Behavioral Health News

Adding psilocybin — also known as psychedelic mushroom — clinical sessions to the treatment regimen of patients with alcohol use disorder led to less heavy drinking days, according to a study published Aug. 24 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Here are four psychiatric drugs approved by the FDA since Jan. 1, 2021: 

Integrating routine mental health screenings into primary care appointments improved detection rates of psychiatric disorders from 40.5 percent to 88.8 percent, according to a study published Aug. 18 in JAMA Network Open. 

Insurance provider Empire BlueCross BlueShield added four digital mental healthcare provider companies to its New York network.

AgriSafe, a nonprofit organization that aims to help reduce healthcare disparities in rural communities, launched a suicide prevention hotline for members of agricultural communities.

A survey of mental healthcare professionals gathered the state of the industry, with questions on mental healthcare challenges, opportunities and more, according to results published by Behavioral Health Business in August.

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare gave Volunteers of America a $600,000 grant to its program that supports mental health among first responders Aug. 22. 

Auvelity, an oral medication capable of improving major depression symptoms in one week, was approved by the FDA  Aug. 19.

Kaiser mental health clinicians voted in June to authorize a strike. 

Kenneth Rogers, MD, is stepping down from his position as the director of South Carolina's Department of Mental Health, The State reported Aug. 19.