In the News

The conversations I had with the victims and first responders in the wake of last week's shooting in Parkland still haunt me. My heart breaks for those who were gunned down by this mad man. It is a loss that will torment the families for the rest of their lives. It will torment all those who witnessed this horrific tragedy.

I traveled to Broward County last week and met with first responders who were on the scene, including the Coral Springs Parkland Fire Chief Frank Babinec. They spoke candidly about their experiences. In some cases, there were kids pulling out kids.

President Trump may be convinced that mental illness, not guns, is responsible for horrific mass shootings like the one that killed 17 people Wednesday at a Florida high school. But his actions over the past year seem to contradict those spoken concerns.

In an early morning tweet Thursday, the president chided the Florida community for ignoring what he said were warning signs surrounding 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who has reportedly confessed to the deadly shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Grief counselors are always made available to help students when there is a traumatic event at a school, such as this week, when a gunman entered a Florida high school and fired a military-style assault weapon, killing 17 people. While health experts say counseling after a tragedy is vital, too many schools don't have anywhere near enough health professionals to help students before the catastrophes.

SACRAMENTO — A few years ago, the police brought a 21-year-old man into the crisis unit where I work as an emergency psychiatrist. His parents had called the police after seeing postings on his Facebook page that praised the Columbine shooters, referred to imminent death and destruction at his community college and promised his own "Day of Retribution." His brother reported to the police that he had recently purchased a gun.

Nearly 40 years of violent conflict is driving a growing mental health crisis in Afghanistan.

While accurate data on mental health issues are not available in Afghanistan, the World Health Organization estimates more than a million Afghans suffer from depressive disorders and over 1.2 million suffer from anxiety disorders. The WHO says the actual numbers are likely much higher. The mental health toll signifies a hidden consequence of war that is often overshadowed by bombed-out buildings and loss of life.

The Food and Drug Administration gave a green light Wednesday for the first time to a blood test that doctors can use to help rule out concussions.

The Brain Trauma Indicator, marketed by Banyan Biomarkers Inc., measures the levels of two proteins — called UCH-L1 and GFAP — whose elevated presence suggests a certain type of brain damage normally only visible on a CT scan. The test takes three to four hours, and doctors could use it to determine which patients need a CT scan to confirm the damage and which patients can rest easy.

U.S. lawmakers are scheduled to vote soon on DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Since its inception, DACA has given 800,000 young dreamers a safety net from deportation. Now new research indicates the program may have an impact on the mental health of the next generation.

For 29-year-old Monique, time with her two-year old daughter Talina is precious. Monique lives every day with a nagging fear that her family will someday be torn apart.

The Rev. Talitha Arnold was just 2 years old when her father, a World War II veteran, took his own life.

"You just didn't talk about those things back then. We didn't even talk about suicide when I was in the seminary," says Arnold, who leads the United Church of Santa Fe in New Mexico.