Unfinished Business
Just like in the classic song “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, we all have our go-to favorites. Whether it’s the playlist that powers your workouts or the songs you sing in the shower, or that one coffee drink you always order. From hobbies, clothing styles, movies and yes even people, favorites bring us comfort and joy.
I, too, have favorites—especially when it comes to certain issues covered in The Download or its predecessor, Weekend Reading. Today, I want to revisit two of these stories, not just because they’re favorites, but because of the progress made on the issues they highlight.
Teen Nightmare
In the July 17, 2022, issue of The Download, I shared the disturbing story of my neighbor’s son, who was sent to a Utah wilderness camp for troubled teens in April 2016, less than two months before his high school graduation. His parents arranged for him to be taken in the middle of the night by men from the camp’s transport service. At the camp, he endured grueling daily hikes and spent nights sleeping on the ground, often without a tent. He faced harsh treatment—verbal and physical—from the staff if he voiced complaints or didn’t follow instructions. Unfortunately, his experience wasn’t unique; many teens at these camps tried to escape, and some tragically lost their lives to camp-induced illness or suicide.
Since then, I’ve continued to follow the troubled teen wilderness camp and residential facilities industry. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and advocacy groups have brought attention to the issue, sharing their own experiences to highlight the need for change.
Thankfully, that change is finally happening. Due to increased public awareness, stricter regulations, and successful lawsuits, many of these camps and residential facilities are now closing. In fact, the camp my neighbor’s son attended shut down last year, along with nearly 50% of similar facilities in Utah.
Streaming Scrutiny
Another story close to my heart was featured in the July 3, 2020, edition of Weekend Reading. The story focuses on the tragic death by suicide of Byron Bernstein, a prominent esports gamer and streamer known by his gamer tag “Reckful.” I followed Reckful on Twitter and watched his YouTube streams for a couple of years and was moved by his frequent candid discussions about his struggles with depression, suicidal thoughts, failed treatments, and use of magic mushrooms. His streams about his mental health became more personal when Dr. Alok Kanojia, known as Dr. K, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist who runs a business Healthy Gamer, began joining. Their online streams were like watching a personal mental therapy session, filled with raw emotion and tears and often difficult to watch.
After Reckful’s death, concerns about the ethical implications of Dr. K’s streams with Reckful and other gamers began to surface—concerns I shared. Despite Dr. K’s disclaimers that he was providing coaching, not therapy, many sessions blurred the lines, with deeply personal revelations aired before thousands of viewers. I kept following Dr. K’s streams, community discussions, and the growth of Healthy Gamer, hoping the medical community would take notice.
Finally, in June, the Massachusetts Board of Medicine announced the completion of a two-year investigation and issued Dr. K a reprimand, stating that his conduct “undermined public confidence in the integrity of the medical profession.” This action is a long-awaited step in the right direction.
For more on these stories and the progress made, check out Progress on the Front
Happy reading,
- News Watch: current healthcare news, including FDA says no to ecstasy, new EPI pen alternative and patients quite Wegovy after 6 months.
- Progress on the Front: changes in the troubled teen industry and action in the controversy around mental treatment of gamers.
- Germ Alert: germs lurking in microwaves, patients bring superbugs home and keeping your water bottle germ free.
- For Fun: including my personal favorite, From the Fall of Saigon to a Rising Success: A Story of Immigration and… Chocolate!
News Watch
Axios
FDA rejects ecstasy treatment for PTSD
Reuters
US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions
Reuters
US patients take Wegovy obesity drug for around six months, Novo Nordisk says
Progress on the Front
New York Times
The Gamer and the Psychiatrist
Salt Lake City Tribune
Nearly half of Utah’s wilderness programs for ‘troubled teens’ closed in the last year. Here’s what’s happening.
Time
Teen Torture Inc. Is the Latest Documentary to Explore Abuses at Youth Treatment Centers
Germ Alert
HealthDay
Hardy Bacteria Are Surviving in Your Microwave
HealthDay
Hospital Patients Can Bring ‘Superbugs’ Home
Fortune Well
Your reusable water bottle may be a breeding ground for strep and fecal bacteria. Here’s how to keep it clean
For Fun
Smithsonian Magazine
Swimming in Schools May Help Fish Save Energy in Turbulent Waters
The Conversation
How do breakdancers avoid breaking their necks?
Folklife
From the Fall of Saigon to a Rising Success: A Story of Immigration and… Chocolate
Enjoy the weekend!
Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]
News you can trust
