Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Hit Song Actually Saved Lives
Stat: As A Logic Song Took Off, Helpline Saw More Calls And Fewer Suicides
During the time that a song whose title is the number of a national suicide prevention helpline topped charts, calls to the helpline increased and suicides decreased, a new study shows. The song, “1-800-273-8255,” depicts a fictitious exchange between someone expressing suicidal thinking and an operator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline who counsels a person and ultimately changes that person’s mind. Leaders of the Lifeline and researchers who study suicide and media co-authored the study, which was published on Monday in the British Medical Journal. They found that three major events — the song’s release, the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, and the 2018 Grammy Awards — were correlated with increases in calls to the helpline and, overall, a significant reduction in suicides. (Bender, 12/13)
In other mental health news —
AP: Minneapolis Starts Mental Health Responders Pilot Program
Minneapolis began a pilot program on Monday that would send unarmed mental health professionals to residents who call 911 about behavioral or mental-health related crises. The behavioral crisis response teams — which aim to provide counseling, crisis intervention and connection to support services — will be staffed by professionals from Canopy Mental Health & Consulting. The company was awarded a two-year, $6 million contract by the city’s Office of Performance and Innovation in July, the Star Tribune reported. (12/13)
Cincinnati Enquirer: Anderson Grads Plead For More Mental Health Resources At Board Meeting
Nagel Middle School's orchestra kicked off Monday evening's school board meeting with Santa hats and Christmas tunes, but the tone quickly shifted as board members, parents and recent Anderson High School alumni addressed the loss of two students last week. "Both building students and staff are reeling from a successful student suicide death from last Thursday and the unexpected death of another student this past Friday while sleeping. Both tragic and both significant," Forest Hills Superintendent Scot Prebles said during the meeting. (Mitchell, 12/14)
Axios: Herschel Walker Confronts His Mental Health, Domestic Violence Allegations
Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker told Axios on Monday that he’s “accountable” for past violent behavior toward his ex-wife and people shouldn’t feel “ashamed” about confronting mental health issues. The former college and pro football star is confronting his history of mental illness head-on during his campaign for the Republican Party's nomination, after the airing of some concerns among GOP leadership and voters. Walker said he's "better now than 99% of the people in America. ... Just like I broke my leg; I put the cast on. It healed." (Hurt, 12/13)
AP: Coroner To Issue Brain Test Results Of NFL Player Who Shot 6
A coroner is set to release test results Tuesday for a degenerative brain disease in the former NFL player suspected of fatally shooting six people in South Carolina before killing himself in April. The family of ex-football pro Phillip Adams agreed shortly after his death to have his brain tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the degenerative disease linked to head trauma and concussions that has been shown to cause a range of symptoms including violent mood swings and memory loss. (12/14)
