Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Self-harm behavior, like cutting, can often be met with fear and an overreaction from parents. But now researchers are starting to better understand the root causes of such actions. In other mental health news: sadfishing, teens seeking care for crises, and a call to action in San Francisco.
VA Hospices Face Unique Challenges In Providing End-Of-Life Care For Veterans
Veterans tend to be more chronically ill compared to the general population, with higher rates of disability, intricate psychiatric issues, post-traumatic stress disorders and depression. That can add complexities to end-of-life care beyond what the rest of the population faces. Other news from Veterans Day focuses on the 2020 Democratic candidates’ stances on the VA, organizations helping veterans transition back into civilian life, homelessness, and more.
Amid a growing suicide crisis, mental health advocates are frustrated that a seemingly easy step in saving hundreds of lives a year can’t be implemented in emergency rooms. In other mental health news: a large philanthropic gift, a culture change in workplaces, and the trauma of wildfires.
The FBI is taking serious strides in trying to address domestic terrorism as the country heads into a potentially volatile year. Meanwhile, a new poll shows that mass shootings are a significant part of Americans’ stress these days, especially in the Hispanic community.
FDA Revokes Controversial Orphan Drug Status For Opioid Addition Treatment In Unusual Move
Critics had argued that the FDA goofed in granting the orphan status in the first place. Stat takes a dive into the complicated background of the case. In other news from the national drug crisis: chronic pain, how Germany avoided an opioid epidemic, needle exchanges, and more.
Under the Trump administration, there’s been a push to allow veterans to seek care outside the VA system as a way to cut down on wait times and improve access. But some worry that will ultimately hurt veterans in the long run. Media outlets cover other news related to vets’ health care on Veterans Day.
With Frontotemporal Dementia Parts Of The Brain Associated With Personality Are Often Affected First
Loved ones will notice changes to a person’s behavior rather than notice slips in memory like one would see in Alzheimer’s. Because of this, a frontotemporal dementia can be extremely hard on the families who don’t understand why their loved one is so different. In other public health news: a new HIV strain, insomnia, “femicide,” the practice of dopamine starvation, and more.
Researchers are pushing for more understanding about the nuance that exists under the umbrella term of transgender as a way to better address the mental health needs of the vulnerable population. Other mental health news looks at provider deserts, millennial health, and burnout at work.
Experts see the treatment as helping a small percentage of opioid abusers with the most resistant cravings for opioids, who may face a lifetime of overdoses, relapses, inability to hold a job and other consequences of addiction. Other news on the opioid crisis looks at the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy trial, a crackdown on fentanyl, and more.
Judge John Kronstadt of the United States District Court in Los Angeles ordered the federal government to immediately make available mental health screenings and treatment to thousands of families. The judge cited precedent from previous cases where governments can be held liable when with “deliberate indifference” they place people in dangerous situations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
CDC Report Is Latest To Link Childhood Trauma To Long-Lasting Negative Health Effects
“There’s a lot of evidence connecting these things,” and it’s become clear that the more harmful incidents a child suffers, the more likely their health suffers later, said Jim Mercy, who oversees the CDC’s violence prevention programs.
Research suggests the woman had a mutation that protected her from Alzheimer’s. Could the woman’s case teach scientists about ways to prevent the disease? Meanwhile, an Alzheimer’s drug derived from seaweed gets approval in China.
A Grocery Store Exodus Is Turning Rural Towns Into Food Deserts, But Some Are Fighting Back
Residents of small, rural towns where it can be challenging to get food are opening community-run markets as a way of combating the problem. In other public health news: IVF, anxiety, suicide, cyberharassment, the “war on drugs,” cancer, and more.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
Ilana Yurkiewicz, a physician and medical journalist at Stanford University, explains why CAR-T is only used in patients with certain cancers and tries to answer why they haven’t yet been shown to work against solid tumors in an UnDark article. Public health news is on breast cancer tests, fecal matter transplants, Zantac recalls, white male life expectancy, skin rashes, growing up with HIV, a retracted HIV study, live-streaming a mammogram, and how to get a good night’s sleep, as well.
The first part of the commission’s report to Florida lawmakers in January called for improvements to school safety. Friday’s report zeroed in on Florida’s rank among the lowest of any state in per-capita mental health funding.
Media outlets report on news from Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Ohio.
Bill Gates watched Alzheimer’s disease rob his father of his mental abilities, yet Gates has spent only a fraction of the money on research of the condition compared to others. His science adviser explains why to Stat. Other news on Alzheimer’s looks at how lifestyle changes can improve cognitive skills, as well.
FindTreatment.gov utilizes an obscure directory maintained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, but it adds user friendly tools like the ability to search based on treatment type. News on the opioid crisis comes out of Pennsylvania and Minnesota, as well.
