Researchers at the UNC Department of Genetics have discovered that there are common genetics in play that link and likely cause eight psychiatric disorders. These are: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anorexia nervosa.

This important research can pave the way for further understanding how and why these conditions develop. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, methods can be developed for prevention and treatment.

For the research summary, please click here: www.med.unc.edu/genetics/eight-psychiatric-disorders-share-the-same-genetic-causes-study-says/

The Florida Department of Health has announced the launching of new resources for parenting. For the "Strong Florida Moms" site, please click here: strongflmoms.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Dads can find their own resources here: fatherfirstfl.com/

Research conducted by Dr. Karen Heffler, and colleagues, at Drexel's College of Medicine shows that the amount of screen time infants and toddlers are exposed to can effect development in the areas of: atypical sensory processing and sensation seeking, sensitivity and avoiding. Atypical sensory processing is associated with the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Both are medical/neurological conditions.

The American Acadamy of Pediatricians (AAP) discourages screen time for babies under the age of 24 months. The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends screen time for under 2 years old be limited to educational programming with a caregiver. Dr. Heffler writes "Since screen time is potentially modifiable through parent training and education, we advocate for greater adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to avoid screen viewing in children younger than 18 to 24 months and for greater public awareness of the research involving the association between early-life digital media exposure and developmental outcomes.

For the full article, please go here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2813443

On June 14, 2024, HB 7021 (known as The Florida Mental Health and Substance Abuse Act) was signed into law. Given an appropriation of $50M, the bill will make important updates and revisions to Florida's Baker and Marchman Acts. This is occurring for the first time since they originated in 1971 and 1993, respectively.

As Fastdemocracy reports, the following changes are being made:
The bill amends the Baker Act in that it:
-Combines processes for courts to order individuals to involuntary outpatient services and involuntary inpatient placement in the Baker Act, to streamline the process for obtaining involuntary services, and providing more flexibility for courts to meet individuals’ treatment needs.
-Grants law enforcement officers discretion on initiating involuntary examinations.

The bill amends the Marchman Act in that it:
-Repeals existing provisions for court-ordered involuntary assessments and stabilization in the Marchman Act, and creates a new consolidated involuntary treatment process.
-Prohibits courts from ordering an individual with a developmental disability who lacks a co-occurring mental illness to a state mental health treatment facility for involuntary inpatient placement.
-Revises the voluntariness provision under the Baker Act to allow a minor's voluntary admission after a clinical review, rather than a hearing, has been conducted.
-Authorizes a witness to appear remotely upon a showing of good cause and with consent by all parties.
-Allows an individual to be admitted as a civil patient in a state mental health treatment facility without a transfer evaluation and prohibits a court, in a hearing for placement in a treatment facility, from considering substantive information in the transfer evaluation unless the evaluator testifies at the hearing.

The bill amends both acts in that it:
-Creates a more comprehensive and personalized discharge planning process.
-Requires the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute to prepare and publish certain reports on its website.
-Removes the 30-bed cap for crisis stabilization units.

Additionally, Physician Assistants and ARNP's will be allowed to practice in psychiatric settings for physical healthcare. Florida's Department of Children and Families will implement these changes. The bill passed unanimously throughout the Florida legislature.

For a full reading of the bill, please go here: www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/7021/BillText/er/PDF

Click here for the Fastdemocracy resource:
​fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/fl/2024/bills/FLB00031311/

Excerpted from author Orion Rummler (see link below).

A new state rule by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will no longer allow a trans person to update their license with their preferred gender identity. This is for license renewals only. The DHSMV argues that "issuing a replacement license that match ones internal sense of gender or sex identification...violates Florida state code. Gender on a license is equated with sex assigned at birth and one can face potential legal consequences (e.g. Fraud) by not stating it as such. Kansas is the the only other state which has such a rule.

Click here for the original article: 19thnews.org/2024/01/florida-trans-drivers-license-update/

Two important bills, both focused on addressing problems associated with young peoples online activity, are working their way through the Florida legislature. The first, FL HB1 (24R), is attempting to pass strict social media restrictions which would not allow those younger than 16 years old to hold an account and to delete existing accounts of these same minors. Age verification would be required to open/maintain an account on certain platforms. There is much debate on which platforms and type of services would be included and what freedom of speech issues are at hand. Legislators base their creating and support of the bill in that social media access has damaging effects on the mental health of our youth. Please click here to read the bill: www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1/BillText/e1/PDF

FL HB3 (24R), the second bill, also addresses concerns about problems associated with the mental health of our young people. This bill focuses on access to online pornography and would require users to submit to 3rd party age verification. For the full text of the bill, please click here: www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/3/BillText/c2/PDF

In a new study published in the journal Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, brains and blood of those with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) show evidence of premature aging. A total of 281 postmortem brain samples were studied to gather this evidence. This study is the first of its kind to demonstrate such changes in the brain and blood from excessive drinking.

AUD, commonly known as alcoholism in more severe cases, has been shown to be a factor in premature death and neurological diseases. This study showed that the increased aging process effected the areas of the brain associated with executive control and working memory.

To see the study, please go here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acer.15241

A study in Denmark spanning 5 decades and including over 6 million people shows a significant link between schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder (CUD). For young males, 25-30% cases of schizophrenia could have been prevented in the absence of CUD.  For all males, that number would be 15%. For females, that number drops to 4%. Clearly the risk, for the combination of the two problems, is greater in males.

Studies such as this are demonstrating that CUD can and does play a role, for some,  in the development of schizophrenia. In recent years, there has been a growing number of studies highlighting this association.

For the original article, please click here: www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/association-between-cannabis-use-disorder-and-schizophrenia-stronger-in-young-males-than-in-females/E1F8F0E09C6541CB8529A326C3641A68#

The American Psychological Association (APA) has issued a Health Advisory for social media use during adolescence. This advisory is intended to help teens, families/caregivers, professionals, media companies, etc. with using social media properly.  "While these platforms can promote healthy socialization, their use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that youth have skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe and meaningful experiences" according to the APA.

The APA offers 10 specific recommendations for assistance. They are:

1. Youth using social media should be encouraged to use functions that create opportunities for social support, online companionship, and emotional intimacy that can promote healthy socialization.

2. Social media use, functionality, and permissions/consenting should be tailored to youths’ developmental capabilities; designs created for adults may not be appropriate for children.

3. In early adolescence (i.e., typically 10–14 years), adult monitoring (i.e., ongoing review, discussion, and coaching around social media content) is advised for most youths’ social media use; autonomy may increase gradually as kids age and if they gain digital literacy skills. However, monitoring should be balanced with youths’ appropriate needs for privacy.

4. To reduce the risks of psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to content on social media that depicts illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior, including content that instructs or encourages youth to engage in health-risk behaviors, such as self-harm (e.g., cutting, suicide), harm to others, or those that encourage eating-disordered behavior (e.g., restrictive eating, purging, excessive exercise) should be minimized, reported, and removed; moreover, technology should not drive users to this content.

5. To minimize psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to “cyberhate” including online discrimination, prejudice, hate, or cyberbullying especially directed toward a marginalized group (e.g., racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, ability status), or toward an individual because of their identity or allyship with a marginalized group should be minimized.

6. Adolescents should be routinely screened for signs of “problematic social media use” that can impair their ability to engage in daily roles and routines, and may present risk for more serious psychological harms over time.

7. The use of social media should be limited so as to not interfere with adolescents’ sleep and physical activity.

8. Adolescents should limit use of social media for social comparison, particularly around beauty- or appearance-related content.

9. Adolescents’ social media use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that users have developed psychologically-informed competencies and skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe, and meaningful social media use.

10. Substantial resources should be provided for continued scientific examination of the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent development.

For further reading, please click here: www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use

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