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.

Hoarding: A Look at the Motivations to Save Things

Possessions have a magical quality for all of us. Our most cherished ones contain an essence that goes beyond their physical qualities, like a ticket stub from a favorite concert, a gift from a dear friend or a piece of clothing belonging to a lost loved one. Most of us own many things of this sort, but our ownership does not interfere with our ability to live. For some people, however, ownership goes awry, and possessions accumulate and clutter living spaces, making them unusable.