Mental Health in Context: Education, Healthcare, and End-of-Life Policy

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Mental health is shaped not only by clinical interventions but also by the structure and incentives of broader public policies. This panel presents new empirical research on how mental health is influenced by interventions in education, health insurance design, substance use regulation, and end-of-life care. Spanning diverse populations—from students in Chilean schools to Medicare Advantage enrollees in the U.S., to Canadians navigating Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)—these papers offer rigorous evidence on the intended and unintended consequences of policy choices.

One paper investigates the impact of school mobile phone bans in Chile, exploring how restrictions affect student behavior and self-perceptions of academic ability. Another paper examines the mental health effects of quitting smoking, using U.S. survey data and instrumental variable methods that account for misreporting in both smoking and psychological well-being. A third paper evaluates the inclusion of mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, analyzing how regulatory adequacy standards and risk-adjustment mechanisms shape access. Finally, a study on MAID in Canada assesses the ethical and practical dilemmas raised by expanding eligibility to individuals with mental health conditions.

Together, these papers highlight the importance of policy context, incentive design, and equity considerations in shaping mental health outcomes. The session will offer a multidisciplinary perspective on how to better align policy levers with mental health goals.

Policy Area

• Health Policy

Chair

• John Cawley, Syracuse University

Discussants

• Anthony Yu, RAND Corporation

• Lauren Hersch Nicholas, University of Colorado Denver

Organizer

• Jennifer A Mangano, Indiana University

Individual Presentations

• The Consequences of Mobile Phone Restrictions in Schools - Non-Presenting Co-Author: Ying Shi, Syracuse University; Presenting Author: Francisco Villarroel, Syracuse University

• A Causal Analysis of Smoking Impacts on Mental Health Related Outcomes in the U.S. - Presenting Author: Mahta Ghafarianghadim, Georgia State University

• Mental Health Specialty Networks in Medicare Advantage: Regulation and Risk-Adjustment Incentives - Presenting Author: Mark Katz Meiselbach, Johns Hopkins University

• Health Effects of Medical Assistance in Dying - Presenting Author: Jennifer A Mangano, Indiana University