Public News Service

The average ratio of students to counselors across the United States is 385-to-1. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Checking in on mental health as WA kids head back to school

Promoting mental health is on the checklist as the new school year nears for Washington state students. Mental-health professionals on school …

Physicals are important for students who are playing sports during the school year. (rocketclips/Adobe Stock)

Doctor visits important as WA kids head back to school

As children head back to school, doctors said there are a few ways parents can prepare for the transition. One important item on the checklist is …

Washington state lawmakers approved the long-term care program, WA Cares, in 2019. (wladimir1804/Adobe Stock)

Analysis: Costs high for making WA long-term care program optional

A new analysis from Washington state shows passing an initiative making a long-term care benefit program optional could cost taxpayers millions…

The mental health crisis line 988 was activated nationwide in July 2022. (7N23/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA 988 crisis line rollout successful but more work needed

A new report examines the rollout of the 988 mental health crisis line in each state and finds Washington state has fared well but still has more work…

Amazon sold a chemical used for suicide at high concentrations but said it cannot be held responsible for how customers use products. (michelangeloop/Adobe Stock)

Amazon responsible for selling chemical used for suicide, lawsuits allege

Lawsuits are seeking to hold Amazon accountable for selling a chemical used by people for suicide. The substance is known as sodium nitrite and is …

The number of geriatric clinicians increased 4% nationwide, according to a new report from the United Health Foundation. (Chinnapong/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA ranks in top 10 for older Americans' well-being

A new report looks at the well-being of older Americans. The America's Health Ranking Senior Report shows a mixed bag for the living conditions of …

Smoke from across the region can affect air quality in cities like Seattle. (Tabor Chichakly/Adobe Stock)

NW wildfire season highlights importance of Air Quality Awareness Week

Agencies are raising awareness about air quality across the country this week. Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality …

Lawmakers this session in Olympia increased the rate for providers who offer infant care. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

WA makes child-care investments, but more needed

Advocates for accessible child care saw wins during Washington state's legislative session this year but still see room for improvement. Lawmakers …

A program that provides mental health consultation for young children is funded by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

WA investment could grow reach of child mental health program

A program in Washington state is helping young kids with challenging behaviors. It's hoping to secure more funding during the legislative session …

El Departamento de Ni�os, J�venes y Familias del Estado de Washington financia un programa que brinda consultas de salud mental para ni�os peque�os. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Inversión en WA podría ampliar alcance de programa de salud mental infantil

Un programa en el estado de Washington ayuda a niños pequeños con comportamientos problemáticos. Espera conseguir más fondos …

More than 95% of youth ages 13-17 are on social media, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Mental health concerns grow over social media impact on youth

Health professionals have raised alarms about social media and its impact on young people's mental health. Concern has grown so great that earlier …

Screen time before bed can be especially detrimental for teenagers and their developing brains. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Screen Time Driver of Sleep Loss Among Young People

School is back and one way parents can set their kids up for success is ensuring screen time is not getting in the way of sleep. Dr. Maida Chen…

About one in three adults age 85 or older may have some form of dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging. (pololia/Adobe Stock

Often Hidden, Research Casts Light on Kinless Adults with Dementia

Washington state researchers are spotlighting an often overlooked population: kinless adults with dementia. The population is often difficult to …

Aproximadamente uno de cada tres adultos de 85 a�os o m�s puede padecer alg�n tipo de demencia, seg�n el National Institute on Aging. (pololia/Adobe Stock)

Una investigación a menudo oculta arroja luz sobre adultos con demencia sin familiares

Investigadores del estado de Washington están destacando una población que a menudo se pasa por alto: los adultos con demencia sin parientes…

One in four people part of Gen Z reported feeling emotionally distressed in a recent report. (Stock Rocket/Adobe Stock)

Mental Health Crisis Among Gen Z Sparks Concern

Mental health is a major issue for young people of Generation Z, people who were born after 1996, and research has found they report feeling …

Los estadounidenses negros son menos propensos que los blancos para buscar tratamiento de salud mental. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Superando barreras en el Mes de Concientización sobre Salud Mental de las Minorías

Julio es el mes nacional de la concientización sobre la salud mental de las minorías, que destaca las dificultades específicas de las …

Black Americans are less likely than white Americans to seek treatment for mental health issues. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Overcoming Care Barriers During Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is national minority mental health awareness month, spotlighting the unique struggles in health care settings for communities for color in the …

A new report on child well-being ranks Washington state 10th in its family and community category. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Access to Care Among WA Children's Biggest Challenges

Washington state fares well in a new report released on child well-being, but is facing important challenges in child care. The Annie E. Casey …

Social Media Growing Concern for Youth Mental Health

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are up among adolescents and young adults. Health experts warn social media is playing a role in declining mental …

Creciente Preocupación en las Redes Sociales por Salud Mental de los Jóvenes

Síntomas de ansiedad y depresión aumentan entre los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes. Los expertos en salud advierten que las redes …

A recent CDC survey found 13% of young girls attempted suicide in 2021. (Magryt/Adobe Stock)

Prioritizing Mental Health During Women's Health Week

To wrap up Women's Health Week, doctors are urging women to take stock of their mental health. Dr. Sharon Eloranta, medical director at the …

Fear of death is a core human motivator, according to a theory developed by Ernest Becker. (Takver/Adobe Stock)

Ideas in 'The Denial of Death' Still Alive, 50 Years Later

An influential work of sociology turned 50 this year. "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker won the Pulitzer Prize and continues to have a lasting …

The podcast Spark Hunter explores the story of an artificial intelligence robot that goes rogue. (ipopba/Adobe Stock)

Death Anxiety Inspires Podcast About AI

A podcast has incorporated the philosophical work of Ernest Becker and his theory on death. The cultural anthropologist Becker's work Denial of Death …

Washington state broadened protections for child sexual abuse survivors three decades ago, but critics argue its fallen behind since then. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Eliminates Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Cases

Washington state lawmakers are considering eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. House Bill 1618 would revise the …

The death penalty was abolished in Washington state in 2018. (Felipe Caparr�s/Adobe Stock)

UW Professor: Fear of Death Inspires Death Penalty Views

A new book by a University of Washington professor on the death penalty finds support for executions may be motivated by people's own fear of death…

Tom Oliver, center, receives the 2022 Washington Andrus Award for Community Service. (Bruce Carlson/AARP Washington)

Washingtonian Helping People with Dementia Receives Volunteer Award

A Bellingham man who supports people with dementia has received one of the most prestigious awards for volunteerism in Washington state. The …

In this time of speeches and campaign ads, fear and anxiety can compel us to make political decisions at the level of the gut, according to one theory. (wellphoto/Adobe Stock)

How Death Anxiety Plays a Role in Politics

CLARIFICATION: Ernest Becker did not create the Terror Management Theory, although it was based on his ideas and research. (2:00 a.m. MDT, Oct. 28…

Teletherapy has become a popular option for providing mental health services, and it's now covered by many insurance plans. (kalinichenkod/Adobe Stock)

Chance Approaches for Washingtonians to Make Health-Plan Changes

The new year is still a few months off, but it's nearly time for people to consider their health plans for 2023. The Affordable Care Act's health …

The rate of Washington state kids with health insurance has increased over the past decade to one of the highest rates in the nation. (Iriana Shiyan/Adobe Stock)

Report: Many WA Kids Suffering from Anxiety, Depression

The mental health of Washington state children is a major area of concern, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids …

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce its decision on a major abortion case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, this month. (Philip/Adobe Stock)

How a Death-Anxiety Theory Fires Up Abortion Debate

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce its decision on a case, which could upend abortion access across the country. The topic is a source of …

By the end of the decade, Washington state needs to add more than 70,000 caregivers. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

WA Caregivers in Focus for Mental Health Awareness Month

May is mental health awareness month and many people across the country are dealing with extra strain from COVID-19 over the past two years. …

The death rate from Alzheimer's Disease more than 42 per 100,000 in Washington state. (Khunatorn/Adobe Stock)

Rise in Dementia Underscores Need for Planning Care in Advance

This Saturday is National Health Care Decisions Day, focusing on the importance of planning your care decisions in advance. Kim Callinan, president …

Pioneer Square is a neighborhood in downtown Seattle. (Toohool/Adobe Stock)

WA Program Model for Support in Homelessness Crisis

Washington state lawmakers made a historic investment of $850 million in housing this session. An effort in Seattle to get people housed could …

Only a handful of counties in Washington state are considered high-transmission counties by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Maridav/Adobe Stock)

Dealing with Health Anxiety as Mask Requirements End in WA

Mask requirements are coming to an end in Washington state on Saturday, more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. But the transition could be …

Los Centros para el Control y la Prevenci�n de Enfermedades consideran que solo un pu�ado de condados en el estado de Washington son de alta transmisi�n. (Maridav/Adobe Stock)

Lidiando con la ansiedad mientras terminan requisitos de máscara en WA

No se requerirá que los habitantes de Washington usen máscaras en interiores a partir del sábado. La transición podría …

The expanded death with dignity bill made its way to the Senate Committee on Health and Long Term Care at the beginning of the session. (Rex Wholster/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Opens Up Access to Medical Aid-in-Dying Law

Washington state's Death with Dignity Act has been on the books for more than a decade. Proponents says it's time to update the law so that more …

Although people spent less time on average on Facebook than some other social media sites, the vast majority said they'd had arguments there. (jpgon/Adobe Stock)

How Social Media Design Fuels Online Fights

SEATTLE - Constructive conversations online can seem few and far between. Research from the University of Washington explores how the design of …

Western State Hospital opened a special ward to treat about ten of its most violent patients.(Washington Federation of State Employees)

WA Psychiatric Hospital Workers Call for Greater Protections

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Western State Hospital workers are continuing to call for changes to protect their safety. Assaults on staff are a major concern …

Pacific County is among the smallest in Washington. (Chetsford/Wikimedia Commons)

WA County an 'Innovator' in Criminal-Justice Reform

PACIFIC COUNTY, Wash. -- As parts of the country rethink criminal justice, a small county in Washington state is providing a model on how to better …

Feelings of anxiety have persisted through the pandemic and continue as people stress about a return to normal. (pikselstock/Adobe Stock)

COVID-19: Getting Back to Normal Brings New Anxieties

SEATTLE -- May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as life returns to normal, many people are coming down from more than a year of anxiety…

Los sentimientos de ansiedad han persistido durante la pandemia y contin�an mientras las personas se estresan por volver a la normalidad. (pikselstock / Adobe Stock)

COVID-19: Volver a la normalidad trae nuevas ansiedades

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Mayo es el Mes de Concientización sobre la Salud Mental, y a medida que la vida vuelve a la normalidad, muchas personas est…

Olga Garc�a est� entre las cuidadoras a domicilio preocupadas por c�mo afectar�n los recortes del presupuesto estatal a su trabajo. (SEIU 775)

Recortes al Presupuesto de WA podrían Devastar al Personal de Cuidados en el Hogar

SEATTLE -- Personal de Cuidados en el estado de Washington dice que los recortes del Departamento de Servicios Sociales y de la Salud (Social and Heal…

More than half of U.S. physicians have personally treated someone with COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)

Physicians’ Union Approves Strike Against MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care

TACOMA, Wash. -- Doctors at MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care clinics say their union has authorized a strike, citing unsafe working conditions, lack of …

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, made more timely by the stresses of the coronavirus outbreak. (ipopba/Adobe Stock)

Digital Mental Health Support Offered by WA Health Provider

SEATTLE -- The coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders are increasing the need for mental health resources. To protect folks from the virus…

Western State Hospital staff want more screening after a patient tested positive for coronavirus last week. (WFSE)

In Pandemic, Workers Question Safety at Western State Hospital

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Some workers at Washington state's psychiatric facility near Tacoma are growing increasingly concerned about the health of …

Solitary confinement can have detrimental effects on the developing brains of young people, studies have found. (karenfoleyphoto/Adobe Stock)

Trend to End Youth Solitary Confinement Alive in WA Legislature

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A bill to end solitary confinement for young people in Washington state jails and detention facilities is making its way through …

Washington state still has an estimated backlog of more than 6,500 untested sexual assault kits. (Sgt. Rebecca Linder/defenseimagery.mil)

WA Bill Would Reform Sexual Assault Kit Handling

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- As Washington state continues to test its backlog of sexual assault kits, lawmakers also are looking to reform how kits are managed…

A summit at the University of Washington will focus on compassion and look at topics such as how to create more compassionate cities. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

WA Summit: How Compassionate Workplaces are Healthier for Everyone

SEATTLE – Workplace and community leaders come together this week to focus on how compassion can play a bigger role in our lives. The …

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WA: Mental Health