Sept. 2022 Dear Friends: A new academic year has started and the campus is buzzing with activity and I am pleased to share with you this update on department activities. I also want to highlight two particular items here: The University of Michigan has appointed a new president, Santa J. Ono, an accomplished biomedical researcher and the president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia. He will start officially in October. Dr. Ono lives with bipolar disorder and has been courageously outspoken about his own mental health journey. He is known for his advocacy for improving mental health among students on college campuses and reducing stigma about seeking treatment. We are looking forward to his leadership as we continue to partner with colleagues across campus to improve student and workplace mental health at Michigan.   Last fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. As you all are aware, there are not enough mental health providers to meet the needs of children (or adults) in our country. The pandemic has exacerbated that gap, dramatically. I invite you to read the cover story of the latest edition of Medicine at Michigan: The Children's Mental Health Crisis. The comprehensive article details seven things we can do right now to help, and features insights and commentary by several of our Michigan Medicine mental health experts.   Please reach out with any questions or reactions. Thank you for your partnership and support. I look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely,

Gregory Dalack, M.D. Daniel E. Offutt, III Professor & Chair @DalackMD

Tips for handling back to school anxiety Gregory Hanna, M.D., and Nasuh Malas, M.D., MPH, explain when to worry and how to talk about it with your kids. Dr. Malas also gives his insights in this Fox 2 Detroit story and video: How to handle back to school anxiety

Finding the right memory strategy to slow cognitive decline A new study compares two popular forms of cognitive training that people often use to improve learning and memory. "The two are mnemonic strategy training, which aims to connect what someone is trying to remember to something else like a word, phrase or song, and spaced retrieval training, which gradually increases the amount of time between tests of remembering something." Read this Lab Note.

Telehealth by phone, video proves lifeline for veterans with opioid addiction Lead author Dr. Allison Lin's Study shows both types of virtual care kept VA patients from dropping out of medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder.

What does "Stranger Things" have to do with mental health? Dr. Jane Harness, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, reacts to Season 4 of the hit series. "There are parents, teachers, counselors and mental health professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping kids, and the media often does a disservice in perpetuating themes of their ineptitude and untrustworthiness." Read more.

Podcasts, Videos & Recordings 1. The Wrap podcast & video: Misperceptions, stigma around eating disorders 2. Mental Health & Cannabis webinar recording: Does a Gummy a Day Keep Anxiety Away? 3. Michigan Medicine Presents: The Science of Addiction Podcast Series: Why do people do drugs? // Alcohol addiction // Helping someone get help with addiction 4. 10 mental health awareness tips for older teens and young adults -- Here's what young people, parents, peers, teachers and co-workers need to look for, and what to do. 5. Michigan Minds podcast: Connecting Michigan Clinicians with Mental Health Resources 6. When reality fails: What to know about psychosis in teens and young adults

PSYCHIATRY EXPERTS IN THE NEWS

Dr. Leslie Swanson is quoted in The New York Times: Why Is My Sleep So Messed Up in the Summer? Second Wave Michigan featured Dr. Katherine Rosenblum, co-director of the Zero to Thrive program: Michigan programs aim to prevent preschool expulsions, reducing lifelong harmful effects Dr. Debra Pinals is quoted in this press release on michigan.gov: Whitmer Encourages Employers to Implement Strategies to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace The Associated Press featured this story about lead researcher Dr. Elise Hodges' study: U. Michigan study to help those with autism improve driving Dr. Bruno Giordani is quoted in WXYZ Detroit: Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month: New treatments & ways to reduce the chance of Alzheimer's Dr. Deirdre Conroy is quoted in this Huffington Post story: 6 Weird Ways To Trick Your Mind Into Sleep That Actually Work

EVENTS Sept. 30, 7:30 pm: Cinetopia Presents: Coming Up For Air Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI This film follows a single mom who helps her son, a college diver and academic star, on his mental health journey of survival and recovery. Panel discussion and Q&A will follow.  Oct 19, 5:30 - 9:00 pm: “We Can Be Heroes - Art show, film & panel discussion Capitol Theater, Flint, MI Join us for a comprehensive look at addiction recovery and breaking down the walls of stigma. Oct. 26, 6:00 - 9:00 pm: Prechter Lecture featuring Chamique Holdsclaw Kahn Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MI Chamique Holdsclaw, former WNBA star and mental health advocate, will discuss her journey with bipolar disorder and share her perspective on complications that athletes and communities of color face with mental health challenges. A panel discussion and reception will follow. Special guest Dr. Ken Duckworth, Chief Medical Officer of NAMI.

RECENT PRESS RELEASES

Dr. Meghan Martz is lead author on a study of pre-teens that yields surprises about alcohol, tobacco and marijuana -- Even at age 9 or 10, as many as 10% of children are curious about using substances, and many parents haven’t made specific rules or say kids’ access at home would be easy. Is it time to change your drinking habits? Gerald Scott Winder, M.D., discusses the barriers to seeking help for alcohol use disorder and how to overcome them.  Research by Dr. Lauren Gerlach et al.: Hospices vary widely in prescribing “comfort kit” medications -- Which hospice they enter, rather than their condition, may determine which patients receive antipsychotics or benzodiazepines to quell end-of-life symptoms. Good news, bad news on risky medication use in nursing homes -- The VA’s efforts to reduce use of risky antipsychotic medications in its nursing homes succeeded – but use of other medications with less evidence behind them rose.

Floor decals and child therapy toy kits add fun and function to our child psychotherapy clinic Thanks to the Joseph and Karen Krantz Family Charitable Foundation, our department's child psychotherapy clinic looks brighter and feels more energetic than ever. Vibrant flowers, leaves, and blades of grass on the floors invite young patients to interact with them. Read more and watch a video demonstration of the decals.

Help is available -- The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has launched! 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Find out more.

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