Mental Health

Germanwings Crash Highlights Workplace Approaches To Mental Health

2:12pm April 02, 2015

by Yuki Noguchi

The case of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz has focused attention on what Lufthansa, or any employer, can really know about an employee's state of mind. Requiring a psychological evaluation has risks, too.

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When combined with results of other neurological tests, and in the context of a thorough medical history, atrophy of the brain (shown here in an MRI scan) sometimes indicates Alzheimer's.

Many Doctors Who Diagnose Alzheimer's Fail To Tell The Patient

7:58pm April 01, 2015

by Jon Hamilton

Only about half of Medicare patients are told of the diagnosis by their doctor, a study finds. That compares to 90 percent of patients diagnosed with cancer.

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No Easy, Reliable Way To Screen For Suicide

6:57pm April 01, 2015

by Jon Hamilton

Clinicians correctly predict a suicide attempt about half the time — no better than a coin toss. Certain tests of involuntary responses, although still experimental, aim to improve the odds.

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Jonathan Keleher is one of a handful of people who have lived their entire lives without a cerebellum.

A Man's Incomplete Brain Reveals Cerebellum's Role In Thought And Emotion

6:40pm April 01, 2015

by Jon Hamilton

Jonathan Keleher is one of a handful of people known to have lived their entire lives without a cerebellum. His experiences are helping scientists show how this brain structure helps shape who we are.

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Jump off a roof? Ride a bike while texting? Well, what do you think?

Tweeners Trust Peers More Than Adults When Judging Risks

3:33pm April 01, 2015

by Nancy Shute

We all tend to adjust our opinions based on what other people think. But young teenagers pay far more attention to other teens than they do to adults, a study finds. That explains a lot, doesn't it?

Germanwings Co-Pilot Shines Light On Opaqueness Of Mental Illness

9:00pm March 31, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Dr. Michael C. Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, about how someone's deep inner turmoil can remain hidden.

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Iran Nuclear Talks Bog Down As Tuesday Deadline Approaches

9:49am March 31, 2015

by Peter Kenyon

Talks aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program to peaceful purposes continue. An Iranian negotiator is quoted as rejecting the idea that Iran would ship some of its nuclear fuel out of the country.

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Flight crew in cockpit, rear view (zoom effect).

Is There Any Way To Screen The World's Pilots For Suicidal Tendencies?

3:45pm March 27, 2015

by Emily Sohn

There are questionnaires that aim to identify people at risk of killing themselves. But the tests are flawed — and it's not at all clear they'd be effective in assessing the mental state of pilots.

Most teenagers with mental health problems don't get any help.

New York City To Teens: TXT ME With Mental Health Worries

12:57pm March 27, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

In an effort to connect teenagers with mental health services, New York is testing counseling via text for high school students. They join a growing trend.

Researchers and therapists are developing strategies to help people cut back on drinking, including tracker cards and tools to screen for dependence.

Rethinking Alcohol: Can Heavy Drinkers Learn To Cut Back?

11:19am March 24, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

The limit for healthy drinking may be less than you think — one drink a day for women and two for men, according to health experts. New strategies aim to help heavy drinkers reduce their intake.

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