Department news | April 21, 2022
Concrete deliveries have resumed and foundation work is once again underway for the new UW Medicine Behavioral Health Teaching Facility (BHTF) on the UW Medical Center-Northwest campus.
News & Stories
How alcohol use affects sexual assault recovery
Right as Rain | April 20, 2022
Many people who have experienced sexual assault use alcohol as a coping mechanism but it may be more harmful than helpful long-term, says Michele Bedard-Gilligan, PhD.
Study seeks women with PTSD stemming from sexual trauma
UW Medicine newsroom | April 19, 2022
A trial led by Michele Bedard-Gilligan, PhD, will test three evidence-based counseling therapies to see if one, or more than one in combination, results in better outcomes.
Tacoma’s pioneering needle exchange now using smoking supplies to reach fentanyl, meth users
The Seattle Times | April 19, 2022
Once a week, outreach workers from the Tacoma Needle Exchange distribute pipes like bubbles, hammers and stems out of a van parked near downtown Tacoma, placing them into brown paper bags along with soap, condoms, socks and naloxone. Caleb Banta-Green, PhD, is quoted.
War images and mental health
KIRO | April 12, 2022
Folks everywhere are feeling the emotional burden of Russia's war in Ukraine, especially because results of the violent clashes are so visible through modern media as well as social media coverage. This story featuring Michele Bedard-Gilligan, PhD, was covered by multiple media outlets including KING 5, KOMO Radio and FOX 13.
Students are behaving badly in class. Excessive screen time might be to blame
Education Week | April 12, 2022
Without even counting digital instruction, the amount of time teenagers and tweens spend staring at computer screens rivals how much time they would spend working at a full- or a part-time job. Educators and children’s health experts alike argue students need more support to prevent the overuse of technology from leading to unhealthy behaviors in the classroom. Michelle Garrison, PhD is quoted.
Teen drug use is down in WA, but overdose deaths among youths are skyrocketing, studies show
The Seattle Times | April 12, 2022
Overall, teen drug use has dropped to a relative historic low, according to the state and national data. But the drug supply is becoming more dangerous. Caleb Banta-Green, PhD, is quoted.
WA saw 2,000+ deadly overdoses last year, and the number keeps rising
Patch | April 12, 2022
The Washington State Department of Health is warning the public to be careful after a recent report found that more than 2,000 Washingtonians fatally overdosed last year. Caleb Banta-Green, PhD, is quoted.
Anxious about climate change? You’re not alone
Right as Rain | April 11, 2022
Scientists are learning that more and more people are experiencing climate anxiety and grief. Katherine Hoerster, PhD, shares helpful ways she and others can manage those feelings.
Opinion: Look back at the past before ‘springing forward’
The Seattle Times | April 10, 2022
Champions of the “Sunshine Protection Act” predict that it will reduce crime, conserve energy, boost the economy and improve health. What advocates may have forgotten is that we have tried permanent DST multiple times over the past century — and each time repealed it, says co-author Catherine McCall, MD.
