Health & Safety

A bookmark with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is displayed by Lance Neiberger, a volunteer with the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force, in Casper, Wyoming.

988 Lifeline sees boost in use and funding in first months

5:00am January 16, 2023

by Rhitu Chatterjee

The 3-digit suicide and crisis lifeline – 988 – fielded nearly half a million more calls, texts and chats in its first 5 months than the old 10-digit Lifeline did during the same time in 2021.

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Health & Safety

Black men and therapy

5:17pm January 15, 2023

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with author Damon Young about mental health and his decision to seek therapy.

Health & Safety

2022 was a record high year for Obamacare enrollment

8:02am January 15, 2023

by Ayesha Rascoe

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Julie Appleby at Kaiser Health News about a record year of people signing up for Obamacare medical plans, as enrollment closes Sunday.

Health & Safety

Transgender and non-binary people are up to six times more likely to have autism

8:02am January 15, 2023

by Lesley McClurg

Transgender and non-binary people are up to six times more likely to also have autism. This intersection has researchers trying to understand the connection and how society views these identities.

Sending a text to a friend can bring a smile to your face. Now, research suggests it could also help bring long-term health benefits.

What's the #1 thing to change to be happier? A top happiness researcher weighs in

5:00am January 15, 2023

There are plenty of factors in life that contribute to happiness. But could keeping in touch with your loved ones be the most important?

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In Appalachia, one group of sex educators is harassed into pausing its work

1:35pm January 14, 2023

by Maria Godoy

A backlash against comprehensive approaches to sex education is taking root across the U.S. In Appalachia, a group of sex educators is suspending public events for now after members were threatened.

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In hopes of getting a better sense of which SARS-CoV-2 variants might be coming into the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded its voluntary testing of some passengers exiting from international flights at certain airports.

China's COVID surge prompts CDC to expand a hunt for new variants among air travelers

7:01am January 14, 2023

by Rob Stein

It would make more sense to screen a plane's wastewater to look for new variants than to screen individual passenger volunteers, some researchers say. Others say any information is helpful.

Screening at U.S. airports expands to try to detect new COVID variants

5:55pm January 13, 2023

by Rob Stein

The CDC has expanded screening of incoming international air travelers to try to more quickly spot any new variants that might emerge from China's massive COVID outbreak.

What you need to know about gas stoves and health risks

4:04pm January 13, 2023

by Jeff Brady

Gas stoves have been in the news as the Consumer Product Safety Commission researches emissions and health effects. NPR Climate Desk's Jeff Brady sorts the misinformation from the facts.

An illustration of cookie jars labeled "HMO" and "PPO."

Health & Safety

More people than ever buy insurance on Healthcare.gov

12:49pm January 13, 2023

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

It's the last weekend for Obamacare open enrollment, and nearly 16 million Americans have signed up for a health insurance plan.

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