Behavioral Health News

Behavioral health recap: July's top 10 stories

Here are the 10 most-read stories reported by Becker's Behavioral Health last month:

San Francisco repeat psychiatric patients cost city over $4M in last 5 years

San Francisco legislators held a hearing on the city's public psychiatric services after Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital staff complaints that understaffing and inadequate follow-up care have led to costly patient readmissions, the San Francisco Standard reported last week.

Government health authorities consider task force for psychedelic, entactogenic therapy testing within 2 years

Representatives of HHS are considering creating a task force to guide the use of FDA breakthrough psychedelic mental health therapies within the next two years, a letter obtained last week by political news organization the Intercept said.

Former Kaiser therapist on company's staffing shortage: 'a combination of greed and lingering stigma'

Kaiser Permanente behavioral health services are under state investigation after provider complaints and staff resignations, California nonprofit news source Capital & Main reported last week. UPDATE 8/5: Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers are set to begin an open-ended strike Aug. 15…

Ingenovis Health launches staff wellbeing and retention program

Healthcare staffing and recruiting company Ingenovis Health launched a program aimed at boosting retention and wellbeing for nurses and other healthcare professionals, the company said in a news release.

Shuttered California hospital opens with behavioral health focus

It has been more than 40 years since northern Orange County (Calif.) has had a dedicated behavioral health hospital, but that changed Aug. 2 when Anaheim Community Hospital opened, according to The Orange County Register.

Washington, DC, psychiatric patients abused by staff, rights organization alleges

A report published last week by the nonprofit advocacy group Disability Rights DC alleging abuse and neglect of adult and adolescent patients by staff at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington is traumatizing and injuring patients.

Vitamin B6 supplements lower depression, anxiety symptoms, study in England finds

Vitamin B6 supplementation reduces feelings of anxiety and depression, a study published in July by Wiley Library Online found.

Massachusetts General Hospital granted $50 million for suicidality, bipolar research

Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital will use $50 million to study treatments for suicidality and bipolar disorder.

Pennsylvania psychiatric hospital to close

Kingston, Pa.-based Commonwealth Health First Hospital is closing, along with its affiliated outpatient behavioral health services, on Oct. 30, the Times Leader reported Aug. 1.