Why this UW doctor wants colleagues to ask patients if they are lonely Medical professionals have started noting that isolation and loneliness are increasingly factors in health care, alongside smoking or exercise. One Seattle doctor urges his colleagues to ask their patients about it. Patricia Murphy
Surgeon general warns Seattle audience about the dangers of loneliness and isolation U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy was in Seattle Wednesday, where he told an audience that loneliness is one of the crucial public health issues of the day. Eilís O'Neill
Memorial Day: How vets are healing through stories It’s almost Memorial Day, a time set aside to remember people who’ve died in service of the country. It can be a particularly hard time for veterans, many of whom lost friends and loved ones during their time in service. Today, we revisit a story from last memorial day and speak to a mentor and veteran in The Red Badge project, an organization that helps veterans heal from loss through writing. Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers Play AudioListen 13 mins
Memorial Day: How vets are healing through stories It’s almost Memorial Day, a time set aside to remember people who’ve died in service of the country. It can be a particularly hard time for veterans, many of whom lost friends and loved ones during their time in service. Today, we revisit a story from last memorial day and speak to a mentor and veteran in The Red Badge project, an organization that helps veterans heal from loss through writing. Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers
Seattle just got 150 psych unit beds. Is it enough to make a difference? A new psychiatric unit opened Wednesday at the University of Washington’s Northwest Hospital in North Seattle. It was funded in part by state taxpayers, and it represents a significant step toward addressing the severe shortage of inpatient beds in Washington state. Eilís O'Neill
Lost Patients live show explores what's next for mental healthcare In the podcast "Lost Patients," journalists Will James, Sydney Brownstone ,and Esmy Jimenez explored why so many people with severe mental illness in Washington state are not getting the care they need. Libby Denkmann Play AudioListen 50 mins
'It's hard not to give up.' Homeless diaspora emerges as Washington cities lock down public spaces Camping bans emerging across Washington state could be a preview of what’s to come nationwide, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision expected in June. Justices are considering whether to overturn lower-court rulings in Oregon and Idaho that protect homeless people from being ticketed, charged, or arrested for sleeping on public property when there is no shelter available. Whitney Bryen / InvestigateWest
How do people escape the 'churn' and enter recovery? In the final episode of the podcast "Lost Patients," a partnership between KUOW and The Seattle Times, host Will James and reporter Sydney Brownstone look at stories of recovery. Hans Anderson Play AudioListen 26 mins
Seattle’s troubled past and present suggest a new approach to mental health The story of Seattle’s first known homeless man and how he was treated speaks to the continuing problems with mental health care 170 years later. Sydney Brownstone
Acute mental health resource guide – starting points The mental health care system in Washington state can be convoluted and confusing. KUOW and The Seattle Times looked into the problem in the six-part podcast "Lost Patients." Getting help for mental health issues, and for mental illness like psychosis is not always straightforward, so we compiled a starting list of resources for anyone looking to care for themselves or their loved ones. Kamna Shastri
