10 Must-Read Behavioral and Mental Health Articles From October 2022

1. Anxiety Screening for Children Should Begin as Early as Age 8, Task Force Advises

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said pediatricians should screen children as young as 8 for anxiety and kids 12 and older for depression during routine well checks.

2. KFF/CNN Mental Health In America Survey

A KFF/CNN survey and accompanying stories aimed to shed light on growing concerns around mental health in America.

3. Health Organizations Urge the Biden Administration to Declare a Federal National Emergency in Children's Mental Health

A letter with more than 130 signatories was sent to the Biden administration requesting they issue a national emergency declaration in children's mental health.

4. UTSW Researchers Examine Impact of Pandemic on Children's Mental Health

Research from pediatricians at UT Southwestern and Children's Health revealed the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in children.

5. Paying for Mental Health Care Leaves Families in Debt and Isolated

NPR examined the financial challenges facing families requiring mental health services, which include too few therapists and psychologists who provide treatment covered by insurance, inadequate data on mental illness and poor payer compliance with mental health parity laws.

Follow

6. Mass School Shootings Are Not Caused by Mental Illness, Study Finds

A research team that examined mass murders that occurred at least partially in academic settings throughout the world found most mass murderers and mass shooters did not have severe mental illness.

7. Commission Calls for Urgent Action to End Mental Illness Stigma

The international Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health developed a roadmap to end stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness by 2030, which includes calling on a massive response by governments, industry, the media, employers and others.

8. Lawmakers Pressing CMS to Expand Substance Use Disorder Coverage and Close Key Gaps in Care

Several lawmakers came together to press the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand Medicare's coverage of substance use disorder.

9. U.S. Surgeon General Releases New Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released "Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace," which outlined the role workplaces should play in promoting the health and wellness of workers.

10. CMS Floats Plans for National Provider Directory to Unify Fragmented Parts of Health Care – Including Behavioral Health

CMS is considering creating the first national directory of healthcare providers and services, which could have significant implications for the fragmented behavioral health industry.