Hector Colon-Rivera MD, MBA, MRO

11/14/2025

“Rehab should be more fun… because when I get bored, I want to use again.”

A patient said this to me recently. It reminded me how boredom is an underestimated relapse trigger, especially in early recovery. Studies show boredom is linked to poorer treatment retention and higher substance-use risk (LePera, 2011; Isohookana et al., 2020). Engagement, creativity, and meaningful activities actually protect against relapse (Chen et al., 2022).

So should we rethink how rehab and inpatient programs are structured?
More movement, creativity, real-life skills, social connection, and hands-on learning?

I’m genuinely curious:
What should we redesign in treatment to keep people present, motivated, and connected?

11/13/2025

The Intimate Side of AI: Insights from 47,000 ChatGPT Conversations

A recent analysis by The Washington Post examined over 47,000 shared ChatGPT conversations, highlighting how people increasingly rely on AI for connection and comfort.

- About 1 in 10 conversations included users expressing emotions like loneliness or affection toward ChatGPT.
- The chatbot agreed with users 10 times more often than it disagreed, creating an echo chamber of affirmation.
- OpenAI reports that over 1 million users weekly show signs of emotional dependence or distress while using ChatGPT.

Implications for Mental Health Professionals

This data raises crucial questions:

- Are people seeking AI companionship due to failures in human support systems?
- Does reliance on chatbots reflect gaps in mental health access, affordability, and stigma?
- How do we balance the therapeutic potential of conversational AI with risks of dependency or misinformation?

AI serves as a mirror for human emotion, offering a listening ear but lacking genuine empathy and continuity of care.

Mental health professionals should view this as a call to innovate and create accessible, relational, and humane care models, ensuring no one feels the need to turn to a machine for connection.

What are we doing as a profession?



https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/11/12/how-people-use-chatgpt-data/

11/12/2025

We’re thrilled to announce the release of the Wandering Balloon, a story about emotions, self-discovery, and kindness, written to help children understand and express their feelings in healthy ways.

A huge thank you to Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) for providing us with space at the Gift of Love Annual Gala to donate books to the families in attendance. Your support continues to lift our communities and empower our children to dream, feel, and grow. 🎈

Mateo reminds us that emotions, whether happy, sad, or uncertain, are part of being human, and learning to name and manage them builds strength and confidence. Studies show that nearly 1 in 3 children struggle with low self-esteem, and early emotional education and positive reinforcement can make a lifelong difference.

Every copy of Mateo the Wandering Balloon helps us give back, inspiring kids to see that no matter where they go, they can always find their way home to themselves. ❤️



English Version:
https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=ncvLTmaJwzDJmj2UnKKlBrgEeTSps5HOgBw19T0Pjll

Spanish Version
https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=goqlEjeXn2RqRcCMMJ4WE37xZ5R9hS5RCLYiQYTzdaG

11/06/2025

It’s Time: Reproductive Psychiatry Deserves a Formal Pathway for Psychiatrists

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders affect 1 in 5 women, making them the most common complications of pregnancy and postpartum.

Yet, despite their prevalence and impact, there is no accredited subspecialty pathway in Reproductive Psychiatry.

Psychiatrists across the country are already doing this work:

Managing complex cases of pregnancy and postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis

Balancing psychopharmacology with maternal and fetal safety

Addressing infertility, menopause, PMDD, and trauma related to reproductive experiences

Supporting individuals and families through gender-affirming and reproductive-life transitions

But they do it without a clear training or certification framework.

It’s time for the field to evolve.
We need a formalized pathway — one that includes:
✅ Standardized fellowship or advanced training opportunities
✅ Core competencies in reproductive neuroscience, ethics, and psychopharmacology
✅ Funding for interdisciplinary research and clinical expansion

When psychiatrists are fully trained and recognized in this area, we ensure that every person receives compassionate, evidence-based mental health care across the reproductive lifespan.

11/06/2025

Coming Soon!

A prime opportunity for and mental‐health professionals across to dive into up-to-date strategies in patient safety, risk management, and quality of care. Whether you’re a practicing psychiatrist, trainee, or allied professional, the virtual format makes it accessible from anywhere.

✅ Why attend?

Earn important continuing education in patient-safety & risk-management relevant to psychiatric practice

Connect with colleagues across the state and engage in virtual discussions

Explore practical, actionable tools and best practices you can apply immediately in your clinical setting

Stay ahead of regulatory, ethical and licensure renewal obligations tied to safety & risk in psychiatric care

Register now (by Nov 7 at 8:00 AM), and note the cancellation policy: cancellations accepted until Nov 6 with processing fee; no refunds after Nov 1.
LINK bellow

Let’s raise our standard of care, strengthen safety culture in our practices, and work together toward better outcomes for our patients. See you online!

Licensure renewal is coming in 2026, and psychiatrists must have a minimum of 12.0 credit hours in safety and risk management to maintain your license. PaPS offers this conference annually to help its members meet the requirement.

11/05/2025

Supporting and Expanding Child Psychiatry Access Programs (CPAPs): A Lifeline for Families and Clinicians

The youth mental health crisis is one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time.
Across the U.S., pediatricians and family physicians are on the front lines — yet many report feeling underprepared and unsupported in managing complex mental health needs.

That’s where CPAPs make the difference.

These programs connect primary care clinicians with child and adolescent psychiatrists for real-time consultation, education, and referral support. They help ensure that no child waits months for psychiatric care and that primary care providers are empowered to identify and manage mental health conditions early.

✅ Studies show CPAPs improve pediatricians’ confidence, reduce emergency visits, and expand access to care — particularly in rural and underserved communities.
✅ Every state should have a fully funded, sustainable CPAP to bridge the gap between need and access.
✅ The APA, AACAP, and allied organizations can play a leading role in advocating for national expansion and parity funding.

Expanding CPAPs means investing in prevention, integration, and hope.
When we strengthen the network supporting our children’s mental health, we strengthen the future of every community.

The Child Psychiatry Access Program (CPAP)Model “Child Psychiatry Access Programs (CPAPs) are a model of care wherein pediatric primary care clinicians receive training and support in treating their patients with regard to mental health and substance use disorders via in-person, phone, or online c...

11/04/2025

Should Psychiatrists “Own” the Treatment of Obesity?

There’s a growing debate in our field: Should psychiatrists play a leading role in treating obesity?

After all, we understand motivation, behavior change, reward pathways, and the brain circuits that drive craving, satiety, and self-control. We already manage medication-induced weight gain, mood–metabolic interactions, and the psychological dimensions of body image and self-esteem.

But new tools like GLP-1 receptor agonists are reshaping what “treatment” means.
Is this still behavioral medicine? Neuropsychiatry? Or the beginning of a new shared domain between psychiatry, endocrinology, and primary care?

Maybe the real question isn’t ownership, but integration.
Psychiatrists bring a lens that sees obesity not just as a metabolic condition, but as a brain-based, behavioral, and social disease — one that demands compassion, coordination, and evidence-based care.

👉 What do you think? Should psychiatrists be more active in obesity treatment — or focus on collaboration rather than leadership?

Inconsistent evidence exists regarding the strength, direction, and moderators in the relationship between obesity and psychiatric disorders. This study aims to summarize the evidence on the association between psychiatric illness and obesity with ...

11/03/2025

The New York Times (10/30, Barry) highlights a new study published in JAMA Network Open offering early evidence that text-based therapy may be just as effective as video-based sessions for individuals with mild to moderate depression.

In the study, 850 adults were randomly assigned to two groups: one received weekly video psychotherapy, while the other had unlimited access to their therapist via text or email. After 12 weeks, both groups showed similar improvements in depression symptoms.

Although the trial wasn’t designed to prove equal effectiveness, the researchers were “pleasantly surprised” that text-based therapy performed as well as weekly video therapy.

Why this matters:

Expands access for those who face barriers to video or in-person sessions.

Supports flexibility and client-centered care models.

Reinforces the potential of digital platforms in mental health treatment.

This randomized clinical trial compares message-based psychotherapy with video-based psychotherapy on a commercial digital mental health platform and tests combinations of modalities for participants who did not respond to single-modality treatment.

10/31/2025

Thursday: Provider Series for Enhancing Care
Culturally Adapted Interventions & Trauma-Informed Policy for Migrants and Refugees

📅 Thursday, October 30 | 🕑 2:00–2:30 PM CT

🎙 Hosted by: Hector Colón-Rivera, M.D., MBA, MRO

This session explores the mental health challenges faced by migrants and refugees, highlighting culturally adapted, evidence-based interventions and trauma-informed strategies to support their well-being across clinical, community, and policy settings.

RSVP for our Provider Series

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10/30/2025

🎈✨ This Holiday Season, Travel with Mateo the Wandering Balloon! ✨🎈

Discover the magic of friendship, curiosity, and hope with Mateo, a balloon with the colors of the Puerto Rican flag, who travels the world sharing smiles. ❤️

🎁 The perfect gift for children and families — a story that inspires dreaming, exploring, and believing in kindness.

📘 Available now — make Mateo part of your holiday celebration!

10/29/2025

🎈✨ Estas fiestas, viaja con Mateo el Globo Viajero ✨🎈

Descubre la magia de la amistad, la curiosidad y la esperanza junto a Mateo, un globo con los colores de la bandera puertorriqueña que recorre el mundo compartiendo sonrisas.

🎁 Perfecto para regalar a niños y familias, un cuento que inspira a soñar, explorar y creer en la bondad.

📘 Disponible ahora — ¡haz que Mateo forme parte de tu celebración navideña!



Compra Aqui:
https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=goqlEjeXn2RqRcCMMJ4WE37xZ5R9hS5RCLYiQYTzdaG

10/28/2025

Loneliness: The Silent Epidemic

In a world more connected than ever, too many of us still feel unseen, unheard, and alone.
Loneliness isn’t just an emotion — it’s a public health issue affecting our minds, hearts, and communities. It can quietly erode our resilience, motivation, and even physical health.

My upcoming book will explore how we can recognize, understand, and work with loneliness — not as something to run from, but as a signal inviting us to reconnect: with ourselves, with others, and with meaning.

Through stories, practical tools, and reflective exercises, this work aims to help readers transform isolation into insight and connection.

Because healing begins within.