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Address youth mental health issues before crisis

As an emergency physician, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of untreated mental health conditions. For far too many young people, the first time they access mental health care is in a moment of crisis — often in the ER, when their symptoms have already escalated beyond what community care could have addressed. Waiting for crises is simply not the way to approach mental health. We wouldn’t wait until a child is severely physically ill to treat an illness, so why are we doing this with mental health? As we marked World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, we must take a serious ...

Stay safe while enjoying trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treating is almost upon us, and with it the necessity of reminding families and motorists to prioritize safety. As excited as your children are to select their costumes, it is important to remember that costumes should include reflective or brightly colored portions to assist with visibility. Masks should not obscure or block children’s vision. Costumes should not hinder children’s ability to safely walk and cross streets. Flashlights and glow sticks can also help children be seen by motorists, preventing tragedies. Families, of course, should look both ways before ...

Schools tackle new ‘R’ by weighing use of student phones

For centuries, schools have focused on teaching students the three Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic. Recently, a fourth “R” has crept into the daily curriculum – restricting use of students’ cell phones. The debate is not only ongoing here in the Juniata Valley but is in progress coast to coast. Locally, administrators, educators and even school board directors differ on the notion of restricting usage of cell phones on school grounds. Some schools make students place phones in their lockers. Others require them to be checked in before class. But some are OK with having ...

With fall comes warnings for driving more cautiously

October is here, and that means it’s time for drivers to be alert. This month, along with November and December, are the peak months for motorists to collide with animals, particularly deer. And of all 50 states, Pennsylvania has the highest number of claims filed annually for animal collisions, according to a just-released report from State Farm Insurance. All in all, you have 1-in-61 odds of hitting an animal when you are traveling on the roads of Pennsylvania, according to the report. It’s better than the 1-in-40 odds you have in West Virginia, but a far cry from the ...

Time to stop tax penalties on US hostages

Imagine being in prison on the other side of the world for months or years. The charges are politically disingenuous or outright lies. The government is hostile, and you don’t know when you might ever see your family again. Then, finally, your prayers are answered and you get to come home. And you are promptly billed for the taxes — with penalties and interest — you didn’t pay while you were caged. It has been two months since the high-stakes poker game that saw multiple countries making deals to shuffle 26 prisoners. The complex negotiations brokered through Turkey ...

Parents must regulate social media, too

Pennsylvania is poised to join other states implementing new limits on social media membership for children. One reason, though, that states are stepping in is too many parents are not. House Bill 2553, sponsored by Rep. Robert Mercuri, R-Wexford, would limit social media platform membership to those ages 14 and older. Social media companies would also have to require users to have an account to use the platform and certify that users are at least 14 years old by verifying the account holder’s driver’s license or other photo identification. Parents would be able to request a ...