Most teens report feeling happy or peaceful without phones, survey finds
The survey comes as policymakers and children’s advocates are growing increasingly concerned about teens’ relationships with their phones and social media.
Mental Health
Moms’ group launches grassroots fight against social media ‘addiction’
Tech companies have taken steps to limit how much time children spend on their sites—including by sending notifications nudging them to take time away from their products—but they have strongly pushed back on claims by regulators that their products are addictive.
Grant programs establishing, sustaining local health responses move forward
Author Sen. Scott Baldin, R-Noblesville, said he saw Senate Bill 10 as a way to reduce public safety expenses by creating programs for non-emergency calls often routed to first responders.
Noblesville mayor pushes state to invest in local mental health programs
Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen is calling on the Indiana General Assembly to establish the Indiana Community Cares Initiative, a grant program to shore up local paramedicine programs that proactively address issues in their communities.
New study says untreated mental illness in Indiana carries annual cost of $4.2B
The research published by the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health found that one in five Indiana residents with mental illness do not receive the treatment they need.
City of Indianapolis announces $4M in mental health, juvenile justice grants
The money comes from the city’s allotment of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Nearly two-thirds of serious mental health needs unmet in Marion County, report says
The latest report, called “Community Mental Health Needs Assessment Report for Marion County,” estimates that nearly 26,000 residents who needed treatment for a mental illness in 2022 did not receive it.
As sports betting spikes, help for problem gamblers expands in some states
Since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for legalized sports betting five years ago, nearly three-fourths of the states have moved swiftly to allow it.
Half of Indiana high schoolers feel hopeless. So why is mental health care controversial?
Mental health needs are at a peak among U.S. children and teens, but mental health support is facing an onslaught of criticism from political parent activists who say schools should strictly focus on academic instruction.
Most employers aware of staff mental health struggles, survey says
An overwhelming 93% of respondents at least somewhat agreed that it “makes good business sense” to recognize and respond to mental health dilemmas, but far fewer said they were prepared.
Biden administration proposes new rules to boost mental health coverage
The rules, if finalized, would force insurers to study patient outcomes to ensure the benefits are administered equally, taking into account their provider network and reimbursement rates and whether prior authorization is required for care.
HGTV is making our homes boring and us sad, one study says
According to a new report, home makeover shows can lead many homeowners to worry about whether their decorating decisions will make their homes less appealing to buyers, even if they have no plans to put the house on the market.
Instagram, Facebook add more parental controls, but critics say they aren’t enough
Meta is adding some new parental supervision tools and privacy features to its platforms as social media companies face increasing scrutiny over their effects on teen mental health.
Indiana youth face mental health crises, declining school performance
Post-pandemic educational performance is declining while adolescents report higher rates of mental health crises such as depression and suicidal ideation, according to a presentation from the Indiana Youth Institute at a Commission on Improving the Status of Children meeting Wednesday.
City’s mental health crisis response teams to launch this summer
Four clinician-led teams will be available to respond to mental health crises in the downtown district of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department as early as July.
When managers try to be therapists, worker mental health can suffer
While workplaces usually have basic guidelines for managers on how to address issues such as like worker anxiety and depression, few have guardrails in place so they know what not to say.
State considers phone fee, other sources for 988 services
Support is clear for the 988 hotline, which is designed to operate similar to 911 but for mental health rather than public safety. However, the most important detail–how much funding the state will provide–has yet to be determined.
Indiana mental health bill advances out of House committee
A sweeping bill that would create a new mental health care system in Indiana drew tears and personal testimony Tuesday–from both the public and elected officials.
Data shows mental health, education declines for Hoosier children
The Hoosier State continues to lag its peers when it comes to child wellbeing, ranking 28th overall—just one place ahead of its ranking last year. But it has made strides in reducing the number of foster children in the state.
CDC: Pandemic youth mental health toll unprecedented
The pandemic took a harsh toll on U.S. teen girls’ mental health, with almost 60% reporting feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness, according to a government survey released Monday.