Ethnoracial Disparities in Rates of Non-Natural Causes of Death After the 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak in New York State.

Introduction: COVID-19 was associated with increases in non-natural cause mortality in the U.S., including deaths due to drug overdose, homicide, and motor vehicle crashes. Initial reports indicated higher rates of non-natural mortality among ethnoracial minority groups. This report aims to clarify these disparities by documenting trends in non-natural mortality across ethnoracial groups during the 2020 COVID-19 surge in New York State. Methods: We report monthly trends in non-natural cause mortality (overall and stratified by ethnoracial status) in New York State from January 2019 through December 2020, which included the COVID-19 onset in March 2020. Results: Total mean monthly unintentional overdose rates per 100,000 increased from 17.45 (before surge: January 2019-February 2020) to 23.19 (after surge: March 2020-December 2020) (mean difference=5.73, 95% CI=3.82, 7.65; p<0.001). Mean monthly homicide death rates increased from 2.34 before surge to 3.55 after surge (mean difference=1.20, 95% CI=0.60, 1.81; p<0.001), with the increase seen primarily in the non-Latinx Black population. Although increasing unintentional overdose death rates before surge equally affected non-Latinx White, Latinx, and non-Latinx Black persons, they remained high for non-Latinx Black persons but dropped for the other 2 groups after the pandemic onset. None of the ethnoracial subgroups showed significant increases in suicide or motor vehicle crash death rates. Conclusions: Non-Latinx Black persons showed disproportionately high and sustained increased rates of unintentional overdose and homicide death rates after the 2020 COVID-19 surge in New York State. Fatality review and death scene investigation research is needed to better understand these disparities.

Disparities in COVID-19-Related Psychological Distress Among Recipients of a State's Public Mental Health Services.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined changes in perceived anxiety, stress, and mental health symptoms (i.e., psychological distress) reported by recipients of New York State public mental health services during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these changes varied by demographic characteristics or pandemic-related socioeconomic challenges. METHODS: A statewide survey of service recipients (N=3,483) was conducted (May 8-June 22, 2020). Descriptive analyses were summarized, and logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between increases in reported psychological distress and age, gender, region of residence, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic challenges, and alcohol or drug use. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of respondents (N=1,933) reported a slight or moderate increase in COVID-19-related psychological distress, and 15% (N=520) reported a substantial increase. In adjusted models, substantial elevations in psychological distress were associated with identifying as female (AOR=1.83, 95% CI=1.50-2.25), experiencing three or more pandemic-related socioeconomic challenges (AOR=2.41, 95% CI=1.91-3.03), and reporting increased use of alcohol or drugs (AOR=1.81, 95% CI=1.34-2.44). Compared with non-Hispanic/Latinx White service recipients, non-Hispanic/Latinx Black individuals had lower odds of reporting substantially increased psychological distress (AOR=0.59, 95% CI=0.45-0.76), as did non-Hispanic/Latinx Asian-descent individuals (AOR=0.28, 95% CI=0.12-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: In this large sample of recipients of New York State public mental health services, the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on psychological well-being was widespread and varied by gender, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic vulnerability. These relationships must be considered in ongoing efforts to provide optimal care for this population.

Improving Nutrition Security for Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses: A Partnership of Public and Nonprofit Agencies.

In conjunction with multiple partners (state agencies, nonprofits, a university, and key stakeholders and content experts), the authors are implementing and evaluating an intervention intended to enable individuals with serious mental illnesses living in community residences (i.e., group homes) and supportive housing apartments to-with support from residential staff-access, purchase, prepare, and enjoy healthy, local produce. The three-component intervention makes fresh produce more accessible; improves its affordability; and conveys knowledge and skills related to purchasing, preparing, and eating healthy foods, especially vegetables. The intervention is being evaluated in preparation for possible larger-scale implementation and potential dissemination to other populations experiencing nutrition insecurity.

The Impacts of COVID-19 on a Statewide Population With Mental Illness.

OBJECTIVE: This survey examined the experiences of individuals receiving treatment in a large public mental health system during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The survey, conducted between May and June 2020, assessed four domains: impacts on mental health, experiences with telehealth, access to care and resources, and sources and adequacy of support. Descriptive analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of 4,046 respondents, 70% reported increases in their anxiety and stress because of the pandemic. A majority (55%) reported experiencing challenges related to the social determinants of health and functional needs. Most respondents reported that their care went undisrupted, with 92% using telehealth and 90% reporting feeling adequately supported. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic substantially affected individuals with mental illness, particularly with regard to mental health related to the social determinants of health and functional needs. However, respondents felt that their mental health care was maintained and that they were adequately supported.

Estimated Staff Time Effort, Costs, and Medicaid Revenues for Coordinated Specialty Care Clinics Serving Clients With First-Episode Psychosis.

As coordinated specialty care for first-episode psychosis is implemented nationally, questions arise regarding financial sustainability. To address this, New York State undertook a time study in which 13 coordinated specialty care sites reported all activities provided to 75 randomly selected Medicaid clients with first-episode psychosis over a 2-week period. The average estimated cost was $1,375 per client per month, yet under optimal billing conditions, estimated revenues were only $662 per client per month, or 48% of the costs. These results underscore the need for continued subsidies and novel payment schemes for coordinated specialty care.

A Partnership to Develop Behavioral Health Quality and Performance Measures.

The New York State Medicaid program is pursuing reforms that would shift reimbursement from fee-for-service to value-based models. Behavioral health populations and services are key to these reforms, but important gaps exist in the breadth and relevance of available quality measures for the behavioral health field. This column describes how the state addressed these gaps by using both inter- and intra-agency collaborations. As part of this effort, the state convened a panel of consultants, including academics, providers, and consumers, to develop a behavioral health quality measurement agenda. Panel recommendations and ongoing partnerships are described as a model for states considering similar value-based reform initiatives.