Mental Health
A Cascade of Care Model for Suicide Prevention
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for youth aged 15–19 years in the U.S. From 2011 to 2018, suicide rates in the U.S. increased, whereas the rates in other world regions decreased.1 In 2019–2020, rates continued to climb in several racial and ethnic minority population groups and among younger age groups.2 The magnitude of suicide in the U.S. and related disparities underlines the need for a response that specifically focuses on addressing inequities, including implementation gaps in the delivery and sustainment of best practices to all of those who could benefit.Workplace Violence and the Mental Health of Public Health Workers During COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health workers were at an increased risk for violence and harassment due to their public health work and experienced adverse mental health conditions. This article quantifies the prevalence of job-related threats, harassment, and discrimination against public health workers and measures the association of these incidents with mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.Family Economics and Mental Health Among High-School Students During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented socioeconomic and health impacts in the U.S. This study examined racial/ethnic and school poverty status differences in the relationship between parent job loss, experiences with hunger, and indicators of mental health problems among public high-school students nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.Geographic Disparities in the Availability of Mental Health Services in U.S. Public Schools
The purpose of this study was to examine geographic variation in the availability of and barriers to school-based mental health services.A National Study on Religiosity and Suicide Risk by Sexual Orientation
Although religiosity is known to predict lower suicide risk among the general population, it is unclear how different aspects of religiosity such as religious beliefs and attendance are associated with suicide risk among sexual minorities relative to heterosexual populations.Type and Severity of Mental Illness and Participation in Colorectal Cancer Screening
The effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening programs depends on the participation rate. This study examined the association between type and severity of mental illness and colorectal cancer screening participation.The Cognitive Burden of Poverty: A Mechanism of Socioeconomic Health Disparities
Living in poverty is strongly linked to poor health and premature death, a reality that manifests in a roughly 10-year difference in lifespan between those at the top and bottom of the U.S. income distribution.1 Socioeconomic disparities in morbidity and mortality at least partially stem from flaws and structural inequities both internal and external to the healthcare system, but a significant portion is also attributable to a greater burden of modifiable risk factors among the poor, including excess weight, smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, and other behavioral risk factors.Trends in U.S. Depression Prevalence From 2015 to 2020: The Widening Treatment Gap
Major depression is a common and potentially lethal condition. Early data suggest that the population-level burden of depression has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prepandemic estimates of depression prevalence are required to quantify and comprehensively address the pandemic's impact on mental health in the U.S.Assessing Female Suicide From a Health Equity Viewpoint, U.S. 2004–2018
Geographic and urbanization differences in female suicide trends across the U.S. necessitates suicide prevention efforts on the basis of geographic variations. The purpose of this study was to assess female suicide rates by mechanism within Census divisions and by urbanicity to help inform geographically tailored approaches for suicide prevention strategies.A Response to the President's Call to Support Public Mental Health
In his 2022 State of the Union address, President Biden outlined an ambitious plan for supporting public mental health in the U.S., which he said faces an unprecedented mental health crisis.1 To support that claim, he cited statistics showing that during the peak of the pandemic, nearly 40% of Americans experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas access to mental health treatment remains poor, particularly for African American and Latino individuals. He also cited emerging evidence of the harms of social media use on the mental health of adolescents and young adults, echoing recent comments from the Surgeon General.Suicide Among Males Across the Lifespan: An Analysis of Differences by Known Mental Health Status
Suicide among males is a major public health challenge. In 2019, males accounted for nearly 80% of the suicide deaths in the U.S., and suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for males aged ≥10 years. Males who die by suicide are less likely to have known mental health conditions than females; therefore, it is important to identify prevention points outside of mental health systems. The purpose of this analysis was to compare suicide characteristics among males with and without known mental health conditions by age group to inform prevention.Food Insecurity and Mental Well-Being in Immigrants: A Global Analysis
This study estimates the prevalence of food insecurity, mental well-being, and their associations among immigrants and compares the food insecurity–mental well-being associations with nonimmigrants globally and by region.Mental Illness in Adults With HIV and HCV Infection: Indian Health Service, 2001–2020
Mental health disorders (MHDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in people living with HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and HIV/HCV coinfection are common and result in significant morbidity. However, there are no national prevalence estimates of these comorbidities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with HIV, HCV infection, or HIV/HCV coinfection. This study estimates the prevalence of MHD and SUD diagnoses in AI/AN adults diagnosed with HIV, HCV infection, or HIV/HCV coinfection within the Indian Health Service (IHS).The First Year After Military Service: Predictors of U.S. Veterans’ Suicidal Ideation
Little is known about predictors of military veterans’ suicidal ideation as they transition from service to civilian life, a potentially high-risk period that represents a critical time for intervention. This study examined factors associated with veterans’ suicidal ideation in the first year after military separation.Clusters of Adversity Types Among U.S. Youth: Associations With Mental Health
Childhood adversities are risk factors for subsequent mental health problems. Research commonly focuses on adverse childhood experiences, despite evidence that other exposures, such as neighborhood violence or peer victimization, co-occur with adverse childhood experiences and are associated with similar mental health outcomes. This study explored the clustering of these exposures and examined the associations with mental health.Environmental Noise Exposure and Mental Health: Evidence From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study
Exposure to environmental noise from within homes has been associated with poor mental health. Existing evidence rests on cross-sectional studies prone to residual confounding, reverse causation, and small sample sizes, failing to adequately consider the causal nature of this relationship. Furthermore, few studies have examined the sociodemographic distribution of noise exposure at a country level.Pharmaceutical Side Effects and the Sex Differences in Depression and Distress
Women suffer from depression at higher rates than men. This difference is well established, although a consolidated explanation remains elusive. This study examines the role played by medications with depression or suicidality as a potential side effect in explaining the sex difference in depression.Allostatic Load and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Allostatic load, a measure of stress-related physiologic dysregulation, is associated with numerous mortality risk factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the relationship between high allostatic load (i.e., increased dysregulation versus low dysregulation) and mortality (cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality).Associations of Passive and Active Screen Time With Psychosomatic Complaints of Adolescents
Increased screen time is a ubiquitous part of adolescent life and is adversely associated with their well-being. However, it remains unclear whether different types of screen time have equivalent associations, or if relationships are dose-dependent.Substance Use Disorders Among Medicare Beneficiaries: Prevalence, Mental and Physical Comorbidities, and Treatment Barriers
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of treated and untreated substance use disorders among Medicare beneficiaries, the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with substance use disorders, and reasons for their unmet needs.Veterans Crisis Line Call Outcomes: Distress, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicidal Urgency
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line on immediate call outcomes (i.e., caller distress, suicidal ideation, and suicidal urgency) for veterans who provide identifying information.Rural–Urban Comparisons in the Rates of Self-Harm, U.S., 2018
This study compares rural and urban differences in the rates of nonfatal self-harm in the U.S. in 2018.Treatment Engagement Following a Positive Mental Health Screening Questionnaire
Less than half of U.S. adolescents with major depressive disorder receive treatment. Despite the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2016 statement supporting primary care major depressive disorder screening, there is limited data examining whether positive screens prompt treatment engagement. This study evaluated treatment engagement following a positive Patient Health Questionnaire-Adolescent Version screen and assessed the impact of demographics, clinical variables, and provider recommendations on treatment engagement.Practical Guidance for Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data: Merging States and Scoring Adverse Childhood Experiences
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is a national health-related survey with an optional adverse childhood experience (ACE) module. States use varying methodologies, question formats, and sampling frames, and little guidance exists for conducting multistate explorations of adverse childhood experiences. In this study, 6 adverse childhood experience scoring approaches are compared, and practical recommendations are offered for when and how each approach can be utilized most effectively.Optimism and Lipid Profiles in Midlife: A 15-Year Study of Black and White Adults
Optimism is associated with better cardiovascular health, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms and whether protective relationships are consistently observed across diverse groups. This study examines optimism's association with lipid profiles over time and separately among Black and White men and women.
