Confronting the Challenge of Mental Health Stigma: A New Report and a New National Initiative 

• Public awareness

In a report issued Oct. 9, The Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health issues a call to action to “act now to stop stigma and to start inclusion.” The report summarizes extensive research around the world, highlights the results of an international survey, and provides recommendations for actions by a range of stakeholders.  

Justice-Involved Individuals, Mental Health, and the Revolving Door

• Patients and Families, Serious mental illness, Treatment

On Sept. 20, 2022, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft statement recommending that U.S. adults under the age of 65 should be screened for anxiety 1. This recommendation underscores the emerging need for the inclusion of mental health screens as a part of everyday clinical practice and not simply reserved for behavioral health settings. More widespread screening will better inform treatment decisions, lead to referrals for care, and slow down, or in some cases even stop, the revolving door too often experienced by patients with anxiety.

Hoarding: A Look at the Motivations to Save Things

Possessions have a magical quality for all of us. Our most cherished ones contain an essence that goes beyond their physical qualities, like a ticket stub from a favorite concert, a gift from a dear friend or a piece of clothing belonging to a lost loved one. Most of us own many things of this sort, but our ownership does not interfere with our ability to live. For some people, however, ownership goes awry, and possessions accumulate and clutter living spaces, making them unusable.

Addiction: Treatment, Recovery, and the Role of Family & Friends

• Addiction, Treatment

A conversation with Monica Taylor-Desir, M.D., M.P.H., a member of the board of the APA Foundation, and Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., APA president-elect on what addiction looks like, what treatment looks like, and how family and friends can help a person in recovery.

Recovery is a Process

• Addiction

National Recovery Month in September highlights the issue on the issue of recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. As an addiction psychiatrist, I hope that attention to recovery continues throughout the year. For many people receiving treatment, recovery is a continuous journey. There is no end or month of celebration; rather it is an ongoing process.