James Donaldson on Mental Health - Here's how to meet urgent need for more mental health workers. Start with peers. | Opinion

?The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance.? The rest of us should do no less

By Anna Bobb

- Wisconsin faces a severe mental health workforce shortage, impacting access to care for millions.
- Proposed solutions include expanding training opportunities, streamlining credentialing, and adopting new care delivery models.
- The author highlights the need for empathy and inclusion in addition to expertise within the mental health workforce.

Brenda Statz lost her husband Leon, a 57-year-old farmer and father of three “after a long-fought battle with depression.” But the Loganville family's story is about more than mental health among farmers in the American heartland.

Across rural, suburban, and urban communities, thousands of families have faced the same tragedy, underscoring that the mental health workforce was never built for today's needs.??Consider that in Wisconsin:

- Mental health professional shortage areas cover 52 of 72 Wisconsin counties, or 39% of the state, impacting 1.5 million people.
- Gaps are more acute in the northwestern and rural parts of the state.
- Some 35% of adults and 47% of children have major unmet mental health needs.
- Hospital bed use for children and adolescents is five times the national average. 

We can’t let these dire statistics kneecap the potential for progress that can strengthen families and save the lives of hardworking people like Leon Statz. A single action can start a movement. A report written a century ago proves it.

America revolutionized health care training at turn of 20th century

At the turn of the 20th century, the United States was among the richest and most scientifically advanced nations in the world, but its health care system was held back by not only inequities but also poor training that led to folk medicine and snake oil quakery.

Then the Carnegie Foundation commissioned the “Flexner Report.” The 1910 expose so convincingly advocated the biomedical model of health care training — and indicted its unscientific alternatives — that within months of its publication, half of all medical schools??in North America closed.

The report led to a redesign of physician education that to this day defines our modern medical training regime. But some consequences were less transformational. After the report’s publication, most Black medical schools shuttered, and today, only about 5% of doctors identify as Black.

Similar revolution needed to solve mental health workforce crisis??

The Statz's story and thousands of others like it, alongside widely reported shortages of mental health specialists and family physicians, paint a stark picture.

We need to reform the workforce not because the system might fail, but because it already has. Top mental health experts convened recently to sketch out some promising approaches to reverse this status quo. 

First, solving the problem will include fundamentally changing the makeup of the workforce. Too many conversations center on shortages or “needs” of specific professional groups. But simply increasing professionals alone, using the current configuration, won’t work. ?A better north star is people’s access to care, which centers solutions around the patient’s perspective in addition to the clinician’s.?

Second, the workforce should be more diverse and accessible. What if a first responder to a mental health crisis was an empathic person with lived experience, someone like Brenda Statz Lightly trained mental health workers — drawn from their own communities — inspire trust, the skill that cannot be taught.

Research has found that workers trained as peers, community health workers, navigators, and lay counselors all offer benefits to patients across a range of settings. Micro-credentials like these can be streamlined through digital training and supervision that respects where people come from. Rand, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the National Governor’s Association are among the policy organizations calling for expansion.

Third, newer care delivery models — like mental health integration in primary care, mental health crisis response, and telehealth — are more workforce friendly. Models like these should shape today’s training, licensing, and credentialing requirements. 

In 1910, the Flexner Report professionalized medicine because that’s what was needed at the time. Our current crisis calls for something different entirely – a broader and nimbler workforce grounded in empathy and inclusion as well as expertise. It’s time for a 21st Century Flexner Report.  

Even more, it’s time for action.

#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

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

Wisconsin mental health advocates back changes at state level

Wisconsin mental health advocates back "earn-while-you-learn" programs for clinicians and expanding Medicaid coverage for community health workers to include mental health. Wisconsin could also join the new Social Work Licensure Compact to bring in more out of state practitioners.

In 2024, the Assembly passed a reciprocal credentialing bill, which would have sped up entry to in-state practice for out-of-state practitioners. Proposals for tax credits up to $200K for psychiatrists in underserved areas are also promising. Reforms like these need champions to bring them over the finish line. Opinion: Wisconsin health care is bleeding. Tony Evers' vetoes only worsen trauma.

Brenda Statz founded the Farmer Angel Network to honor her husband and obtained certifications to help her neighbors— all while running the family farm without Leon and working six days a week at a Land’s End store to make ends meet.

“I just keep hoping families realize they’re not alone,” Statz said. “We’re here.”?

The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance.

The rest of us should do no less.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-heres-how-to-meet-urgent-need-for-more-mental-health-workers-start-with-peers-opinion/

?The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance.? The rest of us should do no less

By Anna Bobb

- Wisconsin faces a severe mental health workforce shortage, impacting access to care for millions.

- Proposed solutions include expanding training opportunities, streamlining credentialing, and adopting new care delivery models.

- The author highlights the need for empathy and inclusion in addition to expertise within the mental health workforce.

Brenda Statz lost her husband Leon, a 57-year-old farmer and father of three “after a long-fought battle with depression.” But the Loganville family's story is about more than mental health among farmers in the American heartland.

Across rural, suburban, and urban communities, thousands of families have faced the same tragedy, underscoring that the mental health workforce was never built for today's needs.??Consider that in Wisconsin:

- Mental health professional shortage areas cover 52 of 72 Wisconsin counties, or 39% of the state, impacting 1.5 million people.

- Gaps are more acute in the northwestern and rural parts of the state.

- Some 35% of adults and 47% of children have major unmet mental health needs.

- Hospital bed use for children and adolescents is five times the national average. 

We can’t let these dire statistics kneecap the potential for progress that can strengthen families and save the lives of hardworking people like Leon Statz. A single action can start a movement. A report written a century ago proves it.

America revolutionized health care training at turn of 20th century

At the turn of the 20th century, the United States was among the richest and most scientifically advanced nations in the world, but its health care system was held back by not only inequities but also poor training that led to folk medicine and snake oil quakery.

Then the Carnegie Foundation commissioned the “Flexner Report.” The 1910 expose so convincingly advocated the biomedical model of health care training — and indicted its unscientific alternatives — that within months of its publication, half of all medical schools??in North America closed.

The report led to a redesign of physician education that to this day defines our modern medical training regime. But some consequences were less transformational. After the report’s publication, most Black medical schools shuttered, and today, only about 5% of doctors identify as Black.

Similar revolution needed to solve mental health workforce crisis??

The Statz's story and thousands of others like it, alongside widely reported shortages of mental health specialists and family physicians, paint a stark picture.

We need to reform the workforce not because the system might fail, but because it already has. Top mental health experts convened recently to sketch out some promising approaches to reverse this status quo. 

First, solving the problem will include fundamentally changing the makeup of the workforce. Too many conversations center on shortages or “needs” of specific professional groups. But simply increasing professionals alone, using the current configuration, won’t work. ?A better north star is people’s access to care, which centers solutions around the patient’s perspective in addition to the clinician’s.?

Second, the workforce should be more diverse and accessible. What if a first responder to a mental health crisis was an empathic person with lived experience, someone like Brenda Statz Lightly trained mental health workers — drawn from their own communities — inspire trust, the skill that cannot be taught.

Research has found that workers trained as peers, community health workers, navigators, and lay counselors all offer benefits to patients across a range of settings. Micro-credentials like these can be streamlined through digital training and supervision that respects where people come from. Rand, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the National Governor’s Association are among the policy organizations calling for expansion.

Third, newer care delivery models — like mental health integration in primary care, mental health crisis response, and telehealth — are more workforce friendly. Models like these should shape today’s training, licensing, and credentialing requirements. 

In 1910, the Flexner Report professionalized medicine because that’s what was needed at the time. Our current crisis calls for something different entirely – a broader and nimbler workforce grounded in empathy and inclusion as well as expertise. It’s time for a 21st Century Flexner Report.  

Even more, it’s time for action.

#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

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

Wisconsin mental health advocates back changes at state level

Wisconsin mental health advocates back "earn-while-you-learn" programs for clinicians and expanding Medicaid coverage for community health workers to include mental health. Wisconsin could also join the new Social Work Licensure Compact to bring in more out of state practitioners.

In 2024, the Assembly passed a reciprocal credentialing bill, which would have sped up entry to in-state practice for out-of-state practitioners. Proposals for tax credits up to $200K for psychiatrists in underserved areas are also promising. Reforms like these need champions to bring them over the finish line. Opinion: Wisconsin health care is bleeding. Tony Evers' vetoes only worsen trauma.

Brenda Statz founded the Farmer Angel Network to honor her husband and obtained certifications to help her neighbors— all while running the family farm without Leon and working six days a week at a Land’s End store to make ends meet.

“I just keep hoping families realize they’re not alone,” Statz said. “We’re here.”?

The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance.

The rest of us should do no less. https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-heres-how-to-meet-urgent-need-for-more-mental-health-workers-start-with-peers-opinion/

?The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance.?The rest of us should do no less

By Anna?Bobb

- Wisconsin faces a severe mental health workforce shortage, impacting access to care for millions.

- Proposed solutions include expanding training opportunities, streamlining credentialing, and adopting new care delivery models.

- The author highlights the need for empathy and inclusion in addition to expertise within the mental health workforce.

Brenda Statz lost her husband Leon, a 57-year-old farmer and father of three “after a long-fought?battle with depression.” But the Loganville family's story is about more than mental health among farmers in the American heartland.

Across rural, suburban, and urban communities, thousands of families have faced the same tragedy, underscoring that the mental health workforce was never built for today's needs.??Consider that in Wisconsin:

- Mental health professional shortage areas cover 52 of 72 Wisconsin counties, or 39% of the state, impacting 1.5 million people.

- Gaps are more acute in the northwestern and rural parts of the state.

- Some 35% of adults and 47% of children have major unmet mental health needs.

- Hospital bed use for children and adolescents is five times the national average. 

We can’t let these dire statistics kneecap the potential for progress that can strengthen families and save the lives of hardworking people like Leon Statz. A single action can start a movement. A report written a century ago proves it.

??America revolutionized health care training at turn of 20th century

At the turn of the 20th century, the United States was among the richest and most scientifically advanced nations in the world, but its health care system was held back by not only inequities but also poor training that led to folk medicine and ?snake oil quakery.??Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

?Then the Carnegie Foundation commissioned the “Flexner Report.” The 1910 expose so convincingly advocated the biomedical model of health care training — and indicted its unscientific alternatives — that within months of its publication, half of all medical schools??in North America closed.?Opinion: Wisconsin faces a mental health crisis. We must invest for the sake of our kids.

The report led to a redesign of physician education that to this day defines our modern medical training regime. But some consequences were less transformational. After the report’s publication, most Black medical schools shuttered,??and today, only about? 5% of doctors ?identify as Black.??

Similar revolution needed to solve mental health workforce crisis??

The Statz's story and thousands of others like it, alongside widely reported shortages of mental health specialists and family physicians, paint a stark picture.

We need to reform the workforce not because the system might fail, but because it already has. Top mental health experts convened recently to sketch out some promising approaches to reverse this status quo. 

First, solving the problem will include fundamentally changing the makeup of the workforce. Too many conversations center on shortages or “needs” of specific professional groups. But simply increasing professionals alone, using the current configuration, won’t work. ?A better north star is people’s access to care, which centers solutions around the patient’s perspective in addition to the clinician’s.?

Second, the workforce should be more diverse and accessible. What if a first responder to a mental health crisis was an empathic person with lived experience, someone like Brenda Statz? Lightly trained mental health workers — drawn from their own communities — inspire trust, the skill that cannot be taught.

?Research has found?that workers trained as peers, community health workers, navigators, and lay counselors all offer benefits to patients across a range of settings. Micro-credentials like these can be streamlined through digital training and supervision that respects where people come from. Rand, the Bipartisan Policy Center,?and the?National Governor’s Association?are among the policy organizations calling for expansion.

Third, newer?care delivery models — like mental health integration in primary care, mental health crisis response, and telehealth — are more workforce friendly. Models like these should shape today’s training, licensing, and credentialing requirements. 

In 1910, the Flexner Report professionalized medicine because that’s what was needed at the time. Our current crisis calls for something different entirely – a broader and nimbler workforce grounded in empathy and inclusion as well as expertise.??It’s time for a 21st Century Flexner Report.  

Even more, it’s time for action.

#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

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

Wisconsin mental health advocates back changes at state level

Wisconsin mental health advocates back "earn-while-you-learn" programs for clinicians and expanding Medicaid coverage for community health workers to include mental health. Wisconsin could also join the new Social Work Licensure Compact to bring in more out of state practitioners.

In 2024, the Assembly passed a reciprocal credentialing bill, which would have sped up entry to in-state practice for out-of-state practitioners. Proposals for tax credits up to $200K for psychiatrists in underserved areas are also promising. Reforms like these need champions to bring them over the finish line. Opinion: Wisconsin health care is bleeding. Tony Evers' vetoes only worsen trauma.

Brenda Statz founded the Farmer Angel Network to honor her husband and obtained certifications to help her neighbors— all while running the family farm without Leon and working six days a week at a Land’s End store to make ends meet.???

?“I just keep hoping families realize they’re not alone,” Statz said. “We’re here.”?

?The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance.??

??The rest of us should do no less.?? https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=13723

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Watching for Signs of Psychosis in Teens

Catching kids early and supporting them before they're in crisis can delay mental health disorders and reduce impairment

Writer: Juliann Garey

Clinical Experts: Tiziano Colibazzi, MD , Christoph Correll, MD

What You'll Learn

- What is psychosis?
- What are prodromal symptoms?
- What symptoms should I look for in my teen?
- How is early psychosis in teens treated?
- Quick Read
- Full Article
- What are “prodromal” symptoms?
- First step if you feel your child is at risk: An evaluation
- Lifestyle and mental health options
- Treatment for prodromal psychotic symptoms

Psychosis is a condition in which a person loses touch with reality. If a teen has psychosis, they might hear or see things that aren’t there. Psychosis is often a symptom of a disorder called schizophrenia. It shows up in the late teen or early adult years.

But some teens show early warning signs of psychosis. If doctors can catch these early signs, they may be able to delay the development of the disorder and minimize its symptoms. Since psychotic symptoms cause problems in everything from school to friendships to family, acting fast can help teens a lot.

Early signs of psychosis are called “prodromal” symptoms. They include things like not wanting to see friends, feeling like people want to hurt them, not showering, and seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. To a parent, the change in their teen would probably be very noticeable.

The good news is that in the early stages, psychosis in teens can be treated by making pretty simple changes in their habits. These include reducing stress, making sure they have good sleep habits, and getting treatment for other problems like anxiety.

If you’re worried your teen might be having these symptoms, the first step is to take them to their regular doctor. Their doctor will rule out drug use, which can also cause these symptoms. Then, they will send the teen to be examined by a psychiatrist. It’s hard for doctors to know which teens will go on to develop serious psychotic disorders — not all will. But getting your teen to a professional who can watch their symptoms may be the most important step a parent can take.

There are fewer more frightening or challenging psychiatric conditions for a family to face than psychosis, an extreme mental state in which impaired thinking and emotions cause a person to lose contact with reality. This could mean hearing or seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations), or believing things that aren’t true (delusions).

The disorder most often associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, usually doesn’t show up until very late adolescence or early adulthood. Recently, however, experts in the field have been working to identify high-risk kids who show symptoms that could serve as early warning signs of psychosis, and several academic centers have been set up to focus on this crucial period when it may be possible to change the trajectory of mental health disorders.

Not all the kids who are identified with what experts call “prodromal” symptoms will progress, or “convert” to psychosis. But early intervention has been shown to improve outcomes for those who do. And since psychotic symptoms cause disruption across a teenager’s life, from school to friendships to family, researchers are hoping quick action can prevent impairment and prolong typical functioning.

What’s more, some of the approaches that show promise in delaying onset of psychosis or mitigating symptoms include fairly simple lifestyle changes like stress reduction and sleep hygiene, and managing co-occurring disorders like anxiety. The key: identifying at-risk kids earlier when these low-impact measures are still effective.

What are “prodromal” symptoms?

Prodromal symptoms are “attenuated” or weak symptoms of psychosis. Moreover, “they are a warning sign,” says Christoph Correll, MD, the medical director of the Recognition and Prevention Program (RAP) at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, NY, which specializes in diagnosing and treating early symptoms of mental health disorders in teenagers and young adults. “These signs can happen in people who don’t go on to develop psychosis — but if we follow these people who are in the risk state based on these watered-down versions, one third will probably go on to develop psychosis. That’s a lot more than in the general population.”

Prodromal symptoms occur on a spectrum from very, very mild to severe and can include:

- Withdrawing from friends and family/feeling suspicious of others
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Less concern with appearance, clothes, or hygiene
- Difficulty organizing thoughts or speech
- Loss of usual interest in activities or of motivation and energy
- Development of unusual ideas or behaviors
- Unusual perceptions, such as visions or hearing voices (or even seeing shadows)
- Feeling like things are unreal
- Change in personality
- Feelings of grandiosity (belief they have a superpower, etc.)

In some cases, these symptoms represent the early stages of a disorder, and will eventually convert. In others, the symptoms actually fade or remain mild. Tiziano Colibazzi, MD, is a psychiatrist at Columbia Presbyterian’s COPE clinic (Center for Prevention and Evaluation), which was established to research and treat prodromal symptoms. “We can identify a group of people that are at clinically high risk,” says Dr. Colibazzi. “What we can’t do is narrow that group down further to identify the 30 percent who will convert.”

First step if you feel your child is at risk: An evaluation

The right treatment for prodromal symptoms depends entirely on how severe they are when they are diagnosed. The first step is a proper and complete diagnosis by a mental health professional with experience in assessing psychotic disorders.

If you see marked changes in motivation, thinking, and/or behavior in your child, the first place to start is with their pediatrician to rule out a medical illness. Substance use also needs to be ruled out as the cause of any behavior changes in adolescents. After that, you’re going to want to have your child evaluated by a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist. This in itself might be a multi-step process.

“You can’t just look at the kid once and get a bit of a history and then know what’s going on,” says Dr. Correll. “Kids develop; symptoms develop. And the trajectory — how things change, get better, or worse, what other symptoms add on to it — will be highly informative in telling us something about the prognosis, what we expect to happen.”

One aid to predicting the evolution and severity of symptoms, notes Dr. Colibazzi, is the patient’s ability to doubt their symptoms. If your child retains the self-awareness to know that their mind is playing tricks on them, it’s an indication that symptoms are still in the very early stages. As symptoms become more severe, the patient’s beliefs (whether paranoid, grandiose, or hallucinatory) become increasingly difficult to challenge.

#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

Lifestyle and mental health options

Psychotic symptoms and disorders have been shown to vary quite a bit depending on the environment — the health of our bodies, our interpersonal relationships, our mindset. Healthy living is key. Regardless of the severity of prodromal symptoms, Dr. Correll says that your child’s outcome can be improved by making sure they stick to a routine that includes:

- Eating well
- Getting regular exercise
- Adhering to a regular sleep schedule
- Reducing stress as much as possible
- Staying away from drugs — particularly marijuana, which can interact with prodromal symptoms and increase the risk for psychosis significantly

Also, don’t forget to address depression and anxiety. According to Dr. Correll, “adults who eventually developed schizophrenia identified a three- to five-year period during which they experienced depression or anxiety before developing the prodromal symptoms of psychosis and then developed full-blown psychosis. So treating the depression early,” he says, “might actually interrupt the progression from depression to psychosis in some patients.”

Treatment for prodromal psychotic symptoms

Dr. Correll recommends trying several approaches. Mild symptoms call for more low-key treatments including:

- Psychoeducation: teaching both the child and the family more about the symptoms and the disorder.
- Therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy: “CBT can be good to change one’s thinking patterns,” says Correll, “and also to address developing self-esteem. We have to be careful that kids with a psychiatric diagnosis don’t self-stigmatize and get into a hopeless or negative mode where they feel they can’t achieve.”
- Lifestyle adjustments: Assessing whether the current school environment is best for the child. Perhaps a therapeutic social group to help the child cope.
- Reducing Stress: Stress is often a trigger for symptoms, so reducing stress in kids’ lives is crucial and may prevent or delay conversion to a psychotic disorder.

Understanding prodromal symptoms and monitoring kids who are at high risk for psychotic disorders means that parents can do more for their kids than wait for symptoms to get worse or merely hope for the best. Early monitoring and intervention can give high-risk kids an advantage, which researchers hope will eventually change the odds when it comes to psychotic disorders.

“The duration of untreated psychosis does actually seem to affect the course of the illness,” Dr. Colibazzi says. The longer the disorder goes untreated, the greater the chance that it will cause serious disruption in all areas of the patient’s life. “So it is reasonable to think that just following someone very closely and treating them very early, as soon as they develop symptoms, would be helpful.”

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-watching-for-signs-of-psychosis-in-teens/

Catching kids early and supporting them before they're in crisis can delay mental health disorders and reduce impairment

Writer: Juliann Garey

Clinical Experts: Tiziano Colibazzi, MD , Christoph Correll, MD

What You'll Learn

- What is psychosis?

- What are prodromal symptoms?

- What symptoms should I look for in my teen?

- How is early psychosis in teens treated?

- Quick Read

- Full Article

- What are “prodromal” symptoms?

- First step if you feel your child is at risk: An evaluation

- Lifestyle and mental health options

- Treatment for prodromal psychotic symptoms

Psychosis is a condition in which a person loses touch with reality. If a teen has psychosis, they might hear or see things that aren’t there. Psychosis is often a symptom of a disorder called schizophrenia. It shows up in the late teen or early adult years.

But some teens show early warning signs of psychosis. If doctors can catch these early signs, they may be able to delay the development of the disorder and minimize its symptoms. Since psychotic symptoms cause problems in everything from school to friendships to family, acting fast can help teens a lot.

Early signs of psychosis are called “prodromal” symptoms. They include things like not wanting to see friends, feeling like people want to hurt them, not showering, and seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. To a parent, the change in their teen would probably be very noticeable.

The good news is that in the early stages, psychosis in teens can be treated by making pretty simple changes in their habits. These include reducing stress, making sure they have good sleep habits, and getting treatment for other problems like anxiety.

If you’re worried your teen might be having these symptoms, the first step is to take them to their regular doctor. Their doctor will rule out drug use, which can also cause these symptoms. Then, they will send the teen to be examined by a psychiatrist. It’s hard for doctors to know which teens will go on to develop serious psychotic disorders — not all will. But getting your teen to a professional who can watch their symptoms may be the most important step a parent can take.

There are fewer more frightening or challenging psychiatric conditions for a family to face than psychosis, an extreme mental state in which impaired thinking and emotions cause a person to lose contact with reality. This could mean hearing or seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations), or believing things that aren’t true (delusions).

The disorder most often associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, usually doesn’t show up until very late adolescence or early adulthood. Recently, however, experts in the field have been working to identify high-risk kids who show symptoms that could serve as early warning signs of psychosis, and several academic centers have been set up to focus on this crucial period when it may be possible to change the trajectory of mental health disorders.

Not all the kids who are identified with what experts call “prodromal” symptoms will progress, or “convert” to psychosis. But early intervention has been shown to improve outcomes for those who do. And since psychotic symptoms cause disruption across a teenager’s life, from school to friendships to family, researchers are hoping quick action can prevent impairment and prolong typical functioning.

What’s more, some of the approaches that show promise in delaying onset of psychosis or mitigating symptoms include fairly simple lifestyle changes like stress reduction and sleep hygiene, and managing co-occurring disorders like anxiety. The key: identifying at-risk kids earlier when these low-impact measures are still effective.

What are “prodromal” symptoms?

Prodromal symptoms are “attenuated” or weak symptoms of psychosis. Moreover, “they are a warning sign,” says Christoph Correll, MD, the medical director of the Recognition and Prevention Program (RAP) at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, NY, which specializes in diagnosing and treating early symptoms of mental health disorders in teenagers and young adults. “These signs can happen in people who don’t go on to develop psychosis — but if we follow these people who are in the risk state based on these watered-down versions, one third will probably go on to develop psychosis. That’s a lot more than in the general population.”

Prodromal symptoms occur on a spectrum from very, very mild to severe and can include:

- Withdrawing from friends and family/feeling suspicious of others

- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns

- Less concern with appearance, clothes, or hygiene

- Difficulty organizing thoughts or speech

- Loss of usual interest in activities or of motivation and energy

- Development of unusual ideas or behaviors

- Unusual perceptions, such as visions or hearing voices (or even seeing shadows)

- Feeling like things are unreal

- Change in personality

- Feelings of grandiosity (belief they have a superpower, etc.)

In some cases, these symptoms represent the early stages of a disorder, and will eventually convert. In others, the symptoms actually fade or remain mild. Tiziano Colibazzi, MD, is a psychiatrist at Columbia Presbyterian’s COPE clinic (Center for Prevention and Evaluation), which was established to research and treat prodromal symptoms. “We can identify a group of people that are at clinically high risk,” says Dr. Colibazzi. “What we can’t do is narrow that group down further to identify the 30 percent who will convert.”

First step if you feel your child is at risk: An evaluation

The right treatment for prodromal symptoms depends entirely on how severe they are when they are diagnosed. The first step is a proper and complete diagnosis by a mental health professional with experience in assessing psychotic disorders.

If you see marked changes in motivation, thinking, and/or behavior in your child, the first place to start is with their pediatrician to rule out a medical illness. Substance use also needs to be ruled out as the cause of any behavior changes in adolescents. After that, you’re going to want to have your child evaluated by a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist. This in itself might be a multi-step process.

“You can’t just look at the kid once and get a bit of a history and then know what’s going on,” says Dr. Correll. “Kids develop; symptoms develop. And the trajectory — how things change, get better, or worse, what other symptoms add on to it — will be highly informative in telling us something about the prognosis, what we expect to happen.”

One aid to predicting the evolution and severity of symptoms, notes Dr. Colibazzi, is the patient’s ability to doubt their symptoms. If your child retains the self-awareness to know that their mind is playing tricks on them, it’s an indication that symptoms are still in the very early stages. As symptoms become more severe, the patient’s beliefs (whether paranoid, grandiose, or hallucinatory) become increasingly difficult to challenge.

#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

Lifestyle and mental health options

Psychotic symptoms and disorders have been shown to vary quite a bit depending on the environment — the health of our bodies, our interpersonal relationships, our mindset. Healthy living is key. Regardless of the severity of prodromal symptoms, Dr. Correll says that your child’s outcome can be improved by making sure they stick to a routine that includes:

- Eating well

- Getting regular exercise

- Adhering to a regular sleep schedule

- Reducing stress as much as possible

- Staying away from drugs — particularly marijuana, which can interact with prodromal symptoms and increase the risk for psychosis significantly

Also, don’t forget to address depression and anxiety. According to Dr. Correll, “adults who eventually developed schizophrenia identified a three- to five-year period during which they experienced depression or anxiety before developing the prodromal symptoms of psychosis and then developed full-blown psychosis. So treating the depression early,” he says, “might actually interrupt the progression from depression to psychosis in some patients.”

Treatment for prodromal psychotic symptoms

Dr. Correll recommends trying several approaches. Mild symptoms call for more low-key treatments including:

- Psychoeducation: teaching both the child and the family more about the symptoms and the disorder.

- Therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy: “CBT can be good to change one’s thinking patterns,” says Correll, “and also to address developing self-esteem. We have to be careful that kids with a psychiatric diagnosis don’t self-stigmatize and get into a hopeless or negative mode where they feel they can’t achieve.”

- Lifestyle adjustments: Assessing whether the current school environment is best for the child. Perhaps a therapeutic social group to help the child cope.

- Reducing Stress: Stress is often a trigger for symptoms, so reducing stress in kids’ lives is crucial and may prevent or delay conversion to a psychotic disorder.

Understanding prodromal symptoms and monitoring kids who are at high risk for psychotic disorders means that parents can do more for their kids than wait for symptoms to get worse or merely hope for the best. Early monitoring and intervention can give high-risk kids an advantage, which researchers hope will eventually change the odds when it comes to psychotic disorders.

“The duration of untreated psychosis does actually seem to affect the course of the illness,” Dr. Colibazzi says. The longer the disorder goes untreated, the greater the chance that it will cause serious disruption in all areas of the patient’s life. “So it is reasonable to think that just following someone very closely and treating them very early, as soon as they develop symptoms, would be helpful.” https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-watching-for-signs-of-psychosis-in-teens/

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Lower education levels linked to higher suicide rates—up to 13 times higher

A research team led by Professor Myung Ki has identified a strong relationship between education levels and suicide rates

Prof. Myung KIview more 

Credit: KU medicine

A research team led by Professor Myung Ki from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Korea University College of Medicine (KUCM) recently published a study examining the link between education levels and suicide rates. The study found that among young men aged 30 to 44 whose highest level of education was elementary school or lower, the suicide rate was 6.1 to 13 times higher than that of men with a university or higher degree across all survey periods (1995–2020). These findings highlight the profound impact of socioeconomic disparities on suicide rates.

In particular, the suicide rate per 100,000 people for men aged 30-44 with a primary school education or less was 288.2 in 2015 and 251.4 in 2020. This is nearly ten times the national average suicide rate of 27.3 in South Korea. It also far exceeds the suicide rate in Nunavut, Canada—home to the Inuit community, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world—and surpasses the rate of 232 among the Guarani Kaiowa people in the Brazilian Amazon.

The study concludes that suicide rates in South Korea vary significantly by social class, with the lowest education levels corresponding to the highest suicide rates. This pattern aligns with the "deaths of despair" theory proposed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton, which suggests that despair stemming from economic hardship and social disadvantage can drive individuals to suicide. The research highlights that suicide is not merely a personal issue but a consequence of deep-rooted social inequalities and emotional distress tied to class differences.

#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

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

Professor Ki of KUCM emphasized that suicide should not be seen solely as an individual mental health issue but as a broader social problem influenced by economic disparities. He stressed that without proper support systems, social and economic disadvantages can become a stigma of failure, leading to severe psychological distress. Effective suicide prevention policies should take a comprehensive approach, addressing both social crises—such as poverty and rental fraud—and mental health concerns together, rather than handling them separately. A comprehensive approach that considers social vulnerability is essential to reducing the suicide inequalities and strengthening South Korea’s social safety net.

Professor Ki also noted that while South Korea has expanded psychological support programs, such as the "National Mind Investment & Support Project," more robust administrative measures are needed to tackle the social factors contributing to suicide. He added, "Active policies that account for social vulnerability are key to suicide prevention. It is crucial that these efforts are recognized as acts of social respect and care for those who are most vulnerable."

The study’s findings were published in the prestigious journal Social Science & Medicine under the title "Changes in suicide inequalities in the context of an increase and a decrease in suicide mortality: The case of South Korea, 1995-2020."

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-lower-education-levels-linked-to-higher-suicide-rates-up-to-13-times-higher/

A research team led by Professor Myung Ki has identified a strong relationship between education levels and suicide rates

Prof. Myung KIview more 

Credit: KU medicine

A research team led by Professor Myung Ki from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Korea University College of Medicine (KUCM) recently published a study examining the link between education levels and suicide rates. The study found that among young men aged 30 to 44 whose highest level of education was elementary school or lower, the suicide rate was 6.1 to 13 times higher than that of men with a university or higher degree across all survey periods (1995–2020). These findings highlight the profound impact of socioeconomic disparities on suicide rates.

In particular, the suicide rate per 100,000 people for men aged 30-44 with a primary school education or less was 288.2 in 2015 and 251.4 in 2020. This is nearly ten times the national average suicide rate of 27.3 in South Korea. It also far exceeds the suicide rate in Nunavut, Canada—home to the Inuit community, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world—and surpasses the rate of 232 among the Guarani Kaiowa people in the Brazilian Amazon.

The study concludes that suicide rates in South Korea vary significantly by social class, with the lowest education levels corresponding to the highest suicide rates. This pattern aligns with the "deaths of despair" theory proposed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton, which suggests that despair stemming from economic hardship and social disadvantage can drive individuals to suicide. The research highlights that suicide is not merely a personal issue but a consequence of deep-rooted social inequalities and emotional distress tied to class differences.

#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

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

Professor Ki of KUCM emphasized that suicide should not be seen solely as an individual mental health issue but as a broader social problem influenced by economic disparities. He stressed that without proper support systems, social and economic disadvantages can become a stigma of failure, leading to severe psychological distress. Effective suicide prevention policies should take a comprehensive approach, addressing both social crises—such as poverty and rental fraud—and mental health concerns together, rather than handling them separately. A comprehensive approach that considers social vulnerability is essential to reducing the suicide inequalities and strengthening South Korea’s social safety net.

Professor Ki also noted that while South Korea has expanded psychological support programs, such as the "National Mind Investment & Support Project," more robust administrative measures are needed to tackle the social factors contributing to suicide. He added, "Active policies that account for social vulnerability are key to suicide prevention. It is crucial that these efforts are recognized as acts of social respect and care for those who are most vulnerable."

The study’s findings were published in the prestigious journal Social Science & Medicine under the title "Changes in suicide inequalities in the context of an increase and a decrease in suicide mortality: The case of South Korea, 1995-2020." https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-lower-education-levels-linked-to-higher-suicide-rates-up-to-13-times-higher/