Courtenay Harris Bond
Courtenay Harris Bond is the staff writer covering health for PhillyVoice. She enjoys writing about behavioral health, maternal health and inequities in the healthcare system, as well as human rights and criminal justice. A veteran daily newspaper reporter, Courtenay has also written for national outlets, including KFF Health News, Undark Magazine and Filter. She was a 2018 Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism and has master's degrees from Columbia Journalism School and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
March 28, 2024
Depression
AI can detect depression in white people based on their social media posts – but not in Black people, Penn study finds
Artificial intelligence models developed to detect depression by analyzing the language a person uses on Facebook can accurately identify the mental health condition in white people, but often miss it in Black people, according to the findings of a study conducted by Penn Medicine. The results underscore the need for caution when using the technology in mental health care – so racial disparities are not perpetuated, researchers say.March 28, 2024
Mental Health
Happiness levels have fallen in the U.S., and though Americans say therapy has benefits, many aren't receiving it
Though most Americans say they would feel comfortable sharing that they were in therapy, and acknowledge its benefits, less than 1 in 4 are currently receiving it, according to a survey commissioned by mental health care provider Thriveworks. The results come after the 2024 World Happiness Report showed happiness levels in the U.S. have dropped.March 27, 2024
Prevention
New drug protects people with weakened immune systems from COVID-19
Pemgarda, a monoclonal antibody infusion therapy intended to protect people who are immunocompromised from COVID-19, has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The prophylactic treatment is for people who may not develop sufficient resistance to COVID-19 after vaccination because they have medical conditions that weaken their immune system.March 26, 2024
Illness
Hospital patients are commonly misdiagnosed with pneumonia – to the detriment of their health, study finds
As many as 1 in 8 patients treated for pneumonia in hospitals are misdiagnosed, leading to poor medical outcomes and contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, a new study suggests. Researchers say older adults, people with dementia and those with cognitive disorders are most likely to be misdiagnosed.March 21, 2024
Illness
A common mouth bacteria is linked to colorectal cancer, a new study says
A common type of bacteria found in the mouth can travel to the colon and speed the growth of malignant tumors, according to new research.March 21, 2024
Health News
After a big drop in COVID-19 deaths, U.S. life expectancy rose for the first time in 2 years
Life expectancy in the U.S. rose to 77.5 years in 2022, according to data released by the CDC. The increase followed a two-year decline driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and drug overdose crisis. In 2022, COVID deaths fell by about 55%. Fatal overdoses remained about the same as 2021. The two leading causes of death were heart disease and cancer.March 20, 2024
Addiction
Shortage of alcohol dependency drug threatens many in recovery – at a time when booze sales are up
The shortage of oral naltrexone, a type of medication-assisted treatment for alcohol dependency, has had a destabilizing effect on people in recovery, a Philadelphia-area addiction specialist says. Naltrexone reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids. Pharmaceutical companies indicate the drug is unavailable due to high demand or an ingredient shortage.March 19, 2024
Healthy Eating
Intermittent fasting may be risky for your heart, new research suggests
Intermittent fasting may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a new study of 20,000 people. Researchers found that people who restricted their eating to eight hours a day had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to those who ate across 12-16 hours per day.March 19, 2024
Illness
U.S. health officials warn of rising global measles outbreaks, emphasizing the need for vaccination
U.S. health officials have issued an alert about a rise in measles outbreaks around the world and are advising parents and caregivers to vaccinate young children against the disease if traveling to countries where there are outbreaks.March 14, 2024
Mental Health
Among female veterans, suicide rates outpace those of male counterparts and women, overall
The suicide rate among women who served in the military rose by 24.1% between 2020 and 2021, nearly four times higher than the 6.3% increase among male veterans and greater than the 2.6% increase among non-veteran women. Contributing to this are are issues like military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, substance use disorders, pregnancy and menopause, a study found.Just In
- Two Robbers to close the Lodge, its South Philly bar and restaurant
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