Health

Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and similar healthcare providers have been reinstated, restoring access to crucial routine healthcare services for millions of low-income individuals following the expiration of a congressional ban.

Kyra Wagner, a rising senior at Spelman College, has been honored with the JED Foundation's 2026 Student Voice of Mental Health Award, acknowledging her significant contributions to improving emotional well-being on campus and in the broader community. Her advocacy, inspired by her family's mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, addresses the critical need for support among young people, particularly Black children, who experienced a notable surge in mental health crises during that period.

Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, presents a significant public health challenge due to its difficulty in tracing to a single source. The infection can lead to weeks of debilitating diarrhea, cramps, and bloating if left untreated.

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the unique mental health challenges experienced by BIPOC communities and the importance of culturally responsive treatment to address health disparities and barriers to care.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, has significantly curtailed access to healthcare and food assistance for millions of low-income Americans, with Black communities disproportionately affected. The legislation, which enacted trillions in cuts to Medicaid and food assistance budgets, has led to a 4.6 million decrease in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and over 4 million fewer SNAP participants, intensifying existing systemic inequities.

As Independence Day celebrations approach, health officials underscore essential food safety protocols. Key recommendations include employing an internal thermometer for proper meat cooking, ensuring perishable foods are refrigerated within one hour when temperatures surpass 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and practicing thorough hand washing after handling raw meat.

Mental health professionals and educators emphasize the importance of family conversations about race as a means to help young people process racism and affirm their identity. Proactive discussions are advocated as a crucial support for the mental health and healing of children of color.

Trauma therapist and nonprofit founder Ashley McGirt-Adair is spearheading initiatives to provide culturally competent mental health services and advance racial healing within Black communities. Her forthcoming book, "The Cost of Healing in Silence," and the Therapy Fund Foundation advocate for destigmatizing mental illness, confronting bias, and integrating indigenous and African-centered healing practices to address systemic racial trauma.

Black students on college campuses are discovering transformative spaces dedicated to racial healing, which provide crucial environments for processing racial stress and affirming their identities. These intentional communities foster vulnerability and respect, addressing the emotional and psychological harm caused by racism and promoting a sense of wholeness.

A new Word In Black survey examines how Black Americans define racial healing — and why so many say the country is still far from it.