The number of children and teenagers who are completing or attempting to commit suicide in Charleston has reached an unprecedented level during the pandemic, according to experts at the Medical University of South Carolina. 

There are not numbers yet available locally or on a national level to gauge how many children have completed or attempted suicide this past year, but Dr. Elizabeth Mack, chief of pediatric critical care at MUSC, said what they’re seeing inside the pediatric intensive care unit is much higher than normal. 

“We are certainly seeing a twin pandemic in many different ways,” Mack said, referring to both the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the burgeoning pediatric mental health crisis. “The isolation is really amplifying the inequities that have been laid bare for us.”

There are a number of factors likely contributing to the rise — isolation, grief related to the loss of loved ones and financial insecurity, to name a few. Many children and teenagers have not yet returned to school, which could be stoking their anxiety and depression. Schools serve a number of different functions outside of education. They serve meals, for example, and offer children ways to socialize and access health care. Teachers do more than teach. They’re often called on to report suspected cases of child abuse. 

But sending every child back to school won’t be a cure-all for their emotional distress, said Dr. Ryan Byrne, a psychiatrist at MUSC. In some cases, the fear of contracting COVID-19 inside a school may contribute to a child’s anxiety. On top of that, many children aren’t using to learning in an environment where they’re separated from other students by Plexiglas and required to wear masks. These changes are distressing for many students. 

The Heart Walk is a long-standing tradition at MUSC, and provides a great opportunity to honor lost loved ones, celebrate survivors and take steps (literally) to living a healthier life. You're encouraged to join the all-new Heart Walk Move More Challenge, a 30-day challenge designed to encourage Lowcountry residents to get active throughout the entire month of February! For more information on MUSC’s participation in the Move More Challenge, see the program flyer and sign up below.

The challenge will run on the free Heart Walk app and there is no registration fee to participate. Start or join a team at the link below. Once you are registered, login through the Heart Walk app and track your activity with your phone or wearable activity tracking device. We will celebrate our results on Celebration Saturday (February 27^th) as we come together virtually to “walk where we are” and celebrate what we have accomplished as a community.

Addiction Sciences Division

Assistant Professor/Psychologist (UNIV, Full-Time): This position is for a clinical psychologist who will be working as a faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Outpatient Clinic of the Addiction Sciences Division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, providing individual and group therapy to individuals with addiction-related and other psychiatric illnesses and their families. 

Open Rank/Assistant Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC. 

Open Rank/Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC.

Psychiatry Hospitalist Division

Open Rank - Psychiatry (UNIV, Full-Time): Candidate must be a psychiatrist with the ability to hold an unrestricted license to practice in South Carolina. The candidate must be board-eligible or board-certified if having completed residency training greater than five years ago. Candidate will be a member of the Psychiatry Hospitalist Division and provide inpatient care on a general adult psychiatry unit and provide coverage across other inpatient areas as needed. Candidate will provide care as a Consult Liaison, and have research coverage. *Note: This position is coded under an ECT identifier through Human Resources; however, it is not ECT for doctors. This position is for the Psychiatry Hospitalist Division.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science's

Executive Committee for Research and Research Administration (ECRRA) Announcement:

Special Issue Call for Papers: Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health

COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on mental health across the world, both because of the direct effects of the virus on various facets of brain and immune function, as well as the effects of economic, social and life style disruption. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science (BP:GOS) plans a special issue devoted to understanding both the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on mental health across the world, with a particular focus on prospective biological predictors and outcomes that may mediate or moderate the relationship of COVID-19’s influence on mental health, as well as studies of the mechanisms by which COVID-19 infection or associated impacts contribute to new onset mental health challenges or exacerbate pre-existing conditions. Treatment studies that link directly to COVID-19 are also welcome. The Journal is interested in empirical work or reviews focused on populations across the lifespan, as well as directly relevant animal work.

We invite submission for March 1, 2021, with a goal of publishing the special issue in August 2021. All submissions will be peer reviewed. Authors should indicate that the submission is intended for the special issue. For questions, contact the editorial office at BPGOS@sobp.org.

Program for Researchers Affected by Pandemic

COVID-19 Voucher Program

The College of Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, and South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR) are pleased to offer a new funding opportunity open to all MUSC tenured and tenure track faculty members whose research has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding of up to $2,000 is available to help investigators gather preliminary data for inclusion in a grant proposal by covering the cost of supplies and/or core and laboratory services; pay for publication costs; or develop a translational focus to their research. Vouchers cannot be used to fund computer purchases, PI or staff salary, or travel. These funds will be distributed through SCTR. A total of $200,000 is available to support these awards.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to receive a voucher an individual must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member and serve as PI on an active research grant. A faculty member can receive only one COVID voucher.

Apply

To apply for a voucher, select the COVID-19 Voucher Program in SPARCRequest. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until all funds are expended.

The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines have started arriving at  MUSC Health. The vaccine is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. The COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force will be posting updates on the COVID-19 Vaccine intranet site, including information about the vaccine safety and efficacy, so our care team members can make an informed decision.

LAB & TESTING OPTIONS

The following resource provides MUSC Health lab and testing options pertaining to COVID-19. Included on this page is information regarding drive-thru and “pop-up” mobile COVID testing locations, antibody or serology tests, drive-in lab and nurse visits, and original/classic lab testing.

MUSC Health Lab & Testing Options

MANDATORY SELF-MONITORING

Due to the activity of COVID-19 within the hospital and community, all employees, residents, fellows and students within all MUSC entities are directed to begin daily self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. This applies regardless of whether you have been working remotely on a full-time or intermittent basis. You need to continue daily self-monitoring, even if symptoms are not present.

• Self-Monitoring App
• Self-Monitoring Log

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and until further notice, all volunteers and observers are barred from participation in departmental and MH-ICCE based activities. If there are circumstances wherein this policy causes a significant and critical issue, it should be brought to my attention for consideration of a written waiver (on an individual basis) of this policy.

Please see the calendar below for a list of diversity & inclusion offerings from the Office of Training and Intercultural Education.