On its website, ABC News (4/17, Rosenblatt) reports, “A new study out of the University of Alberta has found that by the age of 5, children who spent two hours or more looking at a screen each day were 7.7 times more likely to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when compared to children who spent 30 minutes or less each day on a screen.” The findings were published in PLOS ONE. The article adds, “The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends limiting screen use to a maximum of one hour a day of high-quality programming for preschool children ages 2 to 5.”

HealthDay (4/17, Norton) and Newsweek (4/17, Gander) also report.

Related Links:

— “More screen time linked to higher risk of ADHD in preschool-aged children: Study, “Dr. Joshua Rosenblatt, ABC News, April 17, 2019

The Philadelphia Inquirer (4/17, Pattani) reports researchers examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and found that “half of all pregnant women who experience depression do not get any treatment, and some may turn to alcohol, marijuana, and opioids to self-medicate.” The findings were published in Psychiatric Services in Advance. The article mentions that “the American Psychiatric Association says there is growing evidence that it’s safe for pregnant women to use antidepressants, and they can be helpful for some.”

Related Links:

— “https://www.philly.com/health/pregnant-women-depression-treatment-mental-health-addiction-20190417.html, “Aneri Pattani, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 17, 2019

The AP (4/17, Banda, Collins) reports on “the effects of trauma and turmoil experienced by law enforcement authorities who respond to school shootings.” Previously, many officers viewed “seeking psychiatric help as a sign of weakness – particularly in elite units like SWAT” – and saw “their own mental health as secondary when civilians suffer grave loss.” However, “attitudes are starting to change. A group of global law enforcement administrators recently began work on a set of uniform guidelines for psychological care for SWAT teams and other officers who respond to the worst of the worst carnage.” In addition, several state legislatures recently passed “laws to extend workers’ compensation for mental health to police and other first responders.”

Related Links:

— “School shootings draw attention to officers’ mental health, “Solomon Banda, AP, April 17, 2019

Healio (4/16) reports, “Almost a quarter of older adult survey respondents from Washington stored their guns unlocked and loaded, regardless of whether they had memory loss or suicide risk factors,” researchers found in a study involving “4,428 older adults” who reported having a firearm in their home. The findings were published April 16 in a research letter in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Survey shows some older adults do not store firearms safely, “Savannah Demko, Healio, April 16, 2019

ABC News (4/17, McLaughlin) reports that American Veterans (AMVETS) “is calling for a multi-agency investigation into what they’re calling a ‘suicide epidemic among veterans and service members,’ after three veterans killed themselves at Veterans Affairs facilities in the span of five days this month.” The veterans group “asked the inspectors general of the VA, Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services to immediately launch ‘a joint, coordinated investigation into the veteran and service member suicide epidemic, to include a macro evaluation of mental health treatment programs and personnel assigned to operate them.’”

Related Links:

— “Veterans group calls for multi-agency investigation after 3 vets killed themselves at VA facilities in 5-day span, “Elizabeth Mclaughlin, ABC News, April 17, 2019