Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Med Students Have Higher Prevalence Of Depression, But They're Not Seeking Help
The paper, published online Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association , provided evidence to support what long has been suspected — that future doctors suffer depression, or depressive symptoms, at higher rates than the general population. (Kowalczyk, 12/6)
For students interested in a health care career, the options are more extensive than many often realize. At Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, programs that train medical assistants and nurses are offered, along with another opportunity that has been steadily growing. The Patient Care Assistant certificate program is designed to get students out of the classroom and into the job market after one semester of study and hands-on training. (Cauley, 12/6)
And in other news —
The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends. However, this can also be a stressful time for people, including college students. Mental health experts have some help regarding the difficulties of the holidays and how to cope with them. Dr. David Josephs is a psychologist and clinical director of Lake View Center. Josephs admitted that people are so stressed out during the holiday season is that they're so busy. (Morency, 12/6)
[Tarynn] Theilig is part of a campuswide initiative, in which the St. Thomas faculty and staff aim to set healthy sleep patterns by demonstrating to students the link between slumber, achievement and overall health. On campuses nationwide, college wellness efforts advise students on healthy habits regarding nutrition, exercise, tobacco, sex and more. At St. Thomas, wellness includes pushing the value of sleep. Through seminars and dorm chats, personalized programming and nudges from newly trained resident assistants and peer sleep advocates, St. Thomas students are given evidence that pulling all-nighters is counterproductive to their GPA. (Burger, 12/6)
The Autism Society reports a growing number of autism spectrum disorder diagnoses across the country. That's seen an increase in the need for exceptional student education, or ESE, in Florida and elsewhere. Students with autism and other disabilities require special education plans, trained staff, and sensory rooms to help them calm down and deal with the stress of the classroom. (Smith, 12/6)
