This Week In Mental Health

TW// Mentions of suicide

Conversations about mental health have grown exponentially over the last decade, with more and more people committing to personal and collective wellness. While we have a ways to go before mental health awareness, education and treatment are accessible to all, each day brings new and positive strides within the field. 

Our This Week In Mental Health series covers the latest happenings in research, treatment, human interest stories, and more. Stay updated on new developments so you’re better equipped to navigate the world, and most importantly, your own recovery.

Here’s what’s happening the week of November 8th.

Research

School-Based Screening Increases Identification Of, Treatment For Depression

Students who are screened for depression at school are two times more likely to start treatment. The new study from Penn State looked at over 12,000 Pennsylvania high school students for three years, with many students being minorities with low socioeconomic status. Students who were screened for symptoms of depression were more likely to identify depression and start treatment compared to those who weren’t screened. The principal investigator hopes that these results will help push for universal screening to be implemented nationwide, especially when most youth are required to attend school.

Learn more here.

Facing Racism Depletes Young Adults' Mental Health

Youth who experience discrimination are 25 percent more likely to have a mental disorder and psychological distress. Researchers from UCLA looked at survey data that was collected over ten years, and found that youth who consistently experienced discrimination struggled with not only mental health but also accessing health care. Types of discrimination included racism, sexism, and physical appearance.

Learn more here.

Covid-19 Drove Deaths Up 16% In OECD Countries And Hit Mental Health, Too, Report Finds 

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, released a report comparing mental health in different countries during the pandemic. They found that anxiety and depression doubled in most countries they studied, like Mexico, the UK and the US. For certain countries, anxiety and depression symptoms increased when there were high rates of COVID-19 and lockdown regulations. For healthcare workers in the US, more than half said that stress from COVID-19 had a negative affect on their mental health. Other countries such as the UK, Italy, and Spain report similar trends.

Learn more here.

1 In 5 Arizona Suicide Victims Were Veterans, Five-Year ASU Study Finds 

A new study from Arizona State University and the Arizona Violent Death Reporting System shows that one in five people in Arizona who died by suicide were veterans. Researchers looked at data of over 6,000 participants from 2015 to 2019, and found veterans were two times more likely to die by suicide. Veterans were also more likely to have experienced physical trauma and life stressors like PTSD before dying by suicide. 

Learn more here.

As Workers Struggle With Pandemic’s Impact, Employers Expand Mental Health Benefits 

The Kaiser Family Foundation’s newest survey found that employers increased mental health benefits during the pandemic. Around 1,700 companies were surveyed from January to July 2021. It was found that for companies with at least 50 workers, 31 percent increased accessibility to mental health resources and more than half expanded services. For companies with at least 1,000 workers, employees increased their usage of mental health services in 2021 compared to last year.

Learn more here.

Advocacy

Bella Hadid Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles: 'Social Media Is Not Real'

Bella Hadid shared about her mental health on Instagram after gaining inspiration from Willow Smith. Hadid shared photos of her crying and connected to an IV, along with a caption explaining how difficult the past couple of years have been. She encouraged her followers to better understand themselves, including trauma and triggers, and says that, “... there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

Learn more here.

Chris Wood's Campaign IDONTMIND Partners With Mental Health America 

Actor Chris Wood opened the Mental Health America “Our Future In Mind” conference this past weekend. Wood founded the campaign IDONTMIND in 2017, inspired to make change after his father experienced mania, and subsequently passed away from an unknown mental illness. Wood shared how the pandemic initiated more mental health conversations, and that he hopes young people attending the conference will leave with the tools to turn conversations into action.

Learn more here.

California Judge Opens Up About His Mental Health Struggles

California Superior Court Judge Tim Fall talked with Kaiser Health News to reflect on the release of his book last year. In the memoir, Fall details his struggle with depression and anxiety — a somewhat risky story to share right before reelection season. However, he decided to speak up to remove the stigma around mental health, especially among professionals. He explains that mental illness doesn’t disqualify people from working, and that the reward of speaking up outweighs any negative feedback he might receive.

Learn more here.