General Mental Health Issues
- Research shows police officers are more likely to suffer from cardiac death at a much younger age than the general public. Rates of depression, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significantly higher among police officers than in the civilian population. Some studies suggest that 30% of cops struggle with substance abuse — alcohol dependence is at the top of the list. In recent years, more police officers have died by suicide than were killed in the line of duty, according to the first-responder advocacy group First H.E.L.P. Read more here.
Loneliness and Social Isolation
- Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned about the adverse effects of chronic loneliness, which could lead to a shorter lifespan. Murthy, on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” told host Kristen Welker that struggling with loneliness and isolation increases the risks of depression, anxiety and suicide, along with the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia in older adults. Read more here.
- One in five people are lonely every day, according to a Gallup poll. In the Tampa Bay area, that number is higher, with roughly 29% of people experiencing loneliness, said Tampa Bay Thrives CEO Carrie Zeisse. While she couldn't say why more people are suffering in the region, she hopes a new initiative will help. Read more here.
Youth Mental Health
- Academic achievement among adolescents may be affected by early childhood lead exposure at much lower levels than previously assumed, according to a new study. Just a small climb in blood concentrations of this toxic metal — still within the range currently deemed acceptable by public health agencies — was associated with worse performance on standardized tests, scientists found in the study published in Environmental Health. Read more here.
Research
- In this survey study of veterans receiving Community Care (CC) from 2016 to 2021, those diagnosed with MHC reported lower ratings of CC across all measured domains, and these differences persisted over time. These findings highlight where focused care coordination and quality improvement efforts could improve CC experiences for this vulnerable subpopulation of veterans. Read more here.
- Middle-aged and older adults who experience pain are more likely to have had worsening symptoms of depression up to eight years before the pain began, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in the eClinicalMedicine journal suggests that among this age group, treatment for depression might help to prevent or reduce later aches and pains. Read more here.
Transgender Issues
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent letters to hospitals that provide transgender care services to children, demanding data on their quality standards and finances. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz sent letters to “select hospitals,” giving them 30 days to provide specific information on “medical interventions for gender dysphoria in children.” Read more here.
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is tracking 575 anti-LGBTQ+ state bills so far this year, most of which target transgender people. One hundred and five of those bills have failed and 54 have passed into law. Those newly passed laws include restrictions on trans students’ ability to use school restrooms or play school sports, Pride flag bans on government property, gender-affirming care restrictions, and bans on updating personal identity documents, such as driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Read more here.
Medicaid
- Democrats are preparing to launch an ad war against Republicans over President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” House Majority Forward, the nonprofit affiliated with House Democratic leadership and House Majority PAC, will start running digital ads attacking House Republicans voting to cut Medicaid spending, according to a spokesperson for the group. The ads will appear in 25 battleground districts in California, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Read more here.
State Policy
- Congressional lawmakers have tried and failed several times to push through a bipartisan, health-industry-backed bill that would speed up health insurers’ prior authorization processes for certain prescription drugs and medical services. Congress will launch another attempt this year, but a growing number of blue and red states have taken the matter into their own hands. In 2024, at least 10 states passed laws to reform the prior authorization process, according to a report from the American Medical Association. Insurers use prior authorization to control costs. Read more here.
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