Mental Health Headlines — September 30, 2026
**Investigation: Antipsychotic Drugs Used to Pacify Agitated Dementia Patients**
A new KFF Health News investigation by Jordan Rau examines the continued use of antipsychotic medications to calm people with dementia in long-term care, a practice the FDA warns increases the chance of death in older people with Alzheimer's and related diseases. Despite a 14-year federal campaign to reduce overprescribing, an estimated 1 in 4 Medicare beneficiaries with dementia are potentially inappropriately prescribed antipsychotics and other brain-altering drugs that can cause delirium, falls, and hospitalizations. The piece follows one family's conflict with a Michigan memory care facility, where a geriatric psychiatrist notes non-medication approaches exist, though some severe cases may still require medication.
Source: KFF Health News (reposted with attribution) — https://pagosadailypost.com/2026/09/30/questioning-the-use-of-antipsychotic-drugs-to-pacify-dementia-patients-part-one/
**100+ Organizations Join New National Maternal Mental Health Accelerator**
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health launched the National Maternal Mental Health Accelerator on September 29, bringing together more than 100 national, state, and local organizations to close gaps in maternal mental health care. The initiative aims to turn growing awareness into measurable change by 2030, focusing on training providers and eliminating care deserts, extending postpartum care to 12 months, advancing paid leave, and providing no- to low-cost care. Dedicated workstreams will also share patients' stories and push for state and federal policy and research advances.
Source: Becker's Behavioral Health — https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-health-mental-health/100-organizations-join-national-maternal-mental-health-initiative/
**Youth Concussion Study: Symptom Severity, Not Race or Income, Predicts Anxiety and Depression**
University of South Carolina researchers studying 10–17-year-olds with sport-related concussions found no link between race or household income and mental health outcomes, as reported September 29 and published in the Journal of Athletic Training. What did predict worse outcomes was symptom severity: patients with more severe lingering physical symptoms, like headaches or concentration problems, were more likely to report higher depression and anxiety. The lead author says understanding who is at risk can help athletic trainers and providers prevent, mitigate, and treat these outcomes.
Source: University of South Carolina — https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/about/news/2026/concussions_mental_health_youth_winkelmann_at_exsc.php