There are a lot of changes happening in Texas that could have significant implications for behavioral health. Here are some of the big mental-health stories impacting the Lone Star State. Biden Administration Rescinds Changes to Texas 1115 Waiver The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has rescinded an approval to extend…
Mental health symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus pandemic could last months or years longer than the pandemic itself. Specifically, many individuals and families may seek out therapy to help with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, severe anxiety, flashbacks, or uncontrolled thoughts about a traumatic incident. If the symptoms get worse,…
“Polyvagal Theory” describes a group of ideas related to the role of the vagus nerve in human psychology. According to this theory, the vagus nerve serves an important role in emotional regulation, social behavior, and fear response. Stephen Porges, director of the Brain-Body Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, first introduced Polyvagal Theory…
Spring is finally here, bringing longer days, warmer temperatures, and new growth. As a behavioral health provider, this is the perfect time for you to encourage your clients to enjoy the benefits of green space. Green Health Benefits An increasing body of research shows that green spaces and nature can be a vital part of…
Each U.S. state is facing unique challenges in behavioral health, from substance abuse to the mental health effects of the pandemic response. Here’s a look at a few of the biggest behavioral health and addiction concerns in Utah, and how the state’s healthcare leaders are addressing them. Expanding Mental Health Services in Rural Utah The…
Do the foods we eat influence our mental health? That’s the idea behind nutritional psychology, also called nutritional psychiatry. Support for Nutritional Psychology Studies suggest there is, indeed, a connection between food and mental health. After all, our brains require food for fuel, just like any other organ. It makes sense that the kind of…
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law. Much of the funding in this act is related to COVID-19 relief, such as vaccine distribution, unemployment assistance, lending to small businesses and organizations, and expanded testing. However, a portion of the spending bill is also related…
Health providers and clients everywhere are looking for different solutions to many behavioral health disorders and symptoms. While some potential mental health treatments may be untested or controversial, one approach has long shown significant promise, without high costs or side effects: Mother Nature and the great outdoors. Many years of scientific research and anecdotal accounts…
In the wake of the response to the coronavirus, communities across the United States are seeing a rise in substance misuse and addiction. Complicating the issue, rural areas in particular have limited access to addiction treatment services. This is an increasing problem in Colorado, where geography challenges treatment providers even as overdoses are on the…
Traumatic experiences are often sudden, one-time incidents, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or school shooting. Other traumas may occur over a longer period of time, such as a lengthy illness, financial difficulties, or domestic abuse. While some people can recover from trauma without long-lasting effects, many others develop mental-health symptoms that can last…