Survey: Low Level Of Troubled People Have Sought Mental Health Treatment
But a high level of optimism was also found, Fox News reports. Public health news is on parental stress, workplace privacy, air travel safety, the duration of pandemics, police training and George Floyd's medical records, as well.
Fox News:
Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Americans In 'Denial' Over Poor Mental Health: Survey
A new survey revealed that nearly half of its respondents did not seek mental health treatment amid the coronavirus pandemic due to cost or lack of access and time. The small-scale survey from LifeStance Health, a behavioral healthcare services provider, gathered responses from 1,623 Americans in late August on the state of their mental health and outlook on the nation’s civil unrest, economy, and the upcoming election, among other topics. The results of the survey were exclusively provided to Fox News. The age of respondents tipped toward 45 to 60. Respondents’ race and ethnicity were not disclosed. (Rivas, 9/9)
The New York Times:
The Pandemic Is A ‘Mental Health Crisis’ For Parents
As we slouch into Month 7 of the pandemic, the mental health impact on parents remains significant and shows no signs of abating. Though the pandemic has certainly affected the mental health of all demographics, research from the American Psychological Association showed that in April and May, parents with children at home under 18 were markedly more stressed than non-parents. (Grose, 9/9)
NPR:
Pandemic Financially Imperils Nearly Half of American Households, Poll Finds
The poll finds nearly half the households in America — 46% — report facing serious financial pain during the pandemic — a problem that is more acute in the four largest U.S. cities, and among Latino and Black households. Hundreds of billions in government stimulus and other support did not make an apparent dent in their struggles. In addition, over half, or 54%, of those with household incomes below $100,000 reported serious financial problems, compared to only 20% of those with incomes above that threshold. (Noguchi, 9/10)
In other public health news —
AP:
Does My Employer Have To Say If A Coworker Has The Virus?
Does my employer have to say if a coworker has the virus? Employers are generally not required to tell workers when someone in the workplace has tested positive for the coronavirus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that companies monitor employees for symptoms and alert those who may have been in contact with an infected person. Some states may order businesses to follow such guidance. (9/10)
Kaiser Health News and Politifact HealthCheck:
What Is The Risk Of Catching The Coronavirus On A Plane?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tried to alleviate fears of flying during the pandemic at an event with airline and rental car executives. "The airplanes have just not been vectors when you see spread of the coronavirus,” DeSantis said during a discussion at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Aug. 28. “The evidence is the evidence. And I think it’s something that is safe for people to do.” Is the evidence really so clear? (Kim, 9/10)
ABC News:
How Do Pandemics Usually End? And How Will This One Finish?
Just over 100 years ago, a new strain of influenza infected a third of the world's population — but within just three years, the threat of this deadly flu had all but passed. This was a time before modern medical care and even before humans understood what viruses were. So what's changed since then? It's a question plenty of you have asked in recent months: how do pandemics end? And how will the one we're currently living through end? (Taylor, 9/8)
AP:
In A Year Of Social Distancing, Virus Alters Sept. 11, Too
In a year when the coronavirus pandemic has reshaped countless American rituals, even the commemoration of 9/11 could not escape unchanged. The 19th anniversary of the terror attacks will be marked by dueling ceremonies at the Sept. 11 memorial plaza and a corner near the World Trade Center, reflecting a divide over the memorial’s decision to suspend a cherished tradition of relatives reading victims’ names in person. Vice President Mike Pence is expected at both those remembrances in New York, while President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden plan to attend a truncated ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. (Peltz, 9/10)
Also —
AP:
Boy's Shooting Raises Questions About Police Crisis Training
A police shooting that wounded a 13-year-old autistic boy in Salt Lake City is revealing shortfalls in the way officers respond to a mental health crisis, an advocacy group said Wednesday, a part of policing that’s facing renewed scrutiny during nationwide protests over brutality by law enforcement. Similar questions are being raised in Rochester, New York, following the death of a Black man whose brother called police about his unusual behavior shortly after a mental health evaluation. It comes as demonstrators have urged cities to “defund the police” and shift money to social services instead. (Whitehurst and Eppolito, 9/9)
AP:
Lawyer: Medical Workers Improperly Accessed Floyd's Records
Family members of George Floyd have been notified that multiple employees of a Minneapolis healthcare system have improperly accessed the man’s medical records sometime in the last 30 days, an attorney for the family said.Attorney Antonio Romanucci told KARE 11 that family members received a letter from Hennepin Healthcare, notifying them of the breach. (9/9)
