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Children of parents with mental illness are at increased risk for injuries, researchers report. Risk is highest before 1 year of age, but remains elevated to age 17, according to the new study. “Our results show there is a need for increased support to parents with mental illness, especially during the first year of life,” said Alicia Nevriana. She is one of the study authors and a Ph.D. student in the global public health department at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. “There are already recommendations for new parents to ensure their children’s safety, but we think there is a need to update these recommendations also by taking into account parents’ mental health,” Nevriana said in an institute news release. For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 1.5 million children in Sweden born between 1996 and 2011. More than 330,000 had at least one parent diagnosed with a mental illness during that period or five years earlier. Those up to age 1 year had a 30% higher risk of injuries if they had a parent with a mental illness when compared with other kids. The risk declined as children got older, but was still 6% higher among those aged 13 to 17, the findings showed. The risk of injuries was slightly higher if parents had common mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety or stress-related illnesses,… read on >

One side effect of the coronavirus pandemic could be long-lasting: U.S. school closures may worsen the child obesity crisis, experts warn. Previous research has shown that kids tend to gain weight when they’re out of school during the summer — especially Hispanic and black youngsters and children who are already overweight. “There could be long-term consequences for weight gained while children are out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Andrew Rundle, who studies ways to prevent childhood obesity. He’s an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. “Research shows that weight gained over the summer months is maintained during the school year and accrues summer to summer,” Rundle said in a university news release. “When a child experiences obesity, even at a young age, they are at risk for higher, unhealthy weight, all the way into middle age.” Rundle and his colleagues predicted that COVID-19-related school closures will double out-of-school time this year for many children in the United States. And that, in turn, will aggravate risk factors for unwanted weight gain, they warned. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders limit opportunities to exercise, particularly for city kids living in small apartments. As a result, inactivity, screen time and snacking are likely to increase, Rundle and colleagues wrote in their study published recently in the journal… read on >

If more women were hired for trucking jobs, the roads would be a lot safer, British researchers suggest. That’s because men, who hold most driving jobs, are more likely to drive dangerously. This puts other road users at risk, said lead researcher Rachel Aldred. She’s a reader in transport at the University of Westminster in London. “Greater gender equity would have a positive impact on [vehicle-related] injuries,” Aldred said. “Policymakers should be looking to measure the risk posed to others, and how to reduce it.” For the study, Aldred’s team drew on four sets of British data. They included injury and traffic statistics, travel survey data, as well as population and gender figures for 2005 to 2015. Men posed a significantly higher risk to others for five of the six types of vehicles studied, the researchers found. For cars and vans, the risk male drivers posed was double that of women per kilometer driven. The risk was four times higher for male truck drivers, and more than 10 times higher for those on motorcycles, the findings showed. Overall, two-thirds of traffic deaths were tied to cars and taxis, but the research suggested other vehicles might be even more dangerous. Trucks and buses were associated with one in six deaths to other road users, according to the report. The number of deaths for each kilometer driven… read on >

If you feel like the news about coronavirus is growing worse by the hour, then it might be time to take stock: How much do you really need to know? As the pandemic unfolds, and people routinely wake up to uncertainty, it is necessary to stay informed, psychologists say. At the same time, they caution, remember that media overload is real. And it may raise anxiety to a level that does more harm than good. “The data show that the harm does not come from staying informed in a reasonable way — like reading your morning paper every day,” said Dana Rose Garfin, an assistant adjunct professor at the University of California, Irvine’s School of Nursing. And in the midst of a pandemic, she pointed out, a little worry is normal and necessary. “Some amount of concern is a good thing, so that we’re not complacent,” Garfin said. “We want to be aware of — and following — public health guidelines.” But there is such a thing as too much. “There’s a big difference between staying informed and having the news on all day long, repeating the same things,” said Garfin, co-author of a commentary on coronavirus media exposure that was recently published in the journal Health Psychology. Beyond the amount of news, the content matters, too: News outlets have taken to tracking daily death… read on >

Parenting a teenager can be an emotional minefield in the best of times, but the social distancing of the coronavirus pandemic could really strain young people’s mental health. Teens and young adults who are confined to home during the coronavirus pandemic face numerous disappointments, including not being able to hang out with friends, missing out on new life experiences and trying to manage their time, a mental health expert says. This age group may not understand the importance of social distancing. Parents can help teens and young adults appreciate the need to do so by directing them to reliable sources of information, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Ann Murphy, director of the Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and an associate professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions, in New Jersey. “Take time to discuss things they can do to feel more connected to their peers through remote means. For younger teens, this may mean relaxing some of your restrictions on social media use. Explore new apps and tools that can facilitate group chats and video connection so they can stay connected to their peers,” Murphy said in a Rutgers news release. “While you don’t want to encourage them to be on their electronic devices all the time, it is important to recognize the critical role of… read on >

The coronavirus pandemic has caught many American families in a vise. Many parents are struggling to work from home and meet the needs of kids who are out of school and chaffing under what some consider house arrest. “It can be easy to fall into the trap of self-blame when children are fighting, and workdays aren’t going as planned,” said Kathryn Boger, director of the Anxiety Mastery Program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass. Boger urged parents to go easy on themselves. Head off self-punishing thoughts and repeat mini-mantras throughout the day, she suggested, such as “This is not the time for perfection” and “I’m doing the best I can in a really tough situation.” It’s also important to accept what you can and can’t control, Boger said. Things you can do include: limiting your family’s exposure to the news; making lists of needed food supplies and medications; updating contact information for your health care providers, work colleagues, family members and friends; staying in regular contact with those close to you to support one another. Focusing on the present will also help, she said. “When our brains are anxious, they tend to live in the future, worrying about what’s to come,” Boger said. Practice bringing your brain back to the present moment throughout the day. Focus on one thing in the current moment, such as… read on >

The coronavirus pandemic will put extra stress on caregivers of loved ones with dementias, so the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers some advice. “Reducing stress is always important for caregivers, and even more so now,” said Charles Fuschillo Jr., the foundation’s president and CEO. “Disruptions in daily routines, social isolation and anxiety are all added stressors caused by the coronavirus, but there are steps caregivers can take to help reduce stress and take care of themselves so that they can continue to provide care to their loved ones,” he said in a foundation news release. The organization offered these pointers: Social distancing doesn’t mean cutting off contact with others. Caregivers can use video chats, phone calls, text messages and emails to stay in touch with loved ones and friends. Strive to be adaptable and upbeat. Your attitude can also influence the person you’re caring for, the foundation pointed out. Try to focus on situations in a constructive way. For example, if your loved one’s adult day program is now closed, plan some easy, fun activities at home to keep them engaged. Focus on things you can control. That includes following public health guidelines, eating properly, following a routine, getting a good night’s sleep and prioritizing self-care. Try to refresh your mind. Exercise, yoga, meditating, listening to music or deep breathing can help relax your mind… read on >

Having a furry, fluffy or feathered friend can have a profound effect on seniors’ mental health, possibly even helping prevent some suicides, new research suggests. In a group of 35 older people who were pet owners, more than one-third said they were “actively suicidal” or “significantly traumatized,” but their pets gave them a reason to live. One of these men had dogs and exotic birds with very specialized care needs. “I actually realized the only thing that is really keeping me alive, was these [dogs] and the birds, giving me a chance to get out of bed in the morning,” he said. “[My wife] would not feed them; she refused to feed them, so I had to get out of bed, and do something, all right? Otherwise, I would be asleep for 20 to 22 hours a day, no problems whatsoever.” The study’s lead author, Janette Young, said it’s important to consider each individual and not assume that presenting an animal to a person with depression or suicidal thoughts will solve their problems. “While pets are a powerful preventative relationship for some older people, just thinking that a pet will help every older suicidal person can put both animals and people at risk,” she said. Young is a lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide. On the… read on >

People with asthma and other lung diseases are at increased risk for serious complications from COVID-19, caution experts from the American Lung Association. “Everyone’s health is at risk from COVID-19, and those living with a lung disease or who are immunocompromised may be more vulnerable to the impacts of the virus,” said Dr. Albert Rizzo, the association’s chief medical officer. COVID-19 can cause a pneumonia-like lung infection, with a range of symptoms from mild or absent in some to life-threatening in others, he said. It’s crucial for people with chronic lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to keep taking their maintenance medications and tell their health care provider about any symptoms or changes in their health, Rizzo said. All lung disease patients — including those with lung cancer who may have a weakened immune system — need to take steps avoid contact with the coronavirus. Besides social distancing, measures include thorough hand-washing; not touching face, nose, mouth and eyes; and avoiding contact with people who may have been infected. “The healthcare system and hospitals are already stressed with admissions as a result of the pandemic,” Rizzo said. “It’s important for those with lung disease to use their best practices in managing their disease.” People who smoke or vape are also at increased risk of serious COVID-19 complications. “Cigarette smoking and… read on >

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Kids of Mentally Ill Parents Have Higher Injury Odds

School Closures Could Be Adding to Kids’ Waistlines

Women Are Much Safer Drivers Than Men, British Study Finds

Beware of ‘Media Overload’ During Coronavirus Crisis, Experts Say

Why Teens Find It Tough to Social Distance

Why Teens Find It Tough to Social Distance

Going Easy on Yourself Is Key to Parenting Through the Pandemic

Caring for Dementia Patient During Pandemic? Try These Stress-Busting Tips

How Pets Can Be True Lifesavers for Seniors

Asthma, COPD Raise Odds for Severe COVID-19, Lung Experts Warn