Mental Health

People who practice free-range parenting say it makes kids more independent, but others see it as neglect. State and local laws don't specify what children are allowed to do on their own.

Kids' Solo Playtime Unleashes 'Free-Range' Parenting Debate

2:57pm February 19, 2015

by Jennifer Ludden

A number of parents have made news in recent months for letting children walk or play outside on their own. But laws on when kids are allowed to be by themselves are vague.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics says middle and high schools shouldn't start before 8:30 a.m., so students can get enough sleep.

Many Parents Aren't Sold On Later School Start Times For Teens

3:07pm February 17, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Just half of parents say schools should start later so teenagers can get more sleep, a survey found. But most of the parents also weren't aware that pediatricians have called for a start of 8:30 a.m.

Can A Computer Change The Essence Of Who You Are?

12:46pm February 16, 2015

by Lulu Miller

The latest episode of NPR's Invisibilia takes us online. Some people think interacting with these machines is changing us all — for better and worse.

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Health & Safety

When A Patient Says 'Everything's Fine,' A Doctor Should Be Wary

12:44pm February 16, 2015

by John Henning Schumann

The retired cop was an easy patient, who took his medicine without complaint. After an operation, the man went into a mental tailspin that his doctor realized had been in the making for years.

Apps Can Speed The Search For Love, But Nothing Beats A Real Date

8:13am February 13, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Are those hours I spend swiping through Tinder getting me anywhere closer to actual romance? Yes, psychologists say. But chemistry doesn't come in an app, and that's what matters most.

Obama Signs Act Designed To Prevent Suicide Among Veterans

6:26pm February 12, 2015

On Thursday, President Obama signed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act. Is it enough? Rachel Martin puts that question to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald.

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Residents of ShantiNiketan, a retirement community near Orlando, Fla., walk in a Hindu religious procession.

Being With People Like You Offers Comfort Against Death's Chill

1:52pm February 09, 2015

by Lulu Miller

Iggy Ignatius bet that immigrants from India would long to live with other Indians in his Florida condos. He was right. Psychologists say intimations of mortality make us want to be with our own kind.

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They're not just surfing for fun. Youngsters in Cape Town's Waves for Change are facing mental health problems. With the help of a surfing mentor and a counselor, they can learn how to cope.

If Everybody Had An Ocean, Could We Surf Our Way To Mental Health?

3:00pm February 06, 2015

by Anders Kelto

The teenager's dad was beating his mom. So the kid fell into a funk. His grades plummeted, he joined a gang, he got into fights. Then he discovered surfing therapy.

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Does Binge-Watching Make Us Depressed? Good Question

9:26am February 05, 2015

by Poncie Rutsch

Recent headlines make it sound as if watching just a few episodes at night can make us depressed and lonely. OK, more than a few. But the science on binge-watching is just getting started.

Juniper Russo walks her dogs with her daughter Vivian (left).

Once A Vaccine Skeptic, This Mom Changed Her Mind

8:16am February 05, 2015

by Jon Hamilton

Juniper Russo wants what is best for her daughter, Vivian, and she sometimes questions mainstream medicine. But after three years of soul-searching, she decided vaccination was best.

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