Mental Health / Public News Service

The Care 4 All California coalition is pressing for an expansion of Medi-Cal to cover undocumented adults. (Kit Bear/Health Access)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

CA Bills Aim to Improve Health-Care Access, Affordability

Health advocates are promoting a package of bills this legislative session to make health care easier to get - and more affordable. The Care 4 All …

The Williams Institute estimates that 1.3 million U.S. adults identify as transgender. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

MD House and Senate Approve Trans Health Equity Act

Both chambers of the Maryland legislature have passed a bill that would require the state's Medicaid program to cover gender affirming care. While …

Across the 398 women surveyed, 57.8% occupied no marginalized social category, while 22.6% occupied at least one marginalized category and almost 20% occupied more than one. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Report Eyes Health Impacts of Social Belonging in UT Women

Research from The University of Utah explores the physical- and mental-health implications of social belonging in women. Study author Lisa Diamond …

Research suggests without community health centers, 15 million additional patients would be at risk of not having access to primary care. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 2 Million in MO are Medically Disenfranchised

A new report looking at access to primary-care doctors found nearly 2 million Missourians are medically disenfranchised. The report from the …

At least 124 bills have been introduced nationwide this year targeting LGBTQ rights in schools and educational settings, freedom of speech and expression, and access to medically necessary health care for transgender people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 20, 2023

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

Educators in New Hampshire say a proposed "parental bill of rights" before lawmakers discriminates against LGBTQ students. The legislation requires …

It costs taxpayers $13,400 to provide supportive housing per person each year, compared with between $21,000 and $40,000 for medical care, incarceration, detox treatment and shelter services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are pushing back against proposals by several Denver mayoral candidates who are including forced mental…

Estimates indicate 8.6% of children in Maryland will be bereaved by age 18, which is higher than the national average of 7.7%. (Adobe Stock)

Conference in Baltimore to Focus on Childhood Grief

Knowing how to hold space for the grief of children can be complex, but learning how to do it is vital for their well-being. A death in the family …

Stable and secure relationships with parents are among the building blocks for positive experiences among children. (Afshar Tetyana/Adobe Stock)

ID Conference Spotlights Importance of Positive Moments for Children

This year's Strengthening Families Training Institute in Boise is highlighting the importance of positive experiences for children. Dr. Robert Sege…

The average European gets 21 days of vacation each year and takes all of them, while Americans get about 15 days annually and only use about 13, according to New View Strategies. (mimagephotos/AdobeStock)

Study: To Boost Health & Happiness, Treat Your Weekend Like a Vacation

If weekends fail to reduce your stress levels or bring you happiness, behavioral scientists say you should instead think of them more like a vacation…

Researchers hope a blood test which detects anxiety will soon have wider use by physicians. (Adobe Stock)

IU Researchers Make Medical “Breakthrough" with Anxiety Blood Test

A new blood test developed at the Indiana University School of Medicine may shake up how doctors treat patients who suffer from anxiety disorders…

Members of the group, Marked By Covid lobby for passage of HD.3821, to formally recognize Covid Remembrance Day. Bereaved community members will gather for a Covid Remembrance Day Interfaith event on Saturday, March 11 at 3:00 pm ET at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity in Florence. (Ritz Sullivan)

Efforts Underway to Formalize COVID-19 Remembrance Day in MA

Family members of those lost to Covid are urging lawmakers to pass legislation to formally recognize the first Monday in March as Covid Remembrance Da…

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies rally at the Capitol in Concord in opposition to a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which they say aim to criminalize members of their community.(603 Equality)

Community Members Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in NH

LGBTQ+ advocates rallied at the New Hampshire Statehouse this week in protest of a slate of bills which they say aim to demonize members of their comm…

From 2016 to 2021, the number of Colorado children seeking mental-health or potential self-harm care at emergency departments increased by 158%. (Adobe Stock)

Emergency Rooms Seen as Best Access Point for Mental-Health Care

A host of barriers that make it harder for people suffering from poor mental health to access preventive care has led to an increase in care delivered…

Nontraditional learning is seen as an option to address the U.S. nursing shortage, often attributed to burnout from the pandemic and many nurses searching for lower stress and better pay. (Adobe Stock)

Community, Online Colleges Fill Growing Need for Non-Traditional Students

Many college students balance family and work responsibilities with academics, and it can make nontraditional higher education the path to a future …

School social workers, who are trained mental health professionals, say working with younger students often allows more access to families as they try to help develop a more nurturing environment. (Adobe Stock)

MN Applies 'Trauma Layer' to Early-Childhood Intervention Work

This week is National School Social Work Week, and in Minnesota, there are efforts to enhance support for students and families in early-childhood …

If enacted, the pilot program would begin on July 1. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program

A bill in the Maryland Legislature would create a pilot program to study the impact of a four-day workweek. The pilot program would create a tax …

It is estimated that some 89,000 Colorado children will grieve the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Funds Brought Grief Care to More Colorado Students

A groundbreaking bereavement service is expanding efforts to reach kids where they are: in schools, churches and other community sites. Emily Napier…

Advocates say SB 163 would help recognize and streamline gender-affirming health care for folks in Nevada, (Iv�n Moreno/Adobe Stock)

NV Bill Looks to Secure Gender-Affirming Care

A Nevada bill is seeking to secure gender-affirming health care for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in the state. SB 163 would …

The National Eating Disorders Association offers a screening tool on its website for someone wondering if they or a family member suffer an eating disorder. (Adobe Stock)

NC Minorities Receive Less Treatment for Eating Disorders

As part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, specialists are calling for additional funding, research and resources for people affected by …

In 2021, Colorado Community Health Centers directly employed 6,081 full-time employees, and supported an additional 5,094 jobs in other businesses in their communities through the purchasing of goods and services. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Community Health Centers Add $1.7 Billion in Economic Activity

Colorado's federally qualified community health centers play a major role in the state's economy, according to new analysis. Health centers serving …

A report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families notes Medicaid covers about 83.5 million people, including more than 34.2 million children - a 31% increase since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alena Ozerova/Adobe Stock)

TN Kids' Uninsured Rate Could Rise as Health Emergency Ends

A pandemic-era law to help keep children and families continuously covered with health insurance is set to expire this spring, and advocates are …

The podcast Spark Hunter explores the story of an artificial intelligence robot that goes rogue. (ipopba/Adobe Stock)

Death Anxiety Inspires Podcast About AI

A podcast has incorporated the philosophical work of Ernest Becker and his theory on death. The cultural anthropologist Becker's work Denial of Death …

Eating disorders are serious and sometimes fatal illnesses which cause severe disturbances to a person's dietary habits. (Paolese/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: More Research, Funding Needed for Eating Disorders

Health care researchers estimate about 1.1 million people in Illinois suffer from some form of eating disorder, which can range in severity from mild …

Eating disorders are serious and sometimes fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person's eating behaviors. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may signal an eating disorder, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. (Adobe Stock)

Specialists Raise Awareness During Eating Disorder Week

An estimated 291,000 Iowans suffer from eating disorders, which range from mild to lethal. Experts are spreading knowledge and information during …

The District of Columbia and 35 states have enacted

Telehealth Benefits Rural Arkansans with Internet Service

Telehealth services have increased access to health care for many people living in rural Arkansas, but it requires a good internet connection…

Maryland's Broadband Expansion Incentive Act has 74 cosponsors, including a dozen House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Broadband Expansion

The Maryland Legislature is looking at ways to expand broadband access in the state and advocates are weighing in. Gov. Wes Moore's broadband …

The Post Disaster Mental Health Response Act will help those who experience multiple forms of trauma, including natural disasters, which for children are associated with a 16% increase in a mental health or substance use disorder by adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Boston Marathon Bombing Survivors Celebrate Passage of Mental Health Law

Advocates for mental health are applauding the passage of a new law which will expand mental health support for survivors of natural disasters and ter…

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 48% of schools surveyed felt inadequate funding was one reason they couldn't effectively provide mental-health services to students. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Aims to Improve VA School Mental-Health Services

Virginia's General Assembly is reviewing legislation to improve mental health services in schools. Currently, Virginia ranks 48th among states for …

A new study from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families notes continuous coverage protection nearly eliminated churn, protecting children from gaps in health coverage. <br />(Robert Kneschke/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Children's Uninsured Rate Could Rise if Health Emergency Ends

A pandemic-era law to help keep children and families continuously covered is set to expire this spring, and advocates are worried the state's …

Peer-reviewed research on the use of misoprostol alone for abortion, published this month by the University of Texas at Austin, found it was 88% effective, with few serious adverse events or signs of complications. (ivanko80/AdobeStock)

TX Court Ruling with Nationwide Implications for Abortion Expected Soon

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

Total Medicaid/CHIP enrollment grew to 90.9 million in September 2022, an increase of 19.8 million or more than 27.9% from enrollment in February 2020, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

NC's Most Vulnerable Face Challenges with Tailored Health Plans

Roughly 2.8 million North Carolinians receive Medicaid benefits, and many are being transitioned over to managed health care plans. It means their …

A new national study says rates of online childhood sexual abuse are particularly high for girls at 23% compared to 7% for boys. (Adobe Stock)

Internet Task Forces Balance Tips, Tech Hurdles in Protecting Kids

South Dakota investigators say they're carrying heavy caseloads dealing with internet crimes against children. There's hope new research and pressure …

Beyond direct counseling, school social workers will sometimes hold group discussions with students as they try to cope with a tragic incident on campus. (Adobe Stock)

School Districts Share Responsibility to Help Students Heal After Violence

Extra security is in place at a Minnesota school after one student was fatally stabbed by another. The staff, including social workers, is tasked …

The ACLU is currently tracking 321 anti-LGBTQIA legislative bills across the country. It includes four advancing in the Nebraska Legislature, which the ACLU puts in the categories of free speech and expression, health care, schools and education, and civil rights. (Adobe Stock)

For LGBTQIA Youth, Support Can Be 'Literally Life-Saving'

Teen suicide is the second-leading cause of death in the 15-24 age group in this country, and young people who identify as LGBTQIA are at greater …

Research shows having access to health care can influence children's physical and emotional health, growth, development and their capacity to reach their full potential as adults. (Adobe Stock)

Eligible WV Kids Could Slip Through Cracks When Coverage Protection Ends

A pandemic-era law that helped keep children and families continuously covered is set to expire this spring, and advocates are worried the state's …

Residents in Torrington will soon be able to access high-speed internet video conferencing for telehealth appointments. (Adobe Stock)

Small Internet Provider to Open Digital ‘Empowerment Center’ in Torrington

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Wyoming News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration…

According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the CDC, one in three (30%) of teen girls considering attempting suicide in 2021, a 60% increase over the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Teen Girls Face Record High Levels of Sadness, Violence

The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds teen girls are experiencing record high levels of sadness and violence…

The New Hampshire Peoples' Budget Coalition is calling on lawmakers to fully invest in public education and reverse investments in the state's Education Freedom Accounts, which the coalition says drains much-needed funding from public schools and downshifts costs to property taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

Broad Coalition Urges NH Lawmakers to 'Show Love' in State Budget

A broad coalition of New Hampshire faith and community leaders is calling on state lawmakers to create a budget which serves the people. The New …

More than 93,000 people live in certified nursing care facilities in California. (C.Davids/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: Nursing Homes Sedate Too Many Residents

Groups that advocate for older Americans are speaking out about the overuse of psychotropic medications in nursing homes. Last November, the …

The National Alliance on Mental Illness says one in five college students faces a mental-health condition. (Adobe Stock)

Following MSU Shooting, College Students Reminded to Seek Support

This week's mass shooting at Michigan State University is the latest in a long list of such tragedies to happen on a campus, and students in …

Washington state broadened protections for child sexual abuse survivors three decades ago, but critics argue its fallen behind since then. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Eliminates Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Cases

Washington state lawmakers are considering eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. House Bill 1618 would revise the …

According to a mental health workforce study, Pennsylvania is one of many states struggling with a shortage of mental-health practitioners, especially in rural communities. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

PA Needs More Mental, Behavioral Healthcare Workers

A Pennsylvania children's advocacy group said the state should be doing more to help end a critical staffing shortage of mental and behavioral health …

A survey of Texans found only public education ranked higher than a need for increased spending on health care, according to the Episcopal Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />

Survey: More Texans Support Increased Mental Health-Care Funding

For the past five years, Texans' priorities for improving health care have not changed, but in the latest survey, the need for more mental health …

One study estimates tens of billions of dollars a year could be saved if 30% to 40% of specialist visits were conducted via telehealth. (Adobe Stock)

Telehealth Serves Rural Nebraskans in Multiple Ways

Telehealth delivery of medical care has grown considerably since the start of the pandemic, and although its use has leveled off, Nebraskans are …

Problem gambling experts say commercials for sports betting apps often portray the activity as a fun, social event, with not enough information about the potential risks. (Adobe Stock)

Researcher: Sports-Betting Apps Don't Always Produce Touchdowns

The Super Bowl is almost here, and people who have wanted to try sports-betting apps will be putting their money down. Minnesota has not yet …

Utah is the fifth state to pass legislation restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. (Adobe Stock)

UT Ban on Gender-Affirming Health Care Draws Pushback

A group of physicians is voicing opposition to Utah's enactment of Senate Bill 16, banning gender-affirming health care for transgender youth…

South Dakota could soon follow steps taken by states like Utah, which recently approved a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. (Adobe Stock)

SD Plan to Ban Gender-Affirming Care Stokes Privacy Debate

South Dakota is once again locked in a debate over a bill concerning transgender youth. It seeks to ban gender-affirming care, with supporters …

The death penalty was abolished in Washington state in 2018. (Felipe Caparr�s/Adobe Stock)

UW Professor: Fear of Death Inspires Death Penalty Views

A new book by a University of Washington professor on the death penalty finds support for executions may be motivated by people's own fear of death…

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