Mental Health

Study: Mental Illness Is As Much Of A Global Threat As Infectious Diseases

7:43am April 13, 2016

Research shows that depression and anxiety cost the world economy $1 trillion every year. Steve Inskeep talks to Dr. Shekhar Saxena of the World Health Organization about efforts to improve treatment.

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Health & Safety

Even With Insurance Parity Rules, Counseling May Count As Specialty Care

3:00pm April 12, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Federal law requires most insurers to provide parity between mental health and medical benefits, but that doesn't necessarily mean that regular counseling will come with a low copayment.

Jena Lopez with her daughters Sophie, left, and Nora. Research suggests that parental support is the key to good mental health in children who transition.

Parent Support May Help Transgender Children's Mental Health

6:26pm April 11, 2016

by Gabriel Spitzer

Transgender people tend to have more mental health problems than the general population, but having supportive parents in childhood may help reduce that risk, a study finds.

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The isolated Cree community of Attawapiskat — shown several years ago, in a photo by the Toronto Star — struggled all winter with a high rate of suicide attempts.

Canadian First Nation Declares State Of Emergency Over Suicide Attempts

10:59am April 11, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

The isolated Attawapiskat community is home to about 2,000 people. In March, there were 28 suicide attempts — and on Saturday night alone, 11 people tried to kill themselves, the CBC reports.

Seven years ago, Johns Hopkins Hospital collaborated with Baltimore's Safe Streets program to bring violence prevention workers into the hospital to meet with the injured and settle conflicts. Now, the health department in Baltimore is trying to revive th

Baltimore Sees Hospitals As Key To Breaking A Cycle Of Violence

6:35pm April 08, 2016

by Andrea Hsu

The city's health department wants to send ex-offenders who are trained to be "violence interrupters" to hospitals to talk with victims. Chicago has found such a program prevents repeat injuries.

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Steve Julian, a radio host with KPCC in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last November. He and his wife, Felicia Friesema, turned to social media for solace, support and the space to process their heartbreaking journey.

Online Comfort For Real-World Cancer Can Be Surprisingly Sweet

10:10am April 08, 2016

Steve Julian is a morning anchor for KPCC-FM in Los Angeles, a playwright and a former cop. His communities are legion, and all cared deeply when he got his terminal diagnosis. How best to reach out?

A canvasser knocks on a door in Los Angeles.

Study Finds Deep Conversations Can Reduce Transgender Prejudice

6:52pm April 07, 2016

by Angus Chen

After a study about support for gay marriage was faked, the debunkers performed the experiment for real. This time, the results suggest canvassing door to door might reduce prejudice long-term.

Cassandra Steptoe (center) rehearses a performance with fellow actresses as part of The Medea Project, in San Francisco. Steptoe wrote and performs an autobiographical monologue in the production about being HIV-positive.

Theater Helps This HIV-Positive Grandmother Transform Lives

5:00am April 06, 2016

by Farida Jhabvala Romero

Writing her own story, with support from peers, helped Cassandra Steptoe shed the shame she felt in her diagnosis and find psychological healing instead. Now she's inspiring others to do the same.

A new dad may look like he's holding it together, but odds are he's pretty sleep deprived.

For New Parents, Dad May Be The One Missing The Most Sleep

1:05pm April 05, 2016

New moms get a lot of sympathy over lack of sleep, but studies find that dads may be hurting more, a new book on the science of parenting says. Bottom line: Both parents need help getting shut-eye.

Kids' Grades Can Suffer When Mom Or Dad Is Depressed

7:29am April 04, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

Children with a depressed parent do worse in school than peers, a study finds. But other research shows that early diagnosis and treatment can help turn that around for the whole family.

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