Latest news with #LisaRoberts
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Simple Cheek Swab Helped Her Finally Find Depression Meds That Worked
Alabama native Lisa Roberts, 65, had been navigating depression for most of her adult life. Roberts, who works in cybersecurity, notes that major life changes such as changing careers, raising a child and facing challenges as a single parent prior to marriage intensified her mental health struggles—a large part of the reason she ultimately decided to seek treatment for her depression. On top of managing her own depression, Roberts had also been a caregiver on and off for her mother since 2021. In July 2024, her mother came to live with her again after her husband was no longer able to care for her. That month while living with Roberts, her mother passed away from heart failure, and Roberts struggled with the grief. 'I just realized that I was not managing myself, my life, my family or anything the way that it should be,' says Roberts after recognizing her symptoms of depression were intensifying. 'I knew something was off, and I just wasn't feeling quite right.' (Learn more about depression after illness here.) Sharing her mental health concerns with her healthcare provider, Roberts was soon connected with Whitnee Brown DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric and family practice nurse practitioner trained to help with mental health conditions. 'In talking with Dr. Brown, we started going through some of the things I was going through and officially determined that I was going through depression,' says Roberts. Dr. Brown introduced Roberts to several therapeutic tools, including meditation, writing and the option of medication. Roberts had tried anti-depression meds in the past, but found they weren't effective for her. 'The medication never worked,' says Roberts. 'It would either be too strong [or] it wouldn't work for me in the way that I needed it.' That experience made her hesitant to try other types of antidepressants again. 'When she mentioned medication, the past popped up,' says Roberts. 'I told her, 'I don't know if that's a route that I want to take.'' Dr. Brown worked with Roberts to better understand her history with mental health medication to treat her depression. 'A lot of times you don't realize how bad you were feeling until you start feeling better.' —Lisa Roberts 'We made a list of the medications that she had previously tried in the past to see if there were any type of connections to those,' says Dr. Brown. 'First-line treatment for depressive symptoms is usually a list of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). She had trialed several SSRIs in the past, but some people have what we call a genetic variation that can prevent them from having the complete absorption of an SSRI or moderately-reduced efficacy to it. She had tried two or three, and they did not work for her. So the likelihood of us trying another one and finding success was another four to six weeks.' Dr. Brown recognized that, due to the severity of Roberts' depression, a long trial period for the medication to kick in and see if it was effective wasn't ideal. 'We did not have four to six weeks,' says Dr. Brown. 'We needed to know. We needed to be succinct in our efforts. [A service known as] GeneSight testing offered us that, and it offered us speed, because it comes back within 48 hours of us sending it out and it being received by the lab.' Roberts agreed to try GeneSight testing, which analyzes how your genes may affect your response to certain medications. So Dr. Brown swabbed Roberts' cheek and sent the sample in by mail. If you've ever considered using medication for mental health but were concerned about side effects or how it might work with your unique biology, genetic testing could be worth considering. Robin Miller, MD, MHS, an internist at Triune Integrated Medicine, explains how GeneSight works. 'You do a cheek swab, send it in and the information you get back shows how a person metabolizes certain medications,' says Dr. Miller. 'There's a system in the liver where we have the ability to see how different medications are metabolized. And what GeneSight has done is used it for looking at medications to help people in terms of psychiatric issues. What it will do is tell you whether a certain medication is metabolized slowly, quickly or normally.' Dr. Miller says genetic testing has become a key part of her practice, especially for treating people with depression like Roberts. 'It really changed the way I did things in my practice,' says Dr. Miller. 'It was so helpful. At first, I started out just testing a few people, then I ended up testing quite a few. It also helps in terms of ADD for kids and depression in kids. As a pediatrician, I don't know how you could give medications without doing this test.' After reviewing the results, Dr. Brown and Roberts decided to try an antidepressant medication called Zoloft, an SSRI that Roberts had never taken before. 'I started it immediately once Dr. Brown prescribed it, and I'm still taking it,' says Roberts. 'Within maybe a couple of weeks I was feeling better. You know, a lot of times you don't realize how bad you were feeling until you start feeling better. And when I started feeling better, I felt as if I could just exhale. Life was a bit better.' Roberts credits the medication, along with therapy, meditation and treadmill workouts, with improving her mental health. 'Once the medication began to work, and I continued my work with Dr Brown, I was ready to get up in the morning,' says Roberts. 'I was ready to go to work. I was ready to take on the world. I was okay to grieve. I knew I was thankful to be here.' Keep scrolling for more mental health stories! Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy Reveals Mental Health Journey and Fitness Secrets (EXCLUSIVE) Brian Wilson's Battle With Mental Illness and Dementia: A Look at His Health Journey Linsey Godfrey on 'Days,' Fitness Secrets and Mental Health: 'I've Got to Keep Trucking' (EXCLUSIVE) This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
Chicago Tribune
23-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Wilmette adopts initial plan to boost affordable housing from 4.8% to required 10%
Wilmette elected officials have adopted a new plan for achieving affordable housing goals after a review by the Illinois Housing Development Authority last year found this housing stock lacking in the village. The plan, approved unanimously by the Wilmette Village Board on June 10, is the first piece in a more robust housing plan that will be developed by the village and the Wilmette Housing Commission over the next 12 to 18 months, Village Manager Michael Braiman said. 'This is more of a bare bones plan that has to conform to certain requirements that the state lays out,' he said. 'Our comprehensive plan is going to be much more strategic, have a lot more detail and strategies, and policy changes we can consider putting in place that will hopefully move the needle and encourage more affordable housing in the community.' Under the 2003 Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA), Illinois communities with populations over 1,000 must have 10% of their housing stock meet the state definition of affordable. Affordable housing prices and rents are calculated based on the median income for the metropolitan statistical area, which is the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area, said Lisa Roberts, deputy director of community development for the village of Wilmette. During a 2023 review, the Illinois Housing Development Authority found that only 4.8% of Wilmette's housing is deemed affordable under the state's formula, which triggered a requirement that the village update its plan for meeting the 10% threshold, Roberts said. To meet this requirement, the village needs to add 532 affordable units, she said. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD defines individuals who earn less than 80 percent of their area's median income as low- and moderate-income earners, according to previous reporting. According to the Illinois Housing Development Authority, an individual earning $50,400 annually in Cook County would place at 60% of median income, and someone earning $67,150 would place at 80% of median income. Salaries of many teachers and office workers fall into those income levels. According to the Cook County Assessor's Office, the 2024 median sale price for single-family homes in New Trier township, which includes Wilmette, was $1.3 million. The plan adopted on June 10 is similar to the village's 2005 affordable housing plan as it also calls for 15% of new multi-family development units to be affordable under the state's definition. Trustee Mark Steen questioned how realistically the village's goal can be achieved and in what time frame. Because only 15% of new multi-family units in a larger development would need to be affordable, he suggested that as many as 15,000 units would need to be constructed in total in order to get to the 532 affordable units the village needs to be compliant with the state. 'I want us to be aware of what we're actually talking about in terms of how long it takes to get to the goal,' he said. Village President Senta Plunkett noted it will be important to discuss how Wilmette can keep its stock of affordable housing that is already attainable. 'We don't expect to double the size of Wilmette,' she said. 'We don't have the space. People don't want highrises here.' There are currently 10,331 total housing units within the village of Wilmette, according to AHPAA. Of these, 501 are deemed affordable. Trustee Gerry Smith cautioned the village to 'be careful in our definitions,' stressing that 'low income housing' is not the same as affordable housing. Smith's comments came after a speaker, who did not give his name, made references to Chicago public housing high rises of the 1960s in his remarks opposing affordable housing in Wilmette. According to village officials, Wilmette was successful in adding affordable housing units between 2004 and 2018 through new developments such as Mallinckrodt in the Park on Ridge Road, which resulted in 12 then-affordable condominium units for residents 55 years and over; Cleland Place, a 16-unit rental building; and Residences of Wilmette on Green Bay Road, described as a 'market rate rental building.' The new plan identifies 16 sites in the community that could potentially contain future affordable housing. These include the Baha'i Home at 401 Greenleaf, a former senior housing facility that is currently vacant, but contains 21 housing units; the former 24-unit Sunrise memory care building at 615 Ridge Road that could be repurposed for affordable use; and the one-acre Hoffman Higgins Homestead property at 204 Ridge Road. Village Manager Michael Braiman noted, 'While these locations are included in the plan, that does not guarantee they will become future affordable housing developments nor does It limit other potential uses at these locations in the future.' The plan also identifies nearly a dozen incentives Wilmette could provide for developers to create or preserve affordable housing. This includes allowing accessory dwelling units to be constructed on the properties of single-family homes, reducing or waiving impact fees for projects containing affordable housing, and offering subsidized loans or grants to owners of affordable housing if they agree to keep it affordable. 'Research should be done on programs, funding sources and best practices to preserve existing affordable units,' the plan says. Eve Williams, a member of Open Communities, a nonprofit civil rights housing commission that provides fair housing protections in Wilmette and other suburban communities, spoke before the Village Board in support of an affordable housing plan. She noted that a housing survey conducted by the village found housing needs in 'almost every demographic.' 'When more people can afford to live in Wilmette, there will be additional opportunities to earn, spend and support local businesses as customers and workers,' she said. Maureen Dulen, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, told the board that not only are older adults finding it difficult to remain in the community they have lived in for decades, but teachers, emergency responders and restaurant employees who work in Wilmette are also challenged to secure housing they can afford. 'Affordable housing is essential for the continued vibrancy and character of this village, which we all appreciate so much,' Dulen said.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
South West project to predict algal blooms wins funding award
Researchers have won an award to fund a major project that aims to help predict and manage algal blooms before they Prediction and Early Detection of Algal Blooms in Lakes and Reservoirs (PEDAL) project is led by South West Water (SWW) and has been awarded £2.17m through the Ofwat Innovation Fund's Water Breakthrough occurring algal blooms are caused by the rapid growth of algae and can harm water quality while also being expensive to Pennington, innovation programme and partnerships manager at SWW, said: "This project will help us protect the environment, reduce treatment costs and ensure reliable, high-quality water for our customers." Early warning system The water company has worked with partners including the University of Exeter, the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste and Plymouth Marine scheme will work by combining satellite images and drone technology with water quality data and input from local communities to build an early warning system for algal artificial intelligence, the new system will help water companies take action sooner to improve water quality, protect nature and reduce treatment project is due to start in October 2025 and is expected to three years to complete. Prof Lisa Roberts, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: "This project has the potential to develop pioneering new methods to predict and detect the onset of algal blooms in our water systems, to help experts take action before they affect both water quality and supply. "It will help companies to continue to ensure safe, affordable water and protect our natural spaces and ecological health."
