‘Pediatric Pandemic’ Of Suicidal Teens Overnighting In ERs
The New York Times says a surge in mental health problems in young people during the pandemic is resulting in regular boarding in emergency departments, partly due to declines in residential facilities for younger patients. Other mental health stories include a San Francisco program to link patients to services.
The New York Times:
Hundreds Of Suicidal Teens Sleep In Emergency Rooms. Every Night
Nationally, the number of residential treatment facilities for people under the age of 18 fell to 592 in 2020 from 848 in 2012, a 30 percent decline, according to the most recent federal government survey. The decline is partly a result of well-intentioned policy changes that did not foresee a surge in mental-health cases. Social-distancing rules and labor shortages during the pandemic have eliminated additional treatment centers and beds, experts say. Absent that option, emergency rooms have taken up the slack. A recent study of 88 pediatric hospitals around the country found that 87 of them regularly board children and adolescents overnight in the E.R. On average, any given hospital saw four boarders per day, with an average stay of 48 hours. “There is a pediatric pandemic of mental health boarding,” said Dr. JoAnna K. Leyenaar, a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the study’s lead author. (Richtel, 5/8)
CBS News:
"I Felt So Alone": Rising Rates Of Suicide, Depression Accelerated By Pandemic Among U.S. Kids
In the emergency room at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, doctors like Michelle Pickett are seeing more kids desperate for mental health help. Dr. Michelle Pickett: We unfortunately see a lotta kids who have attempted suicide. That is something that we see I'd say at least once a shift. Sharyn Alfonsi: Once a shift? Dr. Michelle Pickett: Oh-- yes. Yes, Unfortunately. Dr. Pickett has worked in the ER for 9 years. (Alfonsi, 5/8)
More on mental health —
Bay City News Service:
S.F. Launches Program To Connect Mentally Ill With Available Services
San Francisco officials announced Friday the launch of the Office of Coordinated Care, as part of the city’s expansion of behavioral mental health resources. The new office will assign case managers to people who are disconnected from behavioral health services, or who are making transitions in care from one setting to another, according to a news release Friday from the office of Mayor London Breed. The aim is to help people remain in care and avoid falling back into a cycle of crisis, officials said, adding that previously little follow-up services existed. Breed worked in partnership with Supervisor Hillary Ronen and then-Supervisor Matt Haney to craft the Mental Health SF legislation that created the new office. (5/7)
Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Police Share Mental Health Resources With Teens
Detroit neighborhood Police Officer Dan Robinson says he noticed a concerning trend among kids and teens in his patrol area over the last couple of years: an increase in reports of depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts. "Due to COVID, we've seen more (mental health problems) with the kids," Robinson said. "So we wanted to figure out what we could do to get resources to them." (Wethington, 5/7)
Fox News:
Family Of Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst Raises Awareness Of High-Functioning Depression After Tragic Death
She competed as a Division 1 athlete, fought for social justice, earned two Emmy nominations for her work as an "Extra" correspondent, and made history as the oldest woman to ever win the Miss USA pageant. So why did Cheslie Kryst commit suicide at age 30? Former 2019 Miss USA Cheslie Kryst took her own life Jan. 30, 2022, but her mother, April Simpkins, opened up about Kryst’s secret struggle with high-functioning depression this past Wednesday on "Red Table Talk" during her first interview since the tragedy, according to a USA Today report. "Depression is not always marked by people laying in bed," Simpkins said. (Sudhakar, 5/8)
AP:
For Parkland Survivor, A Long Road To Recovery From Trauma
More than a year after she witnessed a gunman kill three fellow students and injure five others in her Parkland classroom, Eden Hebron came home from lunch to find a strange white car parked in her driveway. Since the shooting, surprise visitors were rare. Eden had struggled to cope in the aftermath, and her family tried to protect her. Now, nearly 20 months after the Valentine’s Day massacre where 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a therapist had arrived to send Eden to a mental health facility on the other side of the country. (Licon, 5/7)
USA Today:
COVID-19 Pandemic: 66% Of Working Parents Have Burnout, Study Suggests
From remote school to financial uncertainty, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been an immensely difficult time to raise kids. And more and more parents are burned out. A new study has found that 66% of working parents meet the criteria for parental burnout – which occurs when chronic stress and exhaustion overwhelms a parent’s ability to function and cope. Researchers with The Ohio State University published the report on Thursday. Their findings are based on an online survey of 1,285 working parents conducted between January 2021 and April 2021 – capturing feedback from families across the nation during significant public health lockdowns. (Grantham-Philips, 5/7)
The Wall Street Journal:
Millions Of Americans Are Turning To Therapy, And Investors See An Opportunity
Psychiatrists and psychologists once ran their own practices. Now the local therapist office could be controlled by a buyout king. Venture capitalists and private-equity firms are pouring billions of dollars into mental-health businesses, including psychology offices, psychiatric facilities, telehealth platforms for online therapy, new drugs, meditation apps and other digital tools. Nine mental-health startups have reached private valuations exceeding $1 billion last year, including Cerebral Inc. and BetterUp Inc. (Safdar and Zuckerman, 5/8)
The Washington Post:
Therapist Or Coach: Understanding The Difference And How To Pick One
“I’m really struggling,” said pretty much everyone who endured the past two years. From the pandemic to economic, humanitarian and climate crises, we’ve all been through the wringer. It’s no surprise then that as a therapist (Yael) and coach (Brad), we often hear from neighbors, friends and colleagues, not to mention fellow passengers in ride-shares, about their challenges and frustrations. Talking about our struggles offers a pathway toward healing. But a backyard chat or gab through gridlock won’t offer the kind of help many individuals need. While the two of us often find ourselves encouraging others to seek formal help, we also understand that connecting to the right helper can be complicated, because the wellness industry offers so many confusing options. (Schonbrun and Stulberg, 5/5)
