Author Archive
Opinion: As a psychiatrist, I have seen how the current emergency response system fails my patients
The San Diego Union-Tribune By Eric Rafla-Yuan April 19, 2021 Rafla-Yuan, M.D., is a psychiatrist and legislative director of the San Diego Psychiatric Society. He lives in Point Loma. Fifty years ago, if you fell and broke your leg or had a heart attack, there likely weren’t ambulances around. Instead, someone called 911 and the... read more
California Medical Association April 13, 2021 Over the next five years, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Division of Plan Surveys will be conducting investigations of all full-service commercial health plans regulated by DMHC to assess barriers and challenges practitioners experience in providing behavioral health services. The investigations will also seek to identify... read more
Meet the introverts who are dreading a return to normal
The Washington Post By Roxanne Roberts April 10, 2021 Everybody can’t wait to return to normal. Except for half the population dreading the return to normal. During a sad, tragic year, it was introverts who found a silver lining. There was more time alone, more peace and less of the personal and professional pressures they... read more
How to Spot Depression in Young Children
The New York Times By Perri Klass, M.D. April 1, 2021 We tend to think of childhood as a time of innocence and joy, but as many as 2 to 3 percent of children from ages 6 to 12 can have serious depression. When parents bring their children in for medical care these days, there... read more
The New York Times By Stacey Freedenthal March 9, 2021 Meghan’s decision to speak openly about her suicidal thoughts challenges a culture of secrecy that has stopped many people from seeking or offering help. To many people, suicide is unspeakable. Even mental health professionals sometimes do verbal gymnastics to avoid saying the word. That’s why Meghan Markle’s decision... read more
APA Condemns Violence Against Asian Americans in Georgia
American Psychiatric Association Mar 18, 2021 In response to the shooting of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, at spas in Georgia on Tuesday, APA issued a statement condemning the act and expressing support for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. “This year has seen a significant increase in racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans,... read more
These women saw themselves in Meghan’s mental health struggles: It ‘really hit because I’ve been there’
The Lily By Anne Branigin Mar. 8, 2021 Supporters of the Duchess of Sussex say her candidness could ‘save lives’ It was a moment that caught even the most avid watchers of the royal family off-guard. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, told Oprah Winfrey in a blockbuster interview... read more
APA Hails Passage of COVID Relief Bill Including Funds for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
American Psychiatric Association Wed Mar 10, 2021 APA leaders praised the inclusion of several provisions related to mental health in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (HR 1319)—the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, which the House of Representatives passed today by a vote of 220-211. The legislation, which is expected to be signed into law by... read more
Sexual Assault Against Boys Is a Crisis
The Washington Post Magazine By Emma Brown FEBRUARY 22, 2021 It’s far more common that we think. Here’s why we don’t talk about it. Raising a boy sometimes feels like traveling in a foreign land. When I gave birth to my daughter, three years before my son was born, I had no idea how to... read more
The New York Times By Heidi Borst Feb. 25,2021 Experts say some symptoms, especially in women, are mistaken for other conditions such as mood disorders or depression. I heard my 7-year-old son’s cries of frustration loud and clear despite the closed door between us. Seconds earlier, I’d left him stationed at a desk in my... read more