In Nova Scotia, women fleeing intimate partner violence are facing a lack of access to services addressing complex needs such as trauma, substance use, and mental health challenges. The public inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting recommended "epidemic-level" funding for programs combating intimate partner violence, citing evidence that the shooter's rampage began with assaulting his common-law wife, Susan Leblanc, an Opposition NDP member, is urging governments to prioritize this issue.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11179203/gender-based-violence-nova-scotia-mother-testimony/US public health leaders are urging states to adopt a more comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis, rather than relying on law enforcement alone. Regina LaBelle, former acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, believes that using lawsuit money for naloxone and other efforts is crucial in ending the overdose crisis. In contrast, President Trump's administration views opioids as a law enforcement issue, which worries many advocates like Dr. Tamara Olt, executive director of Broken No Moore, whose son died from a heroin overdose in 2012. Kimberly Douglas, another grieving mother, credits growing awareness and support for recent declines in overdose deaths, saying "Eventually people are going to start listening".
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/article_41d183d5-0570-5847-9b48-14dfe727d6b0.htmlDr. Tamara Olt, executive director of Broken No Moore, attributes recent declines in overdose deaths to the growing availability of naloxone, increased access to treatment, and wider awareness of the issue. Her personal experience, having lost her 16-year-old son to a heroin overdose in 2012, has driven her advocacy efforts. Kimberly Douglas, another grieving mother whose 17-year-old son died of an overdose in 2023, hopes that the growing chorus of voices from families affected by addiction will eventually lead to change, but notes it's taken over a decade for progress to be made.
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/14/overdose-deaths-2024/Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized the need to address a "chronic disease epidemic" in America, stating that the HHS is focused on making the country healthy again during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/05/14/kennedy-hhs-2026-budget-hearings/2671747248234/The UNICEF Global Office of Research and Foresight report compared 2018 data with 2022 data from 43 OECD countries, revealing that the pandemic and shutdowns exacerbated existing trends in children's performance. Children under-performed at school, were more likely to be overweight and obese, and less happy overall. The report found steep declines in academic ability, particularly in reading and math, due to remote learning during 3-12 month shutdowns, resulting in a significant gap of 7-12 months behind where they should be. Children from disadvantaged families fell furthest behind, with a 4% rise to around 8 million 15-year-olds who are functionally illiterate and innumerate.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/05/14/UNICEF-COVID-hit-child-wellbeing-hard/7731747220748/TikTok is flooded with over four million posts from influencers promoting various products and remedies for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including Nik Hobrecker, a German influencer with 1.8 million followers, who claims to identify common ADHD symptoms such as repetitive listening habits that reduce anxiety and increase dopamine. He partners with an "ADHD-friendly" soundscape app and promotes content suggesting even minor behaviors could be signs of the condition.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14707477/messy-burn-song-ADHD-truth-self-diagnosis-TikTok.htmlA new study by Anna Cliffe at the University of Virginia School of Medicine has found that a virus can produce a protein while dormant, potentially leading to long-term negative consequences in the nervous system. This discovery could provide new ways to prevent the virus from reactivating and triggering an immune response.
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3310104/herpes-virus-study-finds-trigger-cold-sore-outbreaks-could-lead-stopping-them?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionJapan's children are facing mental health challenges, with a recent UNICEF survey revealing that nearly half of Japanese children experience anxiety or depression. The OECD reports that Japan ranks among the countries with the highest rates of child mental health issues. A survey by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare found that 1 in 5 children aged 6-12 experience bullying, which can have long-term effects on their mental well-being. Experts warn that quality journalism is crucial in addressing these issues, as it helps to shed light on the complexities of child mental health and inform evidence-based solutions.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/14/japan/science-health/child-well-being-survey/Joel Cauchi's psychiatrist, Dr A, is under scrutiny after taking him off all anti-psychotic medication due to side effects. The decision was made despite previous assessments describing Cauchi as 'floridly psychotic'. State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan is investigating the 2022 Bondi Junction mass killing, where Cauchi killed six people, including Dawn Singleton and Faraz Tahir. Dr A's private clinic has been accused of failing in its care of Cauchi, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager and was treated successfully for over two decades before his treatment was altered.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14709817/Joel-cauchi-bondi-psychiatrist.html