Week of March 3–7, 2025

General Mental Health

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released its second annual poll measuring employees’ and managers’ sentiments about mental health at work. The Ipsos-conducted survey of full-time employees at companies with 100+ workers revealed that the workforce values workplace mental health resources and support from leadership. However, individuals often feel as if their needs are not currently being met. Read more here.

Postpartum Depression

• Josh Shapiro is pushing for universal health screenings to identify postpartum depression sooner. Gov. Shapiro's budget proposes $5 million to help identify and battle postpartum depression. Read more here.

The Opioid Crisis

• Members of the NY Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board want the state to reverse its decision to omit some of their recommendations regarding how the funds should be allocated. A Hochul official last month said the requests could violate state and federal laws. Read more here.

Research on Suicides

• Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S., with more than 49,000 individuals dying by suicide and 1.6 million attempting suicide in 2022. Veteran suicide rates are nearly double that of the U.S. civilian population. The suicide rate in 2021 was 33.9 per 100,000 veterans compared with 16.7 for civilian adults. Read more here.
• In this cohort study of suicide following risk assessments, findings suggest that only a few constructs are associated with subsequent suicide, particularly suicidal ideation, firearm access, and preparatory behaviors. Developing risk prediction algorithms, including CSRE responses, may enhance clinical evaluation. Read more here.

Veteran Issues

• Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) defended the budgets and workforce cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, as he said he “can’t guarantee” veterans’ benefits and care would be immune from cuts. In an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar, Murphy said the cuts are essential to reining in government spending and restructuring to ensure the agencies work efficiently for the American people. Read more here.

Transgender Issues

• President Donald Trump’s plan to pull federal funding from institutions that provide gender-affirming care for transgender youth will remain blocked on a long-term basis under a federal judge’s ruling in Seattle. U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King previously granted a two-week restraining order after the Democratic attorneys general of Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota sued the Trump administration — Colorado has since joined the case. Read more here.
• A federal judge extended a nationwide block on President Donald Trump’s executive orders halting federal funding for providers of gender-affirming health care for transgender people under age 19. The judge’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed earlier this month on behalf of families with transgender or nonbinary children who allege their health care has already been compromised by the president’s orders. Read more here.
• Legislation to prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports failed to advance in the Senate after all Democrats voted against it. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act failed to clear an initial procedural hurdle on a 51-45 vote. It needed 60 votes to advance, which would have required at least seven Democrats to vote with all Republicans to move it. The bill cleared the House in January on an almost entirely party-line vote. Read more here.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took early steps to pressure hospitals against the delivery of gender-affirming care to children and adolescents—a key policy of the Trump administration that has so far faced pushback from blue states, transgender rights advocates, and the courts. Read more here.

Federal and State Policy

• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s move to reduce public comments on certain federal health rules injects new uncertainty into the regulatory landscape and could help him make controversial policy decisions unchecked. The wonky policy statement he issued has a direct bearing on the dispute over the National Institutes of Health's research funding cap and could make it easier to impose Medicaid work rules. Read more here.
• In December 2023, North Carolina became the 40th state to expand eligibility for Medicaid, opening up the government-funded health insurance program to low-income adults who previously made too much money to qualify. Nearly 630,000 people have gained coverage since expansion took effect, surpassing state health officials’ initial two-year enrollment projection months ahead of schedule. Read more here.