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Another Call for Quality Improvement
Twelve years ago, Dr. Anthony Weiss and I presented a paper to the Healthcare Division of the American Society for Quality. We made a call for quality improvement in behavioral health and argued that, in general, what passed for quality improvement was really about compliance. We were echoing a...
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Social Determinants of Rural Zip Codes
Only recently have we come to recognize the social determinants of mental health. Social determinants are those non-medical factors that play a significant role in our health and mental health. They include such things as education, economic stability, social connections, where we live,...
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Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in LGBTQ Youth
The suicide rates for youth, especially between the ages of 15 and 19, have increased dramatically. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for the ages 10 to 24. It is believed that this reflects a higher level of psychological distress in today’s youth. The suicide rates are even...
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The Mental Health Needs of Older Adults
Our society continues to age, and it is estimated that by 2030 there will be more than 75 million Americans over the age of 65. The population of older adults (60 YO+) is growing faster than any other age group. According to Institute of Medicine, 1 in 5 older adults will experience at least one...
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Suicide Prevention in the Aging
By 2040, it is estimated that 82 million Americans will be over the age of 65. Approximately 16 million of them will have mental health issues and/or substance use disorders (SAMHSA, 2017). It is also known that the highest rate of suicide is among those 65 years and older. 90% of those who die by...
