Behavioral Health Bulletin
Issue 2, January 2022
Mind Matters ECHO

Mind Matters ECHO is back! Join us once a month beginning January 12 for an hour and a half of case presentation and discussion as well as an expert didactic presentation with Q&A. Click the links below to register and submit a case here.
Behavioral Health Tip of the Month
Screening for Anxiety - A Brief Intervention
 
Ask a single question for each of the four common anxiety disorders for a simple, quick, and sensitive intervention.
 
  • Have you had a spell where all of a sudden you felt frightened, anxious, or uneasy? (panic)
  • Have you been bothered by nerves or feeling anxious or on edge for 6 months? (GAD)
  • Have you had a problem being anxious or uncomfortable around people? (SAD)
  • Have you had recurrent dreams or nightmares of trauma or avoidance of trauma reminders? (PTSD)
 
The Latest on the MSHP Behavioral Health Blog

Safety Planning is an evidence-based strategy for preventing individuals from acting on suicidal thoughts. Having a safety plan handy when suicidal thoughts intrude one’s headspace can provide the individual with access to previously identified actions and activities that have been effective in the past.
Behavioral Health in the Literature

Recent data has linked anxiety and its disorders in late life to increased morbidity and mortality, especially related to a higher cardiovascular burden and an increased cognitive decline. Clinically, anxiety symptoms may be more difficult to elicit in older adults who are less accurate in identifying anxiety symptoms and tend to minimize symptoms and to attribute symptoms to physical illness. Although SSRIs have proven more effective than psychotherapy in late-life anxiety, many elderly anxious subjects prefer psychotherapeutic interventions. These interventions appear to work best when tailored for the needs, expectations, and cultural background of older anxious subjects.
The Mind-Body Connection

Stress, depression, and anxiety can affect movement and contractions of the GI tract. You might, therefore, expect that at least some patients with functional GI conditions could improve with therapy to reduce stress or treat anxiety or depression. Indeed, multiple studies have found that psychologically based approaches lead to greater improvement in digestive symptoms compared with only conventional medical treatment. You can identify if your patients with GI conditions require behavioral health treatment for their stress, depression or anxiety by completing Behavioral Health Screenings regularly. 
Suicide Prevention is Preventive Care
Working Together Toward Zero Suicides

To aid you in our shared goal of zero suicides, here are actionable strategies to help you identify and manage patients who may be experiencing suicidality:
Behavioral Health in the COVID-19 Era

The authors of this rapid review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of depression and anxiety in pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide estimates suggest high rates of clinically significant anxiety in pregnant women. Therefore, routine screening and treatment for depression and anxiety during pregnancy should be prioritized.
Mount Sinai's Center for Stress, Resilience and Personal Growth
The Center for Stress, Resilience and Personal Growth (CSRPG) offers confidential behavioral health care to MSHS-employed faculty, staff, and trainees. CSRPG providers are in-network for common MSHS employee insurances, including UMR, 1199, EBCBS, and Aetna. CSRPG also offers free workshops to all staff and trainees focused on building resilience. Wellness Hub, CSRPG's confidential self-screening and resilience-building app, is available on Sinai Central. You may read more about CSRPG here and in this recent press release.
 
Referrals, or inquires regarding CSRPG's services, can be made by providers or the MSHS employee or trainee directly, by emailing MS-CSRPG@mountsinai.org or calling 212-659-5564.
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