Field Visit Contact Rate by Mobile Crisis Teams as a Crisis System Performance Metric.

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated associations between rates of contact with individuals in distress during field visits by mobile crisis teams and client and referral source characteristics. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study of an urban mobile crisis program, call logs (N=2,581) were coded for whether an attempted field visit resulted in a client evaluation. Logistic regression analyses examined potential associations with client age, gender, race-ethnicity, primary language, living situation, insurance, and referral source. RESULTS: Contact was made with 77% of adults and 97% of children referred to mobile crisis teams. Field visit contact rates differed by age. Unsuccessful visits were more likely when the referral source was from institutional settings than from individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-quarter of attempted field visits with adults by an urban mobile crisis team were not completed, particularly among referrals from institutional settings. As mobile crisis services proliferate, field visit contact rate could be a key performance metric for these critical services.

Reflections on a pandemic: Disruptions, distractions and challenges of a clinical social worker on the frontline in New York City.

For many of us, COVID-19 markedly changed our world and how we operate in it daily. While the behavioral health ramifications of this pandemic are not fully known, they have clearly had an impact. For weeks, we all watched in disbelief as COVID-19 ambushed China, Italy, and other countries. When President Trump implemented the March 16, 2020, live broadcast detailing plans of how our nation would address COVID-19, we knew that it was just a matter of time before we began to experience what we saw happening around the world. Quickly, the escalation of COVID-19 in the United States caused a major shift for social work education, practice, and research. Social workers are serving in critical roles during this pandemic and providing care for COVID-19 patients and their families. The purpose of this article is to provide reflection on the disruptions, distractions, and challenges of a social worker serving in a leadership role on the frontlines at the Javits Center in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is there a need for better sexual education of young men? Sexual behaviour and reproductive health in Swiss university students: a questionnaire-based pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: There is evidence that men's perception of contraceptive methods and of their effectiveness and health risks have a major impact on couples contraceptive choices. Engaging men in decision making improves reproductive health outcomes. If they are better informed, men can potentially contribute to more effective use of contraception, thus reducing the rate of sexually transmitted infections and abortion. In Central European countries, few data are available on male contraceptive knowledge and behaviour. METHODS: To collect more data we conducted an anonymous survey among young men studying at Zürich University in Switzerland. A questionnaire was distributed to 1500 male students which included a broad range of items addressing sexual behaviour, condom use and knowledge, and attitudes regarding contraceptive methods. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-one questionnaires were eligible for evaluation. Condoms and the combined oral contraceptive pill were the most frequently used methods. However, at last intercourse 15.6% of respondents had not used any method of contraception. Many respondents (37%) had had a one-night stand without protection. Contraceptive methods most regarded as unhealthy for women were the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestin-only methods, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and emergency contraception. Characteristics considered by young men to be important in determining contraceptive method choice were: efficacy, partner satisfaction and no impact on fertility and libido. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness among male Swiss students about contraceptive methods is high, but in-depth knowledge is limited. Myths were expressed about the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestin-only methods, IUDs and the emergency contraceptive pill. High-risk behaviour occurs frequently. The internet was reported to be the most important source of information about contraception.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health Disaster Response App.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the Department of Health and Human Services offers extensive disaster behavior health resources to assist disaster survivors in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and manmade disasters. One of SAMHSA's most innovative resources is the SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response App (SAMHSA Disaster App). The SAMHSA Disaster App prepares behavioral health responders for any type of traumatic event by allowing them to access disaster-related materials and other key resources right on their phone, at the touch of a button. The SAMHSA Disaster App is available on iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry devices.

Disaster Trauma: Federal Resources that Help Communities on Their Road to Recovery.

During the past several years, the US federal government has increased its role in preparing for and responding to natural and manmade disasters. The support and services that federal agencies provide to communities to address the psychological impact of trauma on citizens of all ages are valuable assets before and after a disaster. We used trauma theory to analyze disaster behavior health, assess the needs of at-risk populations, and identify the resources that the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers to the nation to assist communities in the psychological recovery process. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-5).

Budesonide is effective in adolescent and adult patients with active eosinophilic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by dense tissue eosinophilia; it is refractory to proton pump inhibitor therapy. EoE affects all age groups but most frequently individuals between 20 and 50 years of age. Topical corticosteroids are effective in pediatric patients with EoE, but no controlled studies of corticosteroids have been reported in adult patients. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of oral budesonide (1 mg twice daily for 15 days) in adolescent and adult patients with active EoE. Pretreatment and posttreatment disease activity was assessed clinically, endoscopically, and histologically. The primary end point was reduced mean numbers of eosinophils in the esophageal epithelium (number per high-power field [hpf] = esophageal eosinophil load). Esophageal biopsy and blood samples were analyzed using immunofluorescence and immunoassays, respectively, for biomarkers of inflammation and treatment response. RESULTS: A 15-day course of therapy significantly decreased the number of eosinophils in the esophageal epithelium in patients given budesonide (from 68.2 to 5.5 eosinophils/hpf; P < .0001) but not in the placebo group (from 62.3 to 56.5 eosinophils/hpf; P = .48). Dysphagia scores significantly improved among patients given budesonide compared with those given placebo (5.61 vs 2.22; P < .0001). White exudates and red furrows were reversed in patients given budesonide, based on endoscopy examination. Budesonide, but not placebo, also reduced apoptosis of epithelial cells and molecular remodeling events in the esophagus; no serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A 15-day course of treatment with budesonide is well tolerated and highly effective in inducing a histologic and clinical remission in adolescent and adult patients with active EoE.