Public News Service

All libraries that are awarded funding through Libraries for Health are part of a collaborative learning cohort. (Liz Moskowitz)

For Central Texans, libraries can be a mental health resource

This is National Library Week, honoring the many roles that libraries play in their communities. In central Texas, a pilot program is using the …

Financial pressures, lack of mental health resources in rural areas and a stigma about using them all contribute to a suicide rate among farmers that is triple the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association. (primipil/Adobe Stock)

TX works to address wildfire survivors' mental health

Residents in the Texas Panhandle are starting to put their lives back together after surviving the largest wildfire in the state's history. The …

The risk of cardiovascular disease increases as people age. (rocketclips/AdobeStock)

Report: Texans have fewer chronic health conditions but more heart disease

Eight chronic health conditions are on the rise across the U.S., with cardiovascular disease a particular concern in Texas. Overall, Texas had a low …

Los datos federales sugieren que al menos siete de cada 10 personas han perdido su cobertura de Medicaid por motivos de procedimiento, como el incumplimiento de plazos, la p�rdida de documentaci�n en el correo o la lentitud en la tramitaci�n por parte de las agencias estatales. (zimmytws/Adobestock)

'Unwinding' de Medicaid cobra alto precio a niños de Texas

Durante la pandemia, aún más niños estadounidenses tuvieron seguro médico, pero ahora que los estados están obligados a …

The number of Texans who skipped or postponed some sort of health care because of cost has reached an all-time high, according to a new survey by the Episcopal Health Foundation. (Malik/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

Poll: Texans skip, delay medical care as affordability, access worsens

More than half of those who responded to a new Texas health care poll said it is becoming more difficult to afford, and the number of those who do …

Suicide rates in rural communities increased by 48% between 2000 and 2018, compared with 34% in urban areas, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. (StockMediaProduction/Adobe Stock)

TX AgriStress Helpline highlighted for Suicide Prevention Month

Texas farmers face the obvious stressors of weather, costs and market fluctuations, but their responsibility of providing for family and workers also …

Texas lawmakers passed legislation in 2021, allowing many residents to purchase health-care plans in 2023 with lower deductibles and little to no premiums. (AdobeStock/Rawpixel.com)

Health-care coverage: Getting best bang for the buck in Texas

It is open-enrollment season for health insurance plans, and experts say a little research can go a long way toward obtaining better coverage for …

In 2023, 566 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states including 65 in Texas, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. (inkdrop/AdobeStock)

TX High Court Not Persuaded to Protect Transgender Health Care

Texas has adopted some of the strictest gender-affirming transgender restrictions in the nation. And the leader of a trans advocacy group says it has …

'Gen Z' Workforce Wants Employers to Step Up Mental-Health Benefits

Seeking help for mental health does not carry the same stigma for "Generation Z" Texans as it did for previous workers, and can be a deal-breaker if …

The lack of nearby and affordable child care in the U.S. affects job opportunities and costs the economy $122 billion annually, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas Ranks 44th in Nation for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in Texas is on the ropes, with a new study showing significant declines in third grade reading, eighth grade math proficiency and …

In a February survey, about 36% of Texas adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, compared with 32% of adults nationwide, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Nattakorn/AdobeStock)

Study: "Sunshine Calls" Hold Promise for Reducing Depression

Many Americans experience depression or anxiety, but a new Texas study shows a regular phone call to those suffering can reduce symptoms. Known as …

Insufficient sleep in the United States was estimated to cost $411 billion in missed work days and reduced productivity, according to a 2016 report by the Rand Corporation. (YuryZap/Adobe Stock)

Taking Sleep to the Next Level for Better Mental, Physical Health

There aren't many quick fixes for getting a restful night's sleep, but experts say if Texans want to improve their physical and mental health…

Peer-reviewed research on the use of misoprostol alone for abortion, published this month by the University of Texas at Austin, found it was 88% effective, with few serious adverse events or signs of complications. (ivanko80/AdobeStock)

TX Court Ruling with Nationwide Implications for Abortion Expected Soon

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

A survey of Texans found only public education ranked higher than a need for increased spending on health care, according to the Episcopal Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />

Survey: More Texans Support Increased Mental Health-Care Funding

For the past five years, Texans' priorities for improving health care have not changed, but in the latest survey, the need for more mental health …

AARP Texas State Director Tina Tran presents Charles Ray Guidry, Jr. with the Andrus Award. (AARP)

AARP Texas Honors Champion for the Homeless

Charles Ray Guidry Jr. spent years being homeless, often sleeping on cardboard in church parking lots. Now, he's a champion for others struggling to …

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes provisions to lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare coverage, including those who take insulin. (cdc.gov)

Texans Reminded to Get the Most Out of Medicare Coverage

Some 65 million people on Medicare have about six weeks to review and make changes to their health-care plans and prescription drug coverage…

More than a quarter of Texans surveyed by the Episcopal Health Foundation about nonmedical health factors that affect well-being said they don't have access to affordable and healthy food. (LudaKot/Pixabay)<br />

Study: Issues Beyond the Doctor's Office Impact Texans' Health

Across the board, Texans say they'd be healthier if the state put more resources, including money, toward nonmedical factors for their well-being…

Between 2003 and 2017, the suicide rate among Black girls increased an average of 6.6% each year, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which reports nearly 40% were ages 12 to 14. (kassoum_kone/Pixabay)

Parents, Teachers Advised to Stay Alert for Mental-Health Issues

For some Texas kids, heading back to school creates a lot of anxiety, and experts urge early intervention to solve a youth mental-health crisis …

More than 4,700 college students in New York and New Jersey reported that the pandemic affected their mental health, with students of color disproportionately affected by financial stressors, according to a 2022 study conducted by Montclair State University. (PeterCurcio/Pixabay)

College Students Seek Mental-Health Services Amid COVID, Monkeypox

Universities across the country lost enrollment to COVID-19. As students return, Texas A&M is making sure adequate mental-health services are in …

M�s de 4700 estudiantes universitarios en Nueva York y Nueva Jersey informaron que la pandemia afect� su salud mental, y los estudiantes de color se vieron afectados de manera desproporcionada por factores estresantes financieros, seg�n un estudio en 2022 realizado por la Universidad Estatal de Montclair. (Peter Curcio/Pixabay)

Estudiantes buscan servicios de salud mental en medio de COVID y Monkeypox

Universidades en todo el país perdieron inscripciones debido al COVID-19. A medida que los estudiantes regresan, Texas A&M se asegura de que …

Texas kids are some of the least likely in the nation to receive adequate health care, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (everytexan.org)

2022 Report: Texas Ranks 45th for Child Well-Being

When it comes to child well-being, Texas is slipping further behind, according to the 2022 Kids Count Data Book, compiled by the Annie E. Casey …

The Episcopal Health Foundation recently announced grants totally $21 million to help community-based organizations and clinics address non-medical, social factors that impact health. (episcopalhealth.org)

Going Beyond the Doctor's Office to Treat Community Health Needs

The new leader of Houston's Episcopal Health Foundation says the COVID pandemic, and now monkeypox, shine a light on Texas populations that are …

Experts say getting regular physical activity and having a strong social circle can improve quality of life and well-being, especially in older adults. (aarp.org)

Exercise Delivers Big Returns for Brain Health

Cognitive decline is a fear as people age, but experts say daily exercise can boost brain health and even improve quality of life for those diagnosed …

Los expertos dicen que hacer actividad f�sica con regularidad y tener un c�rculo social fuerte puede mejorar la calidad de vida y el bienestar, especialmente en los adultos mayores. (aarp.org)

El ejercicio ofrece grandes beneficios para la salud cerebral

El deterioro cognitivo es un temor a medida que las personas envejecen, pero los expertos dicen que el ejercicio diario puede mejorar la salud del …

The share of crimes in the United States committed by young people has fallen by more than half over the past two decades, according to The Sentencing Project. (ThomasR�desheim/Pixabay)

Reports of Youth Crime Wave Debunked by Latest Research

New research by The Sentencing Project shows a drop in youth crime over the past 20 years, which debunks a so-called "false narrative" of a youth …

Pregnant women in Texas are more likely to be uninsured and less likely to seek early prenatal care than the rest of the country. (SzilardSzabo/Pixabay)

High Court's Abortion Ruling Sets Up Texas Ban, Criminalization

The ruling on abortion by the U.S. Supreme Court has returned the issue to the states, fulfilling long-held goals of Republican lawmakers in Texas to …

There are 20 million AR-15 style rifles in circulation across the country - more guns than people, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. (RayShrewsberry/Pixabay)

Expert: Americans Feel Traumatized, Helpless About Gun Violence

Teachers, faith leaders and parents gathered Tuesday outside the Austin office of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. They're demanding action on gun safety …

An estimated 400,000 Texans have Alzheimer's disease. (Adobe Stock)

Nat'l. Healthcare Decisions Day in TX: Tough but Necessary Conversations

This Saturday is National Health Care Decisions Day, a reminder everyone should have plans in place in case they need medical attention and are …

According to the American Psychological Association, people over age 60 showed fewer Alzheimer's disease biomarkers when they performed 30 minutes of exercise every day. (Adobe Stock)">

Exercise: For Older Texans, a Cure for Social Isolation

One way for older Texans to fight social isolation and increase mobility is with exercise, and there's an option to consider if you can't make it to …

Seg�n la Asociaci�n Estadounidense de Psicolog�a, las personas mayores de 60 a�os mostraron menos biomarcadores de la enfermedad de Alzheimer cuando realizaron 30 minutos de ejercicio todos los d�as. (Adobe Stock)">

Ejercicio: para texanos mayores, una cura para el aislamiento social

Una forma para que los texanos mayores pueden combatir el aislamiento social y aumenten la movilidad es el ejercicio, y hay una opción a …

Nearly one in five Americans age 18 or older (44.7 million people) reported experiencing some form of mental illness in 2016, before the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Texans to Manage Return-to-Workplace Stress

More Texans are returning to the office this spring after working from home for over a year, which can trigger bouts of anxiety and stress. Experts …

A new poll shows the mental health of 87% of Americans has been greatly affected by a

APA Poll: Americans Report 'Extreme Stress' Since Ukraine Invasion

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed Americans' stress levels higher than ever before, according to a new poll by the American Psychological …

In Texas, 16% of residents say the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe financial suffering. (islandworks/Pixabay)

TX Survey: Hispanics Suffer Greatest Financial Hardship from COVID-19

Half of Texas residents say COVID-19 has caused them financial hardship, and Hispanic families faced the most severe consequences, according to a new …

At nearly 1.5 million, Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the country. (27707/Pixabay)

Veterans, Military Families Acquire Easier Access to Health Care

AUSTIN, Texas -- Newly returned veterans or even those who've been back for years face obstacles, and a big one is how to pick the best health care…

About 7% of Texas children ages 3 to 17 reported anxiety problems even before the pandemic, according to a new study by the United Health Foundation. (marcisim/Pixabay)

Study: Concerning Stats for Women and Children's Health

AUSTIN, Texas -- Access to mental-health resources is not always available under insurance plans, but those with such services should take advantage …

Burnout among college students rose from 40% to 70% from August 2020 to April 2021, according to at study by The Ohio State University. (Engin-Akyurt/Pixabay)

Texas A&M Students Use Wearables to Track Stress, Mental Health

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The pandemic upended normal college life causing mental-health challenges that are now being studied at Texas A&M University …

Advocates for children say they need more support this school year after a study by McKinsey Global Institute shows the pandemic led more high school students to drop out of school. (Sofia_Shultz_Photography/Pixabay)

Kick-Starting TX School Performance Amid COVID-19 Redux

AUSTIN, Texas -- Starting the school year off on the right foot has probably never been more important as Texas kids return to classrooms. New …

States such as Texas that chose not to expand Medicaid in recent years saw uninsured rates for young children grow almost three times as fast as states that did expand Medicaid, according to Every Texan. (badski007Pixabay)

Texas Ranks Last Among 50 States for Kids With Health Insurance

AUSTIN, Texas -- One million, or 13%, of Texas children went without health insurance in 2019, a significantly higher number than the national …

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new drug to treat the disease. (Alterfines/Pixabay)

Texas Researcher Puzzled Over New Alzheimer’s Drug Approval

HOUSTON -- News this week about a breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer's disease is getting mixed reactions from some researchers, including in Texas…

The smoking rate for Texans older than age 65 climbed from 6.7% to 10.9% between 2017 and 2019, according to a new report. (thomaasheise/Pixabay)<br />

Older Texans Say They're Exercising, But Also Smoking More

AUSTIN, Texas - Many folks have acknowledged dealing with more anxiety since the pandemic hit. But even before that, seniors were experiencing …

Following Hurricane Harvey in Texas, at least 5.4 million donors gave about $774 million to 32 crisis response and aid groups, according to Charity Navigator. (doi.gov)

Texas Benefits from Post-Disaster Philanthropy

HOUSTON - When the unexpected winter storm hit Texas in February, foundations, corporations and individual donors stepped up to help communities …

Nearly 90% of people say they've experienced an

Trying to Forget 2020? Study Reveals Best Technique

AUSTIN, Texas - People use a variety of methods to stop thinking about things that make them uncomfortable, but new research shows one method works …

In Texas, 20% of families report slight or no confidence in their ability to pay rent or mortgage on time due to the pandemic, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (RobinHiggins/Pixabay)

TX Families Struggle to Keep Ahead of Pandemic Hardships

AUSTIN, Texas -- Congress has passed a new stimulus package that will provide most Texas residents with an extra $600 - but that may not go far for …

Los Latinos son aproximadamente un 40% de la poblaci�n de Texas, pero suman 53% de las muertes por COVID-19 en el estado, de acuerdo al Departamento Estatal de Recursos de Salud de Texas. (aarp.org)

COVID-19: Se insta a las Familias de Texas a discutir durante las vacaciones la planeación para el final de la vida

AUSTIN, Texas -- Las familias Hispanas y Latinas de Texas están entre la población que ha sido la más afectada por el nuevo …

Blacks and Hispanics in Texas, at a higher percentage than Whites, say the state government should address economic and living conditions as public health priorities. (gabrielberophs/Pixabay)

Survey: Black, Hispanic Texans Cite Outliers to Quality Health

HOUSTON - To stay healthy, we're told to regularly see a doctor, but a new survey in Texas shows Blacks and Hispanics more than Whites believe …

About half of Houston-area residents have wrestled with

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COVID-19, Natural Disasters Take Toll on Texans' Mental Health

AUSTIN, Texas -- COVID-19 has created its own "storm surge" -- a surge in the number of people seeking mental-health treatment, according to the …

Dementia is not known to increases risk for COVID-19, but dementia-related behaviors, increased age and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase the risk. (alz.org)

Alzheimer's Caregivers Struggle through Unprecedented Times

AUSTIN, Texas -- Caregivers for people who have dementia or Alzheimer's disease are experiencing unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus …

Texas has promised to test more than 230,000 residents and staff at the state's 1,224 licensed nursing homes by the end of May. (sabinevanerp/Pixabay)

COVID-19: Texas Senior Advocates Focus on Long-term Care Facilities

AUSTIN, Texas -- It's estimated that about half of the people who have died from COVID-19 have been nursing home residents, and senior advocates want …

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TX: Mental Health