Intersectionality and Crisis Intervention

• Suicide and self-harm, Teens and young adults, Trauma

Officer for Crisis Text Line. “We are losing children of color at rates that are epidemic,” says Shairi Turner, M.D., M.P.H., an internist and pediatrician with a background in trauma.  She is Chief Health Officer for Crisis Text Line, a national non-profit providing 24/7 crisis counseling via text in both English and Spanish. 

Indigenous Populations Face Unique Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Help 

Indigenous populations face different barriers and are less likely than majority populations to receive professional help for mental health, according to a new study(1). Researchers at Lakehead University in Ontario, led by Christiana J. Goetz, M.A., looked at the barriers to and facilitators of help-seeking and service use for Indigenous populations in Canada, the United States, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

Can Mindfulness Help with Pain Management?

• Healthy living for mental well-being, New research, Treatment

Many people suffer with chronic pain, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The typical treatment has involved the use of opioids, but they have well-established drawbacks and risks, including the risk of dependence. Many alternatives are being explored and there is increasing research and evidence of the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in reducing pain.

Confronting the Challenge of Mental Health Stigma: A New Report and a New National Initiative 

• Public awareness

In a report issued Oct. 9, The Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health issues a call to action to “act now to stop stigma and to start inclusion.” The report summarizes extensive research around the world, highlights the results of an international survey, and provides recommendations for actions by a range of stakeholders.  

Justice-Involved Individuals, Mental Health, and the Revolving Door

• Patients and Families, Serious mental illness, Treatment

On Sept. 20, 2022, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft statement recommending that U.S. adults under the age of 65 should be screened for anxiety 1. This recommendation underscores the emerging need for the inclusion of mental health screens as a part of everyday clinical practice and not simply reserved for behavioral health settings. More widespread screening will better inform treatment decisions, lead to referrals for care, and slow down, or in some cases even stop, the revolving door too often experienced by patients with anxiety.