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Americans' physical and mental health are suffering more than before the pandemic, new data shows. More Americans reported diabetes diagnoses, less regular healthy eating, high cholesterol and lower confidence this year, compared with before the pandemic, according to Gallup survey data released Thursday. (Rubin, 12/14)

Roughly two-thirds of Americans with a diagnosed mental health condition were unable to access treatment in 2021, though they had health insurance. And only a third of insured people who visited an emergency department or hospital during a mental health crisis, received follow-up care within a month of being discharged. These are among the findings of a new report by the actuary firm Milliman, released Wednesday. The mental health advocacy group, Inseparable, commissioned the report and also released an accompanying brief offering policy solutions to address the gaps in mental health care. (Chatterjee, 12/13)

At Newburgh Free Academy in New York, cell phones are locked away for the entire school day, including lunch. Students like Tyson Hill and Monique May say it is a relief after constantly being on their phones during the COVID-19 lockdown, when screen time among adolescents more than doubled, according to a study last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics. "I blame my darkest moments because of my phone," Tyson told CBS News. (Oliver, 12/13)

"We've seen an increase in youth mental health needs since 2017. We really wanted to create an outlet for young people in a way that works for them. They can address their stress, their feelings of isolation, and really create a sense of belonging," said Lorez Meinhold, executive director of Caring for Denver Foundation. Caring for Denver is partnering with Crisis Text Line to expand free, 24/7 mental health text support for students. (Mason, 12/13)

There are 285 people in Missouri jails waiting to be moved to state psychiatric hospitals for treatment, the Department of Mental Health told lawmakers this week. There were 229 people waiting for treatment in March, 253 in September, 260 in October and 272 in November, the department reported Monday. These individuals were arrested, deemed unfit to stand trial and ordered into rehabilitative mental health services that could allow them to stand trial, a process called competency restoration. (Bates, 12/14)

Half a year after selling its assets at bankruptcy auction, Pear Therapeutics’ most significant digital treatments will find a new life as part of PursueCare, which provides online addiction care and mental health counseling. (Aguilar, 12/13)

Hispanics are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease than white Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. But experts say that cultural factors likely mean that the disease is even more prevalent among Hispanics than these numbers suggest. (Alcorta, 12/14)