Category Archives: Health: Mental Health

Mental Health Press Releases, bring us the latest cutting edge research, and therapies to help Mental Health in our modern society.

Ideal Option Releases 2022 Arkansas Patient Outcomes Report to Show Effectiveness of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Fentanyl, Heroin, Methamphetamine and Cocaine


Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids and other substances, has released its 2022 Annual Patient Outcomes Report for patients living in Arkansas.

This report contains an aggregated view of patients’ geographic and demographic characteristics, their stage and duration of care, adherence to medication and their substance use over time based on lab specimens collected during 2022 from more than 1,000 patients.

The data show the effectiveness of treating addiction with FDA-approved medications combined with regular lab testing to verify medication adherence, create accountability and ensure patient safety.

Among Arkansas patients who remained in treatment from initiation to the maintenance stage of care during 2022, the report shows:

  • 87% less total opioid use
  • 94% less fentanyl use
  • 96% less heroin use
  • 77% less methamphetamine use
  • 90% less cocaine use

The report also reveals synthetic drug use continuing to rise among enrolling patients in 2022, particularly fentanyl. Fentanyl is regularly mixed with other illicit drugs to make them more addictive, often without the user knowing.

“Polysubstance use disorder is now the most common diagnosis at Ideal Option,” said Tim Kilgallon, CEO at Ideal Option. “In 2022, over half of all Arkansas patients tested positive for two or more substances at enrollment, and 24% tested positive for three or more substances.”

The data corroborate state reports of the increasingly prevalent role that fentanyl plays in the substance use epidemic. According to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, of the 496 drug overdose deaths in 2021, 58.6% involved fentanyl. The data reflects a 140% increase in overall overdose deaths and a 3,425% increase in drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl compared to 2016.

In addition, according to a statement given by former Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane early last year, “Since 2014, the number of methamphetamine overdose deaths has quadrupled. Because of the rise of fentanyl, co-occurring opioid and methamphetamine use has doubled from 2011 to 2017.”

Ideal Option data show that standard treatment for opioid use disorder dramatically reduces the use of methamphetamine in patients who test positive for both.

View the full Ideal Option 2022 Annual Patient Outcomes Report for Arkansas here: https://www.idealoption.com/patient-outcomes..

Ideal Option has helped more than 65,000 patients through a network of nearly 90 outpatient clinics across 11 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington.

With no waitlists and most forms of insurance accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid, patients can typically get started on treatment for fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol, or other substances within 1-3 business days.

Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting http://www.idealoption.com.

About Ideal Option 

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped more than 65,000 patients through a network of nearly 90 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 11 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts most forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available. 

Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism. 

In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.

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Brain Power Wellness Reviews its New Hybrid School Model


Brain Power Wellness Reviews its New Hybrid School Model

We will simply be adding the new hybrid learning model, at a different price point, to make it more affordable and accessible for school communities, nationally and internationally, to incorporate Brain Power Wellness tools into their regular curriculum.

Brain Power Wellness, a holistic, school-based wellness organization, announces the launch of its new hybrid learning model. While all of the in-person services will continue to be offered, as Brain Power Wellness reviews, this new approach will enable the organization to expand its reach to a much broader range of school communities both nationally and internationally. The hybrid learning model has become commonplace in education, largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brain Power Wellness’ vision is “to elevate humanity’s collective consciousness by promoting equitable, embodied, experiential holistic wellness for a joyful, harmonious and sustainable world.” This innovative new learning model will help the organization achieve its goal of working with thousands of schools worldwide, offering its services, trainings, and tools to as many students, teachers, administrators, staff members, and parents as possible.

Brain Power Wellness offers many in-person services, such as Brain Power Wellness retreats, class visits, staff wellness sessions, and teacher workshops, to its partner schools in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. However, the organization recognizes the need to provide schools outside its in-person model with easy access to its training and tools. This is where its new hybrid learning model comes into play.

“Our company will always provide in-person services,” explains Rebecca Wheaton, District of Columbia & Maryland Field Coordinator for Brain Power Wellness. “Our company won’t be changing what we are currently doing. We will simply be adding the new hybrid learning model, at a different price point, to make it more affordable and accessible for school communities, nationally and internationally, to incorporate Brain Power Wellness tools into their regular curriculum.”

The current learning model provides in-person training, classroom visits, and physical materials, based on a per-teacher price point. The new hybrid model will allow schools to receive Brain Power Wellness’ professional development training (live, online, and asynchronistically) for their entire staff, with the purchase of just one package. In addition, schools can contract for virtual classroom visits, parent workshops, and staff wellness services, all with experienced Brain Power Wellness instructors. Schools can obtain virtual materials through this new model while also ordering physical materials separately

The new Brain Power Wellness hybrid learning model has three tiers of services. The first tier, which has a very accessible price of $1,995 for the entire school, involves training for every staff member in a given school. It includes one live online session with a senior instructor and ongoing trainings and examples of how to lead a classroom.

The second and third tiers include additional services, such as the option to train and certify teachers and school leaders as Brain Power Wellness instructors. By training teacher leaders, the school’s long-term ability to sustain the program is more promising as they play a crucial role in fostering program growth across the entire school.

While schools can register now for the new Brain Power Wellness hybrid model to gain preliminary access to online community resources, the final steps of the program are still being finalized. Live online sessions will be able to be scheduled by the end of May.

For more information on the new Brain Power Wellness hybrid model, and to request a free consultation, email the organization at contact@brainpowerwellness.com, or fill out the contact form on its website, http://www.brainpowerwellness.com.

Brain Power Wellness reviews its services consistently to ensure it is meeting the current needs of its school communities, and this will encompass the new hybrid learning model as well.    

About Brain Power Wellness

Brain Power Wellness is a holistic, school-based wellness organization that supports healthy, happy, and focused school environments. The mission of Brain Power Wellness is to help transform the culture of its partner schools through self-development, mindfulness, community building, retreats, SEL, holistic wellness, and brain training for teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Recently, corporate groups have begun attending Brain Power Wellness retreats, where participants receive powerful tools for creating healthy, sustainable, and happy work environments.

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South County Psychiatry Welcomes Dr. Mark Zimmerman as Chief of Ambulatory Psychiatry and Behavioral Health


South County Psychiatry

South County Psychiatry

We couldn’t be more excited about having Dr. Zimmerman join SCP as director of our psychiatric programs and the Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program that we will be opening in May.

South County Psychiatry (SCP) would like to welcome Dr. Mark Zimmerman to South County Psychiatry as Chief of Ambulatory Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Dr. Zimmerman received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, and his medical degree from Chicago Medical School—where he graduated first in his class. He completed his postgraduate training at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and he held an academic appointment as assistant professor at the same time he was a resident in psychiatry.

Dr. Anthony Gallo, the President of South County Psychiatry, said, “We couldn’t be more excited about having Dr. Zimmerman join SCP as director of our psychiatric programs and the Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program that we will be opening in May. He is globally renowned as a thought leader in both psychiatric diagnosis and outcomes. Without hesitation, I can say that with him onboard, we will be able to compete with the best programs nationwide.”

Dr. Zimmerman is board certified in psychiatry and is professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He was the director of the Rhode Island Hospital Partial Hospital Program for the past nine years, and he was the director of the Rhode Island Hospital Outpatient Practice for over 25 years. Under his leadership, the partial hospital program successfully transitioned from an in-person to a virtual program, and published the first studies demonstrating that partial hospital telehealth treatment was as safe and effective as in-person treatment.

Mr. Jim Florio, Jr., the Chief Operating Officer of South County Psychiatry, said: “It’s an honor to be able to collaborate with Dr. Zimmerman as I consider him one of the best psychiatrists in the world. Under his leadership as Chief of Ambulatory Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, we will be creating state-of-the-art programs that will be delivered far and wide.”

In addition to his clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Zimmerman has been an active researcher—one of the most widely published researchers in psychiatry, with more than 500 articles and book chapters. For his research, he has won numerous awards and, most recently, was the Personality Disorders section editor for the revision of DSM-5. Through the years, Dr. Zimmerman has been interviewed on NPR and quoted in several publications, including People magazine and U.S. News and World Report.

About South County Psychiatry

South County Psychiatry is a full-service outpatient psychiatric practice. The clinic is staffed by psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in treating a variety of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The clinic offers individual therapy, medication management, and couples counseling. South County Psychiatry has 5 locations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Rhode Island:

420 Scrabbletown Road, Suite A

North Kingstown, RI 02852

401-268-5333

47 Danielson Pike

North Scituate, RI 02857

401-895-7897

1170 Pontiac Avenue

Cranston, RI 02920

401-500-0424

Massachusetts:

50 N 2nd St #1

New Bedford, MA 02740

617-671-0728

Connecticut:

19 Halls Rd #234

Old Lyme, CT 06371

959-666-3777

To learn more about South County Psychiatry, visit https://www.southcountypsychiatryri.com.

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Thanks for the tip, Karen


People who offer unsolicited advice not only lack tact, they also struggle to put themselves in other people’s shoes.

Even though 71% of people who offer unsolicited advice recognize that their behavior is annoying, it doesn’t stop them from doing it.

Unwelcome advice-givers are generally well-meaning, but they fail to recognize the fine line between courtesy and intrusiveness.

They’re everywhere. In your local shopping mall, in the comment section of your social media posts, perhaps even in your own family. It’s those self-proclaimed “experts” or professedly well-meaning people who feel the need to tell you how to do a task, raise your children, or live your life. They answer the questions that no one asked, and offer advice on non-existent problems. Why do people feel the need to offer their unsolicited opinion? Researchers at PsychTests shed some light.

Analyzing data collected from 9,041 people who took the Social Skills Test, PsychTests’ researchers singled out two distinct groups: people who frequently offer unsolicited advice (“Busybodies”) and those who don’t (“Non-Meddlers”). Here’s what their study revealed:

NOT SURPRISINGLY…

> 70% of Busybodies get so caught up in what they have to say that they don’t notice the reaction of their listeners (compared to 10% of Non-Meddlers).

> 25% don’t consider how their words or actions will affect others (compared to 7% of Non-Meddlers).

> 71% said that they frequently say or do things that upset others (compared to 6% of Non-Meddlers).

> 55% indicated that they do most of the talking in conversations (compared to 10% of Non-Meddlers).

> 65% talk mostly about themselves (compared to 14% of Non-Meddlers).

> 65% will interrupt a conversation if they believe that they have something important to add (compared to 19% of Non-Meddlers).

> 28% are blunt rather than tactful if asked for an honest opinion (compared to 12% of Non-Meddlers).

> 28% are not comfortable admitting when they are wrong (compared to 8% of Non-Meddlers).

> 21% will continue discussing a controversial topic even if it is upsetting to someone in the group (compared to 10% of Non-Meddlers).

SURPRISINGLY…

> 75% of Busybodies are uncomfortable sharing their feelings (compared to 34% of Non-Meddlers).

> 15% are stubbornly unforgiving (compared to 5% of Non-Meddlers).

> 75% have a tendency to snap at others when stressed (compared to 24% of Non-Meddlers).

> 61% admitted that they don’t usually get a warm reception when they pay friends a visit (compared to 8% of Non-Meddlers).

> 73% will move ahead with a decision without consulting the people who will be affected by it (compared to 21% of Non-Meddlers).

> 48% can’t keep a secret (compared to 29% of Non-Meddlers).

If they received praise for an achievement that they attained with the help of others, only 55% of Busybodies would share the credit (compared to 76% of Non-Meddlers).

“Unwelcome advice-givers are generally well-meaning, but they fail to recognize that fine line between courtesy and intrusiveness,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “What’s more is that our study picked up on something that may point to why they offer unsolicited advice: a fear of admitting mistakes. So rather than examining their own faults, they try fix other people’s. In addition, the fact that 75% of Busybodies are uncomfortable sharing their emotions is telling, because it means that they don’t like turning their attention inwards, so they direct it outwards.”

“Here’s the bottom line if you’re a meddling Karen: before offering your opinion, especially if you haven’t been asked for one, engage in some self-examination. Why do you feel the need to offer your two cents? Why are you sticking your nose in someone else’s business? Do you really want to help, or are you craving validation? Be honest with yourself. Engaging in a little self-examination can save you from a lot of embarrassment, and might even prevent an unnecessary conflict. And you won’t be called a ‘Karen’.”

Want to assess your social skills? Check out the Social Skills Test at https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3130

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

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Grow Therapy Releases 2023 State of Mental Health Report


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“While the COVID Public Health Emergency is ending, we have a far ways to go to properly care for the mental health of Americans. We’re focused on eliminating barriers to care through empowering providers, accepting all forms of insurance, and assisting patients in their mental health journey.”

Grow Therapy, a provider-centric mental health group improving access to high-quality mental healthcare, today released the findings of its annual state of mental health report. The national survey of Grow Therapy’s Provider Partners reveals trends therapists are seeing among their patients and insights into the challenges and benefits of running a private practice.

“While the COVID Public Health Emergency is ending, we have a far ways to go to properly care for the mental health of Americans,” said Jake Cooper, CEO and Co-Founder of Grow Therapy. “We’re focused on eliminating barriers to care through empowering providers, accepting all forms of insurance, and assisting patients in their mental health journey.”

Key findings from this year’s report:


  • The number of people seeking therapy is on the rise, with 83% of therapists saying they have seen an increase in patients seeking therapy for the first time this year.
  • Just over a third (34%) of therapists say that anxiety or stress is the most common reason their patients are seeking help. Other common issues bringing people to therapy this year are depression (15%), trauma (9%) and romantic relationship issues (8%).
  • With the current state of the world, therapists say that news (99.6%) and social media (100%) consumption can have a negative impact on mental health.
  • Millennials, those aged 27-42, are the most likely to be in therapy currently, with over half (53%) of therapists saying that group makes up the majority of their client base.
  • In continuing to fight the stigma of seeking professional help for mental health issues, about half (47%) of therapists said that open and honest conversations with family and friends/peers, including on social media, is the key to normalizing therapy. Others agreed that likening mental health to physical health (24%) and offering increased education through PSAs and in schools (14%) were also important.
  • Therapists are most likely to recommend exercise (23%) and time with loved ones (22%) to improve mental health outside of therapy, followed by spending time in nature (17%), meditation or spending time alone (16%) and joining a support group (11%).
  • Offering advice to people going to therapy for the first time, therapists said that it was important to find the right therapist (15%); be open to the process (14%); remember that therapy takes time (14%) – with 87% of therapists saying that tangible outcomes from therapy can take anywhere from 2-10 sessions in most cases; and that it’s important to set goals for what you want to get out of the therapy process (13%).

The report also looked at how therapists feel about running a private practice:

  • Therapists say that access to care remains an obstacle, including the ability for providers to accept insurance to help cover out of pocket costs for patients (10%).
  • Therapists say that the biggest benefit of running a private practice is reducing time spent on administrative work (24%) and having more time to focus on meaningful work (23%), professional development (14%) and their personal life (18%).
  • Therapists say that the biggest opportunities for their practice this year are managing their own schedule to allow for more work-life balance (23%) and growing their practice to reach more patients (22%).

Grow Therapy offers a marketplace for patients to find the right therapist, with the ability to filter via insurance type, state, areas of specialty, gender, virtual or in-person sessions and availability. The therapists available on the marketplace partner with Grow Therapy to receive dedicated admin support like, billing and credentialing plus access to a telehealth platform, custom-built EHR, private peer community and discounted health insurance.

For more information on Grow Therapy’s 2023 state of mental health report, visit growtherapy.com.

About Grow Therapy:

Grow Therapy is a provider-centric mental health group, using technology to make high-quality mental healthcare accessible and affordable to all Americans. Grow Therapy provides therapists with a suite of business tools and services, peer community, and pipeline of expertly matched patient referrals so that they can set up and grow thriving in-person and virtual private practices, within the communities they care about most. As a result, more Americans are accessing a wide variety of therapists who not only best match their needs, but who take their insurance. Grow Therapy’s network includes more than 6,000 therapists and works with major insurers including Humana, Aetna, Cigna, Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. Some of Grow Therapy’s key investors include TCV, Transformation Capital, and SignalFire. More information about Grow Therapy can be found at http://www.growtherapy.com.

Methodology

The results of this report are from a national survey of Grow Therapy’s Provider Partners conducted from February 28, 2023 – March 22, 2023. There were 266 responses from therapists in different states, with different titles, specialties and years of experience.

The goal of the survey was to get insight into their experience and observations as therapists on the state of mental health in America in 2023.

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BayMark Opens New Treatment Centers for Opioid Use Disorder


Baymarl logo of a path

In 2021, more than 1,600 Texans died of fentanyl related overdoses, which was an increase of 89% from the prior year…expanding the reach of our existing programs is an important goal to remove barriers for individuals who are in need of accessible, effective, and affordable treatment options.

The need for access to treatment for opioid use and other substance use disorders has unfortunately only grown in urgency over the last few years as the opioid epidemic was not only eclipsed but exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. BayMark Health Services has continued to expand services in response to this overwhelming need with the recent expansion of our MedMark Treatment Centers program locations for opioid use disorder in Texas and Ohio.

This week BayMark announced that its Fort Worth Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) has expanded into Benbrook, TX. The newly opened medication unit will increase the reach of the existing program on McCart Avenue in Fort Worth. Located at 6240 Southwest Blvd, the location provides treatment with methadone or buprenorphine medications, laboratory services and health screenings. Patients will visit the primary Fort Worth location for the initial intake and ongoing on-site or virtual counseling services with the benefit of accessibility to a convenient nearby location where medication services can be received once the patient is stabilized in treatment.

“In the past few years, the opioid epidemic has taken an alarming turn with the arrival of fentanyl in the United States as an inexpensive, easy to access and very potent, often lethal, drug. Fentanyl, heroin, and pain medications with opioids are all highly addictive, and treatment medications combined with counseling services are the gold standard of care.” notes David K. White, Ph.D., CEO of BayMark Health Services. “In 2021, more than 1,600 Texans died of fentanyl related overdoses, which was an increase of 89% from the prior year. The addition of medication-units and expanding the reach of our existing programs is an important goal to remove barriers for individuals who are in need of accessible, effective and affordable treatment options.”

Earlier this year, BayMark announced the opening of an OTP in Parma Heights, OH, just outside Cleveland, offering a full spectrum of medication-assisted treatment and counseling services. A state afflicted heavily by the impact of fentanyl; this program expands treatment options in Cuyahoga County where the deadly drug is now the leading cause of drug overdose. Located at 6700 Pearl Road, MedMark Parma Heights in now accepting new and transferring patients.

MedMark Treatment Centers are known across the country as providers of comprehensive, individualized programs for adults struggling with opioid addiction. Through medication management and counseling, MAT reduces the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings, paving the way for patients to develop new coping mechanisms, access resources to regain stability in their lives and participate fully in their families and communities. Additionally, MedMark programs provide addiction education, relapse prevention, lab testing, coordinated care for pregnant patients and linkages to community resources. For more information on MedMark and our services visit: MedMark.com.

To inquire about admission or make a referral to Fort Worth/Benbrook, call 817.207.8700.

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Waddle Into Midlife Crisis From The Perspective Of The Man Who Wrote Your Childhood


Raft Cover

“With Raft,” says Krieger, “I wanted to write about the joys and challenges of being a family in our current world….” Krieger’s venture toward reaching the gen-Xers and millennials whose childhoods he helped write hits the mark, resulting in a hilarious, family-focused masterpiece.

Stu Krieger, award-winning screenwriter and author of The Land Before Time and multiple acclaimed Disney Channel Original Movies, has written a timely and relatable adult fiction book about a family in the midst of a patriarchal midlife crisis in Raft, published by Pipevine Press (an imprint of Warren Publishing). Hilariously written in multiple narratives from the perspectives of a father who spontaneously turns into a penguin; a wife who is barely hanging on given the stresses of marriage, motherhood…and being wed to a penguin; and their angsty teenaged son and daughter, Raft offers a glimpse into the highs, lows, and hijinks of one Los Angeles family trying to stay afloat. This page-turner reminds us all that being able to see the world through other points-of-view, learning to laugh together, and celebrating family bonds is what life is all about.

In the throes of midlife crises, some men take up skydiving or mountain biking. Some buy sleek new sports cars. Clark Whitaker, a stressed-out children’s book author, has turned into a penguin. Raft “…nailed the speech of both parents and two teenagers. Something, as a writer, I know first-hand, is extremely difficult,” says Laura Numeroff, author of the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. In dealing with Clark’s inexplicable transformation from suburban dad to arctic avian, the Whitakers embark on a humor-filled tour hoping to restore Clark to his natural state and inadvertently rediscover the power in their family bond.

Krieger, who wrote the beloved Zenon series, shifts his brand from a typical child-focused audience and seamlessly writes a tale that’s strictly for adults, all while maintaining his knack for wit and expertly crafted narrative. “With Raft,” says Krieger, “I wanted to write about the joys and challenges of being a family in our current world….” Krieger’s venture toward reaching the gen-Xers and millennials whose childhoods he helped write hits the mark, resulting in a hilarious, family-focused masterpiece. As Parker Stevenson says, “Stu …has gifted us all with a magical and surprising laugh-out-loud novel. It should not be missed.”

Krieger’s tale will captivate, entertain, and inspire readers, providing a fresh perspective into what it means to be a family. “I hope to remind readers that, to be in successful relationships, you always need the ability to understand how things might be seen and felt through someone else’s lens,” says Krieger. The late David Crosby called Raft “Fun and imaginative…just the kind of trip we all need right now.”

Raft can be ordered on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, warrenpublishing.net, and requested wherever books are sold. For media interviews and author appearances, contact Mindy Kuhn at (704) 900-0236, warrenpublish@gmail.com, or visit http://www.warrenpublishing.net/.

ABOUT STU KRIEGER

Since 2006, Krieger has been a professor in University of California Riverside’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production. From 2001–2020, he also taught one class per year at USC’s prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program. Prior to his move to full-time academia, he was a film and television writer with more than thirty produced credits, including co-writing the Emmy-winning miniseries, A Year in the Life, writing the screenplay for the animated classic, The Land Before Time, and writing or co-writing eleven Disney Channel Original Movies. He has also written the novel That One Cigarette published in 2017. Krieger can be found online on Facebook, TikTok, and on Instagram @stukrieger. Listen to a full interview with Krieger at findingfounders.co/episodes/stu-krieger.

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Northeast Delta HSA’s 2023 Youth Summit to Empower, Educate, And Elevate Carroll High Students


Northeast Delta HSA’s 2023 Youth Summit to Empower, Educate, And Elevate Carroll High Students

Northeast Delta HSA’s 2023 Youth Summit to Empower, Educate, And Elevate Carroll High Students

“We will continue to create a positive regional child, young adult, and family ecosystem that will further address the mental health, academic, social, and physical health needs of children and young adults much earlier than ever before,” Dr. Sizer said.

Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) is set to host a Youth Summit at Carroll High School on May 5, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. NEDHSA’s Youth Summit is part of its mitigation efforts to combat teen suicide, underage drinking, mental illness, health and wellness challenges, low academic achievement, and more.

The theme for the Youth Summit is “Becoming the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time),” which will focus on the impact youth can make in the community and help them understand the power within themselves. This event also aims to raise awareness of underage drinking and help youth recognize their power to make positive change.

NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer said, “We are committed to creating and providing the resources and innovations needed to help our region’s youth and young adults become more resilient, overcome adverse childhood trauma, and succeed academically.”

“We will continue to create a positive regional child, young adult, and family ecosystem that will further address the mental health, academic, social, and physical health needs of children and young adults much earlier than ever before,” Dr. Sizer said. “We also know that there is a direct correlation between childhood trauma and negative health outcomes for children and young adults. This is why we continue to do this innovative work.”

As part of NEDHSA’s continued effort to build a unified community where individuals thrive and reach their full human potential, targeting adolescents plays a crucial role. The key message is to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of underage drinking and other data-driven priorities in northeast Louisiana. This event will show adolescents that they are top priority and that NEDHSA is dedicated to reducing underage access to alcohol and underage drinking.

The Youth Summit will feature keynote speaker Louisiana-based Gospel Hip-Hop/ R&B artist Al “big AL” Cherry, a family man, motivational speaker, and preacher. There will also be local influencers and motivational speakers to share transformational words of encouragement and empowerment, such as the 2023 Miss University of Louisiana Monroe Leslie Hobgood and entrepreneur Mashi Epting.

The event will also feature JiggAerobics. JiggAerobics will be led by LaDonte Lotts, better known as “Mr. Get Right.” Lotts founded JiggAerobics as a dance-based fitness program that fuses “jigging,” an energetic Louisiana dance style, with Lotts’ dance moves and numerous plyometric exercises.

Dr. Sizer added: ” We know children and young adults are looking for authenticity and a place to belong. They are looking for genuine connections to be able to express their hopes, fears, and dreams. Therefore, we plan to further create lifesaving opportunities that are consistent with our various treatment and prevention and wellness innovations so that our region’s children and young adults can live and thrive.”

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Done. rolls out largest technology-driven national platform for holistic in-person and virtual chronic psychiatric care


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An industry first, Done. has reimagined today’s mental-health solutions with a revolutionary hybrid platform designed to tackle psychiatric care. Through an innovative and holistic approach, Done. now allows anyone to tap into the best of both virtual and in-person treatments to better help patients and clinicians achieve better clinical outcomes.

The new platform combines 200+ in-person offices through a blended use of trusted clinical partnerships and virtual care. As a result, Done. now meets patients whenever and wherever they are to deliver world-class psychiatric care nationwide. Hybrid care is defined as a combination of in-person with virtual coverage to provide a holistic option for the patient and provider to achieve the greatest clinical outcomes possible. Done. achieves this fusion of coverage through a “direct” and collaborative care model. It merges Done.’s ongoing virtual care experience with high-touch in-person care conducted by Done.’s clinician consultations at Done. offices, through partner clinician in-person consultations, and via trusted provider referrals to distribute access to the best psychiatric care available.

Done’s mission has always been to empower and support our members in reaching their potential. We started Done because there was a lack of qualified clinicians to treat patients and because patients struggled to access care within their communities. As the Biden administration announced on January 30, 2023, the COVID-19 public-health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023.

Based on the updated regulation, the Done. team has now adapted to meet the needs of how society has shifted by providing a combination of in-person and virtual care. In 2020, given the velocity of patient demand as well as the need to accommodate regulations for virtual care licensing and prescribing, the physical and economic barriers to access, particularly in underserved communities, were eliminated. Now, post-pandemic, and given our original mission to meet patients when and where they are, we are doing just that – offering the best in both in-person and virtual care through Done. offices and partnerships to serve patients with holistic psychiatric care that goes beyond ADHD treatment. As the means to distribute care shifts, so, too, is the nature of the treatment. Done. first committed to better access and efficiency for ADHD care.

Today, we’ve built a technology platform that sets a higher standard for patient care, and while we believe that our specialization in ADHD allows us to achieve better clinical outcomes and safer patient care, we are now ready to expand into a holistic approach that focuses on a wider range of psychiatric challenges.

Working in tandem with in-person medical practitioners, the Done. platform arms clinicians with deeper data and insights to ensure accurate diagnoses and allow monitoring of patient use of prescribed drugs to ensure proper dosage and mitigate potential abuse. The Done. platform leads the way to encapsulate how technology can improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services to make life better for patients.

As Done. scales our hybrid model nationally to all members, we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure a smooth transition for our patients and will keep them informed throughout the process. To learn more about the platform, visit DoneFirst.com.

About Done.

Done. is a hybrid-care (in-person + virtual) health platform that empowers anyone living with mental health challenges to reach their fullest potential. Through a patient-first, technology-powered platform, industry-leading digital-health company, Done. makes high-quality psychiatric chronic care management more accessible and affordable. Disclaimer: Done. is an online platform that connects members with qualified clinicians to screen, diagnose, and treat members with ADHD. Done. does not provide medical services. All professional services on the Done. platform are provided by clinicians who are psychiatric board-certified medical professionals;

Done. does not engage in the prescription business.

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Workers’ Comp Leaders from ODG and The Hartford to Present at IAIABC Forum


ODG by MCG

ODG by MCG is the healthcare industry leader in evidence-based, decision support for workers’ compensation, disability, and auto liability claims management.

“Dr. LaCroix and I are excited to share insights from the years of workers’ compensation claims data with IAIABC attendees.” – Pam Bloom-Pugliese, Director of Product Management, ODG by MCG

ODG by MCG, an MCG Health company and part of the Hearst Health network, announces its Director of Product Management, Pam Bloom-Pugliese, will co-present with Dr. Michael LaCroix, Medical Director of The Hartford Financial Services Group, at the IAIABC Forum happening on April 24-27, 2023 in Clearwater, Florida. This annual forum brings together IAIABC’s committees and councils to discuss policy and administrative issues in workers’ compensation.

Mrs. Bloom-Pugliese and Dr. LaCroix will present the session, “Work Disability Prevention and Return to Work Committee Meeting,” on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (ET). This presentation will address mental health conditions and how they can affect other medical comorbidities, including work-related diagnoses and disability. By evaluating years of claims data, the presenters will explore the financial impact of mental health conditions on workers’ compensation and group benefits claim durations with respect to age, gender, and diagnoses.

“While a great deal of scientific information about mental health is available, specific information about mental health from a claims perspective is limited,” said Mrs. Bloom-Pugliese. “Dr. LaCroix and I are excited to share insights from the years of workers’ compensation claims data with IAIABC attendees. We believe the information in this session will help professionals make recommendations for better management of such claims.”

For those interested in attending the IAIABC Forum 2023, registration details and additional information can be found at: https://www.iaiabc.org/forum-2023.

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About ODG

ODG, an MCG Health company, (http://www.mcg.com/odg) provides unbiased, evidence-based guidelines that support payers, providers, employers, and auto insurers in their efforts to return people confidently and effectively to health. The clinical guidelines and analytical tools within ODG are designed to improve and benchmark return-to-work performance, facilitate quality care while limiting inappropriate utilization, assess claim risk for interventional triage, and set reserves based on industry data.

About MCG

MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, helps healthcare organizations implement informed care strategies that proactively and efficiently move people toward health. MCG’s transparent assessment of the latest research and scholarly articles, along with our own data analysis, gives patients, providers, and payers the vetted information they need to feel confident in every care decision, in every moment. For more information visit http://www.mcg.com or follow our Twitter handle at @MCG_Health.

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