mental health

Dozens of US states, including Arizona, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people’s mental health by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to the platforms.

State law now requires employers to cover counseling sessions for emergency dispatchers in addition to police officers and firefighters exposed to traumatic incidents, such as a crime involving children or a death.

Natural disasters take a toll on mental health, particularly for children. In Flagstaff, kids have had to deal with the upheaval of the pandemic and multiple fires and floods in recent years. But nature can also be the cure. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports, a pilot program in “horticultural therapy” at Killip Elementary is tapping into the surprising power of plants.

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic tea whose roots go back hundreds of years to ceremonial use by Indigenous groups in the Amazon rainforest.

In this week’s segment of PoetrySnaps!, we hear from Arizona-based poet Austin Davis. His writing is often inspired by the outreach and advocacy work he does with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. During this holiday season of abundance, Davis’s poem Night Walk speaks to the need for humanity and kindness to all.

The wildland firefighting community and numerous advocacy groups have launched a letter-writing campaign aimed at U.S. Senators. They’re calling for the introduction and passages of the Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act.

Physicians and researchers are urging New Mexico legislators to allow the use of psilocybin mushrooms in mental health therapy aimed at overcoming depression, anxiety, psychological trauma and alcoholism.

Utah is one of the latest states to approve studies of the medicinal properties of hallucinogenic mushrooms and their effect on mental health issues, including PTSD.

A new poetry book by the Arizona-based author Austin Davis called “Lotus & the Apocalypse” imagines it’s the last day on Earth. The main character, Lotus, is scrambling to figure out the meaning of life before it’s too late. The book is a frank and emotionally raw portrayal of the mental health struggles, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts that Davis himself has wrestled with most of his life.

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions have surged among children and teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study of more than four million children shows that’s true for kids who have fallen ill with COVID-19, as well as those who haven’t. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with policy analyst Kristina West of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about her findings.