Health

Black men are increasingly dying from "deaths of despair" due to a mental health crisis, while cultural expectations, mistrust of mental health systems, and a shortage of Black providers prevent many from getting help before it is too late.

77% of Americans are calling for mandated warning labels on ultraprocessed foods, 70% want companies banned from advertising them on children's television, and 87% want government safety testing for all chemicals used in food products.

Microsoft and Mayo Clinic are partnering to build an AI model trained on medical data, which will eventually be used to power AI tools for clinicians and an AI healthcare assistant for patients.

Juliana Nzita, a 16-year-old Black teenager, was found hanging from a tree on church property in Charlotte, NC, and her death has sparked anger and suspicion due to its similarity to other unexplained hangings of Black people in the Deep South.

Word In Black recently convened a panel of food policy experts, scholars, and faith-based organizers to address food access and hunger in Black America. The discussion explored the dual narratives of joy and survival, while highlighting the significant impact of the Trump administration's $187 billion cut to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which has disproportionately affected Black communities.

The US government is prepared to allow American passengers exposed to a unique strain of hantavirus to return home as early as Monday, provided their states post a monitor outside their homes 24/7 for the remaining three weeks of their six-week quarantine.

Experts advise people to practice regular handwashing, get vaccinated, wear N95 masks when viruses are active, and avoid crowds to protect themselves from viruses, as well as being cautious about what they eat and drink when traveling abroad.

The FIFA World Cup is expected to bring millions of visitors to North America, posing a public health challenge due to the potential spread of infectious diseases such as measles, Ebola, and dengue, as well as other risks such as heat-related illness and drug overdoses.

High school seniors who have turned 18 are legally able to make bets on prediction market sites like Kalshi and Polymarket, but they are barred from most forms of legalized gambling, raising concerns from addiction experts and state regulators about the potential public health crisis.

Black children are far more likely to drown than white children, and the Trump administration has targeted federal programs designed to track and prevent those deaths for major budget cuts.