Mental Health Conditions Archives - Page 8 of 15 - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
Research: Mental Health Intervention Tied to Decreased Cortisol Levels
January 11, 2018 | Emily Taylor
Research published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology claims to be the first to use a biological measurement – hair cortisol in this case – to measure the impact of a mental health intervention in war-affected youth. The study included 733 war-affected youth from Syria and Jordan aged 12-18 who participated in a Mercy Corps. program, Advancing Adolescents, that is “designed to reduce the effects of profound stress and build strong ties to family and community”. Results showed cortisol levels were reduced by about 38 percent over time.
Pediatricians screen more kids for mental health issues if they receive hands-on support
January 10, 2018 | Emily Taylor
Recent research by Children’s National Health System published in Pediatrics this month found pediatricians included mental health screenings in patients’ annual check up when the pediatricians were given training and support. The 15-month study included 10 pediatric practices and 107 individual providers in the Washington, D.C. area.
Depression increasing in US, particularly among youth
November 28, 2017 | Emily Taylor
Recent research published in October in Psychological Medicine found significant increases in depression among Americans aged 12 years and older, particularly among the youngest individuals. Researchers analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for individuals aged 12 years and older (n = 607,520) from 2005 to 2015. Significant increases in depression were found in the youngest and oldest age groups, with a higher rate of increase among youth.
Anxiety and depression caused by childhood bullying decline over time
October 18, 2017 | Emily Taylor
New research published recently in JAMA Psychiatry found that the negative effects of bullying on the mental health of children and teens decreased over time. The research involved more than 11,000 participants in the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) in the UK. When the children were 11, 14 and 16 years old, children and their parents responded to surveys measuring for indications of experiencing bullying and mental health challenges. The researchers found a decrease in mental health symptoms over time, which they saw as an indicator of the resilience of children and the importance of continued focus on intervention and treatment.
Research: New Model of Treatment for Youth with Anxiety
October 5, 2017 | Emily Taylor
A report published this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) on a study of a “stepped care” model of treatment delivery for children and adolescents with anxiety shows promising results for potential cost and times savings, according to the researchers. In the study 281 youth and teens (6-17 years of age) with clinical anxiety disorders were treated with either traditional or stepped care model. In the stepped care model patients begin with a self-help step and move on to therapy if needed. According to the study results, 40% of those in the stepped care improved with self help and did not need further treatment.
Research: Psychological Impacts of Natural Disasters on Youth
October 2, 2017 | Emily Taylor
Researchers looked at how to identify children who need support services after natural disasters. They screened 327 children aged 7-11 who were in the path of Hurricane Ike in 2008. Researchers found that the preschool definition of PTSD helped identify children more effectively than the adult-based definition. The researchers also created a workbook for families to help their children cope after a hurricane.
Child Mind Institute’s 2017 Children’s Mental Health Report
September 25, 2017 | Emily Taylor
The Child Mind Institute recently published its 2017 Children’s Mental Health Report. This year the report has an emphasis on adolescent brain development and mental health disorders that develop during adolescence and young adulthood.
Research: School Exclusion Linked to Long-Term Mental Health Problems
August 23, 2017 | Emily Taylor
A recent article in The Guardian focused on a research study being published in Psychological Medicine, that looked at the impact of school exclusion, or suspension, on long term mental health. Researchers analyzed child and adolescent mental health surveys collected by England’s Department of Health, of more than 5,000 children, their parents and teachers. The study found a “bi-directional association” between psychological distress and exclusion.
Research: School-Based Mental Health Programs Effective
August 21, 2017 | Emily Taylor
A research review published in the September/October 2017 issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry analyzed school-based mental health programs with data on specific mental health outcomes of large scale implementations. The researchers found that the available research shows “‘moderate to strong’ evidence that these interventions are effective in promoting good mental health and related outcomes”.
Research: Quality of Early Family Relationships Affects Children’s Mental Health
June 22, 2017 | Emily Taylor
Researchers from the Academy of Finland conducted a seven-year longitudinal study to investigate the impact that the transition to parenthood has on families and what effect early family relationships have on children’s emotional development. The study included 710 Finnish families during pregnancy, when the children were two months, and again at one year and middle childhood. Researchers identified various family types and found that problematic family types were tied to different emotional regulation problems in middle childhood.