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Effective mental health treatment must be based on a foundation of solid, robust evidence. RAND research on mental health treatment includes extensive work on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interventions for military personnel as well as young children; cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in clients with alcohol and substance abuse problems; and prevention and early intervention strategies for community mental health.
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Essay
Mental Health First Aid: Training People to Help Others
An innovative program trains and empowers people to not look away from those experiencing mental illness, but to listen to them, reassure them, and encourage them to get help. Most trainees of the program in New York City were still using what they had learned five years later.
May 3, 2023
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Commentary
A Potential Backslide in Mental Health Care for Millions of Americans
The expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration will have broad-sweeping effects, and one of the most significant is little known: It could begin undoing the expansion of mental health care access for millions of Americans.
Apr 18, 2023
Explore Mental Health Treatment
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Essay
Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics in Treating PTSD and Depression Among Veterans
Clinical trials have shown that psychedelics can have a positive effect on mental health conditions like PTSD or depression for some people. Enthusiasm for these treatments has grown among veterans and providers who work with military populations. The VA should invest in research and provide guidance on psychedelics.
Nov 8, 2023
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Report
The Road to Reintegration: Status and Continuing Support of the U.S. Air Force's Wounded, Ill, and Injured
How do wounded, injured, or ill airmen feel about their medical and nonmedical care and the services provided by the U.S. Air Force? The authors of this report examine the quality of support provided to those who are wounded, ill, or injured.
Nov 1, 2023
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Testimony
Improving Treatment Outcomes for Veterans with Mental Health Conditions
Current treatments for veterans experiencing PTSD and other mental health conditions are largely effective but they do not work for everyone. More treatments that yield better outcomes are needed. With sustained research investment and careful planning, psychedelic-assisted therapies hold great promise to improve care for veterans.
Oct 19, 2023
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Journal Article
Estimating Psychiatric Bed Shortages in the US
The US is confronting an urgent and worsening shortage of psychiatric beds. RAND researchers identify the challenges in estimating the shortage and recommend a data-driven approach.
Oct 16, 2023
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Journal Article
Perspectives on Financing Strategies for Evidence-Based Treatment Implementation in Youth Mental Health Systems
This study collected quantitative and qualitative survey data on how youth mental health system decision-makers viewed financing strategies that support implementation and sustainment of evidence-based treatments.
Oct 13, 2023
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Blog
Nuclear Deterrence, Russia and Iran, Deepfakes: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how much is “enough” for U.S. nuclear forces, the budding Russia-Iran partnership, the challenge of detecting deepfakes, and more.
Oct 6, 2023
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Journal Article
Utilization and Spending on Mental Health Services Among Children and Youths With Commercial Insurance
In this study, we examined telehealth, in-person, and overall pediatric mental health service utilization and spending rates from January 2019 through August 2022.
Oct 5, 2023
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News Release
Mental Health Spending for Children and Adolescents Has Risen by More Than One-Quarter Since Beginning of Pandemic
Spending on mental health services for children and adolescents has risen by more than one-quarter since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to rise even as the use of telehealth plateaued.
Oct 3, 2023
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Report
Virtual Behavioral Health for Army Soldiers: Soldier Perspectives and Patterns of Treatment
The authors examined trends in the use of virtual behavioral health (VBH) care for U.S. Army soldiers and their spouses from prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic through March 2022 and surveyed soldiers about their perceptions of VBH care.
Sep 19, 2023
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Report
Using Quality Measures and Measurement-Based Care to Improve Behavioral Health Care for Veterans and Service Members
Using quality measures and measurement-based care can help community-based organizations that provide behavioral health (BH) care to veterans and service members ensure that their BH care is high-quality and effective.
Sep 12, 2023
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Blog
The Four-Day School Week, AI and Social Media Manipulation, School Safety: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the costs and benefits of a four-day school week, how artificial intelligence is bringing a new era of social media manipulation, the effects of placing police officers in schools, and more.
Sep 8, 2023
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Journal Article
Access Challenges for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: A Secret-Shopper Study of In-Person and Telehealth Behavioral Health Services in California Safety-Net Clinics
The recent growth of telehealth may be impacting access to care for patients, including those with limited English proficiency. Using a secret-shopper design, simulated patients contacted 386 safety-net clinics in California from February-March 2023.
Sep 8, 2023
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News Release
Many Patients Don't Get to Choose the Type of Behavioral Health Visit They Receive
With the rapid growth of telehealth for behavioral health services, many patients do not have a choice of whether they receive in-person or remote care.
Sep 5, 2023
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Blog
The State of Public Education, the Opioid Crisis, Defending Taiwan: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the state of public education in America right now, a missing piece of the strategy for addressing the opioid crisis, emerging technology that could help defend Taiwan, and more.
Sep 1, 2023
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Journal Article
Telehealth and In-Person Mental Health Service Utilization and Spending, 2019 to 2022
During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth for mental health boomed. Post-pandemic, little is known about mental health service trends. We studied 2019-2022 data on telehealth vs. in-person mental health utilization and spending in US adults pre-2023 PHE expiry.
Aug 28, 2023
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News Release
Spending on Mental Health Services Has Risen by More Than Half Since Beginning of Pandemic
Spending on mental health services among Americans with private health insurance has surged since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to rise even as the use of telehealth has plateaued.
Aug 25, 2023
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Journal Article
Findings from an Organizational Context Survey to Inform the Implementation of a Collaborative Care Study for Co-occurring Disorders
This study surveyed primary care and behavioral health staff from 13 clinics implementing a collaborative care intervention for opioid use disorders co-occurring with PTSD and/or depression as part of a multisite randomized controlled trial.
Aug 17, 2023
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Journal Article
Design of CLARO+ (Collaboration Leading to Addiction Treatment and Recovery from Other Stresses, Plus): A Randomized Trial of Collaborative Care to Decrease Overdose and Suicide Risk Among Patients with Co-Occurring Disorders
We build upon a model of collaborative care in which care coordinators deliver preventative measures to high-risk patients and coordinate care with the patients' care team, to increase MOUD retention and decrease risk of suicide and overdose.
Aug 17, 2023
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Journal Article
A Parish-Based Multilevel Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Stigma and Mental Health Treatment Disparities Among Latino Communities
A trial by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Diocese of San Bernardino aims to use a parish-based intervention, potentially bridging gaps through education, reducing stigma, and improving access for Latinos.
Aug 16, 2023
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Journal Article
Expansion of Telehealth Availability for Mental Health Care After State-Level Policy Changes From 2019 to 2022
This study investigated whether state-level policy changes from 2019 to 2022 were associated with the expansion of telehealth services at mental health treatment facilities throughout the US.
Aug 11, 2023