Mental Health
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.Enforcing Legal Compliance for Covering of Services Promoting Family Mental Health
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated a growing children's mental health crisis in the U.S. Mental health–related emergency department visits rose by 31% during COVID-19 onset compared with the same 7-month time period in 2019.1 This sudden increase built on a pre-existing trend of worsening mental health issues among children, as children experienced a 329% increase in visits for deliberate self-harm between 2007 and 2016.2 Absent intervention, these childhood mental health challenges will have long-term health and economic consequences that propagate disparities.Poor Individual Risk Classification From Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening
Adverse childhood experiences confer an increased risk for physical and mental health problems across the population, prompting calls for routine clinical screening based on reported adverse childhood experience exposure. However, recent longitudinal research has questioned whether adverse childhood experiences can accurately identify ill health at an individual level.Mental Health Utilization and Expenditures for Children Pre–Post Firearm Injury
Firearms are a leading cause of injury and death among children and adolescents.1 For those who survive, firearm injuries are a source of significant toxic stress, often among already marginalized groups.2,3 Although medical and public health professionals and the victims themselves recognize the need for a more comprehensive mental health approach before and after a firearm injury,4,5 the health utilization and expenditures specifically dedicated to mental health services after a firearm injury for children remain unclear.Unspecified Firearm Type for Firearm Suicides in the National Vital Statistics System: A County-Level Analysis
Intentional self-harm with a firearm comprised 24,438 of 48,312 (50.6%) U.S. suicide deaths in 2018.1,2 However, information about the type of firearm used in firearm death is limited, inhibiting the evaluation of policies to combat this growing public health problem. Firearm laws are often narrow, applying to certain firearms. For example, as of 2020, 7 of the 12 states with a permit-to-purchase law only require a permit for handguns. Research evaluating the impact of firearm policy on firearm death using the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) has typically evaluated all firearm deaths regardless of firearm type.Inside the Adverse Childhood Experience Score: Strengths, Limitations, and Misapplications
Despite its usefulness in research and surveillance studies, the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) score is a relatively crude measure of cumulative childhood stress exposure that can vary widely from person to person. Unlike recognized public health screening measures, such as blood pressure or lipid levels that use measurement reference standards and cut points or thresholds for clinical decision making, the ACE score is not a standardized measure of childhood exposure to the biology of stress.Suicide in Older Adults With and Without Known Mental Illness: Results From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003–2016
Suicide risk increases with age, and evidence exists for the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of suicide risk in older adults. Recent data suggest that many U.S. adults who die from suicide do not have a known mental health condition. This study compares the characteristics and precipitating circumstances of geriatric suicide decedents with and without known mental illnesses.Characteristics of Veteran and Civilian Suicide Decedents: A Sex-Stratified Analysis
Few studies have examined characteristics distinguishing Veteran and civilian suicide decedents. An understanding of unique risk factors for Veteran suicide is critical to develop effective preventive interventions. This is particularly imperative for female Veterans, who have near double the suicide mortality rate of same-aged female civilians. The objectives of this study were to examine whether Veteran and civilian suicide decedents differed on risk factors and suicide-event characteristics, and to determine whether predictors changed based on sex.A National Comparison of Suicide Among Medicaid and Non-Medicaid Youth
In the U.S., youth enrolled in Medicaid experience more risk factors for suicide, such as mental illness, than youth not enrolled in Medicaid. To inform a national suicide prevention strategy, this study presents suicide rates in a sample of youth enrolled in Medicaid and compares them with rates in the non-Medicaid population.Changing Faces of Cognitive Impairment in the U.S.: Detection Strategies for Underserved Communities
Between 2015 and 2050, the U.S. population aged 65 years and older will nearly double in size, from 48 million to 88 million and with it, the number of older American adults with cognitive impairment will surge, challenging a healthcare system that is ill-equipped to meet their related health and social needs. More than 5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease, the best known and most frequent form of cognitive impairment.1 By 2050, this number may rise to more than 13 million people.Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicide Risk: Toward Comprehensive Prevention
The field of suicide prevention has had numerous promising advances in recent decades, including the development of evidence-based prevention strategies, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK), the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and a revised National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.1 Despite these important advances, suicide prevention still lacks the breadth and depth of the coordinated response truly needed to reduce suicide morbidity and mortality. Suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach that spans systems, organizations, and environments, combining treatment and intervention with primary prevention efforts beginning in childhood so they can set the stage for future health and well-being.Dental Disparities and Psychological Distress Among Mobility-Impaired Adults
More than one in five American adults has a disability, the most common being mobility impairment (MI). People with MI face significant barriers to healthcare access and are more likely to experience psychological distress. This study examined disparities in access to medical and dental care among people with MI and examine the mediational role of psychological distress on this relationship.Characteristics of Violent Deaths Among Homeless People in Maryland, 2003–2011
People experiencing homelessness are susceptible to many adverse health events, including violence. The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive analysis of homeless individuals who suffered a violent death in Maryland. Characterizing these deaths will provide a basis for additional analyses that can inform violence prevention activities.Increased Risk of Major Depression With Early Age of Exposure to Cigarettes
This study examined the association between age of initiation of cigarette use and increased risk of lifetime major depressive episode.Unmet Mental Healthcare Need and Suicidal Ideation Among U.S. Veterans
Suicide prevention remains a national priority, especially among vulnerable populations. With increasing trends in suicide among Veterans, understanding the underlying factors associated with such an outcome is imperative. In this study, the association between unmet mental healthcare need and suicidal ideation among U.S. Veterans was evaluated.Preferences for Mental Health Screening Among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
The process of mental health screening can influence disclosure, uptake of referral, and treatment; however, no studies have explored pregnant women’s views of methods of mental health screening. The objectives of this study are to determine pregnant women’s comfort and preferences regarding mental health screening.
