Mental Health

Courtesy of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

WEBCAST: The Cost And Quality Conundrum Of Child Care

6:44pm October 18, 2016

by Joe Neel

High-quality, affordable child care can be difficult to find. A webcast looked at the issues and a poll by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Too often, pediatricians say, the teen depression that went undiagnosed in the community shows up in the ER as a suicide attempt.

How Gaps In Mental Health Care Play Out In Emergency Rooms

7:40pm October 17, 2016

by Shefali Luthra

Psychiatric patients have longer ER stays than patients with physical problems, research shows, and have trouble finding inpatient care and follow-up treatment. Kids can be among the hardest hit.

Ahead of the November presidential election, tension run high. A polls show Americans say the election is a causing stress.

Survey Says Americans Are Getting Stressed By The Elections

9:00am October 15, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

Fifty-two percent of American adults tell pollsters the 2016 election is a very or somewhat significant source of stress. That's according to a survey by American Psychological Association.

Percentage of organs donated by overdose donors

Organ Donations Spike In The Wake Of The Opioid Epidemic

4:38pm October 14, 2016

by Martha Bebinger

So far this year, more than 1 in 4 donations in New England are from people who died after a drug overdose — a much higher rate than in the U.S. overall, though it's not clear why.

Queue Listen Now

For a while, Meagley tried to dress the way the girls in school did, to look more feminine than he felt.

I'm Just Drawn This Way: Teen Finds Gender Identity Through Art

12:55pm October 12, 2016

by Desmond Meagley

Long before Youth Radio's Desmond Meagley had the words to describe his identity, he used art as an outlet. Drawing was more than a hobby for him; it was a way to find comfort when nothing else fit.

Matt Larson, shortly after his brain surgery, with his wife Kelly. Larson says he would like the option to end his life rather than face a painful death.

Colorado Wrestles With Ethics Of Aid-In-Dying As Vote Looms

3:56pm October 11, 2016

by John Daley

Colorado is the latest state to consider legalizing aid in dying. Residents find themselves struggling with whether assisted death is an act of mercy or a moral slippery slope.

In the first months of life, there are 700 new synapses formed in the brain every second. Nurturing — or the lack of nurturing — in these months can have lifelong effects.

A Pediatrician's View Of Paid Parental Leave

6:55pm October 10, 2016

by NPR Staff

Paternity leave can make a big difference in a dad's long-term engagement with the child, doctors find. Paid family leave also fosters breastfeeding and reduces the incidence of maternal depression.

Queue Listen Now

'Imperfections Can Make Us More Creative,' Author Tim Harford Argues

5:04pm October 09, 2016

Tim Harford's new book Messy takes a look at how disorder and uncertainty spark creativity, by looking at famous examples of art, invention, office buildings and workspaces.

Eunice, pictured above, is one of the workshop participants: "Today I learned a girl can do anything — that a boy and girl are equal, no one is more special, and I am happy about it. I am happy that the new things I learned today [are] to be confident a

Health & Safety

A Photographer Gives Cameras To Child Brides. Their Images Are Amazing

7:00am October 08, 2016

by Kristin Adair

Stephanie Sinclair has been taking photos of child brides for nearly 15 years. Now, she's teaching girls rescued from early marriage how to photograph each other.

Sure, keeping a teenager's thoughts corralled may seem like lion taming. But that impulsivity may help them learn, too.

Teens' Penchant For Risk-Taking May Help Them Learn Faster

5:25pm October 06, 2016

by Erin Ross

The impulsivity and risk-taking that are common among teenagers may be a side effect of having a brain tuned to learn a lot of new stuff fast, researchers say. So it could be good in the long run.