Mental Health

A 2023 U.S. Census Bureau report found that nearly 1 in 4 Vermonters said they'd experienced symptoms of anxiety. Studies show that even just petting an animal can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and abate loneliness. Shelburne's New Village Farm invites guests to pet, scratch, hold and snuggle their dog-like herd of Nigerian dwarf, Oberhasli, and French alpine goats.

Tommy Hyde's documentary Underdog tells the story of Middlebury farmer and dog musher Doug Butler.

Tras las medidas de inmigración de Trump en sus primeras semanas en el poder, Mayrena Guerrero de Massachusetts sugiere a las personas buscar espacios de paz y armar un plan.

Following President Trump's immigration crackdown, Mayrena Guerrero has sensed a lot of fear and alarm from her clients. She advises people to plan and carve out ways to have some sense of peace.

The inpatient psychiatry unit at Central Vermont Medical Center recently stopped admitting new patients. At the end of January, it will close altogether in an effort to save the hospital system money.

At the Pride Center of Vermont, Trans Program Manager and SafeSpace Advocate Em Russo says people are thinking through gender markers on their documents, coming together in support group settings and — finding moments of joy.

NPR's health reporters followed the emerging science on what keeps our brains and our minds healthy. Here are highlights of the studies that piqued our readers' interest the most.

The hospital will stop admitting new psychiatry patients in mid-January, and will lay off nearly 50 staff members after January 31.

Three separate homicides around Vermont this fall involved young men accused of killing members of their family. Law enforcement officials say these unusually violent incidents highlight a long-standing gap between the criminal justice and mental health systems. Mental health experts disagree.

One third of Vermont’s high school students say they’re struggling with mental health issues, and nearly a quarter say they've engaged in acts of self-harm.