Author Archive

Cannabis Use in Pregnancy May Lead to a More Anxious, Aggressive Child

By drwong
December 23, 2021

The New York Times By Melinda Wenner Moyer Nov. 19, 2021 A new study adds to a growing body of evidence that indicates prenatal marijuana use can impact children’s development and behavior. Children of women who use marijuana during or soon after pregnancy are twice as likely as other kids to become anxious, aggressive or...   read more


Some mentally ill folks can’t help themselves. Why Sacramento took a tough step to help

By drwong
July 25, 2021

The Sacramento Bee By Phil Serna June 05, 2021 By a unanimous vote, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors recently approved a controversial assisted outpatient treatment program for those suffering from severe mental illness in our community. Sacramento County enacted“Laura’s Law.” Named after Laura Wilcox, a Nevada County woman who was only 19 when she was shot and...   read more


Column: A letter to my parents about depression and mental illness

By drwong
June 28, 2021

Los Angeles Times By Frank Shyong June 25, 2021 Dear Mom and Dad, There’s a story that I need to tell, and I know that it’s one that my family should hear first. But every time I’ve tried to explain these last few years, I couldn’t. I wrote down the words and even rehearsed them,...   read more


Supreme Court Rejects Texas-Led Claim to Invalidate Affordable Care Act

By drwong
June 28, 2021

American Psychiatric Association Mon Jun 21, 2021 The U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and ruled against the state of Texas and other plaintiffs in its challenge to the ACA, saying the plaintiffs had no legal standing to bring the case.The ruling puts to rest the latest legal challenge to the ACA...   read more


Calling mental health workers, not police, to deal with mental health crises

By drwong
June 28, 2021

The Washington Post By Rob Waters June 20, 2021 Spencer Merritt thought he was going to die. He couldn’t breathe and voices in his head told him he had been poisoned and that his beloved dog, Lulu, who died a year earlier, had been, too. He thought the voices were talking to him through hidden microphones...   read more


In Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal, some see a ‘wake-up call’ for sports that neglect mental health

By drwong
June 6, 2021

The Washington Post By Liz Clarke June 1, 2021 Although she has withdrawn from the French Open, tennis star Naomi Osaka this week scored a victory that athletes and advocates say will have an enduring impact by putting athletes’ mental health in the global spotlight — and sending a warning shot to the sports industry...   read more


Court Ruling in Wit v. UBH Should be Upheld, Urges American Psychiatric Association

By drwong
June 6, 2021

American Psychiatric Association Thu May 20, 2021 Managed care organizations must use medical necessity criteria and assessment tools developed by nonprofit mental health and substance use disorder specialty organizations when making coverage-related determinations.That’s what APA and seven other medical organizations told the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a friend-of-the-court brief filed yesterday...   read more


Prince Harry talks about mental health, ‘genetic pain’ and living ‘in a zoo’

By drwong
June 6, 2021

The Washington Post By Karla Adam May 14, 2021 LONDON — Prince Harry talked about inherited suffering and compared his former royal life to a mixture of being on "The Truman Show" and living "in a zoo," in his first interview since his bombshell broadcast with Oprah Winfrey in March. In a 90-minute recording with...   read more


Eating Disorders in Teens Have ‘Exploded’ in the Pandemic

By drwong
May 6, 2021

The New York Times By Lisa Damour April 28, 2021 Here’s what parents need to know. As a psychologist who cares for adolescents I am well aware of the prevalence of eating disorders among teenagers. Even still, I am stunned by how much worse the situation has become in the pandemic. According to the psychologist...   read more


Sleeping Too Little in Middle Age May Increase Dementia Risk, Study Finds

By drwong
May 6, 2021

The New York Times By Pam Belluck April 20, 2021 The research, tracking thousands of people from age 50 on, suggests those who sleep six hours or less a night are more likely to develop dementia in their late 70s. Could getting too little sleep increase your chances of developing dementia? For years, researchers have...   read more