2+ hour, 21+ min ago (727+ words) Imagine a high school student in rural California, struggling with a mental issue for weeks with no one to talk to. The nearest therapist is hours away, the youth's family can't spare the time or gas and even if they could get there, the next available appointment isn't for months. It's likely the student will keep showing up to school, pretending everything's fine. Now imagine a trained classmate they could talk to after class " someone who could listen, really understand and help them find support. In rural America, young people face some of the most alarming mental health challenges in the nation, with rates of depression, anxiety and suicide far outpacing those of their urban peers. Suicide rates among rural adolescents and young adults are nearly 50% higher than those in suburban or urban areas. California is not an exception to…...

2+ day, 9+ hour ago (646+ words) Novato police officers and firefighters want parents to be mindful if electric bicycles are on their holiday shopping lists for their children. The city produced an online video this month to inform viewers about the state and county regulations on e-bikes. "Consider your child's age, maturity and level of experience before purchasing an age appropriate e-bike for them," Novato police Sgt. Trevor Hall said in the video. The video also warns viewers that electric motorcycles can be mistaken for e-bikes. Such vehicles generally travel faster than e-bikes and are covered by different state regulations. Police said 15 incidents in Novato involved e-bikes or e-scooters over the past year, many involving serious injuries. Last month, a 14-year-old boy suffered critical injuries from crashing his e-motorcycle into a van on Cambridge Street. "There is a measurable amount of confusion over what an e-bike…...

6+ day, 22+ hour ago (482+ words) As the leaves begin to change and the temperature starts to cool, families are reminded of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, which typically falls between October and March. While the virus causes mild, cold-like symptoms for adults, it can be particularly dangerous for infants. Two to three out of every 100 infants under 6 months old are hospitalized with RSV every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the last few years, Cho and physicians across the United States have been urging their patients to consider getting a relatively new vaccine to protect against RSV infection. In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, for use during pregnancy. Cho advises that the single-dose vaccine should be given between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, from September to January, to provide protection during the RSV season. "It's…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago (682+ words) Editor's note: The IJ is reprinting some of the late Beth Ashley's columns. This is from 2012. How nice. My great-niece spent the weekend with us recently and brought her 14-month-old baby with her. I was transported back to Mommy Land. Baby Eamon was sturdy, handsome and well-behaved. He reminded me, ahem, of my own kids when they were young. I recall thinking then what prizes they were. When I wheeled them through the market, I expected heads to turn. Now that they are grown, I have to strain to remember them as little boys. Was Gil, now 6 feet, 11 inches, ever the angelic blond who read at 3 and danced at 4? Could Guy, with his manly chin and curly black hair, be the tiny person whose hand I held to cross each street? They're no longer little, but much of the joy…...