Mothers report worse mental health in new report
More American mothers reported worse mental health in 2023 than in 2016 in a national survey, though many said they were in good health, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Using data from the National Survey of Children's Health, researchers analyzed self-reported mental health ratings from some 198,000 mothers with children age 17 and younger. In 2023, 26 percent of the mothers who responded said their mental health was 'excellent,' compared with 38 percent of mothers in 2016. While 19 percent of mothers reported good mental health in 2016, some 26 percent said the same in 2023.
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Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
NIH scientists have been angry for months. Now some are rebelling.
More than 90 staffers at the National Institutes of Health signed their names to a letter of dissent to Director Jay Bhattacharya in a rare sign of open resistance by career government employees. The letter warns that Trump administration policies such as terminating peer-reviewed grants, interrupting global collaborations and firing essential staff are wasting public resources, undermining the NIH's mission and harming the health of people in the United States and beyond. 'The life-and-death nature of our work demands that changes be thoughtful and vetted. We are compelled to speak up when our leadership prioritizes political momentum over human safety and faithful stewardship of public resources,' the letter says. 'Many of us have raised these concerns to NIH leadership, yet they remain unaddressed, and we are pressured to implement harmful measures.' Officials who administer grant portfolios, early-career scientists and longtime staffers are among those who signed, calling the document the 'Bethesda declaration' for the city in Maryland where the NIH is headquartered. The letter is modeled after the Great Barrington declaration, Bhattacharya's dissent to the government's covid policies in 2020, which was written in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and helped catapult him to prominence. 'The Bethesda Declaration has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months, including the continuing support of the NIH for international collaboration,' Bhattacharya said in a statement. 'Nevertheless, respectful dissent in science is productive. We all want the NIH to succeed.' The Trump administration has described its actions as eliminating red tape, increasing accountability of science and removing ideological influence. It has said that a new policy for grants that include subawards to researchers in foreign countries increases accountability. Another target has been funding that includes diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives aimed at broadening participation in science. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy, said in a speech in May that 'political biases are displacing the vital search for truth,' adding that efforts to make science more inclusive 'degrade our scientific enterprise. DEI represents an existential threat to the real diversity of thought that forms the foundation of the scientific community.' Some NIH employees — a number of whom have participated in protests and walked out of a town hall featuring Bhattacharya — say the Trump administration's action's have raised existential questions about the state of science in America. Since the inauguration, dozens of employees who work at the National Institutes of Health have spoken with The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. They described a climate of fear and anxiety and an inability to perform routine tasks due to the administration's disruptions. The letter represents a new level of concern from people within the agency, with some now willing to be identified: It was signed by 92 people by name and 250 additional people anonymously. Jenna Norton, an NIH program director who said she was speaking as a private citizen, said the fear of being punished for signing the letter was outweighed by the fear of not saying anything. 'We wanted a way to speak up together, to make it clear to ourselves and our colleagues that this isn't who NIH is,' said Norton, who oversees grants, with a focus on research to address health disparities in kidney and urological diseases. 'We aren't here to harm people. We're here to help people — and we aren't being heard when we raise concerns in more traditional ways.' Ian Morgan, a postdoctoral researcher focused on combating antimicrobial resistance who also said he is speaking as a private citizen, has been at the NIH off and on for nearly 15 years, starting with a summer internship. Morgan said he sees the document as a letter of hope that the course can be corrected. 'I feel like if I put my head down and I didn't say anything, my research would be somewhat unobjectionable to the current administration and I could get by — but where would that leave the world around me,' Morgan said. The letter argues that the administration has politicized research by canceling $9.5 billion of peer-reviewed grants and $2.6 billion in contracts. It says the administration is abandoning the process that ensures the most meritorious science is funded, citing the decision to fund an 'unvetted' flu vaccine project led by two of the institute's leaders. It opposes administration policies such as capping the funding that supports the administrative and facilities costs of doing science, and the firing of essential staff. 'What I would like the public to know is that these were carefully vetted projects. Just because they have some buzzwords in them, please look a little bit deeper. These went through peer review, panels of experts who read every word carefully,' said Benjamin Feldman, an NIH scientist who uses CRISPR gene-editing technology in zebra fish. The letter also details a widespread fear that the massive slowdown in NIH spending over the past five months could mean the agency will not be able to use all its funding this year — which could be used to justify the budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration. A group of biomedical advocacy organizations met with Bhattacharya in late May to express concern that the NIH's current budget might not be spent. Bhattacharya said he would spend all the money allocated to the NIH, according to a letter those agencies sent to him last week. 'We are deeply grateful to you and your staff for taking the time to meet with us on Thursday, May 29. Most importantly, we appreciate your commitment that NIH will fully obligate all FY25 funds by the end of the fiscal year,' the advocacy groups wrote to Bhattacharya. An accompanying letter signed by prominent scientists, including multiple Nobel laureates, argues that the Make America Healthy Again initiative refers to an 'undefined time in the past.' The letter cites massive gains against heart disease, childhood leukemia and measles since 1960. 'Certainly, much work remains to better treat disease and improve the health of Americans, such as addressing increased rates of obesity, diabetes, and opioid dependency. But, glamorizing a mythical past, while ignoring important progress made through biomedical research, does not enhance the health of American people,' the outside scientists wrote.
News24
an hour ago
- News24
Former Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida declares ‘Power is knowing that your presence in the room is not a favour - it's necessary'
Winning Miss South Africa in 2020 was neither the beginning nor end of Shudufhadzo Musida's journey. Her perspective, shaped by her upbringing across both rural and urban areas, influenced her leadership style and advocacy priorities. This duality informs her work as an author of two impactful children's books 'Shudu finds her magic' and 'I Am Shudu: Finding My Voice and Knowing My Strength.' Recently honoured with an appointment as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) global champion for women and girls, Musida continues to build a legacy that transcends her beauty pageant achievements. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shudu Musiḓa (@shudufhadzomusida) In a one-on-one with TRUELOVE, she shares more on her journey and the advocacy she stands for. Her mental health advocacy 'We've seen studies—for example, in the UK—showing a 20 percent rise in anxiety and depression in high school students post-COVID. But this didn't come out of nowhere. The pandemic simply exposed what was already there,' she shares, noting her passion in emotional literacy, especially starting in childhood. Her first book, Shudu Finds Her Magic, introduces mental health concepts to children in an age-appropriate way while her latest, I Am Shudu: Finding My Voice and Knowing My Strength, builds on that by helping older children and teens develop the language to articulate their emotions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shudu Musiḓa (@shudufhadzomusida) She believes that to improve our mental healthcare access there needs to be a full integration of mental health services into our public health system. 'At the moment, mental health support is often limited to crisis care - if it's available at all - especially in rural and township communities. But mental health should be treated with the same urgency and normalcy as physical health. You go to the clinic for a flu - why not for your mental wellbeing too?' Stepping into a room as the voice of people Growing up in the village showed Shudufhadzo what a lack of privilege and access looks like. She notes how in many rural areas, people don't have the same basic services — healthcare, mental health support, quality education, or even awareness of the full spectrum of careers that exist. 'In some places, children don't even know that being a creative, an artist, a strategist — or even a public speaker — is possible. And beyond imagination, the infrastructure is missing too. Many rural schools still lack proper ICT infrastructure, and without that, how do you compete in the digital world?' she notes. That lived experience gives her perspective. It keeps her mindful in every conversation — whether it's about youth inclusion, education reform, or leadership: 'True leadership is not just about making it out. It's about holding the door open, making space, and ensuring that the people you grew up with are not left behind — that they too are part of the future we're building.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNFPA (@unfpa) Heritage and identity Shudufhadzo will always be remembered for the iconic moment she wore the Miss South Africa crown with her short hair. Speaking to us, she reveals that the look wasn't meant to be a political statement: 'When I entered Miss South Africa with short natural hair, it wasn't a political statement — I just felt like it. Only later did I realise the impact it had. I didn't grow up wearing my natural hair, and even when I did, I often felt it wasn't good enough.' Since winning Miss South Africa, her understanding of power has evolved in many ways. 'For me, Miss SA was a platform, a powerful one, but it didn't define what power is to me. Power is not fame. It's not about being recognised in public or having influence for influence's sake. Real power, to me, is the ability to shift narratives, influence policy, redistribute resources, and show up in spaces in a way that opens doors for others.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shudu Musiḓa (@shudufhadzomusida)
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
The Ultimate Visual Guide to Protein: Here's How Much You Should Eat A Day
You aren't the only one scratching your head, wondering whether you're getting enough protein in your daily meals. Countless Reddit threads are filled with people asking the same thing: Does it matter how much protein I eat if I'm not trying to bulk up? The answer is yes. Protein is not only necessary for gym buffs and bodybuilders -- it's essential for everyone. In addition to building muscle, protein helps with weight loss, energy levels, balancing hormones and much more. Your protein needs will vary based on factors like body weight and activity level. A general guideline from the recommended dietary allowance for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight per day. You can use the US Department of Agriculture's calculator for a more tailored estimate. If you have fitness goals and need help visualizing how much protein you need, this guide is your blueprint for 100 grams of protein across different diets. The protein amounts below are estimates based on specific products and their nutrition labels, so your figures may vary depending on the brand or preparation method. Each picture contains 100 grams of protein combined, not 100 grams per item. If you want to get better at hitting your daily protein goals, this visual guide can help. What 100 grams of protein looks like for omnivores Amanda Capritto/CNET Eating 100 grams of protein per day should be pretty easy if you don't have any dietary restrictions. Here's what that would look like: Two eggs (12 grams) Snack cheese (5 grams) Greek yogurt (15 grams) Beef sausage (14 grams) One can of tuna (27 grams) ½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams) 2 ounces of deli ham (10 grams) 1 ounce of mixed nuts (5 grams) Two slices of rye bread (10 grams) Everything pictured above comes to 103 grams, which puts you slightly over your daily target. What 100 grams of animal protein looks like for carnivores Amanda Capritto/CNET As you can see, getting 100 grams of protein from animal products doesn't take much: Four eggs (24 grams) One can of tuna (27 grams) Three beef meatballs (15 grams) 2 ounces of turkey bacon (10 grams) 3 ounces of turkey breast (24 grams) This amounts to a perfect 100 grams of protein. If you ate all of this in a day, plus bread and other nonanimal products, you would surpass 100 grams of protein in a day. What 100 grams of protein looks like for vegetarians Amanda Capritto/CNET For vegetarians, 100 grams of protein might look like this: Four eggs (24 grams) ½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams) Two snack cheeses (10 grams) ¼ cup of protein granola (10 grams) A single-serve Greek yogurt (15 grams) One tablespoon of hemp seeds (4 grams) Two tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams) One scoop of plant-based protein powder (20 grams) This comes out to 99 grams of protein, which is pretty close. What 100 grams of protein looks like for vegans Amanda Capritto/CNET What you see isn't totally what you get with the amount of protein here: 1 ounce of nuts (5 grams) ½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams) A protein granola bar (8 grams) Two slices of rye bread (10 grams) ¼ cup of protein granola (10 grams) One tablespoon of hemp seeds (4 grams) Two tablespoons of chia seeds (10 grams) Two tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams) One scoop of plant-based protein powder (20 grams) This amounts to 79 grams of protein. If we double up on the mixed nuts, chia seeds and hemp seeds, this brings us to 93 grams of protein. You could add an extra tablespoon of peanut butter or eat a full cup of oats, instead of half a cup, to come closer to 100 grams. This plate also excludes high-protein vegan meat substitutes, such as tofu, tempeh or plant-based meats like the Impossible Burger. Those food sources can make it easier to get 100 grams of protein for someone who eats a vegan diet.
