On January 16, 2013, President Barack Obama called for a “national conversation to increase understanding about mental health” and directed Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Arne Duncan of the U.S. Department of Education to launch a National Dialogue on Mental Health. Creating Community Solutions is an […]
POPULATION(S) OF FOCUS
Operation Lone Star: Health fairs in ‘Medically Underserved’ Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley has been deemed a Medically Underserved Area by the federal government for years. It’s with that dubious distinction in mind and the high number of uninsured here that the 15th annual event known as Operation Lone Star is held in San Juan. Those who visit PSJA High School can receive a range […]
Rural Children Experience Different Rates of Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment
Using data on children ages 5-17 from the 2002-2008 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), this study examines 2 research questions: Do patterns of children’s mental health diagnosis and service use (e.g., office visits and psychotropic medications) differ by rural-urban residence? What is the effect of income and insurance type on use of mental health services? […]
Study of Veterans Finds Links Between Outdoor Activities, Improved Mental Health
Veterans participating in extended outdoor group recreation show signs of improved mental health, suggesting a link between the activities and long-term psychological well-being, according to results of a new University of Michigan study. 98 veterans were surveyed before and after a multi-day wilderness recreation experience, which involved camping and hiking in groups of between six […]
African-Americans, Latinos Receive Less Adequate Mental Health Care than Whites
Blacks and Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites, finds a study titled Assessing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Treatment across Episodes of Mental Health Care. “We found that Blacks and Latinos [remain] in care, including using outpatient services and filling psychotropic drugs, for a shorter time than whites,” said lead study author, Benjamin Le Cook, […]
PTSD, Trauma, and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Detained Youth
This bulletin by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention examines the results of the Northwestern Juvenile Project—a prospective longitudinal study of youth detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, IL. The authors discuss their findings on the prevalence of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among juvenile detainees and PTSD’s […]