By now, it’s common knowledge that physical and mental health are closely linked. And most of us know that sleep is a crucial link between the two—even if we don’t get as much as we need! Many mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders come with sleep disturbances, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is no exception. Here…
Behavioral health can be a difficult field, particularly because each client is a unique individual with different health factors. Treating behavioral health problems usually requires a combination of strategies. In many cases, mental health concerns are connected to a person’s executive functioning. Therapists may help their clients improve their outcomes by incorporating executive functioning strategies…
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that typically includes abnormal social behavior with restricted and repetitive behaviors. ASD is often the result of a variety of factors, including genetic, environmental, and developmental. Because autism is considered a “spectrum,” individuals can vary widely in their symptoms and severity. The range of symptoms,…
More than 10 percent of U.S. veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD), slightly above the rate in the general population. Male veterans aged 18-25 years have the most significant rates. Alcohol and marijuana are some of the most popular substances that veterans use. However, smoking and misuse of legal prescription medications…
South Carolina lawmakers, agencies, and health providers are working to improve behavioral health across the state. Here are some of the biggest concerns and stories from across the state. Mental Health School Counselors Increase in South Carolina, but Other Professionals Still Needed South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in January reported that…
The teenage years are often full of experimentation and pushing boundaries. While some of their choices can be harmless in the long run, such as a drastically different hair color, others can have serious consequences, such as substance use. Because of the potential harms of substance use disorder (SUD), behavioral health providers who work with…
Vaping—inhaling a heated, aerosolized liquid through a specially designed device—has become more popular among adolescents than traditional cigarettes. The liquid used in vaping devices may contain nicotine, illicit drugs, or flavoring. The effects of vaping on young people is not yet well known. However, public and behavioral health experts are concerned that it could lead…
How is North Carolina addressing widespread issues such as substance abuse, mental health crises, and children’s behavioral health concerns? Here’s a roundup of some of the significant behavioral health stories emerging across the “Old North State.” Sports Betting Is Legal in North Carolina, and Health Experts Are Concerned Sports betting became legal in North Carolina…
According to the CDC, an estimated 20.4 percent of U.S. adults had chronic pain in 2016. This can lead to low quality of life, increased healthcare use and costs, missed work, and behavioral health concerns such as depression and anxiety. Medication is usually the first-line approach to treating pain. For severe or chronic pain, this…
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recently updated its criteria for assessing and treating substance use disorders. The ASAM Criteria is the most widely used framework for the placement, continued service, and transfer of patients with addiction. ASAM provides these standards to help promote individualized treatment, helping clinicians and care managers make objective decisions…