Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Feb. 20, 2024
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Two Years of War in Ukraine: Q&A with RAND Experts
This week marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Several recent developments have thrown the perils of the war into sharp relief, including new territorial gains by Russia and uncertainty about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine. Overall, the conflict has underscored how Russia's revanchism threatens its neighbors and presents challenges to security and stability both in the region and elsewhere.
In a new Q&A, ten RAND researchers weigh in on many important issues, including how the war has evolved and where it may be headed, what Ukraine can expect from the United States and the West, the continued risk of escalation by Moscow, and much more.
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Is Telehealth Commonly Available at Mental Health Clinics?
In a new study, RAND researchers took a "secret shopper" approach to better understand the availability of telehealth services for mental health care. Posing as patients, they phoned nearly 2,000 clinics and sought to make telehealth appointments for various mental health conditions. They found that telehealth availability varies significantly across states. In Mississippi and South Carolina, for example, less than half of mental health facilities offered telehealth services. In some states--such as Maine and Oregon--telehealth was available at every facility our researchers contacted.
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Using AI to Track Suicide Risk Among Kids
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American youth between the ages of 10 and 14. School administrators are increasingly turning to technology for help addressing this crisis. In fact, many schools are using AI-based software to track students' computer use to identify potential mental health challenges. Implementing an added layer of suicide risk detection may seem like a no-brainer, say RAND experts, but there is little evidence to support the accuracy of such software. Further, these tools may pose threats to students' privacy, exacerbate inequalities, and risk being misused by schools.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Earlier this month, RAND hosted a webinar featuring our experts' views on how artificial intelligence affects the homeland security enterprise.
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- RAND's Timothy Heath and Barry Pavel were interviewed on the Defense and Aerospace Report podcast about the U.S.-China rivalry in an age of neomedievalism.
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- Why is RAND's Wendy Troxel, a clinical psychologist, grateful for her husband's upcoming "guys'" ski weekend? Social connections are life-sustaining, she says, and men tend to have fewer and less diverse friendships than women.
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** Events
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America's Opioid Problems: How Additional Approaches Can Stem the Tide
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 (Online)
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Trust, But Verify: The Security Clearance Process and Experience
Thursday, February 29, 2024 (Online)
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The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
Friday, March 1, 2024 (Los Angeles, California, and Online)
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