MFP/ANA e-Newsletter: October 17, 2025

MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND NURSING ARTICLES

Web-Based Guided Self-Help vs Treatment as Usual for Binge-Eating Disorder (opens new window)

Preliminary findings suggest that web-based guided self-help, which is easily scalable and shorter in duration, may be an effective treatment for binge-eating disorder, yet it is rarely offered or only used as a first-line treatment in a stepped-care approach. Despite its benefits and cost savings, few studies have directly compared it with treatment as usual. Evaluating a psychological treatment that requires minimal therapist involvement is crucial for reducing costs, improving accessibility, and promoting patient agency in recovery. Read more (opens new window) 

Self-Help App for Depression in People With Intellectual Disabilities (opens new window)

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at increased risk for mental health problems, including depression. However, access to effective therapeutic interventions is often limited. Intellectual disabilities (IDs) affect 1% to 3% of the global population. Individuals with IDs are significantly more likely to experience mental health disorders than the general population, with approximately 34% affected, most commonly by clinical depression, followed by anxiety and psychotic disorders. Diagnostic overshadowing (misattribution of psychological symptoms to IDs) and reliance on self-report contribute to suspected underdiagnosis. Read more (opens new window)

NYC sues Facebook, Google, TikTok claiming social media is addicting kids, harming mental health (opens new window)

New York City filed a new lawsuit accusing Facebook, Google, Snapchat, TikTok and other online platforms of fueling a mental health crisis among children by addicting them to social media. Wednesday’s 327-page complaint in Manhattan federal court seeks damages from Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms, Google and YouTube owner Alphabet, Snapchat owner Snap and TikTok owner ByteDance. It accuses the defendants of gross negligence and causing a public nuisance. The city joined other governments, school districts and individuals pursuing approximately 2,050 similar lawsuits, in nationwide litigation in the Oakland, Calif., federal court. Read more (opens new window)

Here and Now: Barbershop Talk with Brothers promotes importance of mental health among Black men (opens new window)

Coming up on Here and Now, we discuss how one local nonprofit organization in Brooklyn is on a mission to promote community health and wellness among Black men. Black males are 40% less likely than other men to seek mental health treatments, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Barbershop Talk with Brothers initiative is meeting Black men where they are, while encourage them to seek counseling when they need it. More than 100 barbershops in our area are part of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health outreach program. Read more (opens new window)  (opens new window)

Cops on Ketamine? Largely Unregulated Mental Health Treatment Faces Hurdles (opens new window)

A few months ago, Waynesville Police Sgt. Paige Shell was about to give up hope of getting better. The daily drip of violence, death, and misery from almost 20 years in law enforcement had left a mark. Her sleep was poor, depression was a stubborn companion, and thoughts of suicide had taken root. Shell, who works in a rural community about 30 miles west of Asheville, tried talk therapy, but it didn't work. When her counselor suggested ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, she was skeptical. Read more (opens new window) 

The kids aren't alright: Depression and anxiety rates are skyrocketing among LGBTQ+ youth (opens new window)

LGBTQ+ youth in the United States already had poor mental health — but it's only gotten worse in the past two years. Mental health crises among LGBTQ+ youth have recently risen significantly, according to a new report from The Trevor Project, with anxiety symptoms climbing from 57 percent to 68 percent, depressive symptoms increasing from 48 percent to 54 percent, and suicidal ideation growing from 41 percent to 47 percent. While past-year suicide attempts declined from 11 percent to 7 percent, the rate remains higher than national estimates for cisgender heterosexual youth. Read more (opens new window)

From tech to tufting: How a local artist is turning mental health into visual healing (opens new window)

After two decades in tech as a software designer and product manager, Serotoff found himself searching for a deeper form of expression. Battling depression, he turned to tufting — a textile art that uses a tufting gun to punch yarn through fabric — blending design, therapy, and craftsmanship to turn personal stories into colorful, textured works of art. "I found it to be incredibly therapeutic," he says. "Almost like art therapy." Read more (opens new window)

Mayor Johnson proposes social media tax to fund mental health clinics in 2026 budget (opens new window)

Mayor Brandon Johnson rolled out his progressive budget for 2026 on Thursday as the city faces more than a billion-dollar deficit. Ahead of his budget address, the mayor spoke surrounded by community organizations and elected leaders about the "Protecting Chicago Budget." "It acknowledges a harsh reality that I think, that we all can agree on. We are living in unprecedented times," Johnson said. "We can't respond to Trump's cuts and the attacks on our city with speeches and press conferences. We must take concrete action." Read more (opens new window)  (opens new window)

Mass. nurses call for special hospital unit for court-involved psychiatric patients (opens new window)

Two major unions representing Massachusetts nurses and health care workers told lawmakers that there aren't enough beds in psychiatric hospitals to accommodate an influx of patients sent for evaluation by the courts. Representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Service Employees International Union 509, which represents human service workers, told the Legislature's Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Tuesday that state officials should create special hospital units for forensic patients — meaning those sent to psychiatric hospitals by the courts, often for evaluations. Read more (opens new window)  (opens new window)

County launches $75M program to attract thousands of new workers for mental health jobs (opens new window)

San Diego County will invest $75 million over five years in an attempt to address the gap between those with mental health needs and the number of professionals available to treat them. The program, called the Elevate Behavioral Health Workforce Fund, will offer zero-interest loans, apprenticeships, peer support training, paid internships and nurse practitioner programs with the goal of adding 3,000 new behavioral health practitioners in the region. Read more (opens new window)  (opens new window)

HOTLINE RESOURCES

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (opens new window) or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 

The Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (opens new window) provides COVID-19 guidance and resources to assist individuals, providers, communities and sates across the country. The website is updated daily.

The National CLAS Standards

The National CLAS Standards are a set of 15 action steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by providing a blueprint for individuals and health and health care organizations to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate services. View the standards here (opens new window)