APA Blogs
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Suicide Prevention is a Community Effort
- By Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., FRCP-E, FRCPsych
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and all month long you’ll see the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and our allied groups sharing their knowledge and resources to foster education and confront the stigma around this topic.
Suicide Prevention: Native American Youth
American Indian/Alaska Native youth and young adults have the highest suicide rates of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several recent studies have sought to identify risk factors and protective factors relating to suicide among Native American youth.
Twelve-Step-Based Programs Effective for Substance Use Problems
Spiritual or religious based programs, such as those based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, are effective for treating people with substance use disorders, according to the first systematic review of such programs. In the U.S., more than 20 million people 12 years and older (about 7.4%) have a substance use disorder and among 18-to-25-year-olds, 15% have a substance use disorder, according to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
U.S. Surgeon General’s Warning on Marijuana Use and the Developing Brain
On August 29, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a new advisory on marijuana use and the developing brain. The advisory focuses on the dangers of marijuana for adolescents and for pregnant women. The statement from Surgeon General Vice Adm. Jerome Adams emphasized “the importance of protecting our Nation from the health risks of marijuana use in adolescence and during pregnancy. Recent increases in access to marijuana and in its potency, along with misperceptions of safety of marijuana endanger our most precious resource, our nation’s youth.”
Team Sports May Help Build Resilience After Trauma
Traumatic and other negative experiences in childhood can have lasting effects, including increased chances of physical health issues and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. A new study finds that among people who had adverse childhood experiences, participation in sports during adolescence is associated with better adult mental health