Mental Health

Medical Breakthroughs: Mental health amid COVID-19 + New detection for Alzheimer’s Disease

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The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on mental health. Researchers in Australia found higher psychological distress during the peak of that country’s outbreak – including acute depression, anxiety and stress. About half of the study’s participants reported moderate to extreme loneliness. A simple blood test may be capable of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease years before the first symptoms appear. Researchers…

Medical Breakthroughs: Measures to prevent COVID-19 + COVID & mental health + Hormone disruptive chemicals

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Washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing combined can help lessen and delay the spread of COVID-19. Researchers in the Netherlands developed a model to predict how the prevention measures would affect Coronavirus cases and found they can decrease and postpone the peak number of cases. With more than 50% success, they say a large epidemic can be avoided. A…

Lawmakers Return For 2020 Legislative Session

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Ahead of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s State of the State address, lawmakers returned to the State House Tuesday for the first day of the regular legislative session. Lawmakers have had April 4th circled on their calendars for a long time. Some of the Representatives tell Alabama News Network they’re excited to return and tackle some of the issues the state…

Auburn Student Group Promotes Mental Health Awareness

WAKA Action 8 News,
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by WAKA Action 8 News

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) – Students at Auburn University are trying to connect with friends and strangers to talk about mental health. The Opelika-Auburn news reports that the student organization Active Minds held a series of events throughout last week to promote mental health awareness. On Monday, students could meet with counselors and service dogs. On Tuesday, the annual “Send Silence…

Inmate Mental Health Court Order

Judges orders prison system to report segregation data
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A federal judge has ordered the Alabama Department of Corrections to report data on the number of mentally ill inmates who have been placed in segregation units. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued the order Tuesday after attorneys for inmates asked him to intervene because of a high number of suicides. Attorneys last week filed an…

Telemedicine Mental Health Screening & Treatment for Kids

Two million Dollar Grant will fund program
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    The Alabama Department of Mental Health is going to create a program to train rural Alabama primary medical care providers with training to help children with mental health issues; “…..the Alabama Pediatric Telemental Health Network (will) use evidence-based telehealth methods to train, educate and equip rural primary care providers to support early identification, diagnosis, treatment, and referral of children/adolescents…

Mental Health Crisis Training Offered to First Responders

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There is a growing number of mental health crisis situations, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office wants to make sure first responders know what signs to watch for. It wrapped up a three-day crisis intervention course on Wednesday, where first responders were trained how to be more aware when dealing with people with mental health issues in crisis situations. One…

First 5 Alabama Partners With Zero To Three To Tackle Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Alabama One of 19 States to Identify Strategies to Improve Mental Health Assessment and Treatment of Very Young Children
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A team of leaders from First 5 Alabama, Alabama’s Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, will help to advance state policy related to social and emotional health of babies and toddlers. It is estimated that between 9.5 percent and 14.2 percent of children age birth to 5 experience an emotional or behavioral disturbance. Following a competitive process, Alabama…

Alabama Prisons Agree to Changes Regarding Suicidal Inmates

Darryl Hood,
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by Darryl Hood

Alabama prisons have agreed to put new suicide prevention measures in place after an inmate killed himself days after testifying that there’s inadequate psychiatric care in state prisons. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson on Thursday approved the temporary agreement between the Alabama Department of Corrections and attorneys for inmates. The prison system agreed to keep a licensed mental health professional…