Mental Health

Jennifer Glass found out she had lung cancer four months after she got married. Here, her first round of chemo in February 2013.

'No One Should Have The Right To Prolong My Death'

7:14am July 09, 2015

by Robin Marantz Henig

Jennifer Glass was a newlywed when she was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. "I'm doing everything I can to extend my life," she says, while advocating for a right-to-die law in California.

A photo of Brittany Maynard, who moved to Oregon to end her life as she was dying of brain cancer, sits on the dais of the California Senate's health committee in March.

Lacking Votes, California Assembly Shelves Aid In Dying Bill

7:13am July 09, 2015

by Lisa Aliferis

Proponents of a bill that would let doctors give dying people lethal prescriptions ran into opposition from Latino Democrats. Backers say they're not through trying for approval.

A user prepares drugs for injection in 2014 in St. Johnsbury, Vt.

Heroin Use Surges, Especially Among Women And Whites

10:57am July 08, 2015

by Richard Harris

All told, more than half a million Americans used heroin in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That represents a nearly 150 percent increase since 2007.

Queue Listen Now

Officer Ted Simola, a member of the LAPD mental evaluation unit, responds to a call in February.

LA Police Unit Intervenes To Get Mentally Ill Treatment, Not Jail Time

8:14am July 05, 2015

by Stephanie O'Neill

When cops in Los Angeles encounter people who may be mentally ill, there's a specialized unit that can offer help on the spot.

Queue Listen Now

Crowds gather to pay their respects outside Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., in a photo by the Post and Courier.

Charleston Reporters Tell The National Story Of Local Violence

6:42pm July 04, 2015

by Will Huntsberry

The staff of hometown paper The Post and Courier feels the emotional toll of covering the church shootings and other traumatic events.

Queue Listen Now

Lavall Hall's mother, Catherine Daniels, is comforted by her cousin Alfonzo Hill as she speaks with the media in February. Hall, who was schizophrenic, was fatally shot by police officers earlier this year.

National

Of All U.S. Police Shootings, One-Quarter Reportedly Involve The Mentally Ill

3:48pm July 04, 2015

In compiling a database of fatal police shootings, The Washington Post took an extra step — finding details about the mental health of the deceased. Reporter Kimberly Kindy relates what she learned.

Queue Listen Now

Raymond Smith of Charleston, S.C., kneels in prayer in front of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston before a worship service on June 21.

Coping While Black: A Season Of Traumatic News Takes A Psychological Toll

8:12pm July 02, 2015

by Cheryl Corley

Research on the psychological effects of racism, especially on people of color, is still in the early stages. But psychologists warn that events like the Charleston shooting can cause serious stress.

Queue Listen Now

Antipsychotics Too Often Prescribed For Aggression In Children

2:11pm July 01, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Drugs intended to treat psychosis are also used to treat behavioral problems in children with ADHD. Less risky behavioral treatments and medications should be the first choice, researchers say.

Sara Solovitch plays the piano in the Terminal B baggage claim area at San Jose International Airport.

To Master Stage Fright, Practice Makes Imperfect OK

9:47am June 29, 2015

by Chloe Veltman

Most people suffer stage fright when speaking or performing in front of a group. One pianist found she could manage the anxiety if she practiced often for an audience, even at the airport.

To Ease Pain, Reach For Your Playlist

1:56pm June 24, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Music can energize, soothe or relax us. And it can also help reduce pain. Researchers found that listening to a favorite song or story helped children manage pain after major surgery.

Queue Listen Now