Dear readers,
I know. It’s Monday, not Friday. But I decided to wait until today to send you a newsletter so I can highlight stories my colleagues and I have written about the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting, in which one student died and eight others were injured.
The incident at STEM is just the latest school shooting to occur in the metro area in recent years. An analysis by The Denver Post found that since 1999, there have been more school shootings, per million people, in the Denver metropolitan statistical area than any of the nation’s 24 other largest metro areas.
Facing the trauma of the STEM School shooting
In the days after STEM became the site of the most recent school shooting, students, parents and the community will have to face the trauma of the tragedy.
Experts say such events can make children — and adults — feel unsafe. It can also disrupt their sleep, cause anxiety, and, in some cases, lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
The frequency in which shootings, threats and lockdowns occur can also weigh on people, making them feel hopeless, mental health experts said.
After a shooting or a threat, parents should listen and talk to their children about what happened. Students also need support to grieve and process trauma on their own terms, experts say.
Read more here.
Health must-reads
- Colorado joins 43 other states in a lawsuit against generic drug manufacturers. The lawsuit alleges that the companies violated laws by conspiring to fix prices, leading to higher drug costs.
- Colorado has had only one confirmed case of measles this year, but health experts said the state’s low vaccination rate makes it vulnerable to a possible outbreak.
- More than one in 100 people in Denver have chlamydia, reflecting the rise in residents with STDs.
- Colorado has reported 52 cases of hepatitis A in an outbreak that is affecting people experiencing homelessness, those with substance-use issues and individuals who are incarcerated.
- Tyson Foods recalled almost 12 million pounds of frozen chicken strips that may be contaminated with pieces of metal.
Here’s what I’m reading:
- The parents of a 3-year-old in Florida refused additional hospital care to treat his leukemia, preferring natural remedies. But when they refused the treatment, — Tampa Bay Times
- Instead of turning to other men or therapists, American men are — Harper’s Bazaar
- City leaders were but didn’t move to address them for nearly two years. In one instance, a SWAT team arrived to arrest the mayor on charges of practicing medicine without a license. — Tampa Bay Times
- In Alabama, lawmakers are considering . An amendment to allow abortions in cases of rape and incest was — AL.com
- In 2017, many hospitals charged more than — The New York Times
Have a story tip or other feedback? Email me at jseaman@denverpost.com. You can also follow me on Twitter at . And don’t forget to become a to The Post!
See you in two weeks — Jessica
