Youth suicide rates have increased approximately 36% over the past 20 years, and this rapid increase has garnered the attention of federal policymakers.
The Biden administration is developing a new national strategy and federal action plan for suicide prevention, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach to equity in prevention, treatment, and research. This follows the Bipartisan Policy Center’s launch of a youth mental health task force in January.
Val Demings, co-chair of the Task Force on Youth Mental Health and Substance Use and a former congressman from Florida, said in Sioux Falls last week that rural communities face unique mental health issues. Stated.
“These include access to care, affordability of care, and eliminating stigma,” Demings outlined. “You may have had a substandard educational environment. You may have substance abuse or addiction in your home. So we as a nation need to make sure that the society that causes corruption in certain communities in the first place is We must deal with evil.”
A major focus of the task force is the link between suicide and the increased use of technology and social media. The US Surgeon General has said that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media are twice as likely to develop mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety.
Technology can also be used to provide health services in rural areas. In 2021, Helmsley Charitable Trust launched a virtual crisis management program in South Dakota, equipping law enforcement agencies with iPads to connect people with mental health professionals via video.
The trust’s trustee, Walter Panziler, points to positive results.
“Transfers to mental health facilities have been reduced by 75%,” Panziler noted. “They were able to receive care in local homes. His 25 per cent of consultations were from young people.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who live in rural areas are nearly two to two times more likely to get it than those who live in large cities. According to the agency, South Dakota had the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation in 2021, with more than 200 deaths.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Disclosure: The Bipartisan Policy Center donates to our foundation for reporting on alcohol and drug abuse prevention, health issues, hunger/food/nutrition, and mental health. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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A new continuing education class will help New York psychologists better treat patients with disabilities.
The course focuses on understanding disability and providing universal access, ethics, and cultural competency for patients with disabilities.
Dr. Sharon McClennon Weir – executive director of the New York Center for Disability Independence, said there are certain lessons people should know when developing curriculum.
“The first step is to help people understand that a disability is a disability and that a disability creates barriers in the environment,” McLennon-Weir said. “And we need to work together to make sure everyone has access to treatment.”
Other benefits include recognizing that clinicians are not trained to work with all clients and ensuring that clinicians are aware of their expectations.
It took two years to get these courses up and running, but Ms McLennon-Weir said she was looking forward to seeing how they took shape.
The first course begins on May 29th and anyone interested can register online at www.cidny.org/ce.
It is also hoped that psychologists will learn how to confront prejudice against disabilities.
McLennon-Weir said she feels this starts with looking at it through the lens of ableism. She said people need to consider how to achieve universal access for patients with disabilities.
“Are your biases preventing you from using the treatment knowledge you have?” McLennon-Weir said. “Does it work well for the needs of people with disabilities? First of all, it’s a therapeutic practice, but we also need to understand the impact of the disability.”
Other considerations must be taken into account when it comes to problems such as those caused by isolation failures. She said she believes certain determinants of health, such as race and gender, also influence a person’s mental health.
Future classes could address a variety of psychotherapies with an infusion of multicultural disability competencies.
Disclosure: The New York Center for Disability Independence donates to the Disability Reporting Fund. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, with industry experts and researchers sharing the latest scientific developments and ongoing advances to combat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
David Kuhn, director of the Innovation Center for Healthy and Resilient Aging at Arizona State University, will lead the conference.
Kuhn said experts are seeing a continued increase in the number of people developing dementia in the Grand Canyon State, which also means an increased demand for care from family and friends. Ta.
“The reality is that we still face this problem, and the number of people living alone with cognitive decline is also facing this problem. “That’s very important to us,” he said.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Arizona is experiencing a deepening public health crisis. An estimated 152,000 people over the age of 65 live with Alzheimer’s disease in the state.
Mr Kuhn said raising awareness of the disease was important not only to reduce stigma but also to plan for the future.
Saturday’s event is free and will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union on ASU’s Tempe campus. Kuhn said the expert panel will share information about treatment options as well as resources and support systems available across the state.
She added that it was important for people not to wait until a crisis occurred, and the earlier patients knew about their cognitive health status, the better able they were to have a say about their preferences for care.
“I think it’s really important how you get support, who’s involved and that, in part, you’re in the driver’s seat,” he said. Conservation activities. ”
Kuhn called Saturday’s event a “family event” and encouraged people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to bring their family and friends to learn more. Topics range from new drug treatments to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s through exercise to resources for caregivers.
Disclosure: ASU Media Relations & Strategic Communications contributes to funds for reporting on education, Native American issues, and social justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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A new report shows that college campuses across the country have seen significant reductions in suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts, and improved levels for those suffering from anxiety and depression.
The nonprofit Jed Foundation analyzed 10 years of data from higher education institutions participating in the JED Campus Program. Provide universities with resources and guidance to protect and improve the mental health of their students.
Michelle Mullen, the foundation’s senior vice president and chief design and impact officer, said 16 institutions in Utah participated in the program.
“We work with them so we can identify what is already strong and how we can strengthen it,” Mullen explained. “Are there important elements that may be missing to strengthen mental health and suicide prevention on campus?”
More than 18 million students attend college each year, Mullen noted, and academic institutions are at the forefront of providing mental health services to young people. Her message to academic institutions is not to wait to implement what she calls a “comprehensive approach to mental health.”
The group has developed a list of recommendations, including preventive measures, treatment guidelines for people at risk of suicide, and effective prevention measures.
Mullen pointed to a significant increase in mental health challenges among young people and said that young people He argued that is not surprising given the multiple stresses and challenges faced. Shootings, racial and faith-based harassment and intimidation, and reduced protections for LGBTQ+ youth.
“What’s amazing is what we’re seeing from the report is that this group is incredibly resilient,” Mullen said. “With the right support and structure, they can do better on campus. So there’s hope and there’s something we can do.”
Mullen added that if you or someone you know is struggling, the first step is to seek help from friends, family and professionals. She said people can also call 988 for free and confidential support for those who are suffering.
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