Health

A new study in JAMA Network Open finds 12-year-olds with smartphones are more likely to develop eating disorder symptoms by 14 than peers without devices. Researchers say social media exposure to curated images fuels body dissatisfaction. Experts recommend delaying phone access, setting guardrails, and maintaining open conversations about online content and body image.

The mistrial in Lindsay Clancy's murder case has spotlighted postpartum mental illness nationwide, exposing gaps in maternal care especially for Black mothers, who face lower screening and treatment rates despite rising depression risks. New polling reveals widespread dissatisfaction with postpartum support, prompting Massachusetts to propose expanded funding for mental health screening and home visiting programs for new families.

A growing number of Americans, especially Black teens and young adults, are turning to AI chatbots instead of licensed professionals for mental health crises, even as suicide rates climb and insurance coverage shrinks. Experts warn chatbots lack guardrails, can manipulate vulnerable users, and sometimes worsen crises rather than provide genuine therapeutic support.

Black Americans remain underrepresented in clinical trials despite research showing they're willing to participate when asked. A Congressional Black Caucus Foundation panel explored barriers like historical distrust, transportation, and awareness gaps. Merck's Dr. Adrelia Allen and lung cancer survivor Barry Nelson shared personal stories, highlighting efforts like "Let's Talk Trials" to boost representation and improve outcomes for underrepresented communities.

A new Gallup and Pivotal survey reveals one-third of US women struggle to have their symptoms taken seriously by doctors, with 51% reporting negative healthcare experiences versus 39% of men. These disparities affect work, family life, and overall wellbeing, prompting experts to call for systemic change alongside patient advocacy strategies.

Brad Pitt’s admission that he now drinks in “a more restrained manner” after years of sobriety has reignited debate over addiction recovery. Experts explain how medical definitions of alcohol use disorder have evolved beyond strict abstinence, why AA’s “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” model persists, and what nuanced recovery can actually look like.

A federal appeals court blocked the EPA’s attempt to cancel $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants, ruling the Trump administration wrongly terminated them over policy disagreements. The Biden-era green bank program, aimed at funding clean energy in underserved communities, remains frozen as the EPA pursues an appeal to the Supreme Court.

A Massachusetts appeals court overturned Latarsha Sanders' murder conviction, ordering a new trial after ruling jurors improperly saw limited mental health evidence. The case draws comparisons to Lindsay Clancy's mistrial, highlighting racial disparities in how courts and juries treat mothers with severe mental illness, including postpartum psychosis, across differing socioeconomic and racial community lines in Massachusetts.

People in remote-friendly jobs who live alone report being more socially isolated than those whose work must be done in person, research shows. It’s important to add meaningful social interactions into your day, no matter where you work, experts say.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Black first responders continue grappling with delayed trauma, as retirement often triggers long-suppressed PTSD and grief. The Vulcan Society honors the 12 Black FDNY members lost that day, while researchers examine disparities in PTSD rates among Black police officers, bystander responders, and firefighters exposed to Ground Zero's aftermath.