Mental health news

Wisconsin best, Kansas worst in state rankings of mental health and services

This year’s State of Mental Health in America Report, produced by Mental Health America, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, painted a picture of a country experiencing high rates of mental illness, limited access to services and significant barriers to care. 

Latest in Mental health news
New Kaiser Report: The Pandemic Hammered our Mental Health –
Especially for People of Color

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a steep toll on the mental health of many people but have struck hardest at communities of color. A new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation makes this clear.

MindSite News Launches Live Conversation Series on Psychedelics and Mental Health

MindSite News—the only news site dedicated exclusively to reporting on mental health in America—is launching a live public conversation series that will take place throughout the month of October to engage the public in conversations about psychedelics and mental health. The campaign also aims to raise funds to support our nonprofit journalism and ongoing coverage of this important topic. 

Unanswered cries: Why California faces a shortage of mental health workers

With demand rising for mental health care, and providers in short supply, experts explain how California got here – and where we may be headed.

Family Tragedies Inspire Legislators to Form Caucus and Work to ‘Fix Broken Mental Health System’

As a high school student growing up in Utah, Daniel Thatcher grappled with depression and the suicide of a close friend. Now the Utah state senator is co-chair of a new legislative caucus working to improve mental health services across the country.

As Ketamine Clinics Expand, Concerns Grow About Staffing, Protocols and Take-it-at-Home Models

As companies rush to open or buy ketamine clinics to treat mental health conditions, concern is growing about protocols, staffing levels and the safety of the newest approach: take-home ketamine.

Expert Committee Slams Chicago Detention Center for Isolating Youth, Calls for its Closure

An expert committee said a Cook County detention facility that houses up to 175 youths is “isolating and deprivational” and should be closed. The committee found that most kids there spend at least 13 hours per day locked in small cells.

Social Media Posts Criticize the 988 Suicide Hotline for Calling Police. Here’s What You Need to Know

When the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched last month, many mental health providers, researchers, and advocates celebrated. Finally there was an easy-to-remember three-digit number for people to call. But not everyone felt the same way.

New Poll Shows Strong Support for Non-Police Crisis Response

Over the past two years, mobile crisis response units have transformed from theoretical idea to functioning program in many cities. A new national Safer Cities survey shows widespread public support for these programs.

As Mental Health Startup Cerebral Staggers, ADHD Patients Scramble for Meds

The digital mental health startup Cerebral experienced meteoric growth with its launch in early 2020. More recently, it has become entangled in investigations and regulatory changes that have left some patients scrambling to fill their prescriptions.

CARE Court: Can California counties make it work?

In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a controversial proposal to compel people with serious mental health issues into care and housing. Mental health advocates, mayors and family members heralded the plan as a visionary move. Some county officials say they were stunned.

Death rates increased the most during pandemic for people with mental illness and brain disorders, Medicare data shows

The death rate for people with schizophrenia increased more than any other group during the pandemic, along with many excess deaths from other mental illnesses and brain-related disorders.

New Ruling Undermines Battle to Require Parity in Insurance Coverage for Mental Health

The ruling is a major blow to efforts to require health insurers to cover care for mental health and substance use treatment in ways that are broadly equivalent to that for medical care.

MindSite News Cofounder Tom Insel on PBS NewsHour

Our own Dr. Tom Insel, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, author of the new book Healing, and a cofounder of MindSite News, was interviewed last night by Judy Woodruff on PBS New Hour.

Biden Uses State of Union to Announce National Mental Health Strategy

President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union speech to address the mental and emotional suffering that has been festering in the United States.

CDC Recognizes Mental Illness as Risk for COVID-19 Complications, Increasing Access to Booster Shots

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized that people with schizophrenia and mood disorders such as major depression have a heightened risk of severe outcomes if they contract COVID-19, which increases their chances of being admitted to intensive care units.

Join us Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 10:00 am PT for our next free webinar.

 

Some therapists who had trouble connecting with youth turned to another source of connection: Minecraft therapy, which follows the approach of play therapy. In this webinar, we’ll talk with two leading experts in the promising genre.

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How Minecraft Therapy Is Transforming Child and Teen Mental Health Care