NAMI's brief highlights state legislation passed in 2023 that helps improve youth mental health care and support

Christina Watkins   

In 2023, more than 1 in 5 high school students seriously considered suicide, and 1 in 10 attempted suicide — rates that are even higher for at-risk communities like LGBTQ+ youth.

Experts say when mental health conditions are treated early, it can save lives and vastly improve outcomes for individuals.

In September, the National Alliance on Mental Illness released its Trends in State Policy: Youth Mental Health brief.

It highlights state legislation passed in 2023 that helps improve youth mental health care and support and includes policy recommendations that may be implemented in states across the country in the following key categories:

- Access to care

- Mental health workforce in schools

- Mental health and suicide prevention training

- School policies

- System coordination and planning

This brief is the fourth in a larger series — NAMI’s 2023 State Legislation Issue Brief Series — which examines new mental health from 2023 addressing, criminal justice, access to care, and 988 and crisis response.

Read NAMI Trends in State Policy: Youth Mental Health.

Funding was also a big topic in the brief, and one Central Florida family is working to fill that gap.

Joe Meeske and his wife, Rose Meeske, live in Port Orange. Their daughter, Madeline, died in December 2021 after a battle with her mental health.

But before the unexpected loss, the Meeske family went on a journey in 2019 to get Maddie help. They traveled more than 1,000 miles away outside of Florida.

WESH 2 asked the family why they felt it was necessary to seek care outside of the state.

"The particular help that she needed was not available anywhere locally that we could find. After we exhausted everything here, we found McLean Hospital in Boston. And that's where everything kind of changed for us." Rose said.

Doctors suggested Maddie get Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT.

First developed in the 1970s, doctors say it's especially effective for people who have difficulty managing and regulating their emotions. Rose says it worked for Maddie until she came back to Florida during the pandemic.

On Dec. 14, 2021, at 21 years old, the Father Lopez High School graduate and National Honor Society member passed away.

"She just — she lost. She lost her struggle with this. She just, you know, the care wasn't there. She tried. She had a toolbox of skills, and she just. She lost her struggle," Rose said.

RELATED: Volusia County family helps train therapists through mental health organization

Maddie's life lives on through a nonprofit she helped her mom start, called Youth Emotional Support.

YES provides DBT training to therapists in Central Florida. At least 50 received it so far.

Dr. Amy Hall, a licensed mental health counselor for more than 25 years, serves as a board member.

"It's like that old adage, you know, if you can give someone fish or you can teach them how to fish. We are teaching people how to fish using DBT. We're training therapists so they can continue the work for decades to come," she says.

Access to care, such as DBT, is one of five key points highlighted in NAMI's brief.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth

If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub

NAMI focused on legislation passed last year to help improve youth mental health care and different policy recommendations for states to consider.

Hall says while Florida has done a good job erasing the stigma, it's time to put more money into resources and organizations working to save lives.

"We need to see funding that provides training to our students and training to our families, our parents. We're starting to see money being placed into places that it needs to help, fund research, fund counseling, do all of those great things. But there still needs to be work done here," Hall said.

For now, Hall says the work YES is doing is helping to fill that gap.

And Rose says Maddie would be proud.

"It just feels really good to be able to carry on something that she felt so strongly about, to help others and keep her memory alive," Rose said. https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-study-reveals-how-many-students-consider-suicide-and-whats-being-done-to-help/

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Study reveals how many students consider suicide and what's being done to help

NAMI's brief highlights state legislation passed in 2023 that helps improve youth mental health care and support

Christina Watkins   

In 2023, more than 1 in 5 high school students seriously considered suicide, and 1 in 10 attempted suicide — rates that are even higher for at-risk communities like LGBTQ+ youth.

Experts say when mental health conditions are treated early, it can save lives and vastly improve outcomes for individuals.

In September, the National Alliance on Mental Illness released its Trends in State Policy: Youth Mental Health brief.

It highlights state legislation passed in 2023 that helps improve youth mental health care and support and includes policy recommendations that may be implemented in states across the country in the following key categories:

- Access to care
- Mental health workforce in schools
- Mental health and suicide prevention training
- School policies
- System coordination and planning

This brief is the fourth in a larger series — NAMI’s 2023 State Legislation Issue Brief Series — which examines new mental health from 2023 addressing, criminal justice, access to care, and 988 and crisis response.

Read NAMI Trends in State Policy: Youth Mental Health.

Funding was also a big topic in the brief, and one Central Florida family is working to fill that gap.

Joe Meeske and his wife, Rose Meeske, live in Port Orange. Their daughter, Madeline, died in December 2021 after a battle with her mental health.

But before the unexpected loss, the Meeske family went on a journey in 2019 to get Maddie help. They traveled more than 1,000 miles away outside of Florida.

WESH 2 asked the family why they felt it was necessary to seek care outside of the state.

"The particular help that she needed was not available anywhere locally that we could find. After we exhausted everything here, we found McLean Hospital in Boston. And that's where everything kind of changed for us." Rose said.

Doctors suggested Maddie get Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT.

First developed in the 1970s, doctors say it's especially effective for people who have difficulty managing and regulating their emotions. Rose says it worked for Maddie until she came back to Florida during the pandemic.

On Dec. 14, 2021, at 21 years old, the Father Lopez High School graduate and National Honor Society member passed away.

"She just — she lost. She lost her struggle with this. She just, you know, the care wasn't there. She tried. She had a toolbox of skills, and she just. She lost her struggle," Rose said.

RELATED: Volusia County family helps train therapists through mental health organization

Maddie's life lives on through a nonprofit she helped her mom start, called Youth Emotional Support.

YES provides DBT training to therapists in Central Florida. At least 50 received it so far.

Dr. Amy Hall, a licensed mental health counselor for more than 25 years, serves as a board member.

"It's like that old adage, you know, if you can give someone fish or you can teach them how to fish. We are teaching people how to fish using DBT. We're training therapists so they can continue the work for decades to come," she says.

Access to care, such as DBT, is one of five key points highlighted in NAMI's brief.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Link for 40 Habits Signup
bit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth

If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub

NAMI focused on legislation passed last year to help improve youth mental health care and different policy recommendations for states to consider.

Hall says while Florida has done a good job erasing the stigma, it's time to put more money into resources and organizations working to save lives.

"We need to see funding that provides training to our students and training to our families, our parents. We're starting to see money being placed into places that it needs to help, fund research, fund counseling, do all of those great things. But there still needs to be work done here," Hall said.

For now, Hall says the work YES is doing is helping to fill that gap.

And Rose says Maddie would be proud.

"It just feels really good to be able to carry on something that she felt so strongly about, to help others and keep her memory alive," Rose said.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-study-reveals-how-many-students-consider-suicide-and-whats-being-done-to-help/

This time of year we are constantly dealing with cold weather and cloudy days, which can have serious effects on mental health

TOLEDO, Ohio — Despite it being the holiday season, experts at NAMI of Greater Toledo said suicide rates and mood disorders are on the rise.

This time of year we are constantly dealing with cold weather and cloudy days, which can have serious effects on mental health.

"People really are feeling the stress of not only the holidays, and the shorter days, and less light but just the pressures of everyday humanity," said Marriah Kornowa, executive director of NAMI.

NAMI encourages said seasonal depression is a real mood disorder, clinically diagnosed as seasonal affective disorder. It stems from the shorter days and less sun light that we normally see in the fall and winter months. And they also said it is one of the reasons that there's a larger risk for suicide during the holidays.

Marriah Kornowa urges the pubic to look out for warnings such as:

- Change in behavior

- Change in appearance

- Isolation and sadness 

- Lack of energy 

- Lack of interest in activities and normal routine 

Kornowa said if you spot the warning signs in yourself, or others, don't hesitate to reach out and find support. 

"These are times to step in and say, I know this time of year is rough you've had loss. Or, our financial stability this time of year is stressed. So, just really making sure that we pay attention and sort of slow down and just check in on people," Kornowa said.

NAMI recorded 90 percent of Americans who die by suicide are living with mental illness and 47 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 struggle with depression and anxiety. 

That's almost half of the population of young adults in the U.S. 

Kornowa said mental illness can be treated and managed. If you are down, she said start by being aware of your thought patterns. Fight to shift your thoughts from negatives into positives. 

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth

If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub

If you start having suicidal thoughts, make an appointment with your doctor and be honest with how you feel.

Kornowa also said to partner with your family members or friends to seek help. There are even one-on-one encouragement and support groups are available through NAMI.

The leaders at NAMI believe a person experiencing suicidal ideation has the power to be their own first line of defense.

"It's important to take care of yourself this time of year, we are always giving for everybody else. It is about the spirit of the holidays, but what are you doing to take care of yourself?" Kornowa said. "Go into the holidays prepared, talking about boundaries with your family, and just recognizing and honoring your own feelings." https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-nami-of-greater-toledo-raising-awareness-about-the-holiday-blues/

James Donaldson on Mental Health - NAMI of Greater Toledo raising awareness about the 'holiday blues'

This time of year we are constantly dealing with cold weather and cloudy days, which can have serious effects on mental health

TOLEDO, Ohio — Despite it being the holiday season, experts at NAMI of Greater Toledo said suicide rates and mood disorders are on the rise.

This time of year we are constantly dealing with cold weather and cloudy days, which can have serious effects on mental health.

"People really are feeling the stress of not only the holidays, and the shorter days, and less light but just the pressures of everyday humanity," said Marriah Kornowa, executive director of NAMI.

NAMI encourages said seasonal depression is a real mood disorder, clinically diagnosed as seasonal affective disorder. It stems from the shorter days and less sun light that we normally see in the fall and winter months. And they also said it is one of the reasons that there's a larger risk for suicide during the holidays.

Marriah Kornowa urges the pubic to look out for warnings such as:

- Change in behavior
- Change in appearance
- Isolation and sadness 
- Lack of energy 
- Lack of interest in activities and normal routine 

Kornowa said if you spot the warning signs in yourself, or others, don't hesitate to reach out and find support. 

"These are times to step in and say, I know this time of year is rough you've had loss. Or, our financial stability this time of year is stressed. So, just really making sure that we pay attention and sort of slow down and just check in on people," Kornowa said.

NAMI recorded 90 percent of Americans who die by suicide are living with mental illness and 47 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 struggle with depression and anxiety. 

That's almost half of the population of young adults in the U.S. 

Kornowa said mental illness can be treated and managed. If you are down, she said start by being aware of your thought patterns. Fight to shift your thoughts from negatives into positives. 

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Link for 40 Habits Signup
bit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth

If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub

If you start having suicidal thoughts, make an appointment with your doctor and be honest with how you feel.

Kornowa also said to partner with your family members or friends to seek help. There are even one-on-one encouragement and support groups are available through NAMI.

The leaders at NAMI believe a person experiencing suicidal ideation has the power to be their own first line of defense.

"It's important to take care of yourself this time of year, we are always giving for everybody else. It is about the spirit of the holidays, but what are you doing to take care of yourself?" Kornowa said. "Go into the holidays prepared, talking about boundaries with your family, and just recognizing and honoring your own feelings."

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-nami-of-greater-toledo-raising-awareness-about-the-holiday-blues/

Black adults living with long COVID pointed to challenges with their physical health – rather than their mental health – when asked to describe their long-COVID symptoms. That is one key finding from our new study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

When we examined the data further, however, we found that those living with long COVID in the U.S. had significantly more anxiety, depression, hopelessness, psychosis and suicidal thoughts than those without long COVID.

In other words, while participants clearly explained how long COVID impaired their physical health, they were less likely to attribute their recent mental health struggles to any issues stemming from their experiences of long COVID.

For the study, we asked nearly 500 Black adults in the U.S. to respond to a series of psychological questionnaires measuring various mental health outcomes in the spring of 2022. All participants, regardless of their long-COVID status, provided responses to these survey questions.

Next, we asked study participants to describe their long-COVID symptoms by using their own words to type short phrases or sentences. When analyzing their written responses, we found that participants most often pointed to physical or cognitive health conditions such as chest pain, troubled breathing, prolonged coughing, headaches, memory loss, impaired vision or smell, and sharp bodily pains.

This mismatch between how individuals described their long-COVID symptoms versus what they reported in the survey highlights the importance of collecting multiple forms of data – particularly when studying complex topics such as long COVID among marginalized populations.

We used qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to identify points of overlap and divergence across the two data sources.

These approaches align with our work as suicide prevention and preventive medicine  researchers, where we study topics at the intersection of race, mental health and physical health promotion.

Why it matters

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Americans were more likely to work in the service industry or in front-line positions, and in turn were at greater risk for COVID-19 exposures and infections.

Research confirms that members of this group also experienced disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths during the earliest waves of the pandemic. Additionally, Black communities across the U.S. faced structural barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccines once immunizations became available.

One might anticipate that the cumulative impact of these disparate experiences would lead researchers, clinicians and government officials to prioritize the study of long COVID among vulnerable populations.

This, unfortunately, has not been the case. Black Americans’ mental and physical health experiences have gone largely understudied within existing long-COVID research. Getting a long-COVID diagnosis or help for the condition has been especially challenging for people of color.

What other research is being done

Researchers are currently focused on understanding the underlying biological pathways leading to long COVID, along with potential biological markers that predispose some individuals to long COVID.

Yet much of this work does not account for differences that may emerge either within or across race groups. Amid the rapidly evolving research on long COVID, several scholars are working to understand both the development and progression of long COVID in various communities across the globe.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth

If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub

What still isn’t known

We analyzed surveys from only one point in time and would need to collect multiple surveys over an extended amount of time before being able to determine whether long COVID causes negative mental health outcomes, or vice versa.

As a result, the findings from our study should be understood as correlational, meaning that while there is a statistically relevant relationship between these variables, we cannot rule out the potential influence of other external factors that may also affect Black adults’ mental health during the pandemic. More research is needed to understand how long COVID is linked to psychological outcomes and mental health over time.

While the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023, the mental and physical health needs of those living with long COVID are ongoing. We, therefore, plan to continue examining how long COVID is affecting people across different age, gender, economic and other important demographic groups in order to respond to the urgent need for evidence-based research and treatment options. https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-black-adults-with-long-covid-report-higher-levels-of-hopelessness-and-suicidal-thoughts-new-research/

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Black adults with long COVID report higher levels of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts ? new research

Black adults living with long COVID pointed to challenges with their physical health – rather than their mental health – when asked to describe their long-COVID symptoms. That is one key finding from our new study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

When we examined the data further, however, we found that those living with long COVID in the U.S. had significantly more anxiety, depression, hopelessness, psychosis and suicidal thoughts than those without long COVID.

In other words, while participants clearly explained how long COVID impaired their physical health, they were less likely to attribute their recent mental health struggles to any issues stemming from their experiences of long COVID.

For the study, we asked nearly 500 Black adults in the U.S. to respond to a series of psychological questionnaires measuring various mental health outcomes in the spring of 2022. All participants, regardless of their long-COVID status, provided responses to these survey questions.

Next, we asked study participants to describe their long-COVID symptoms by using their own words to type short phrases or sentences. When analyzing their written responses, we found that participants most often pointed to physical or cognitive health conditions such as chest pain, troubled breathing, prolonged coughing, headaches, memory loss, impaired vision or smell, and sharp bodily pains.

This mismatch between how individuals described their long-COVID symptoms versus what they reported in the survey highlights the importance of collecting multiple forms of data – particularly when studying complex topics such as long COVID among marginalized populations.

We used qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to identify points of overlap and divergence across the two data sources.

These approaches align with our work as suicide prevention and preventive medicine  researchers, where we study topics at the intersection of race, mental health and physical health promotion.

Why it matters

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Americans were more likely to work in the service industry or in front-line positions, and in turn were at greater risk for COVID-19 exposures and infections.

Research confirms that members of this group also experienced disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths during the earliest waves of the pandemic. Additionally, Black communities across the U.S. faced structural barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccines once immunizations became available.

One might anticipate that the cumulative impact of these disparate experiences would lead researchers, clinicians and government officials to prioritize the study of long COVID among vulnerable populations.

This, unfortunately, has not been the case. Black Americans’ mental and physical health experiences have gone largely understudied within existing long-COVID research. Getting a long-COVID diagnosis or help for the condition has been especially challenging for people of color.

What other research is being done

Researchers are currently focused on understanding the underlying biological pathways leading to long COVID, along with potential biological markers that predispose some individuals to long COVID.

Yet much of this work does not account for differences that may emerge either within or across race groups. Amid the rapidly evolving research on long COVID, several scholars are working to understand both the development and progression of long COVID in various communities across the globe.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Link for 40 Habits Signup
bit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth

If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub

What still isn’t known

We analyzed surveys from only one point in time and would need to collect multiple surveys over an extended amount of time before being able to determine whether long COVID causes negative mental health outcomes, or vice versa.

As a result, the findings from our study should be understood as correlational, meaning that while there is a statistically relevant relationship between these variables, we cannot rule out the potential influence of other external factors that may also affect Black adults’ mental health during the pandemic. More research is needed to understand how long COVID is linked to psychological outcomes and mental health over time.

While the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023, the mental and physical health needs of those living with long COVID are ongoing. We, therefore, plan to continue examining how long COVID is affecting people across different age, gender, economic and other important demographic groups in order to respond to the urgent need for evidence-based research and treatment options.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-black-adults-with-long-covid-report-higher-levels-of-hopelessness-and-suicidal-thoughts-new-research/

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Black adults with long COVID report higher levels of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts ? new research

Black adults living with long COVID pointed to challenges with their physical health – rather than their mental health – when asked to describe their long-COVID symptoms. That is one key finding from our new study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

When we examined the data further, however, we found that those living with long COVID in the U.S. had significantly more anxiety, depression, hopelessness, psychosis and suicidal thoughts than those without long COVID.

In other words, while participants clearly explained how long COVID impaired their physical health, they were less likely to attribute their recent mental health struggles to any issues stemming from their experiences of long COVID.

For the study, we asked nearly 500 Black adults in the U.S. to respond to a series of psychological questionnaires measuring various mental health outcomes in the spring of 2022. All participants, regardless of their long-COVID status, provided responses to these survey questions.

Next, we asked study participants to describe their long-COVID symptoms by using their own words to type short phrases or sentences. When analyzing their written responses, we found that participants most often pointed to physical or cognitive health conditions such as chest pain, troubled breathing, prolonged coughing, headaches, memory loss, impaired vision or smell, and sharp bodily pains.

This mismatch between how individuals described their long-COVID symptoms versus what they reported in the survey highlights the importance of collecting multiple forms of data – particularly when studying complex topics such as long COVID among marginalized populations.

We used qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to identify points of overlap and divergence across the two data sources.

These approaches align with our work as suicide prevention and preventive medicine  researchers, where we study topics at the intersection of race, mental health and physical health promotion.

Why it matters

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Americans were more likely to work in the service industry or in front-line positions, and in turn were at greater risk for COVID-19 exposures and infections.

Research confirms that members of this group also experienced disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths during the earliest waves of the pandemic. Additionally, Black communities across the U.S. faced structural barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccines once immunizations became available.

One might anticipate that the cumulative impact of these disparate experiences would lead researchers, clinicians and government officials to prioritize the study of long COVID among vulnerable populations.

This, unfortunately, has not been the case. Black Americans’ mental and physical health experiences have gone largely understudied within existing long-COVID research. Getting a long-COVID diagnosis or help for the condition has been especially challenging for people of color.

What other research is being done

Researchers are currently focused on understanding the underlying biological pathways leading to long COVID, along with potential biological markers that predispose some individuals to long COVID.

Yet much of this work does not account for differences that may emerge either within or across race groups. Amid the rapidly evolving research on long COVID, several scholars are working to understand both the development and progression of long COVID in various communities across the globe.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

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What still isn’t known

We analyzed surveys from only one point in time and would need to collect multiple surveys over an extended amount of time before being able to determine whether long COVID causes negative mental health outcomes, or vice versa.

As a result, the findings from our study should be understood as correlational, meaning that while there is a statistically relevant relationship between these variables, we cannot rule out the potential influence of other external factors that may also affect Black adults’ mental health during the pandemic. More research is needed to understand how long COVID is linked to psychological outcomes and mental health over time.

While the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023, the mental and physical health needs of those living with long COVID are ongoing. We, therefore, plan to continue examining how long COVID is affecting people across different age, gender, economic and other important demographic groups in order to respond to the urgent need for evidence-based research and treatment options.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-black-adults-with-long-covid-report-higher-levels-of-hopelessness-and-suicidal-thoughts-new-research/