Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study: Getting A Dementia Diagnosis Dramatically Raises Suicide Risk
A diagnosis of dementia more than doubles the risk of suicide in the first three months after a patient is told the news, according to the latest research. (LaMotte, 10/3)
鈥淲hat it tells us is that period immediately after diagnosis is when people really need support from the services that provide the diagnosis,鈥 said Dr Charles Marshall, co-author of the research and a clinical senior lecturer and honorary consultant neurologist at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London. (Davis, 10/3)
In other news about dementia 鈥
Seeking shelter during storms like Hurricane Ian can be challenging for many Floridians, but caregivers of people living with dementia often face added hardship. (Colombini, 10/3)
It's been about a year since we've caught up with Dr. Charlie Farrell, the founder of the Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation. He still spends his days there, helping families cope with dementia. Now, he's participating right along with them because since early 2021, Dr. Charlie has been dealing with the disease himself. "Now I've been living with my new friend, Mr. Alzheimer's, and we're getting for better, for worse, closer and closer together," Dr. Charlie said of the disease he's named "Mr. Alzheimer's." (Buckingham, 9/30)
More mental health news 鈥
Mental health tips on social media are a mixed bag. Your favorite online creator might give valid advice on managing anxiety symptoms or drawing boundaries with family members. They also might spread wrong information or use their platform to promote dubious products. (Hunter, 10/3)
With human therapists in short supply, AI chatbots are trying to plug the gap鈥攂ut it鈥檚 not clear how well they work. (Browne, 10/1)
A coalition of corporate, academic and nonprofit partners including Bank of America Corp. and insurer聽Axa SA聽has developed a tool that employers can use to measure and improve the mental health of their workers. (Boyle, 10/3)