Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Child Behavioral Health Systems Stressed By Pandemic, Lockdowns
Emily Hangen said it only took a few weeks after her family began isolating in their home in Winslow, Ariz., for her to notice changes in her four children. 鈥淭here were behavioral issues, incidents of acting out, being angry, sleeping more or sleeping less depending on the child,鈥 Hangen recalls. 鈥淲e had one that just wanted to eat and one that didn鈥檛 want to eat at all鈥攐verall depression. 鈥漌hile Hangen鈥檚 oldest child was receiving counseling services for issues with depression diagnosed prior to the pandemic, getting behavioral healthcare support for her other three children has been a major problem. (Johnson, 3/29)
Jennifer Pannone needed help. The resident of Schenectady, N.Y., was pregnant, a global pandemic was unfolding and her fianc茅 had committed suicide weeks earlier, on New Year鈥檚 Day 2020. Despite getting support from a local health system, including more than 50 referrals to behavioral health specialists, she has not been able to find a specialist who was accepting new patients. (Johnson, 3/29)
Adolescents and teenagers who try marijuana or misuse prescription drugs are more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder than young adults who are at least 18 years old, according to a new analysis of federal data. The study, led by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), underscores the vulnerability of adolescents to substance abuse disorders and the importance of screening for substance misuse among younger populations. (Weixel, 3/29)
Over the past year, Ellen Minor has been caring for her 93-year-old father in their Covid bubble. It鈥檚 been far from easy. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how close I have come to forcing myself to retire early, which means paying for my own medical insurance,鈥 said Minor, a 61-year-old teacher at a California charter school. 鈥淚 have come very close, with the stress,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 just can鈥檛 take it.鈥 (Fox, 3/29)
Not exercising enough could increase your risk of developing certain diseases by up to 8%, according to a new study. Little to no exercise increases your risk of getting noncommunicable diseases such as depression and dementia, according to the study's analysis of data from 168 countries. The study published Monday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. (Marples, 3/29)
