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Black kids face racism before they even start school. It’s driving a major mental health crisis
Annie Ma, The Associated Press, May 23
The persistent drivers of the mental health crisis for Black children begin early. Black children’s first encounters with racism can start before they are even in school, and Black teenagers report experiencing an average of five instances of racial discrimination per day. Individually and systemically, barriers to accessing mental health care – including cost and mistrust – disproportionately deter Black teens from getting the support they need.
Read more: This story is a part of an AP series examining health disparities experienced by Black Americans across a lifetime.
Alarming number of CT students report poor mental health, new survey finds
Alex Putterman, CT Insider, May 16
Sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts have increased among Connecticut high school students, yet the number of students who say they’re able to get the support they need has decreased, a newly released survey shows. According to the Connecticut School Health Survey, conducted in 2021 and released this month, more than a third of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless. Yet, only 22.3 percent of students said they can often or always get the help they need, the lowest figure on record.
CT health centers warn of cuts to service if funding is scaled back
Jenna Carlesso, The Connecticut Mirror, May 18
Federally qualified health centers across Connecticut are counting on a one-time boost of additional aid this year to help maintain staff and services. But leaders of those facilities say the $32 million set aside for them is now under threat as legislative leaders try to reach a budget deal. The money would help keep the health centers afloat and delay cutting services, they say.
Routine screening for kidney disease would be cost-effective, study argues
Isabella Cueto, STAT, May 22
A new study found that screening for kidney disease could prevent hundreds of thousands of people from needing dialysis or a kidney transplant. Late-stage kidney disease and kidney failure disproportionately affect people of color. Routine screening could help lower health care costs as well as reduce health disparities.