Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study: Texas Is Worst Among All States For Mental Health Care
Houston Chronicle: Texas Named Worst State For Mental Health Care, Forbes Finds
More than one in five adults with mental illness are uninsured in Texas, making it the worst state in the nation for mental health care, according to a new Forbes Advisor study. Researchers also found Texas is home to the highest percentage of adults with a cognitive disability who could not see a doctor due to cost, and the highest percentage of youth who had a major depressive episode in the past year and did not receive treatment. (Rice, 5/4)
On young people's mental health —
Axios: Study: Mental Health-Related ER Visits Among Young People Nearly Doubled In A Decade
Emergency room visits for young people in mental distress rose sharply over the last decade, per a report published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Between 2011 to 2020, emergency department visits among children, adolescents and young adults for mental health reasons approximately doubled, a group of researchers and physicians found. (Habeshian, 5/4)
Georgia Public Broadcasting: Mental Health Screenings Show Young People Are Struggling More Now Than During The Pandemic
Nationwide, young people are screening themselves for mental health issues, according to recently reported data from Mental Health America. Especially concerning is that half of the people who screened for depression said they frequently think about suicide. (Eldridge, 5/4)
Fox News: Teens Are Turning To 'My AI' For Mental Health Support — Which Doctors Warn Against
Anyone who uses Snapchat now has free access to My AI, the app’s built-in artificial intelligence chatbot, first released as a paid feature in February. In addition to serving as a chat companion, the bot can also have some practical purposes, such as offering gift-buying advice, planning trips, suggesting recipes and answering trivia questions, according to Snap. (Rudy, 5/5)
Also —
Axios: Mental Health Crisis In Latino Communities Needs More Resources
The mental health crisis among Latinos is not letting up, and experts tell Axios it's time for political leaders and others to step up and promote seeking help in a more culturally relevant way. The pandemic exacerbated mental health needs in the U.S., especially among Latinos, whose rates of depression, anxiety and suicide grew. (Galvan, 5/4)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Midtown Shooting Suspect Has Apparent Mental Health Issues, Attorney Says
The attorney representing a 24-year-old Coast Guard veteran accused of opening fire inside a Midtown Atlanta doctor’s office said his client suffers from apparent mental health issues. (Abusaid, 5/4)
USA Today: Jordan Neely NYC Subway Chokehold Death Sparks Outcry, Investigation
Jordan Neely's death on Monday, which has been ruled a homicide, renewed conflicts about access to mental health and what some experts warn is an alarming increase in vigilante justice nationally. (Hughes, 5/4)
The Hill: Employees Love Remote Work, But Is It Good For Our Mental Health?
The mental health implications of telework is a relatively new field of study. And that makes sense, given that only 5 percent of American work took place remotely before the pandemic. “There aren’t really experts in it. This is all new,” said Eric Elbogen, a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University. “There are just so many questions we still don’t know the answers to.” (De Visé, 5/4)
Minnesota Public Radio: State Alleges HealthPartners Illegally Denied Mental Health Coverage, Says The Company Is Cooperating
Minnesota officials hit Bloomington-based insurance and health care company HealthPartners with a consent order for allegedly violating laws related to mental health parity. State and federal laws prohibit health insurance companies from evaluating mental health diagnoses or treatments more stringently than they do for other forms of care. (Wiley, 5/4)
