this week, Saiki Times® covered a range of psychiatric issues and industry updates, from over-the-counter naloxone to the true link between gun violence and mental illness. Here are some highlights from the week.
Changing the Story: Mental Illness and Gun Violence
Another day, another shooting, another finger pointing to mental illness. With the widespread coverage of gun violence news, it seems like there are mass shootings every day in the United States, but the reality is far worse.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 44,313 gun violence deaths in the United States in 2022. Of these, 20,223 were due to homicide, homicide, accident, or defensive gun use, and 24,090 were due to suicide. In addition, 647 cases correspond to mass shootings. A mass shooting is broadly defined as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the shooter, are shot. Surprisingly, gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. keep reading
Over-the-counter naloxone: a step in the right direction?
The news that Narcan has been approved for over-the-counter (OTC) use may be interpreted in many ways by the public and medical professionals. At first thought, it might come across as acceptance and approval of drug use. But opiate use disorders continue to claim many lives each year here in the United States. A growing number of street drugs are contaminated with fentanyl, contributing significantly to overdose deaths.
The ideal approach to addiction treatment outcome is total abstinence and abstinence. Keep in mind that addiction is a chronic disease. As with any chronic disease, acute exacerbations can occur that require care and stabilization. In the case of opioid use disorders, lapse or relapse can be fatal. keep reading
The Black Youth Mental Health Epidemic: A Crisis In Itself
A recently published Youth Risk Behavior Survey report shows that markers of worsening mental health conditions, from hopelessness to suicide attempts, have worsened in teens over the past decade, or at best remained the same. In fact, we are in the midst of an adolescent mental health crisis. However, looking at media reports, this seems to be the code for the “white adolescent mental health crisis.”
From images used in discussions about mental health statistics surrounding teenage girls, to personal stories of struggling adolescents, the plight of white children is generally centered as the norm and black teenagers are left to their surroundings. keep reading
yes it’s all in your head
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An interesting human behavior is to belittle or stigmatize anything that elicits feelings of helplessness, frustration, or ignorance. A good example of this phenomenon is the phrase “It’s all in your head.” It is often used when health care providers, friends, or family members feel helpless or frustrated with a patient’s symptoms that seemingly defy explanation or treatment.
As psychiatrists, we often hear things like this about our patients. Sadly, this judgment is generally applied when individuals with an established psychiatric diagnosis present to the emergency department with physical symptoms or complaints. keep reading
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