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Achieve Mental Health Equity Update: Fall 2024
In this issue, we bring you a closer look at transformative efforts and inspiring voices in the field of mental health equity. From spotlights on groundbreaking initiatives to deep dives into lifestyle psychiatry, each section is designed to provide updates, insights, and actionable guidance to strengthen our shared commitment to health equity.
American Psychiatric Association Announces Launch of PsychPRO 2.0 Mental Health Registry
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) announced today the launch of PsychPRO 2.0, a next-generation technology platform for the PsychPRO mental health registry offering enhanced options for engaging with patients, tracking outcomes, and streamlined data collection for quality reporting.
APA Foundation Launches “Mentally Healthy Nation” National PSA Campaign
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) today launched its new “Mentally Healthy Nation” national radio public service announcement (PSA) campaign. The PSAs, offered in both English and Spanish, will raise awareness about the nationwide mental health crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Report Calls for Research on 988 Crisis Line Effectiveness, Caller Demographics, and More
It has been nearly six months since the launch of 988—the nationwide suicide prevention and mental health crisis line. While available evidence suggests that crisis lines may help to reduce immediate crisis, substantial gaps remain in understanding how crisis lines work, according to a report in the December issue of JAMA Psychiatry.
APA Collaborates with YouTube to Develop Fact-based Mental Health Content; Receives “Accredited Health Educator” Label
Over the better part of a decade, health-related searches on social media platforms have increased exponentially. YouTube has more than 2 billion monthly logged-in users and every day, people watch over a billion hours of video and generate billions of views. To connect Americans with evidence-based information about mental health, the American Psychiatric Association has recently ramped up its efforts on this important platform.
Cataract Surgery and Hearing Aids May Help Reduce the Risk of Dementia in Older Adults
Dementia affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide and about 4 million in the U.S., about 9% of adults 65 or older. In the past, several factors have been identified that reduce the risk of dementia, including educational level, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, depression, social isolation. Recent research says that in older adults, treatments for hearing and vision problems can also help reduce the risk of dementia.
New Study Correlates Increased Sparring with Brain Changes in Mixed Martial Arts
New research presented at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting today examined brain changes associated with sparring in people participating in mixed martial arts (MMA) and observed a significant correlation between the number of sparring sessions and brain changes.
Climate Cafés: A Resource to Help with Climate Distress
The multiple impacts of climate change are increasingly part of everyday discourse. These impacts weigh on the minds of many, and elicit several emotions, such as distress, worry, anxiety, sadness, and others as described in the Climate Mental Health Network’s Climate Emotions Wheel. In 2023, 64% of adults in the United States reported being worried about climate change, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication’s Climate Opinions Map. Meanwhile, other research suggests that
Connecting with Communities
APA Hispanic Caucus members—who also assisted with the development of LaSaludMental.org— Dr. Bernardo Ng and Dr. Ruby Castilla-Puentes were joined by Crisis Text Line COO César Bocanegra and APA Senior Manager Fátima Reynolds to share mental health information and resources live on the Mexican Consulate in Arizona’s Facebook.
New Research Examines Firearm Culture in Families of Youth Who Died by Firearm-Suicide
A new study, released today at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting, examined perspectives on firearms among the families of youth who completed suicide by firearm, and found that in many cases, youth who died by gun-related suicide had been introduced to these weapons through culturally rooted familial traditions. The researchers also examined family members’ perspectives on suicide prevention interventions, including the State of Maryland’s Extreme Risk Protective Order Law,
Service Dogs Can Be Invaluable in Helping People with PTSD
​​​​​​​Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects an estimated one in seven adults at some time in their lives and it affects a large proportion of military members and veterans. In addition to the variety of effective treatments available, people often also use complementary interventions, such as the use of trained PTSD service dogs. These service dogs perform specific tasks that help address PTSD symptoms, such as applying pressure to alleviate anxiety and nudging to interrupt flashbacks
APA Statement on COVID-19 and Health Disparities
Reports are emerging that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is disproportionately impacting the African-American community in areas across the United States. In Chicago, for instance, half of those diagnosed with COVID-19 have been black, while African Americans only make up one third of the total population. Seventy percent of the fatalities linked to COVID-19 in Louisiana have been among black people, while this community makes up about a third of the overall population.