Vitals

Climate anxiety, or fear and distress caused by the effects of climate change, is an emerging psychological condition that has gained prominence in the last two decades. Our host will tackle the big question: what can someone do to realistically treat climate anxiety. Along the way, the team will interview a specialist in the field of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Could personalized genetic testing improve mental health treatment? 50% of people with depression don’t respond to their first medication, but mental health is now on the front line of widespread personalized medicine: DNA testing to identify the best and safest course of treatment. Alok Patel breaks down everything from how the emergent science works to some caveats you should know about.

Among developed nations, the United States is one of the most dangerous places to give birth, and Black women face the highest risk. Nurse Yalonda Fowler explores the bias, fear and miscommunication that underlie the sobering maternal mortality statistics. The Vitals team also investigates possible solutions, such as the expansion of midwifery care across the US.

The Vitals team explores the growing community of “neurodivergents,” including many people who were only diagnosed as adults. Many people live a life of “masking” their disorder, leading to misdiagnoses, especially in many underrepresented communities. We hear from a specialist who assesses adults, and Kip Chow, about their experience as an autistic adult diagnosed late in life.