Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Mental Health-Related Emergencies Increase 31% For Teens
The Hill: CDC: Proportion Of Pediatric Emergency Room Visits For Mental Health Increased Sharply Amid Pandemic
The proportion of mental health-related pediatric visits to hospitals are on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis released Thursday. The CDC data found mental health-related emergency room visits increased 31 percent for children between the ages of 12 and 17 from March to October compared to the same period in 2019. There was also a 24 percent increase in emergency room visits for children between the ages of 5 and 11. (Budryk, 11/12)
The New York Times: Teens In Covid Isolation: 'I Felt Like I Was Suffocating'
The social isolation of the pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of many Americans. But the impact has been especially severe on teenagers, who rely on their friends to navigate the maze and pressures of high school life. Research shows that adolescents depend on their friendships to maintain a sense of self-worth and to manage anxiety and depression. A recent study of 3,300 high school students found that nearly one-third reported feeling unhappy or depressed in recent months. (Goldberg, 11/12)
In other public health news —
USA Today: Amazon, Walmart See Online Grocery Shopping With Food Stamps Surge Amid Coronavirus, Reports Say
Shopping for groceries online for delivery or curbside pickup has grown in popularity amid the coronavirus pandemic with many shoppers looking to make fewer trips to stores. And using Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps, to pay for online grocery trips has been surging. (Tyko, 11/12)
The Wall Street Journal: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Says He Tested Both Positive And Negative For Covid-19
Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk, who has repeatedly played down the risk of the coronavirus since early in the pandemic, says he tested both positive and negative for Covid-19 on Wednesday and raised questions about the validity of such testing more broadly. Mr. Musk, on Twitter, said he was experiencing cold-like symptoms and, when taking four of the same tests administered on the same machine, had two results come back positive and two negative. (Wall, 11/13)
USA Today: Al Roker 'Relieved' To Be Home After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Al Roker appears to be in good spirits while sharing a health update. On Thursday, the 66-year-old "Today" show co-host and weatherman announced on Twitter that he's back home after undergoing surgery to have his prostate removed following his cancer diagnosis. (Henderson, 11/12)
The New York Times: A Tough Call For Families: How To Spend Thanksgiving
Just as the country cannot seem to agree on whether to wear masks or stay six feet apart, there are also disagreements bubbling up over how to celebrate Thanksgiving. To gather or not to gather? Masks or no masks? Is everyone invited or only a select few? Strong opinions can become a recipe for frustration and disappointment. (Caron, 11/11)
USA Today: Fact Check: No Evidence Mask Wearers Arrive In ICUs With Pneumonia
“There’s no evidence of masks leading to fungal or bacterial infections of the upper airway or the lower airway as in pneumonia,” said Dr. Davidson Hamer, infectious disease specialist and professor of global health and medicine at Boston University. (Fauzia, 11/12)
NBC News: Why Experts Say We Need To Stop Talking About Herd Immunity
Ali Mokdad is tired of hearing about herd immunity. A former official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mokdad spent years training his counterparts in other countries on how to respond to infectious disease outbreaks and how to develop immunization programs. As the idea of natural herd immunity has gained traction, Mokdad has not been shy with his reproach. (Chow, 11/11)
Also —
Bangor Daily News: Your Periods Are Causing A Lot Of Waste. Here Are Ways You Can Reduce It.
When it comes to ways to decrease our contribution to the waste stream, the thought of menstrual products often isn’t the first that comes to our heads. Increasingly, though, people who have periods are pursuing options that are reusable for their health, the environment and personal comfort. Periods have a significant impact on the environment. The average person with a menstrual cycle throws away 250 to 300 pounds of pads, tampons and applicators in their lifetime, according to “Flow: The Cultural History of Menstruation.” Many disposable period products also contain chemicals that can leach into the soil in and around landfills. (Schipani, 11/12)
KHN: Black Hair Matters: How Going Natural Made Me Visible
The night before I chopped off my hair, I got nervous. This decision felt bigger than me, given all the weight that Black women’s hair carries. But after three months of wearing hats and scarves in a pandemic when trips to the hairdresser felt unsafe, I walked into a salon emotionally exhausted but ready to finally see my natural hair. (Anthony, 11/13)
KHN: Stanford Vs. Harvard: Two Famous Biz Schools’ Opposing Tactics On COVID
At the Stanford Graduate School of Business in Northern California, the stories got weird almost immediately upon students’ return for the fall semester. Some said they were being followed around campus by people wearing green vests telling them where they could and could not be, go, stop, chat or conduct even a socially distanced gathering. Others said they were threatened with the loss of their campus housing if they didn’t follow the rules. “They were breaking up picnics. They were breaking up yoga groups,” said one graduate student, who asked not to be identified so as to avoid social media blowback. “Sometimes they’d ask you whether you actually lived in the dorm you were about to go into.” (Kreidler, 11/13)
KHN: KHN On The Air This Week
KHN Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal discussed how to manage unexpected health care costs with CBSN on Wednesday. And KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner discussed the Affordable Care Act case before the Supreme Court with WBEZ’s “Reset” and WDET’s “Detroit Today” on Tuesday and with WHYY’s “Radio Times” on Wednesday. (11/13)
