Funding supports mental health care for families during and after pregnancy OLYMPIA – When people have access to mental health support during pregnancy and after birth, families are healthier and lives are saved. To help make that support easier to access, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is awarding Perinatal Mental Health Access and Capacity Building grants to community organizations across the state. The funding is provided through the Washington State Peri

Q&A: Only a fourth of psychologists advertise providing ADHD care, far below the rates for other psychiatric conditions. Psychologists are underserving adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Attention Disorders . Cognitive behavioral therapy, often facilitated by psychologists, and medication, are the two most effective treatments for ADHD. Insufficient access to cognitive behavioral therapy may b

February is National Cancer Prevention Month……………….. It is estimated that two million Americans were diagnosed with various types of cancer in 2024.  More than 600,000 of them died.  Almost half of those deaths could have been prevented.  Those lives could have been saved by taking actions such as losing weight, quitting smoking, regularly exercising, and limiting sun exposure, to name a few.  It is unfortunate that African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with canc

One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives OLYMPIA  – Two of the three regional blood banks serving Washington state are facing a severe blood shortage due to the lingering effects from heavy rains and floods in December, combined with a slowdown in donations. The shortage is especially bad for Type O blood and platelets, which are in high demand for emergency treatments, surgeries, and other life-saving procedures. Both Bloodworks Northwest and the American Red Cro

Telebupe Hotline brings rapid, low-barrier care to people statewide   OLYMPIA –  People across Washington now have an easier way to get help for opioid use disorder. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is partnering with the University of Washington (UW) to expand the  Washington Telebuprenorphine (Telebupe) Hotline  statewide. Washington residents can now access same-day medical treatment via phone or video no matter where they live in the state by calling  206-2

The outbreak includes three children in Snohomish County. Additionally, one individual in Kittitas County has tested positive for measles. DOH urges vaccination as measles surges nationally  OLYMPIA –  The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed a measles outbreak in Snohomish County – the first in the state since 2023 – with three unvaccinated children ages 23 months to 9 years testing positive for the highly contagious disease. The outbreak comes as measles c

10 weeks of free mat Pilates, Zumba ® , and yoga classes   SEATTLE – To get a healthy start to the New Year, Seattle Center will offer free weekly Winter Fitness sessions in the Seattle Center Armory from Jan. 21 to Mar. 25, 2026. Workout Wednesdays, presented by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, offers free mat Pilates, Zumba ® , and yoga classes, allowing participants to increase their range of motion, breathe through life’s stresses, and simply move. These “drop-in” sessi

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TWBBNyq8_Q2edICDDvl8qofhrx2HALDb/view?usp=sharing Flu activity is climbing in Washington state, but experts say it’s not too late to protect yourself. “Every flu season is unique. Last year was rough, and this year looks similar,” says UW Medicine’s Dr. John Lynch, an infectious disease expert. According to the CDC , emergency department visits for the flu in Washington state are moderate but increasing. “The biggest risk groups are the very

Sokurenko & Kollman Labs An E. coli bacterium (pink) attaches to a cell surface (lower left, blue) and antibodies mimic host cell receptors to trick another E. coli bacterium (upper right) into binding to them instead of a host cell. Pathogens can create sticky situations. When microbes invade the body to cause an infection, often one of their first lines of attack is to cling tenaciously to the surfaces of targeted human cells. Certain antibodies employ unusual tactics to ke

The diagnostic lab test could help thousands be cured, but adequate insurance reimbursement is vital, researchers say. Alice C. Gray I llustration of finger-stick blood draw for hepatitis C testing with inserted sketch of the virus. A new rapid test for hepatitis C could help identify many more patients who could be cured of the deadly disease, but its use may be limited unless insurers’ reimbursement rises to cover its high cost, according to researchers from the University

OLYMPIA – Vaccines save lives. Childhood immunizations prevent serious illness, hospitalization, long-term complications, and death. They also help stop the spread of disease in families, schools, and communities. Changed federal recommendations have removed routine childhood immunizations for several diseases that can have serious health impacts, including hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV, influenza, and meningococcal disease. Weakening routine childhood vaccine recommenda

First detection of this strain in a human, risk to the public remains low OLYMPIA – A Grays Harbor resident who was hospitalized with influenza symptoms in early November has been confirmed to have influenza A H5, a type of avian . Additional testing shows the virus to be H5N5, an avian influenza virus that has previously been reported in animals but never before in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DOH currently considers the risk to the publi

OLYMPIA – Benefits from Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program are a vital source of support for Washington workers. More than 218,000 individuals have claimed Paid Leave benefits in 2025 thus far, totaling more than $1.76 billion dollars.   Starting Jan. 1, 2026:   The premium rate will be 1.13%. The rate for 2025 is 0.92%.   Employers will pay 28.57% of the total premium and employees will pay 71.43%.   The program is funded by premiums collected from employees an

In a study, 850 patients had similar outcomes across both treatment types. Text-based psychotherapy can be as effective as live video sessions for patients being treated for depression, new research suggests.  The study , published Oct. 30 in JAMA Network Open, compared outcomes of 850 adults who received either message-based psychotherapy or weekly video-based psychotherapy through a commercial online mental health platform, Talkspace.    “We found that patients improved at

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month….   While Black and white women have similar rates of being diagnosed with breast cancer, Black...

7 Breast Cancer Symptoms 1. A new lump or thickened area that looks and feels different 2. Changes in size of breast size and shape...

The 29 Black men interviewed for this study related that, in many instances, their providers dismissed the PSA test as unnecessary....

10 foods that kills parasites/worms In your body 1. Garlic kills parasites naturally 2. Pumpkin seeds destroys eggs 3. Pineapple contains...

It’s our hope to live a healthy life and eat foods that help to Keep us going strong. However, sometimes in our efforts to do that we can...

Standing Order improves vaccine access for everyone 6 months and older OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issued...

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month…. One in six Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is much more aggressive...

There’s so much about health and wellness I want to share with you all. My hope is to send articles that are helpful. I welcome your...

Higher temperatures may become more typical, so people should pay attention to hot-weather forecasts and take due caution.     Heat can...

An infectious-diseases doctor warns that low vaccine rates could also spark outbreaks of measles and pertussis as kids return to school. ...