Executive Mental Health

It’s a fact: A long weekend is good for you, so take it! Evidence shows people enjoy healthier lifestyle patterns when they have a short break, such as a three-day weekend. An increase in physical activity and sleep affords immediate positive effects on both mental and physical health, and those benefits can remain elevated for two weeks. Read more here.
https://neurosciencenews.com/three-day-weekend-health-23003/

Time Out: We All Need a Three-Day Weekend - Neuroscience News A three-day weekend is good for our health, a new study reports. An extra day of rest improves sleep duration, increases physical activity and was associated with overall healthier behaviors.

A recent study by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan has uncovered a crucial insight: while phone calls, emails, and texts are common ways to stay in touch, they may not be enough to reduce loneliness in older adults. In-person visits significantly reduce feelings of loneliness, while digital communications fall short. Even brief face-to-face interactions, whether with close family or acquaintances, offer emotional comfort that a phone call or text simply can’t match. With loneliness linked to serious health issues like heart disease, cognitive decline, and even premature death, these findings highlight the importance of fostering real-world connections for the well-being of our aging population. Read more below on how a simple visit can make a world of difference.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-person-contact-linked-loneliness-older.html

In-person contact linked with lower levels of loneliness in older adults In-person contact helps lead to lower levels of loneliness in older people, but other ways of staying in touch, such as phoning, emailing or texting, are not as effective in lowering loneliness, a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan have found.

Summer travel planning took on a whole new level of meaning for Francesca Mari: To bring back life to her 72 year-old father’s fading memory.

“When I was growing up, my dad, who has left the country only a few times, told me about the trip to Europe he took with his parents when he was 14, in 1966. …As an adult, I spent years telling him that he and I should repeat the trip together — or at least a short version in which we went to Switzerland and Italy, Lugano and Naples, so he could show me where his family was from."

"But now that his Alzheimer’s was progressing, that proposal had taken on new significance. Revisiting the past would, I hoped, help him live better in the present.”

Read more here.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/30/magazine/dementia-alzheimers-reminiscence-therapy.html

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Racing to Retake a Beloved Trip, Before Dementia Takes Everything My dad always remembered his childhood journey through Europe. Now, with Alzheimer’s claiming his memories, we tried to recreate it.

Leaving an academic legacy for older adult care, the Biden administration has awarded $206M to geriatrics clinician training programs. Called the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, the funds will reach 42 different universities and provider organizations across the country. The payments range from about $2.9 million to $5 million between the different educational groups.

With this, programs training primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians will be able to integrate geriatrics training—particularly related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias—into primary care. Read more here.



https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/biden-administration-awards-206m-geriatrics-clinician-training-programs

Alzheimer’s drugs: Much ado about modest improvement? The geriatric medical community is abuzz with comment and expectations on the recent approval of the second ’s treatment drug, , from manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company. While is expected to provide coverage for the drug, CMS will require physicians to collect data about how well the drugs perform in the real world, opening the door for clinicians to carry out more cognitive assessments for monitoring both the condition and the effectiveness of the new drug. Read more here.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-approves-eli-lillys-alzheimers-drug-slows-memory-decline-rcna158794

FDA approves new Alzheimer’s treatment that slows decline in memory The drug, also called donanemab, is the second treatment available in the U.S. that has been shown in trials to modestly slow a decline in memory and thinking abilities.

EMH is back in the news! AARP highlights clinical psychologist Dr. Kristen Eddy’s work to achieve recognition for Pasadena Meadows Nursing Center resident “Rosie the Riveter,” Virginia Bellemeur, and to reveal her storied past. Author Alexandra Frost shares how Eddy nominated the nonagenarian for a special honor last year and how Bellemeur received the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Award and a Congressional Certificate of Recognition from California Congresswoman Judy Chu.

Read more here:

WAVES Veteran Why She Served in WWII Rosie the Riveter in uniform, this aviation specialist repaired wings of fighter jets

Cognition does not always slow with age: Scientists have identified octogenarian super-agers who have the memory ability of people aged 30 years younger. According to recent studies carried out in Spain and Chicago, while traditional healthy aging strategies were considered positive for super agers, their nutrition, exercise, and sleep did not account for major cognitive differences among other octogenarians. One thing did stand out as a key differentiator among super-agers: Strong social relationships are a key ingredient to healthy brain aging.

See more insights from the super-agers studies here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/29/well/mind/super-agers-study.html

A Peek Inside the Brains of ‘Super-Agers’ New research explores why some octogenarians have exceptional memories.

Feeling a little stressed out (and not just because it’s tax season)? You’re not alone, and not without resources to help. In April, hashtag brings attention to the negative impact of stress, and explores ways to manage it as an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. See here reflections from EMH's Assistant Chief Clinical Officer John Lee, PhD on how nurses can learn to manage the stress of their work -- including at the height of the pandemic--, by identifying the stressors of their occupations before they get out of hand, using nonjudgmental acceptance, and focusing on the present.

https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/why-nurses-are-feeling-the-strain-of-covid-19-and-four-things-they-can-do-about-it/

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Tomorrow is the final day of 2024’s Women’s History Month, an opportune moment to reflect on this First Lady’s contribution on . Throughout her time aside President Carter, Roslyn Carter worked on her mission of better care, greater dignity, and reduced stigma for people with mental illness and their families. “Carter was a trailblazer in at least two key ways, said former APA president Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, ABPP, who has served on the Mental Health Task Force since 2001 and worked closely with Carter on a regular basis. The first was placing the consumer front and center. “She really listened to people who had experiences with mental illness and to their top priorities for what would make a better mental health care system,” said Kaslow.
Read more here.

Rosalynn Carter’s lasting impact on mental health The former first lady never let up on her mission of better care, greater dignity, and reduced stigma for people with mental illness and their families.

While AI’s early stages tapped into neuroscience, today’s appears to be prioritizing engineering over brain function insights.

In 1956, computer scientist John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester and Claude E. Shannon coined the term "artificial intelligence" in a proposal that they wrote for the famous Dartmouth conference. Initially introduced as simple models of brain-inspired systems, research on hierarchical processing in the visual system in the 1960s inspired the development of convolutional neural networks in the 1980s.

As Nature Science e-Magazine explores, “However, as AI research has evolved at a fast pace, progress over recent years has stirred a divergence from this original neuroscience inspiration. The pursuit of more powerful artificial neural systems in leading AI research labs, particularly those affiliated with tech companies, is currently focussed on engineering. This pursuit emphasizes further scaling up of complex architectures such as transformers, rather than integrating insights from neuroscience.”



Read more here.

The new NeuroAI - Nature Machine Intelligence After several decades of developments in AI, has the inspiration that can be drawn from neuroscience been exhausted? Recent initiatives make the case for taking a fresh look at the intersection between the two fields.

EMH is back in the news! Assistant Chief Clinical Officer Dr. John Lee shares insights in AARP The Ethel on the benefits of reading, revealing how it can help lower anxiety and with relaxation, "even lowering an individual’s heart rate and decreasing blood pressure." Lee says reading (novels in particular) can help us “develop deeper empathy for others and learn how to identify emotions in others. And it can help us experience and process our own feelings. It can also lead to knowledge expansion and help us learn about other cultures, which can lead to a sense of deeper connection to others.” Read more here.

One of the Best Things We Can Do for Ourselves as We Age This will help feed your soul and boost your overall health.

February and March are big months for awards – but what is the impact of awards season on our collective psyche? Dr. Christopher Dwyer in Psychology Today suggests awards ceremonies may be a platform to share gratitude, but also for moral grandstanding.

“Interestingly, some thought-provoking research has recently been published on moral grandstanding in public discourse, particularly in the context of social media (Grubbs et al., 2019).”

For Dwyer, “though individuals can certainly share values, there is no guarantee that all of an individual’s values will overlap with another’s; and that despite the trend of value signalling in social media usage, it is important for individuals not to be swayed or pressured by "whoever shouts loudest." Read more here.

Value Signaling and Awards Ceremonies Critically thinking about moral grandstanding.

Shoulda, woulda’ coulda…. It’s an old adage that reminds us the worst thing to regret isn’t usually what we did, but rather what we didn’t. And that applies to love and romance, too.

See here CBS News’ story on the regrets of romance, with insights from author Daniel Pink who collected 28,000 lovelorn regrets to create what he calls "the database of the regrets" — a vast inventory of unfulfilled love from 109 countries. For Pink, the most common regret is not taking action, something his research shows can be bigger than heartbreaks themselves.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/psychology-of-romantic-regret-valentines-day-experts-weigh-in-it-sticks-with-people-sunday-morning/

We’re just a two months away from Tax Day 2024 – and thanks to AARP Foundation Tax Aide, older adults will be able to benefit from free tax preparation.

Available from Feb 1 to April 15, the service offers trained IRS-certified volunteers who assist adults 50 and older and those with low to moderate incomes to prepare and file their federal tax returns. Users don’t even have to have an AARP membership to receive tax assistance through this program – and it can be done either on line or in person at any of the numerous Tax-Aide locations nationwide. See more here.

AARP Offers Free Tax Prep to Older Adults and Taxpayers With Low to Moderate Incomes Older adults and taxpayers with low to moderate incomes may qualify for free tax assistance. Here's what you need to know about AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.

As the Golden Bachelor reminded us, older adults can enjoy new love when the right person comes along. Some 30% of Americans age 50 and older are single, according to the Pew Research Center, and many of them report “enjoying the same feelings of infatuation and giddiness with a new partner as in their twenties and thirties.”

That said, dating might have changed drastically for those of the Greatest Generation, Boomers and even some Gen X’ers who didn’t use dating apps or create social media profiles to attract a significant other. So, what should newbies to the dating game keep in mind?

Before you swipe, see here “Nine Rules for Older Singles.”

Dating Again? Nine Rules for Older Singles Don't be afraid of dating when you're older. But do be careful. We have some dos and don'ts for senior daters.

There’s ample conversation on ageism, Greying America, and discrimination in the workplace – and the trend does not appear to be changing. Roughly two-thirds of adults over 50 believe “older workers face discrimination in the workplace, according to a new AARP report. Of that group, 90% believe ageism is commonplace.” Read more here about why Heather Tinsley-Fix, a senior adviser at AARP, calls ageism “one of the last acceptable 'isms' that society tolerates.”

Older workers find a less tolerant workplace: Why many say age discrimination abounds Older workers are everywhere these days. And so, it seems, is age discrimination.

Good news for older adults from the LGBTQ community: A new partnership will make mental health services for older LGBTQ adults more accessible, many who often fear discrimination in long-term care settings. Nonprofit SAGE, a group that has focused on helping LGBTQ older adults since 1978, and HearMe, a mental wellness app, have partnered to provide 24/7 support services, the organizations have announced. Read more here.

LGBTQ seniors get 24/7 support from new wellness app Two organizations have partnered on a mental wellness app that provides 24/7 support services to seniors in the LGBTQ community.

Blue Monday may be marketing’s biggest hoax: The third Monday of January is allegedly the most depressing date in the year, one which writer Ella Alexander calls “a baseless concept that mental health foundation Mind strongly disagrees with. In fact, the charity argues that the term does more harm than good, trivialising mental health issues in order to sell holidays, diets or alcoholic drinks.” Read more here.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/mind-body/a25949403/mind-doesnt-agree-with-blue-monday/

Here's why you shouldn't set store by Blue Monday It's billed as the most depressing day of the year, but Mind says marking Blue Monday does more harm than good

With so much attention being turned towards the upcoming Super Bowl, some might wonder as to the effects of high performance pressure on the mental health of athletes, including students. As revealed in this recent report, data from the NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study shows student-athletes are reporting fewer mental health concerns than they did during the height of the pandemic, although the improvements are smaller in some demographics. The full study will be released at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix. Read more here.

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2023/12/13/media-center-student-athletes-report-fewer-mental-health-concerns.aspx


Pic footballfoundation.org

Martin Luther King, Jr. was outspoken on so many issues of race and society, and yet did not openly talk about his struggles with mental health. M. Pike, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Global Mental Health WHO Collaborating Centre at Columbia University, reflects in her thoughtful essay on Dr. King’s personal struggle which included two su***de attempts in his youth, depression in adulthood, and challenges of stigma and secrecy. “Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. At its core, his dream was a call for equality and justice. He dreamt of a world where all people were respected and included. These same ideas apply to our work advancing mental health today. This Monday, January 16th, we are invited to celebrate the strides we have made, and grapple with the work left undone. MLK’s life and legacy invite us to dream – and to act.”
https://www.cugmhp.org/five-on-friday-posts/what-martin-luther-king-jr-knew-but-never-said-2/

What Martin Luther King, Jr. Knew But Never Said - Columbia University Global Mental Health Programs This Five on Friday is from last year, and bears repeating. On Monday, we pay tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. Stories and accolades will […]

is now becoming a commonplace occurrence, and one which brings with it additional benefits for both body and mind. Dr. Nidhi Kumar shares with On Call for CBS New York ways to help keep those resolutions which benefit your physical and mental health, like decreased belly fat and blood pressure, improved glucose and cholesterol levels, better gut and brain health, improved sleep and mood.

On Call with Dr. Kumar: Dry January health benefits and how to quit drinking Even though "Dry January" only lasts 31 days, Dr. Kumar explains some of the benefits to your physical and mental health.

To celebrate the holiday season, EMH made a fresh batch of custom Fancy Fortune Cookies with tidings of good fortune – with a mental health practitioner twist – for the enjoyment of our fellow colleagues. Which one of these gems would you like to see in your fortune cookie for 2024?

1. A routine task will turn into an enchanting adventure.
2. Adaptability is the compass guiding you through the twists of your career path.
3. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.
4. Good fortune shines through your friendships!
5. I see a telehealth medical assistant in your future.
6. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
7. Remember the keys to life: Be satisfied. Be happy.
8. Share your blessings with the purest heart.
9. This is the year you will finally finish that home improvement project you left half-done.
10. Today you will be blessed with people who will support your mental health.
11. Well-behaved persons seldom make history.
12. You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian dish of life.
13. You demonstrate great patience with your patients.
14. You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it . . . So, carry on.
15. You will be blessed to overcome all the faults your partner won’t let you forget.
16. You will find that thing you were looking for but then forgot what it is.
17. You will soon be coming into a large sum of laundry.
18. Your differential diagnoses are exceeded only by your prognoses.
19. Your holiday season will be HIPAA compliant.
20. Your smile is contagious to those around you.

Tis the season… to be lonely? Keeping ones mental health can be a major challenge during the holidays. While we want to be joyful, many can’t spend time with loved ones, and can feel sad, lonely and isolated. Listen here to some smart strategies to stay connected and to connect at any age.

Holidays can trigger loneliness at any age Loneliness can literately shorten your life, so we hear from a doctor and dean of public health for some ways to cope.

Many teens may feel challenged to speak up about their mental health, however a proposed California law, they will be able to seek support without having to engage their parents’ consent. In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law making that change for young patients covered by Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California.) “Teens covered by commercial insurance have had this right in California for more than a decade. But it was their parents who were among the most vocal in opposing the extension of that right to youth covered by Medi-Cal.” Read more here.

California expands insurance access for teens seeking therapy on their own A new California law will allow low-income teens on Medicaid to get therapy without parental approval. That's already allowed for teens on private insurance. But the change aroused opposition.

EMH is back in the news! EMH's Assistant Chief Clinical Officer Dr. John Lee shared savvy suggestions to protect your loved one’s health and well-being throughout the winter months in "Winter Wellness Tips for People Living with Alzheimer’s Disease." For Dr. Lee, even while having to hunker down, caregivers can keep their loved ones engaged with indoor activities, connecting with your community, by bringing music and movement in your life, and expanding one's horizons with learning. Read more here:

Caregivers Share: Winter Wellness Tips for People Living with Alzheimer’s Disease - Alzheimer's Caregivers Network Caregiving experts share helpful advice and proactive steps to protect your loved one’s health and well-being throughout the winter months.

EMH is back in the news: Assistant Chief Clinical Officer Dr. John Lee contributes to an interesting article in Inverse on the effects of solitary confinement, reflecting on the Korean film Oldboy.

As the story writes “The horrors of solitary confinement are well-documented, and yet, this punishment is still all too common in prisons around the world…In November 2003, one movie brought them to life in shocking detail.”

Dr. Lee reflects on the film saying its portrayal of solitary confinement and its effects is painfully accurate. “The impact of being kept alone in a hotel room for 15 years would have devastating adverse effects on people,” Lee tells Inverse. “Prolonged isolation can result in elevated depression and anxiety, and similar to Dae-Su, paranoia, hallucinations, and suicidal ideation and behaviors can be present.” Dr. Lee also shares insight on how individuals are able to cope with isolation – some better than others.

Read more here:

20 Years Ago, a Twisted Revenge Thriller Exposed a Painful Truth About Human Psychology tk

This Rosie the Riveter repaired war-torn WWII fighter planes. She's finally getting a thank you Shirley Bellemeur of Pasadena climbed inside WWII fighter plane wings to rivet them back together. She just received congressional recognition (to her embarrassment).

Happy 100th birthday, Virginia! Ms. Virginia Bellemeur was just another lovely and somewhat quiet resident of Pasadena Meadows Nursing Center until EMH’s Clinical Psychologist Kristen Eddy sat down for a chat, in which she discovered the fascinating history Virginia had as a real-life Rosie the Riveter in WWII.

Flash forward to today, when Virginia is now the subject of numerous recognitions and media coverage hailing her incredible contribution to the war effort, and a darling in Representative Judy Chu’s congressional eye. We celebrate you today and every day, Virginia! Read more about her story here.

This Rosie the Riveter repaired war-torn WWII fighter planes. She's finally getting a thank you Shirley Bellemeur of Pasadena climbed inside WWII fighter plane wings to rivet them back together. She just received congressional recognition (to her embarrassment).

Fewer than half of older adults who need mental health care get it, according to the National Council on Aging. As reported by NPR "One reason is that professionals are under-trained to treat the mental health needs of older adults," says Regina Koepp, PsyD, ABPP, a clinical psychologist based in Vermont, and the founder of the Center for Mental Health & Aging. "There's an idea that depression is normal with aging, or anxiety is normal with aging, when in fact these conditions are not normal with aging," she says, adding that they can be treated.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/08/14/1193738304/mental-health-older-adults

Call it 'stealth mental health' — some care for elders helps more without the label Fewer than half of older adults who need mental health care or treatment for substance abuse get it. Many therapists don't feel qualified to treat older people, and insurance coverage is spotty, too.