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This month, SAMHSA released results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual nationwide survey on mental health, substance use, treatment rates, and more. Approximately 1 in 5 U.S. adults (22.8%) experienced mental illness in the past year. A third of young adults ages 18-25 (33.7%) experienced mental illness in the past year – the highest rate of any age group. Although new data collection methods limit the comparability of the 2021 NSDUH data to previous years, the data show just how common experiences of mental health conditions have become, particularly among young people. To learn more, see the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  

Much of the available information about psychosis comes from a medical perspective, which can make those experiencing psychosis feel misunderstood or invalidated by the mental health care system. Two researchers, both diagnosed with schizophrenia, began “Psychosis Outside the Box” to provide an alternative. “Psychosis Outside the Box” is an ongoing project that compiles first-person accounts of psychosis in an online repository. The researchers hope the stories can be shared with other researchers and clinicians to better identify and serve individuals experiencing psychosis, particularly during the early stages when engagement is critical. To learn more, see the article in Psychiatric Services.  

NAMI Provider is a no-cost training program designed to help mental health professionals understand the lived experience of mental illness and promote a collaborative model of care. To assess the effectiveness of different delivery methods, 325 medical students were assigned to participate in either a traditional, community-based program (Cohort 1) or an online, active learning program (Cohort 2). Both cohorts showed reduced anxiety interacting with patients with mental illness, decreased stereotyping attitudes, and improved confidence incorporating psychiatry into routine care, with stronger effects among students receiving the online format. The findings highlight the potential benefits of the NAMI Provider program, even when adapted to a virtual learning environment. To learn more, see the article in Medical Education Online.

This month, the American Psychological Association released results from its third annual COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey in which it surveyed nearly 63,000 active, licensed psychologists in the U.S. In 2022, 79% of psychologists reported an increase in patients with anxiety since the pandemic began, 66% in patients with depression, and 26% in patients with severe mental illness. Despite the increased need for mental health care, 60% of psychologists report having no openings for new patients.Telehealth has been critical to providing treatment as 31% of respondents report exclusively using telehealth and 58% report using a hybrid approach. To learn more, see the report from the American Psychological Association.