KIRO Radio | November 18, 2021
Caleb Banta-Green, PhD, says that young people need to understand that if they didn't get a pill from a pharmacy, there's a 99% chance it's fentanyl.
News & Stories
Treating the opioid epidemic
Seattle Now | November 17, 2021
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson wants three drug distributors to pay up for their role in the opioid epidemic. If he wins in court, the state could have billions of dollars to spend on treatment. Michelle Peavy, a research scientist at the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, is interviewed.
A telehealth effort to treat PTSD and bipolar disorder in rural areas showed ‘huge gains.’ Now comes the hard part
Stat News | November 17, 2021
A multiyear effort to pipe big-city mental health providers to rural communities over video accomplished a trifecta of telehealth victories, but does it scale? Lead researcher John Fortney, PhD, says better payment systems for more kinds of mental health treatment will be necessary for this type of approach to make a dent in access to care.
Ketamine therapy: Seattle clinic’s novel mental health treatment
KING 5 | November 17, 2021
A Mountlake Terrace clinic is using a novel therapy on some patients with treatment-resistant mental health challenges — but is it safe? Nathan Sackett,, MD says psychedelics are only truly therapeutic when combined with professional psychotherapy.
Can magic mushrooms help ease anxiety and depression?
Right as Rain | November 15, 2021
Microdosing psilocybin has become trendy among people hoping to alleviate anxiety or increase creativity. Nathan Sackett, MD, talks about its promise as a therapeutic agent and his plans to build a novel therapeutics research program that will explore the pairing of compounds like psilocybin and ketamine with behavioral interventions to treat addictions.
Serious mental illness? There’s an app for that
UW Medicine newsroom | November 15, 2021
Researchers led by Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD, created a smartphone app with daily game-like exercises to help people with a serious mental illness reassess their dysfunctional beliefs.
How to fix Washington’s mental and behavioral health care system? 4 experts weigh in
The Seattle Times | November 8, 2021
Policy makers, advocates and people who have experiences with mental illness and substance use disorders discussed the historic and systemic issues that prevent people from accessing appropriate and adequate care. Jim Vollendroff, MPA, is quoted.
Expert’s advice on fighting off seasonal depression from rainy Seattle weather
MyNorthwest | November 8, 2021
As weather in the Puget Sound region keeps conditions dark and rainy, Heidi Combs, MD, has some advice to help fight off the gloom.
Getting through winter without feeling SAD
UW Medicine newsroom | November 5, 2021
Serotonin levels, exercise and light all play a part in seasonal affective disorder. Heidi Combs, MD, shares tips on how to get through the winter.
To strengthen Washington’s mental health workforce, UW wants to train undergrads as first-line providers
The Seattle Times | November 4, 2021
The University of Washington is seeking to offer a bachelor’s-level program that can train students in evidence-based talk therapy. The initiative is being funded by the Ballmer Group and led by Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD.
