Louisiana universities could get ‘fail safe' for students in mental health crisis
The Louisiana Legislature is advancing a measure that would allow colleges and universities to contact the parents of students experiencing a mental health crisis.
House Bill 202 by Rep. Delisha Boyd, D-New Orleans, would require colleges and universities to offer privacy waivers to students that would allow the schools to contact a pre-designated person in the case of a mental health crisis or situation in which the student poses a risk to themselves or other.
The measure is necessary because colleges are currently not able to contact parents under privacy laws that protect adult students, Boyd said. Students would be given the option to fill out the waiver.
Legislators on the House Committee on Education described the proposal Wednesday as a 'fail safe.' It comes on the heels of several high-profile deaths on college campuses.
'Just recently, we had a student at Xavier University that committed suicide about a month ago,' Boyd told the committee. 'Imagine if someone had paid attention to the change in attitude, the personality or what have you, it could have ended in a different way.'
Boyd's bill will next be discussed on the House floor.
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13 hours ago
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8 Heart-Healthy Snacks to Satisfy Your Late-Night Cravings, According to Nutrition Experts
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Popcorn 'Popcorn made with a little canola or olive oil and sprinkled with your favorite herb or spice is a delicious heart-healthy snack,' McIndoo says. This is thanks to the fiber found in popcorn, unsaturated fats in vegetable oils, and antioxidants in any herbs or spices you use. A small pinch of salt is totally warranted here as well—just be careful to not overdo it. Tinned Fish and Crackers Tinned fish—like salmon or tuna—are delicious options to curb those late-night salty cravings while getting a hefty dose of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, as well as fiber from any whole grain crackers or rice cakes you serve them on. 'The vast majority of canned salmon comes from Alaska, which means it's wild, sustainable, and packed full of heart-healthy omega-3s,' House says. Mix your canned fish with a spoonful of plain low-fat Greek yogurt and chopped celery or cucumber for added creaminess and fiber without excessive amounts of saturated fat and dietary cholesterol. Chocolate Yogurt and Fruit If your sweet tooth rears its head in the evening, a decadent yogurt dessert might be just the trick. 'Stir a tablespoon of cocoa powder (not hot chocolate mix) into ½ to ¾ cup of vanilla low-fat or non-fat Greek yogurt, [topped] with fresh raspberries,' McIndoo says. 'Cocoa powder is a good source of heart-healthy flavanols that improve blood flow and lower blood pressure and raspberries are a great source of fiber.' If you want to further healthify this creative dessert, opt for plain yogurt and sweeten it with a little bit of honey—a natural sweetener full of antioxidant plant compounds and prebiotic fiber. 'A small drizzle of maple syrup (another nutrient-added sweetener) to sweeten the yogurt is still less sugar than pre-sweetened flavored yogurts,' House adds. Veggies and Hummus As a classic and easy-to-assemble snack, veggies and hummus bring the crunch that many people seek from less healthy options like chips or pretzels in the evening hours. 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USA Today
a day ago
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Hamilton Spectator
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In May, HRSA quietly ordered the U.S. transplant network to oversee improvements at the Kentucky OPO and to develop new national policies making clear that anyone – family, hospital staff or organ donation staff – can call for a pause in donation preparations any time there are concerns about the patient's eligibility. Lynch said the government now wants more proactive collaboration from OPOs to give hospital staff 'a clear understanding' of when to at least temporarily halt and reevaluate a potential donor if their health status changes. Kentucky's Massa said his group only received HRSA's reports this week – but that after learning about last fall's allegations, it made some changes. Massa said every hospital doctor and nurse now gets a checklist on caring for potential donors and how to pause when concerns are raised — and anyone can anonymously report complaints. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
