Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / US Suicide Rates Decline, Measles Surge, and UK Doctors' Strike Potential

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US Suicide Rates Decline, Measles Surge, and UK Doctors' Strike Potential · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Good morning and welcome to another episode of "Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow." I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow.
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  Today, we're diving into some significant updates in the realm of health and medicine.
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  Our first topic is a bit of a bright spot in a complex area: the suicide rate in the United
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  States.
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  According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide
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  rate in the United States saw a slight decline in 2024.
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  This is following a period where the rates were at some of their highest levels ever reported.
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  To put this into perspective, there were a little over 48,800 suicide deaths reported in
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  2024, which is roughly 500 fewer than the year before.
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  This brings the overall suicide rate down to 13.7 per 100,000 people.
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  Now, it's important to understand that suicide is a complex issue.
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  It remains the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and the factors contributing
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  to it are varied.
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  These include higher rates of depression, limited access to mental health services, and
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  the availability of firearms, which account for about 55% of all suicide deaths.
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  The decline in suicide rates was not uniform across all demographics.
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  For instance, Americans in their late twenties and early thirties saw a significant drop,
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  while other age groups remained stable.
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  Moreover, some states in the South and Midwest experienced decreases, whereas the Mountain
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  West did not see similar changes.
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  Experts are still trying to understand the reasons behind this decline.
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  Some attribute it to enhanced screening programs by large health systems, like those
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  implemented by the U.S.
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  Department of Veterans Affairs.
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  There's also the national crisis line, which allows individuals to dial 988 to reach a
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  mental health specialist, offering a special option for military veterans.
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  However, there are concerns about the availability of targeted support.
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  Last summer, the Trump administration removed an option that connected callers with
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  counselors trained to support LGBTQ+ individuals under 25, a group identified as
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  being at higher risk for suicide.
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  It's also worth noting that suicides can be underreported due to the stigma surrounding
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  them.
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  Families might be reluctant to have a loved one's death classified as a suicide.
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  Despite this, there's a growing willingness among people to seek help, which is
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  encouraging.
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  While these numbers offer some hope, experts like Katherine Keyes from Columbia University
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  caution that it's too early to tell if this is a temporary decline or the beginning of a
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  sustained trend.
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  We'll continue to monitor and report on this critical issue as more data becomes available.
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  In recent developments, a potential strike by resident doctors in England may be averted
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  thanks to a new offer from the government.
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  This offer was presented to the British Medical Association, and if accepted, it could prevent
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  the five-day walkout that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, the seventeenth of
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  December.
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  The proposal includes a rapid expansion of specialist training posts and reimbursement for
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  out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees.
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  However, it does not include any promises for additional pay increases.
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  Health Secretary Wes Streeting has maintained a firm stance on not negotiating pay increases,
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  citing that resident doctors have already experienced pay rises of nearly thirty percent
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  over the past three years.
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  The deal also proposes emergency legislation to prioritize doctors who have studied and worked
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  in the United Kingdom for specialty training posts.
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  This is a significant change since there is intense competition for these roles, with
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  thirty thousand applicants vying for ten thousand positions.
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  The number of specialty training posts is also set to increase by four thousand by the year
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  two thousand twenty-eight, with the first one thousand becoming available next year.
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  Previously, the government promised to increase these posts by two thousand.
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  The British Medical Association will consult with its members to determine if this offer is
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  sufficient to call off next week's strike.
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  An online survey of resident doctors will close on Monday, the fifteenth of December, just two
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  days before the strike is due to start.
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  Wes Streeting expressed frustration that the union had not already agreed to call off the
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  strike, especially given the winter pressures on the National Health Service due to flu and
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  other factors.
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  Streeting criticized the British Medical Association's leadership for their decision,
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  stating that it was causing unnecessary disruption to patients and the National Health
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  Service.
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  He mentioned that hospital leaders might need to start canceling other doctors' leave to
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  cover potential strikes, and patients could face avoidable disruptions through canceled
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  appointments and operations.
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  On the other hand, Dr.
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  Jack Fletcher, chairman of the British Medical Association's resident doctors committee,
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  emphasized that the offer resulted from the collective action of resident doctors
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  advocating for their profession's future.
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  However, he pointed out that the offer does not address the restoration of pay for doctors,
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  which is within the government's control.
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  If the survey indicates that the offer is sufficient to call off the strikes, a formal
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  referendum among resident doctors will follow, allowing members to consider the offer's
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  details before making a final decision.
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  If the survey results show that the offer is not enough, the strikes will proceed as
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  planned.
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  As we move on to our final topic today, it's crucial to address a concerning health issue
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  that's currently affecting the United States: the second measles surge of the year.
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  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been over 1,900
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  measles cases reported in 2025.
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  This marks a record year for measles in the U.S.
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  since the disease was declared eliminated over twenty-five years ago.
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  The majority of these cases are among unvaccinated individuals, highlighting the
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  continued risk posed by low vaccination rates.
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  In the past week alone, there have been eighty-four new cases reported nationwide, with
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  South Carolina seeing a particularly rapid increase in case numbers.
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  More than 250 people are currently in quarantine in South Carolina following
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  potential exposure, and sixteen are in isolation due to illness.
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  Dr.
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  Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of vaccination as the
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  best method to prevent further disruption caused by measles.
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  She pointed out that some individuals are in quarantine for a second time because they
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  didn't acquire additional protection through vaccination or natural immunity after their
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  first exposure.
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  This serves as a stark reminder of the twenty-one-day incubation period for measles,
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  which can significantly impact education and employment.
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  The outbreak in South Carolina began in October and has resulted in 111 cases so far, with at
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  least 105 of these cases involving individuals who hadn't received any doses of the
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  measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.
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  The upstate region near Greenville has been hit the hardest, with exposures occurring in
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  churches, schools, and medical settings.
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  Dr.
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  Bell warned that each new case in an undervaccinated population could lead to more
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  cases due to the highly infectious nature of the virus.
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  Meanwhile, Utah and Arizona are also grappling with their own outbreaks.
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  Arizona has reported 176 cases, making it the second most affected state after Texas, while
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  Utah has seen 115 cases.
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  If these outbreaks persist into January, the United States risks losing its elimination
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  status, similar to what happened to Canada last month.
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  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted 47 outbreaks in 2025, nearly three
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  times the number recorded last year.
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  Tragically, more than 200 people have been hospitalized, and three individuals, including
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  two children, have died from the disease.
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  This situation underscores the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination
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  coverage to prevent the spread of measles and protect vulnerable populations.
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  Vaccination not only shields individuals but also helps safeguard communities by achieving
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  herd immunity.
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  As we conclude today's episode, let's remember the vital role that vaccines play in public
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  health.
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  Join me again tomorrow for more updates on the latest in health and medicine.
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  Until then, stay informed and stay healthy.