Medical Notes: The Shocking Veteran Suicide Trends, The Best Time To Induce Labor, And The Mental Health Of College Students

The tides may finally be turning on veteran suicide.

New research in Jama Network Open highlights a significant decline in suicide rates after nearly twenty years of steady increases. This shift suggests that prevention efforts, including improved mental health access and firearm safety programs, are successfully saving lives across the country. However, researchers are still unsure which specific programs are having the biggest impact, and hope to understand the driving force soon, so that more resources can be focused in those areas.

A new treatment for seizures may soon be possible without the need for invasive brain surgery.

A study published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience details a non-surgical method that uses focuses ultrasound to reach areas of the brain responsible for epilepsy. By targeting these specific neural circuits, researchers were able to suppress seizure activity in animal models. This breakthrough offers a potential lifeline for the millions of patients whose seizures do not respond to traditional medication but who are hesitant to undergo traditional surgery.

When it comes to inducing labor, success may be all in the timing.

According to research published in Molecular Metabolism, the standard “one-size-fits-all” approach to starting oxytocin may not be the most effective strategy for every mother. The study found that waiting until the cervix has reached a certain level of natural dilation before starting the hormone can significantly reduce the risk of emergency c-sections and other birth complications.

The stigma surrounding mental health on campus is fading.

According to the Healthy Minds Study, the mental health of college students is improving and more are seeking out professional help. While the volume of students reporting symptoms remains high, researchers found that this uptick in service use is a positive sign that younger generations are more proactive about their psychological well-being.

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