On August 6, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointment of Thomandra S. Sam, PhD of  Zachary to the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Dr. Sam is clinical  supervisor for the Sexual Behavior Treatment Program within the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice.

Dr. Sam fills the July vacancy on the state board created as Dr. Amy Henke completed her  five-year service.

Dr. Sam is from Baton Rouge and was licensed in 2015 in the specialty area of counseling according to her candidate statement. She is a Psychologist V/Office of Behavioral Health/Eastern LA Mental Health System. She earned her degree from Auburn University.

In her statement, Dr. Sam wrote, “I working with diverse clinical presentations, demographics  and within various settings from college counseling, community mental health, a pastoral  center, domestic violence and homeless shelter, a marriage and family clinic and hospital  settings. I am and have been licensed in various states and so I am keenly aware of how a variety of psychologists exist in different spaces both here in Louisiana as well as across our nation. I hope my unique experience adds an additional layer to an already highly qualified  Board and staff.”

“My desire to assist the Board comes from my graduate program’s Social-Justice orientation and strong value to serve the profession and the general community. In this vain, one of my goals is  to aide in creating spaces for Psychologists to feel more comfortable consulting with the Board  to inquire about the best processes, best practice and most informed actions when engaging in  all levels of their work; diminishing the fear of asking for guidance and increasing access to  consultation, informal support or mentorship should be highly supported to create a more confident and effective psychological community. With this goal, there will also be times when someone’s actions or decision-making may need to be reviewed in retrospect; with regard to  what would be my role as a regulator in enforcing the Ethics Code, psychological standards and  laws would require I act judiciously, timely and fairly accounting for context while balancing the protection of the public and the profession.

Dr. Sam wrote, “Additionally, I am Interested in ensuring that Louisiana is ahead of the curve with offering diverse platforms to diverse consumers from diverse Psychologists; yes, that is a  lot of one word in a sentence but its message is necessary. As our society Is changing, it is  important Louisiana is able to compete with the rest of the nation and attract bright minds to  work and advance our state and practice; in doing so, we ensure we are at the cutting edge of  service by creating a healthy Louisiana that recognizes the need for mental healthcare, has access to the care needed and is ultimately positively impacted by our profession toward higher levels of wellness and increased quality of life. Regarded as the father of individual psychology  in some circles, Alfred Adler encouraged us to, ‘Follow your heart but take your brain with you.’ I think being an effective Board member requires a constant balance of both.”

On July 27, the Governor said that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Louisiana both hit records, and urged individuals to take immediate precautions for their own and others’ safety.

The Louisiana Department of Health announced 6,797 new COVID-19 cases reported to the state since July 26, 2021, the second highest single-day case count reported since January 6, 2021 (6,882 cases reported that day). Also, 1,390 people have been hospitalized, the largest single-day increase since March 2020.

“To see this current rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is becoming increasingly scary,”  said Gov. Edwards. “We reported nearly 6,800 cases today in addition to the nearly 8,000 that  were reported from the weekend. And today, there are close to 1,400 COVID patients hospitalized statewide …approximately 90 percent of whom are unvaccinated. This is the largest single daily increase since March of last year.

“As I said recently, this surge is on us, and that means it is up to each of us to do our part to bring it to an end. It’s within our power. Getting vaccinated is the best way to stay safe and healthy during this pandemic. It is the best way to put it behind us. In addition, I am  recommending that everyone, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear masks while indoors if six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.”

“COVID is surging in Louisiana and it is not slowing down. As the dangerous and dominant Delta  variant continues to spread and COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to skyrocket, we urge all individuals in Louisiana to protect themselves and their families,” said Dr.  Joseph Kanter, State Health Officer.

“Mask while indoors and get tested if you suspect you’ve been exposed to COVID-19. These are  public health emergency measures that will limit death and suffering during this fourth surge.”

In a press release on July 16, officials said:

•The number of new cases diagnosed each day in Louisiana has been increasing since June 16  and is now increasing in all nine regions of the state; 

• The settings with the greatest outbreak increases included camps, child day cares, religious services and restaurants;

• In addition to the widespread circulation of the more transmissible Delta variant, insufficient  masking and distancing, especially among unvaccinated individuals, are also contributing to the  spread of COVID-19 in these settings.

On July 30, the Governor’s office disclosed that two members of Gov. Edwards’ team have  tested positive for COVID-19, according to the press release.

Both are at home in isolation, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Louisiana Department of Health, according to the press release.+

The Governor’s office has a high rate of fully vaccinated staff, including these staffers who were  vaccinated against COVID earlier this year, according to the press release.

While breakthrough cases such as these do happen, they typically do not result in serious  illness.

The Governor’s Office practices all CDC and LDH recommended COVID mitigation measures,  including indoor masking, quarantine and isolation, and COVID testing after exposure, according to the press release.

In June, Gov. Edwards signed the budget bill, announcing that the measure invests in many of  the Governor’s key priorities, including increased funding for education, promoting continued  economic recovery from the pandemic, and creating substantial new investments in  infrastructure. 

“In terms of higher education,” said the Governor, “the budget supports a $19.8 million faculty  pay raise, and additional $14.5 million in the funding formula for both four and two year  institutions, fully funds TOPS as well as a historic $11.1 million increase in GO Grant funding. All of this is critical to supporting our educational systems as we come out of a challenging year  and creating first class learning environments in Louisiana,” the Governor said.

According to the press release, Louisiana’s budget uses federal coronavirus recovery dollars in the state’s ongoing response and long-term resurgence following the pandemic, without  creating structural budget issues in the future. Because of these increased revenues, teachers  will receive an $800 pay raise and school support workers will receive a $400 pay raise. These raises are not enough, said the Governor, but they are another critical step forward in reaching our goal of getting teacher pay back to the Southern regional average.

“The budget I signed today is a far cry from past years, thanks to increased revenues and additional federal funding to support the state’s recovery from the pandemic,” Gov. Edwards said. “It makes significant investments in education at every level, provides support for families  on Medicaid, those living with disabilities, foster families and adoptive parents working with the  Department of Children and Family Services, and promotes access to important services for the  elderly. It invests in infrastructure, economic development, public safety and our continued  efforts to reform Louisiana’s criminal justice system.

“Thanks to bipartisan cooperation and a commitment to responsible budgeting, Louisiana  enters the next fiscal year more resilient and ready to resume robust economic growth.”

In related news, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) pointed out its list of  bills passed by the legislature that LABI leaders said can change the Louisiana business climate  for the better.

“This has been an extremely collaborative session where legislators worked together to develop innovative solutions for the good of the people of Louisiana,” said Stephen Waguespack,  resident of LABI.

The association pointed out positive legislation for tax reform, transportation infrastructure funding, school choice appeals process, school funding transparency, paycheck protection, and  a ban on deceptive attorney advertising. 

“The bills passed this session— with great bi-partisan support— will untangle Louisiana’s confusing tax code and improve the business climate for those in our state as well as those looking to invest here. While tax reform and infrastructure funding were front-and-center in the public’s eye this session, we can’t overlook some of these long-sought solutions to problems  plaguing our business community. These are major milestones on the path toward economic  opportunity in Louisiana,” said Waguespack.

House Bill 477, the legislation put forth by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, passed out of the Senate committee after amendments were agreed on and several Senators had their questions answered. The measure passed the Senate floor on May  26 with a vote of 37 to 0.

The measure, authored by Representative Joe Stagni, was a compromise measure following the  downsizing of a 23-page bill introduced by the psychology board in 2020 and then again this  year. Under pressure from opponents, the board agreed to substitute a fee bill, telling sources  that without the increased fees the board would not be able to operate in the future. This  message resonated with the majority of those attending a special meeting of the Louisiana Psychological Association called for by petition of those opposing the measure.

On the Senate floor, an amendment was attached to the bill by Alexandria Sen. Jay Luneau to  rename the 2009 Act 251. Luneau’s amendment names Act No. 251 of the 2009 Regular Session  “The Dr. James W. Quillin, MP, Medical Psychology Practice Act.” This came after the unexpected passing of Dr. Quillin, also from the Alexandria Pineville area, on May 25. The  amendment appeared to prompt numerous additional authors to sign on to the measure.

The digest of the bill as finally passed by the Senate includes the following:

• adds that the board shall charge an application fee for each assistant to a psychologist that  shall not exceed $50;

• adds that the board shall set a renewal fee not to exceed $50 for every assistant to a  psychologist which shall be paid in accordance with present law;

• provides that the board shall assess an application and renewal fee to an individual who sponsors a continuing professional development course or activity and who wishes for the board to review and pre-approve the course or activity. Further provides the application and renewal fee shall not exceed $250;

• provides that the board shall assess an application fee to a licensee who seeks renewal and pre-approval of a continuing professional development course or activity and shall not exceed $25. The application fee shall only apply if a licensee intends to earn a credit for a course or activity in which the sponsor has not sought review or obtained approval by the board;

• stipulates that the board may collect reasonable admission fees from a licensee who attends  a continuing professional development course or activity. Such fee may be collected for any course or activity that is offered, sponsored, or co-sponsored by the board. Proposed law  further provides that the board shall not require attendance for a course or activity which may  be offered, sponsored, or co-sponsored. Such activity shall be an elective for a licensee who  chooses to attends;

• proposed law provides that the board may assess fees not to exceed $200 for the following special services identified by the board: (1) Application for authority to conduct telesupervision.  (2) Application for an inactive license or renewal license status. (3) Application for emeritus  status and renewal. (4) Any written or computer-generated license verification. (5) Any written  or computer-generated disciplinary report. (6) To obtain a duplicate license. (7) To obtain a  duplicate renewal certificate. (8) To obtain a mail list.

The Legislative Fiscal Office note indicates that the changes should total to $78,750 per year.  The office estimates that $50,000 of this amount will come from continuing professional development preapproval applications. The estimate includes 200 annual applications multiplied by $250 each. The Office also estimates initial registration of unlicensed assistants  will grow to 420 and produce revenue of $21,000. The report says this is based on a survey by  the board finding that one sixth of licensees report the use of assistants.

At the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on May 20, Senator Stagni introduced the bill  saying that the psychology board was important and it was having financial problems.

LSBEP Executive Director, Jaime Monic, and Dr. Erin Reuther, current President of the Louisiana Psychological Association, testified in favor of the bill.

Reuther said that “Our membership did hold a meeting last week and it was specifically to discuss this bill and we had record attendance at that meeting and over 72% of the members present at that meeting voted to support this legislation.“

Sen. Mills asked how many license holders in Louisiana and how many of those were  represented in the association. Dr. Reuther answered that there were about 800 licensees and
about a little over 200 represented in the association.

Sen. Barrow asked about the composition of the board. She also asked if the bill was something  the board came up with and then submitted to the membership and then the
membership voted on it.

Dr. Reuther said, “So actually this was a collaborative process, over the last 18 months with all  the major stakeholders in the state including the state board of examiners, the Louisiana Psychological Association, and Louisiana School Psychological Association.”

Sen. McMath asked, “How much money do you think you need?“

Ms. Monic answered, “Most boards that are fully operational and fully funded or able to have
enough in reserves have up to $500-$1 million.“

Sen. McMath asked, “What else do you spend it on other than legal fees?” 

Ms. Monic replied that legal and employees are the major expenses other than office space.

Sen. Stagni said that the psychology board is one of the few professions he knows of that does not fine their doctors and recover their costs. “They have a real crisis,” Sen. Stagni said.

Sen. Mills asked about the definition of the assistant. And also said that he intends to ask the  committee for some clarity. He asked for Ms. Brandi Cannon, Senior Attorney with the Committee, to testify or ask questions in order to “… see if there are pitfalls in moving without more clarification.”

Ms. Cannon said, “So the concern would be that where the law doesn’t currently provide for assistants, this would simply create a new registration class.

“So our concern would be there, that it is fine to put a fee there, but you also need a  substantive provision for this to put the parameters…

“The legislature can tell the board to go and further refine it but we need to create it first. This is a fee bill so you are really trying to avoid substantive provisions potentially.”

Sen. Stagni said he thought the provisions for assistants already existed and Ms. Monic agreed, commenting that supervisory personnel already exist in the statute.

Ms. Cannon asked, “Does it provide for the registration?” and Sen. Stagni said no. Then Cannon said, “So what you’re doing is creating a new registration class.” She said that there must be  clear legislative direction or it “will be open to challenge.”

“We need sign posts, so we have Legislative direction, otherwise it is open to challenge that y’all, the board, would be creating law in affect with your rules. But we can work with you.”

Senator Mills said that there was some “work between here and the floor” to get those issues clarified.

He then asked about fees, saying “Up to $200 for things that are just easy to get  that information, is everyone on the same page? Because there’s some things that are on the Internet that are just click a button and also free services by the board … as where you do certain license verification and I know some boards are almost free on that and here’s a pretty hefty fee. Everybody’s okay with that?”

Ms. Monic said, “A lot of these fees are already in rulemaking yet we are requesting that they be clearly established in statute…

Last month, as the nation recognized May 5, 2021 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women  and Girls Awareness Day, Gov Edwards signed a proclamation declaring the same in Louisiana as well as an executive order creating the Governor’s Task Force on Murdered and  Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.

The Task Force will proactively address the myriad causes of MMIWG and recommend  solutions  that can be implemented to protect Indigenous women and girls. Indigenous women suffer murder rates ten-times the national average, one in three will be raped in their lifetimes,  and some 84 percent will be the victims of violence.

This task force seeks to raise public awareness about the ongoing crisis of violence against  indigenous women, said the announcement.

“We must remember that each victim is much more than a number but a loved one, whose  family and friends are searching for answers,” said Gov. Edwards.

“There is a need for urgent action in order to combat this tragedy. Louisiana has a rich  Indigenous heritage with four federally recognized Indian tribes and 11 state recognized tribes. I am grateful that this issue has been brought to the forefront. Louisiana is committed to  partnering with federal, state, interstate, and intertribal efforts to address the injustice and  violence done to indigenous women residing within our nation and our state.”

“This is such a serious issue, and I’m grateful to Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Chairman David  Sickey and others leaders who have been working tirelessly to bring attention to this injustice,”  said First Lady Donna Edwards. “We are committed to doing all we can to help fight this  heartbreaking crime.”

In a new “Stress in America” report, researchers for the American Psychological Association (APA) have found that the pandemic and the lockdowns are causing  with impacts to individuals’ physical and mental health. Researchers say that the impacts will persist past the physical threat of the virus.

High levels of stress reported by Americans is seriously affecting mental and physical health,
including weight gain, sleep issues and alcohol use, noted the report authors.

Adults affected most seriously included 18 to 24-yearolds, essential workers, people of color, and parents.

According to the report, Generation Z adults were the most likely group to say that their mental health has worsened compared with before the pandemic, with 46% of this group endorsing
items showing that they felt the stress.

This age group was followed by Generation Xers at 33%, and the Millennials at 31%. The  Baby Boomers fell at 28%.

Older adults, over age 76, were the least affected with only 9% declaring a stress-related problem due to the pandemic. Ironically, this group is the group that is most at risk for direct danger from the virus.

The report’s authors said that these conditions are likely to “lead to significant, long-term individual and societal consequences, including chronic illness and additional strain on the nation’s health care system.”

One major finding was weight gain. A majority of adults, 61%, reported experiencing unwanted weight changes since the start of the pandemic, with 42% saying they gained more weight than they intended. Of this group, individuals reported gaining an average of 29 pounds. The typical
gain was 15 pounds, which is the median, according to the researchers.

Another finding pointed to sleep problems. According to researchers, “Two in 3 Americans (67%) said they are sleeping more or less than they wanted to since the pandemic started. similar proportions reported less (35%) and more (31%) sleep than desired.”

Almost one fourth, 23%, of those surveyed reported that they were drinking more alcohol to cope with their stress during the pandemic.

And almost half of Americans, 47%, said that they had postponed or ignored otherwise scheduled health care services because of  the the pandemic.

Parents have been hit particularly hard. “Nearly half of parents (48%) said the level of stress in their life has increased compared with before the pandemic. More than 3 in 5 parents with children who are still home for remote learning (62%) said the same.”

“Essential workers were more than twice as likely as those who are not to have received treatment from a mental health professional (34% vs. 12%) and to have been diagnosed
with a mental health disorder since the coronavirus pandemic started (25% vs. 9%).

“Black Americans were most likely to report feelings of concern about the future. More
than half said they feel uneasy about adjusting to in-person interaction once the pandemic ends (57% vs. 51% Asian, 50%  Hispanic and 47% white).

Parents have been hit particularly hard. Reporting stress at 62% or the parents with children who are still at home for virtual education. Nearly half of all parents, 48%, said the level of stress in their life has increased compared with before the pandemic.

Researchers also identified essential workers as being at the ground zero of stress. “More than half of essential workers (54%) said they relied on a lot of unhealthy habits to get through the pandemic. Nearly 3 in 10 (29%) said their mental health has worsened. When asked about emotional support, 3 in 4 essential workers (75%) said they could have used more than they
received since the pandemic started. Essential workers were more than twice as likely as those who are not to have received treatment from a mental health professional (34% vs. 12%) and to have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder since the coronavirus pandemic started (25% vs. 9%).”

In a related report of research conducted by Sapien Labs, reported by Batya Swift Yasgur, in “New Data on Worldwide Mental Health Impact of COVID-19,” (Medscape -Mar 15, 2021), researchers studied eight English-speaking countries and 49,000 adults.

Results indicated that 57% of respondents said they have experienced some COVID19-related adversity or trauma. Researchers found that one quarter of those responding showed clinical signs of, or were at risk for a mood disorder. On the other hand, 40% described themselves as
“succeeding or thriving.”

“Those who reported the poorest mental health were young adults and individuals who experienced financial adversity or were unable to receive care for other medical conditions. Nonbinary gender and not getting enough sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialization also increased the risk for poorer mental well-being.”

“The data suggest that there will be longterm fallout from the pandemic on the mental health front,” Tara Thiagarajan, PhD, Sapien Labs founder and chief scientist, said in a press release.

The survey, which is part of the company’s Mental Health Million project, is an ongoing research initiative that makes data freely available to other researchers. The investigators developed a “free and anonymous assessment tool,” the Mental Health Quotient.

The overall mental well-being score for 2020 was 8% lower than the score obtained in 2019 from the same countries, said the researchers. And, the percentage of respondents who fell into the “clinical” category increased from 14% in 2009 to 26% in 2020.

Residents of Singapore had the highest, most positive MHQ score, followed by residents of the United States. At the other end of the scale, respondents from the United Kingdom and South Africa had the poorest MHQ scores.

The decline in mental well-being was “most pronounced” in persons of the youngest age category (18 – 24 years), whose average MHQ score was 29% lower than those those aged ≥65 years.

Worldwide, 70% of respondents aged ≥65 years fell into the categories of “succeeding” or “thriving,” compared with just 17% of those aged 18 to 24 years. “We saw a massive trend of diminishing mental well-being in younger individuals, suggesting that some societal force is at
play that we need to get to the bottom of,” said Thiagarajan.

“Young people are still learning how to calibrate themselves in the world, and with age comes maturity, leading to a difference in emotional resilience,” she said.

The highest risk group was the nonbinary/third-gender respondents. Among those persons, more than 50% were classified as being at clinical risk. Nonbinary individuals “are universally
doing very poorly, relative to males or females,” said Thiagarajan. “This is s a demographic at very high risk with a lot of suicidal thoughts.”