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NOTEBOOK – Some surprising mental health takeaways emerge from millennial forum

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I recently sat in on a portion of a “Millennial Health Forum” hosted by Wellmark, which brought together several dozen Greater Des Moines community and health-care leaders to discuss a new BCBSA Health of America Report. The report lays out some alarming trends in the health status of millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996 who are now in the early -20s to mid-30s.  

One of the most interesting aspects of the report, particularly given Iowa’s recent focus on addressing mental health issues, is that Iowa millennials are more likely to experience major depression than the rest of the country as a whole.  

BCBSA is using its vast claims database from some 40 million members to examine more than 200 common diseases and conditions. The association is working with its health insurance affiliates across the country to try to come up with localized approaches for addressing some of the most adverse trends. Based on the additional data it’s gathering, BCBSA plans to put out a national follow-up report in November. 

Nationally, 5% of millennials were diagnosed with major depression in 2017; by comparison the rate was 6.3% in Iowa. Also, the rate of prevalence of millennials nationally with depression increased 31% between 2014 and 2017, while in Iowa it increased 59% in that same three-year period. 

Notably, six of Iowa’s most prevalent chronic conditions among millennials are behavioral health-related, with major depression topping the list. The other five conditions — substance abuse, alcohol abuse, hyperactivity, psychotic disorders, and tobacco use — were each below or matched the national prevalence rate. 

Behavioral health was one of three key issues discussed in breakout sessions organized by Wellmark during the forum. Two other groups of participants focused on millennials in the workplace and digital engagement as a means to improve health access.

Health officials say they’re hopeful that local collaborations such as the recent forum will help pinpoint potential environmental, social or other factors that are driving the trends. 

One participant, Dr. Patricia Newland, a family medicine physician and regional medical director for UnityPoint Clinic in Central Iowa, said the data from the report doesn’t surprise her. “I’ve been in practice for 19 years; this lines up with what I see,” she said. 

Overall, Newland and her family practice colleagues have found that patients who have an ongoing relationship with their primary care physician generally have better health outcomes than people who don’t have a primary care doctor. UnityPoint Health has been trying to address barriers to care by providing access to same-day visits and enabling patients connect through UnityPoint’s online portal, she said. 

Heather Strachan, program director for NAMI Iowa, said that the shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health counselors in the state has made it even more important for primary care providers to be engaged in providing access to basic mental health care. 

One initiative that NAMI has helped launch in Iowa is a new provider training program in mental health for medical students, which Des Moines University now provides to all of its third-year students, Strachan said. “Currently our primary care physicians are treating the majority of mental health conditions in Iowa,” she noted. 
Another participant, David Grove, a psychologist and president of Compass Clinical Associates in Urbandale, said that meeting with other health professionals provides valuable interaction and promotes finding solutions. During a break, for instance, Grove said he briefly discussed with UnityPoint’s Newland the idea of integrating behavioral health into primary care practices. 

“They’re in a different system, so I’m learning how they’re doing it versus how I’m doing it,” he said. “So that’s where you can really tweak that idea; instead of just everyone trying their own ideas, we can share.” 

Access the report: https://tinyurl.com/y29za3js