Newsroom Stories

What mental impact do disasters have on victims?Hurricanes, earthquakes and other major disasters take their toll not only on buildings and infrastructure, but also on the mental health of victims and volunteers. Monica M. Matthieu, Ph.D., disaster mental health expert, says, “It is important to realize that the community relationships and social network that we have before a disaster is the one that we will draw on for support and care after a disaster.” She is available to discuss the impact of disasters on victims, mental health professionals and volunteers; volunteering after a disaster; important disaster-related community resources; and how to develop a community network before a disaster.

Active guidance is key when helping kids make diet and exercise changes, according to a new study.A little health information is not enough to help obese children get into better shape, according to a recent analysis. Moreover, children who do not receive an offer for intervention or who receive information only tend to experience weight gains. Children given guidance that is more direct get into better shape, according to the review. “Providers make the assumption that providing information leads to changes,” said Denise Wilfley, Ph.D., lead author and professor in the department of psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Providing information is a necessary component, but it’s not sufficient.”

Jeri Sedlar, author of “Don’t Retire, Rewire!” will lead an interactive session to help people define what kind of work is best for their retirement given their passions and interests, and how to go about obtaining it. The talk will take place Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 at 4 p.m. in Simon Hall’s May Auditorium on the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

Lane closures scheduled through Sept. 28.

Courtesy Image”Summer House at Hellersyya” (1965) by the Norwegian architect Wenche Selmer (1920-98). An exhibition of her work is currently on view in Givens Hall.

Women who get most of their daily calcium from food have healthier bones than women whose calcium comes mainly from supplemental tablets.

Although crib bumper pads are theoretically designed to prevent injury to a baby, the risk of accidental death or injury to an infant outweighs their possible benefits.

A resistance gene that allows bacteria to beat an important class of antibiotics has started to appear in microorganisms taken from Midwestern patients.

Photo by Robert BostonA group of pre-health students from the Japanese university spent a week at the School of Medicine taking part in classes in the Programs in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

Ramanath Cowsik, Ph.D., professor of physics and director of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences in Arts & Sciences, received the 2007 M. P. Birla Memorial Award from the M. P. Birla Institute of Fundamental Research and the M. P. Birla Planetarium in Kolkata, India. The biennial award is given for exceptional achievement in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, particle physics and allied disciplines.