Subscription Gift Subscriptions Mobile & Apps Newsletters & Alerts Washington Post Live Reprints & Permissions Post Store Books & eBooks e-Replica Help Contact the Newsroom Contact Customer Care Reader Representative Advertise Licensing & Syndication Request a Correction Send a News Tip Terms of Use Digital Products Terms of Sale Print Products Terms of Sale Terms of Service Privacy Policy Submissions & Discussion Policy RSS Terms of Service Ad Choices washingtonpost.com © 1996-2020 The Washington Post ”

Healthy Headspace: Mental Illness and Policing, by Alexandra Rios, NBC News, Aug 26 2020.

“The Pasco Police Department has a designated crisis responder who goes on calls for mental illness issues. This officer is specially trained to handle these situations and is called in when needed. The training is a collaboration between police and local mental health services that is paid for by a state grant run by Lourdes Health Care. Salomon Carrasco said the goal is to reduce arrests while helping people get mental health services. ”

CDC study sheds new light on mental health crisis linked to coronavirus pandemic, by Jacqueline Howard & Andrea Kane, CNN Health, Aug 13 2020.

“The Covid-19 crisis has brought with it a mental health crisis in the United States, and new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show just how broad the pandemic's impact on mental health might be. A new CDC survey found that almost 41% of respondents are struggling with mental health issues stemming from the pandemic -- both related to the coronavirus pandemic itself and the measures put in place to contain it, including physical distancing and stay-at-home orders. ”

An Era of Peril for Black Mental Health, by Joseph P. Williams, U.S. News & World Report, Aug 13 2020.

“n Cook County, Illinois, home to Chicago, officials say suicides in the Black community this year have been happening at an extreme pace, with men accounting for nearly 80% of victims. Meanwhile, snapshot government data collected last month indicates 4 in 10 Black Americans were struggling with anxiety or depression, while a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday showed that 15% of Black survey respondents in late June had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, compared with about 8% of whites. ”

Balancing Mental Health and COVID Safety, by Matteo Wong, Harvard Magazine, Jul 30 2020.

“THE PANDEMIC has placed unprecedented strain on universities across the globe. Plans for the fall semester range from Harvard College’s fully remote learning to a hybrid of in-person and online classes on other campuses, with the goal of protecting public health. Less visible in the unfolding narrative of higher education’s tentative reopening is students’ mental health under the punishing conditions. ”

Loneliness Hasn't Increased Despite Pandemic, Research Finds. What Helped?, by JOANNE SILBERNER, NPR, Jul 15 2020.

“When the coronavirus barreled into the U.S. this year, the predominant public health advice for avoiding infection focused on physical isolation: No parties, concerts or sports events. No congregating inside bars or restaurants. No on-site family reunions. No play dates for kids. Just keep away from other people. Meanwhile, although social scientists supported that medical advice, they feared the required physical distancing would spark another epidemic — one of loneliness, which was already at a high level in the U.S. "You might expect this would make things much worse," says Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a neuroscientist and social psychologist at Brigham Young University. But several new studies suggest that huge increase in loneliness hasn't come to pass — at least, not yet. And the researchers studying the pandemic's emotional fallout say humans may have ourselves to thank. ”

Back to school: What doctors say about children and COVID-19, by Denise Chow, NBC News, Jul 12 2020.

“Evidence suggests that children aren't as susceptible as adults to COVID-19, but the risks aren't the same for all young people. ”