health

HHS aligns health technology leadership to provide Americans with a data-fluid, affordable, AI-enabled health system

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HHS aligns health technology leadership to provide Americans with a data-fluid, affordable, AI-enabled health system

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that it is rescinding its 2024 reorganization. (1) The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) will be renamed the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC), headed by the Assistant Secretary … Read more

Love and lean: Zeeland family marks 10 years of mental health advocacy in son’s memory

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Zack Kroll1.jpg

ZEELAND, MI — More than a decade after the death of 15-year-old Zeeland East student Zach Kroll, his family is working to keep his memory alive and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health through the nonprofit Love and Lean. Not a day goes by that Lori Kroll doesn’t think about her son. Love and lean: … Read more

San Francisco manager Jackie Fielder takes medical leave for mental health | KQED

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San Francisco manager Jackie Fielder takes medical leave for mental health | KQED

Jen Snyder, a progressive political strategist at Red Bridge Strategies, said voters in the 9th District are likely to reject moderate oversight if Fielder resigns and Lurie has a chance to fill the seat. “The 9th District is progressive, and we have an army of volunteers and neighbors who are committed to keeping it that … Read more

Skin dysmorphic disorder: Has the pursuit of “perfect” skin become a mental health problem?

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Maddie Ogle shares her experience with skin dysmorphia on TikTok

Your support helps us tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is where the stories unfold. Whether we’re investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing The A Word, a new documentary highlighting American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to … Read more

When I was so depressed that I couldn’t even drink water, a stranger’s voice saved me.

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When I was so depressed that I couldn't even drink water, a stranger's voice saved me.

One of the worst aspects of my episode was the shame that accompanied the days of lying in bed and accomplishing nothing (Photo: Dorothy Herson) I was halfway through Elvia Wilkes’ The Oval, a fictional feminist dystopian novel, when an overwhelming, familiar wave of depression washed over me. It became impossible to decipher the words … Read more

Wait times for mental health care in emergency departments remain too long – The Boston Globe

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Behavioral health patients with unique needs often can’t obtain timely treatment.

As of 2024, there will be fewer mentally ill patients waiting in hospital emergency departments than in 2022. However, Massachusetts still has some of the longest wait times in the nation, and behavioral health patients with unique needs, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children with autism, are too often unable to receive timely … Read more

Editorial | The state’s callous indifference to mental health care continues to put lives at risk

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Editorial | The state's callous indifference to mental health care continues to put lives at risk

South Africa’s mental health system is deeply rotten. The latest tragedy to hit the headlines is the death of 35-year-old psychiatric patient Lerat Mawlam, who died from burns sustained in a fire at the George Muhari Academic Hospital (GMAH) in June 2024. A Health Ombud investigation into the horrors, released last week, revealed neglect and … Read more

Mental health is the next crisis, but technology is intervening

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anger

“Sometimes they go missing for weeks,” said Galit, a clinical nutritionist and mother of two whose husband has served in the reserves for more than 200 days. “When he comes back, it’s a bonus, but you can’t build a life around it.” With her children staying at home instead of school, her income decreasing, and … Read more

Mental health workers fight to protect AI in California

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Mental health workers fight to protect AI in California

“Kaiser executives say they don’t use AI to make patient care decisions, but they won’t say what technology powers the online surveys that automatically determine whether a patient needs an emergency appointment or assess whether a patient is a potential threat to themselves,” said Carolyn Stahl, a behavioral therapist in San Francisco. “Whatever Kaiser wants … Read more

More than 630 general practitioners in Singapore join scheme to support mental health treatment

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More than 630 general practitioners in Singapore join scheme to support mental health treatment

Singapore – Mental health support in primary care is expanding here, with the number of general practitioners (GPs) with access to low-cost psychiatric medications and support networks to manage complex mental health conditions rising to more than 630 by the end of 2025. This number is up from more than 520 the previous year, according … Read more