{"title":"UsAgainstAlzheimer's applauds FDA clearance of first blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34467","url":null,"abstract":"<p>UsAgainstAlzheimer's celebrates a major milestone with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the Lumipulse G pTau217/beta-amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, the first-ever clearance of a blood test to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, the May 19 news release stated. This major advancement provides a less invasive, faster, and more accessible way to detect the disease, offering hope to the millions of people affected by Alzheimer's. “For patients across the nation, this clearance removes a hurdle to bringing the test into everyday medical care,” said George Vradenburg, chairman and co-founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer's. “In our surveys, about 25% of U.S. physicians reported that lack of FDA clearance was a barrier to them prescribing a blood test. Now, with a simple blood test that's fully cleared by the FDA, patients can get answers faster, with fewer barriers, and at a fraction of the cost. This is a game-changer for patients, caregivers, and the millions of families affected by Alzheimer's.” One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain, which can now be detected using the new blood test. The test works by measuring two proteins in the blood — pTau217 and beta-amyloid 1-42 — that are linked to the presence of these plaques.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Provider angst remains as California rolls out Proposition 1 funding","authors":"Gary Enos","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34463","url":null,"abstract":"<p>California's governor has characterized this month's awarding of $3.3 billion in grant funding for new residential and outpatient behavioral health services as the voter-approved Proposition 1's “biggest win yet.” But this month's announcement has not fully allayed the mental health provider community's concerns regarding the policy direction in which the state continues to move.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Case You Haven't Heard…","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34470","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For many older adults, dealing with anxiety and depression might feel like an expected part of growing older. But mental health concerns aren't a normal part of aging, according to Caring.com. The University of Utah Health noted that one in five older adults has a mental health concern, and as many as 63% don't receive appropriate care. In April 2025, Caring.com surveyed 4,000 seniors aged 65 and older about their anxiety and depression. Almost half (47%) of surveyed seniors say they have anxiety, while 17% note having depression only. The other 35% of respondents have both anxiety and depression. Almost one-third of polled seniors say they have a clinical diagnosis for their anxiety and/or depression. Women were more likely than men (34% compared to 30%) to have an official diagnosis. About one-quarter of seniors say they use entertainment and hobbies to take their mind off stress and lift their mood. This is good news: According to the National Institute on Aging, older adults who take part in activities they enjoy may live longer, feel happier, and decrease their likelihood of developing some diseases, like heart disease or dementia.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., to leave APA at the end of 2025","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34468","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34468","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The American Psychological Association (APA) announced May 21 that <b>Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D.</b>, has elected to leave his position as chief of psychology at the end of 2025 to return full-time to his post at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Long active in the association, Prinstein joined the APA staff as its chief science officer in 2021, a position he held until late last year when APA created the chief of psychology post to unify the work of science, education, practice and applied psychology within a single organizational unit. In his role as chief science officer, he rebuilt APA's science directorate, created the APA e-newsletter “Science Spotlight,” and developed numerous programs with his team to improve psychological science, educate scientists and ensure that the discipline's work reflected all humans' behavior. APA will be opening a national search later this year to replace him.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Longest strike by MH workers in history results in key wins for Kaiser staff","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34462","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Following the longest health strike by mental health workers in U.S. history, Kaiser Permanente mental health professionals voted earlier this month to ratify a four-year contract, which includes key wins in three core strike areas: patient care time, wages and restoring benefit pensions. Retroactive to September 2024, the contract will expire in 2028.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Human therapists outperform AI therapists in delivering CBT","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34464","url":null,"abstract":"<p>An AI therapist cannot replicate the nuanced empathy and therapeutic alliance of human therapists when delivering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), concluded researchers of a new study presented during the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) Annual Meeting this month.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":"3-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Human rights group calls out APA over coercive practices","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34465","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hundreds of protesters, including human rights advocates, civil rights leaders, medical professionals and others gathered during the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) Annual Meeting May 18 in Los Angeles, calling for an end to coercive psychiatry, such as restraints, forced drugging, electroshock and involuntary commitment.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coming Up…","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34469","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34469","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The <b>New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc.'s</b> 2025 IT Project Conference, “Embracing Technology to Unleash Potential,” will be held <b>June 10</b> in <b>Monroe Township, N.J.</b> For more information visit https://njamhaa.site-ym.com/events/register.aspx?id=1926788&itemid=828dcb60-7628-4b28-b3e2-82fefbae94e4.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Handwritten notes foster hope in suicide prevention effort","authors":"Sabrina Schalley LCSW","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34457","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34457","url":null,"abstract":"<p>At Children's Nebraska, a simple, personal touch is making a life-saving difference. The Caring Contacts program — a suicide prevention initiative launched in May 2020 — offers handwritten notes of encouragement to patients following a mental health crisis. What began as a response to rising numbers of children and teens presenting with suicidal ideation has become a core component of the hospital's suicide prevention strategy. Recently celebrating the five-year program anniversary, Caring Contacts has not only expanded in reach but also achieved a critical clinical outcome: zero reported suicides among the 1,100 enrolled participants.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 20","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144074657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CBHL webinar addresses federal policy, legislative overview","authors":"Valerie A. Canady","doi":"10.1002/mhw.34455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34455","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As lawmakers move forward to pass the president's legislative agenda and slash federal spending, the leader of a national county behavioral health organization during a webinar last week urged behavioral health professionals, administrators and advocates to focus on continued outreach and advocacy and make certain that their voices are heard.</p>","PeriodicalId":100916,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health Weekly","volume":"35 20","pages":"3-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144074667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}