Publications on Mental Health Topics

Mental Health In A Post-Pandemic World, by Ronit Molko, Forbes, Feb 1 2022.

“ Experts have predicted “a tsunami of psychiatric illness” in the wake of quarantining and distancing. A CDC study found the percentage of the population reporting that they felt depressed quadrupled. ”

Can Monitoring Brain Waves Boost Mental Health?, by David Dodge, New York Times, Feb 1 2022.

“The treatment is known as neurofeedback, a therapy some say can improve our attention, moods, sleeping habits and even our athletic ability by measuring brain activity and showing it to us — either on a screen or through headphones — in real time. A practitioner places electrodes on a patient’s head that detects (but does not stimulate) brain activity. This is then analyzed by a computer that sends it back to the patient as images or sounds. As the patient completes tasks, the computer encourages healthy patterns of brain activity. ”

Mental health crisis in children spurs psychiatric bed shortage, by TAMARA SACHARCZYK, NBC News, Jan 30 2022.

““Anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation have been among the most common presentations, but kids are coming in with a lot of different symptoms,” Bradley Hospital child psychiatrist Dr. Tanuja Gandhi said. “I think the pandemic stress has added to existing problems children had pre-pandemic.” ”

Why Therapists Are Worried About Mental Health in America Right Now, by Kate Dwyer, New York Times, Jan 3 2022.

Analysis: Antonio Brown’s mental health is no joke, by Rob Maaddi , Associated Press, Jan 3 2022.

“Brown’s bizarre behavior quickly blew up on social media and dominated NFL headlines around the league on a day when Brady engineered another impressive comeback and several teams clinched playoff berths. But Brown’s mental health is no joke to be trivialized by a meme. ”

Children’s mental health may suffer if they spend too much time on electronic devices, by Shiv Sudhakar, New York Post, Dec 31 2021.

“Increased electronic screen time was associated with worse mental health issues in children compared to those with lower levels of screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent JAMA Network Open paper published this week.  ”

We Asked 1,320 Therapists What They’re Hearing From Patients, by Tara Parker-Pope, Christina Caron and Mónica Cordero Sancho, The New York Times, Dec 16 2021.

“As Americans head into a third year of pandemic living, therapists around the country are finding themselves on the front lines of a mental health crisis. Social workers, psychologists and counselors from every state say they can’t keep up with an unrelenting demand for their services, and many must turn away patients — including children — who are desperate for support. ”

A decade without data: Eating disorder researchers say a gap in CDC survey has left them flying blind, by Theresa Gaffney, Stat News, Dec 9 2021.

“  Eating disorders among youth have been on the rise since the pandemic started — adolescent wards in hospitals were full of patients with severe cases, and inpatient clinics saw dramatic rises in admissions. But researchers looking to investigate national trends over time are at a loss. For almost a decade, federal public health officials have not collected nationally representative data on disordered eating habits among young people. ”

The U.S. surgeon general issues a stark warning about the state of youth mental health, by L. Carol Ritchie, NPR, Dec 7 2021.

“U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has a warning about the mental health of young people.  Murthy told Morning Edition that children and young adults were already facing a mental health crisis before the coronavirus pandemic began: One in three high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a 40% increase from 2009 to 2019, he said. Suicide rates went up during that time by 57% among youth ages 10 to 24. During the pandemic, rates of anxiety and depression have increased, he said.  The pandemic has made the issues behind the mental health crisis only worse, he said. ”

The pandemic worsened young people’s mental health crisis., by Matt Richtel, The New York Times, Dec 7 2021.

“The United States surgeon general on Tuesday warned that young people are facing “devastating” mental health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation, including the coronavirus pandemic.  The report cited significant increases in self-reports of depression, anxiety and emergency-room visits for mental health challenges. In the United States, emergency room visits for suicide attempts rose 51 percent for adolescent girls in early 2021 as compared with the same period in 2019. The figure rose 4 percent for boys.  Globally, symptoms of anxiety and depression doubled during the pandemic, the report noted. But mental health issues were already on the rise in the United States, with emergency room visits related to depression, anxiety and related issues up 28 percent between 2011 and 2015. ”

The pandemic worsened young people’s mental health crisis., by Matt Richtel, The New York Times, Dec 7 2021.

“The United States surgeon general on Tuesday warned that young people are facing “devastating” mental health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation, including the coronavirus pandemic.  The report cited significant increases in self-reports of depression, anxiety and emergency-room visits for mental health challenges. In the United States, emergency room visits for suicide attempts rose 51 percent for adolescent girls in early 2021 as compared with the same period in 2019. The figure rose 4 percent for boys.  Globally, symptoms of anxiety and depression doubled during the pandemic, the report noted. But mental health issues were already on the rise in the United States, with emergency room visits related to depression, anxiety and related issues up 28 percent between 2011 and 2015. ”

Why people with mental illness are at higher risk of COVID, by RHITU CHATTERJEE , NPR, Nov 22 2021.

“Even before the federal government's recent decision last week to authorize COVID-19 boosters all adults, it had already recommended them in October for people with certain high-risk conditions. Along with with illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, that list included mental health conditions. ”

How to protect your mental health during the stressful holiday season, by Esmy Jimenez, Seattle Times, Nov 22 2021.

“Tis the season. Soon — or already in some cases — lights will go up, trees will be decorated (for those who celebrate), and families will come together to eat their Thanksgiving favorites. Many people are preparing to come together with loved ones for the holidays, after months of pandemic-forced distance. But with those holidays comes a slew of stress and complications: navigating complex family dynamics, intrusive questions from well-meaning aunties, and worries about money or how to make the most of the time away from work.  ”

So you've watched 'Dopesick'. Here's what you can do to help ease the opioid crisis, by BRIAN MANN, NPR, Nov 19 2021.

“Like many things, the pandemic has acutely impacted the opioid crisis over the past two years. COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of daily life, and left many struggling to find treatment and support. According to SAMHSA's 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, not only did the coronavirus outbreak adversely impact many Americans' mental health, but it worsened their preexisting alcohol and drug abuse issues.   ”

Children and teens face unequal mental health realities, by Marisa Fernandez, Yahoo News, Oct 12 2021.

“n the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 55% of children felt more "sad, depressed, or unhappy," compared to 25% of adults, according to a new report out Monday from the Child Mind Institute. Why it matters: The data offers a glimpse at the differences in children's early psych0logical responses as researchers work to tease out the pandemic's potential long-term effects on the incoming generation's mental health and developmental skills. ”