The New York Times (3/15, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) reports, “Background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases are associated with lower suicide rates,” investigators found. The findings were published in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Related Links:

— “Some Gun Laws Tied to Lower Suicide Rates,”Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times , March 15, 2017.

Reuters (3/8, Singh) reports that on March 8, the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced “it intends to expand mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.” Under the proposal, “former OTH service members will be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact Veterans Crisis Line, the department said in a statement.” Currently, “veterans who do not receive an honorable discharge are not eligible for many” VA benefits, Reuters points out.

According to the AP (3/8, Yen), the department intends to begin implementing the changes in June or July as part of its expanded suicide prevention initiative. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said he could not wait for legislation because “this is a national emergency that requires bold action.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. to expand mental health care for some veterans,”Kanishka Singh, Reuters, March 08, 2017.

HealthDay (3/10, Preidt) reported that middle-aged adults who suffer from orthostatic hypotension “may be at increased risk for dementia when they’re older,” researchers found after analyzing “data from more than 11,500 adults, average age 54, who were followed for 20 or more years.” The findings were scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association meeting.

Related Links:

— “Dizzy Spells in Middle-Age Tied to Dementia Risk Later,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, March 10, 2017.

Reuters (3/10, Rapaport) reported, “Adults who were born prematurely at a very low birth weight may be more likely to experience mental health problems like depression and anxiety,” researchers found after examining “data from previously published studies of mental health in 747 adults who were underweight preemies and 1,512 who were full-term infants in five different countries.” The findings of the meta-analysis were published online March 10 in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Adults who were preemies may face more mental health risks,” Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, March 10, 2017.

Reuters (3/8, Singh) reports that on March 8, the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced “it intends to expand mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.” Under the proposal, “former OTH service members will be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact Veterans Crisis Line, the department said in a statement.” Currently, “veterans who do not receive an honorable discharge are not eligible for many” VA benefits, Reuters points out.

According to the AP (3/8, Yen), the department intends to begin implementing the changes in June or July as part of its expanded suicide prevention initiative. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said he could not wait for legislation because “this is a national emergency that requires bold action.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. to expand mental health care for some veterans,”Kanishka Singh, Reuters, March 08, 2017.