Mental Health

Methadone, and similar drugs, are legal synthetic opioids that are used to help block the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of people trying to wean themselves off prescription painkillers or heroin.

Despite Overdose Epidemic, Georgia Caps The Number Of Opioid Treatment Clinics

7:36pm June 15, 2016

by Michell Eloy

Georgia has stopped licensing new clinics that provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Some call the state's move irresponsible. Others say the clinics aren't regulated enough.

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Ex-Wife Reveals Orlando Gunman's History Of Domestic Violence

5:57pm June 15, 2016

The ex-wife of Omar Mateen — who attacked an Orlando, Fla., nightclub killing at least 49 people — has described suffering physical and psychological abuse from Mateen during their marriage. NPR's Kelly McEvers speaks to Deborah Epstein of Georgetown University about the possible connections between domestic violence and mass shootings.

Would the threat of Zika lead you to rethink a scheduled trip to Ipanema beach or the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? You'd need the right kind of travel insurance to cover the cost of a canceled trip.

If Zika May Derail A Trip, Look At 'Cancel-For-Any-Reason' Travel Insurance

1:33pm June 14, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Consumers worried that health issues might thwart a planned vacation may want to look into travel insurance that allows them to cancel the trip for any reason.

Rachel Star Withers says that talking about her schizophrenia on YouTube has helped her. Some people who see the videos say the videos help them, too.

How YouTube Videos Help People Cope With Mental Illness

2:30pm June 13, 2016

by Angus Chen

People with schizophrenia say it helps them cope when they see others talking about the experience online. Their friends and family members say it gives them insight into that hidden world.

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Lonny Shavelson has studied America's experiments with aid in dying. He's now helping patients and doctors in California come to grips with the state's new law.

This Doctor Wants To Help California Figure Out Aid-In-Dying

8:27am June 11, 2016

by Lisa Aliferis

It's now legal for doctors to prescribe lethal medications to terminally ill patients who want them. But many doctors say they feel queasy about it. Lonny Shavelson wants to help them with that.

Jonathan McHugh/Ikon Images/Getty Images

Investors See Big Opportunities In Opioid Addiction Treatment

5:06pm June 10, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

Opioid addiction treatment is a growth market, and private equity firms are buying up treatment centers and chains. But it's too soon to say how this might affect access to care and quality.

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Dr. Christian Macedonia led the military's Gray Team of doctors and scientists charged with finding the "ground truth" about traumatic brain injuries. Now, he's a maternal and fetal health specialist at Lancaster General Health's Women and Babies Hospital

An Army Buddy's Call For Help Sends A Scientist On A Brain Injury Quest

5:34pm June 08, 2016

by Jon Hamilton

Harvard researcher Kit Parker built his academic career studying the heart. But Parker, also an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, switched his focus to figuring out how IED blasts damage the brain.

Access to mental health care can be especially tough for new immigrants.

Students Fill A Gap In Mental Health Care For Immigrants

5:57pm June 07, 2016

by Michael Tomsic

Latinos who have recently arrived in the U.S. often have a hard time getting access to health care, including mental health care. Several universities are enlisting graduate students to help.

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Amina Ali Nkeki, 19, is one of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014. She was found last month wandering in the Sambisa Forest, a Boko Haram stronghold, with her 4-month-old baby.

Health & Safety

The Long Road Back From Boko Haram

1:34pm June 07, 2016

by Diane Cole

How will 19-year-old Amina Ali Nkeki remake her life? The experiences of former captives suggest what might help — and what will not.

Giselle is pursuing a career in family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. For her, hiding her problems with anxiety and depression was not an option.

A Med Student Decides To Be Upfront About Her Mental Issues

6:52pm June 01, 2016

by Amanda Aronczyk

When Giselle decided to apply to medical school, people told her to hide the fact that she has struggled with anxiety, depression and a suicide attempt. She thinks it will help her be a better doctor.

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