Tagged News

• Less daylight can lead to wintertime blues for some individuals Play Video

  December 20, 2023 11:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - From the summer solstice in June to the winter solstice in December, we lose daylight with each passing day. Once we get past the Fall Equinox, the hours we spend at night outweigh the number of hours of daylight. Just how some experience rainy day blues, some... more »

• Lawsuit over Clinton mental health facility lands in federal court

  June 5, 2023 12:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A legal battle initially slated for state court has landed in the federal system, which may now determine the fate of a planned mental health care facility in Clinton. Harmony Behavioral Health filed its lawsuit in March after running into what it claims were unfair steps... more »

• Instagram rolling out new features to prevent social media addiction

  December 7, 2021 4:59 AM

  For years now, health experts have been warning against the dangers of social media addiction. According to one Healthline article , s ome experts estimate up to ten percent of people in the United States are battling social media addiction. What is social media addiction? This form... more »

• Florida woman trespasses at high school to gain Instagram followers, police say

  May 12, 2021 9:38 PM

  MIAMI - A woman has been charged and ordered to stay away from a Miami high school after trespassing and pretending to be a student in order to gain followers on social media. According to police, Audrey Nicole Francisquini, 28, entered American Senior High School on Monday, portraying herself... more »

• La teachers, education support staff to receive expanded access to mental health care

  May 4, 2021 9:33 AM

  BATON ROUGE – A new program will provide Louisiana's teachers and support staff with enhanced access to mental health care services, according to a recent announcement from The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). LDOE says it is partnering with Ochsner Health to launch a virtual therapy program that will... more »

• Celebrities unite in support of Britney Spears

  February 8, 2021 1:00 PM

  While the stars of Hollywood may not be shining on the big screen in typical fashion, they are becoming increasingly vocal in their support of one of their own, a 38-year-old Louisianian-turned-pop-sensation who, despite repeatedly fighting for her rights, has been prohibited from fully controlling her financial assets as well... more »

• Bridge Center leaders say opening is imminent, facility now licensed Play Video

  January 26, 2021 5:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Leaders for the Bridge Center for Hope said they secured the licenses to operate and could begin accepting patients soon. Last month, a ribbon-cutting was held outside the facility showing off everything it had to offer. But, as quickly as it was debuted, it has not accepted... more »

• Bridge Center opening delayed due to licensing issues Play Video

  January 6, 2021 6:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Three weeks after organizers showed off the bright and shiny facility that was supposed to be the answer to Baton Rouge's mental health crisis, a licensing issue has the facility unable to open. The facility will operate under three different licenses: crisis receiving, behavior health, and an... more »

• The Bridge Center for Hope invites public to tour its new facility Play Video

  December 15, 2020 8:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A new facility that intends to serve those in the capital city who suffer from mental health or substance abuse issues is opening its doors, Wednesday (Dec. 16) for a public tour of its new facilities. The new Bridge Center for Hope in Baton Rouge is... more »

• Experts offer assistance to sufferers of pandemic fatigue, COVID-related anxiety Play Video

  December 10, 2020 9:53 AM

  More than 15 million individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19 , and an undisclosed number of Americans who haven't been diagnosed with the illness itself find themselves reeling from its effects. After nearly an entire year of attempting to carry out day-to-day activities amid a... more »

• FEMA: How to help children cope during and after a disaster

  November 25, 2020 7:20 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Life, for most communities across the nation, has shifted to a tremendous degree during 2020. As novel coronavirus impacts the financial, health, and social aspects of daily life, numerous US citizens have also had to steer their way through a series of wildfires, devastating hurricanes/tropical storms,... more »

• Baton Rouge authorities arrest man for allegedly brandishing a gun while running around Walmart Play Video

  November 9, 2020 7:10 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A 22-year-old man who'd been arrested in a 2019 attempted murder case, was apprehended again Sunday (Nov. 8) for allegedly brandishing a weapon and causing a frenzy in a Baton Rouge Walmart. According to arrest documents, Dekiyrian Barber was reportedly the cause of a frightening scene... more »

• La. mental health patients isolated after 22 test positive for COVID-19

  April 3, 2020 10:48 PM

  JACKSON, Louisiana - Doctors at Louisiana's rural mental health facility about 30 miles north of Baton Rouge said there are 22 cases of coronavirus at the state's mental health system headquarters and patients are being isolated. The Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System is headquartered near downtown Jackson in a... more »

• Medicaid billing to remain available for licensed professional counselors Play Video

  September 12, 2019 5:55 PM

  UPDATE: The Louisiana Department of Health said Monday it received the requested guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services that it was seeking. Based on the feedback of CMS, LDH says it's able to allow Federally Qualified Health Centers to bill for services provided by Licensed Professional Counselors.... more »

• Tax approved for mental health facility to be collected in 2020 Play Video

  December 10, 2018 6:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Voters overwhelmingly made a decision to fund a mental health facility in East Baton Rouge Parish over the weekend. However, the money won't arrive until 2020. In the meantime, District Attorney Hillar Moore said they are looking at other funding sources to get the facility off the ground... more »

• EBR on track to break unwanted record of involuntary mental health commitments Play Video

  November 21, 2018 6:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Parish is on pace to break a record number of "OPC's" which stands for orders of protective custody, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office. Dr. Beau Clark believes the closure of Earl K. Long in recent years and the closure of... more »

• Accused serial killer won't go to trial for now - ordered committed to mental health facility

  August 14, 2018 3:35 PM

  CLINTON – The trial against an accused serial killer who tormented citizens of usually sleepy communities north of Baton Rouge is on hold for now. A judge ruled Tuesday, Ryan Sharpe is unable to assist his attorneys in the case against him and ordered him to a state-run mental... more »

• Some metro council members only want one tax on ballot Play Video

  June 28, 2018 12:03 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Some metro council members say two tax initiatives is too much. The mayor-president's office had two tax proposals introduced at the council meeting Wednesday night, one for roads and one for a mental health facility known as the Bridge Center. "I support both programs but not... more »

• Property tax proposal to fund mental health facility in Baton Rouge

  June 22, 2018 7:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Officials will once again ask voters to approve a property tax to fund a mental health facility. Metro Council will discuss adding the tax to a December election in the coming weeks. The council must approve the election before voters weigh-in. The tax would be... more »

• Landlord abandoned by tenant, burglarized

  April 27, 2018 6:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A landlord says her tenant decided to stop paying bills and abandoned the property late last year. Then, this week someone broke in and took everything. "They took everything, they took everything they wanted," said Linda Grace. The story has changed slightly since 2 On... more »

• Mother of police shooting suspect praying for officer, pleads for mental health reform Play Video

  February 12, 2018 5:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The mother of the man arrested for allegedly shooting at a Baton Rouge police officer says she has tried for years to get help for her son's mental health issues. Stephanie Hardnett said she was in a car when she encountered her son last night and... more »

• Officer-involved shootings linked to suspects with mental illness, D.A. says in report

  January 25, 2018 11:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE – In an annual report analyzing officer-involved shootings that resulted in either death of an offender or lawmen, District Attorney Hillar Moore called attention to what he believes is a serious lack of mental health assistance. Since the ambush of 2016, Moore and his team have studied... more »

• Voters say no to mental health tax

  December 10, 2016 11:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Voters denied a property tax to fund a mental health center in East Baton Rouge. A 10-year, 1.5-mill property tax would have generated about $6 million to fund a center for people who experience mental health issues. Supporters argued the tax would help fund a program... more »

• Proposed tax on Dec. ballot could allow for mental health facility in BR Play Video

  November 29, 2016 6:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE – As voters head to the polls, one item they will be asked to approve is a property tax that would generate nearly $6 million for a mental health facility in Baton Rouge. People suffering from behavioral health issues in need of treatment are behind bars. Only one... more »

• BRAF to release plans for new mental health facility

  February 22, 2016 9:10 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is expected to release more details about its plan to deal with the mental health crisis in the capital city. Last year, jail officials said that people with mental health issues are being housed in jails because there's not enough space at local... more »

• BRAF to release mental health plan Monday; effort to keep people out of jail

  February 17, 2016 1:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - In less than a week, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation said it will share plans for a proposed substance abuse and mental health treatment center in the city. Community and government leaders have said there is a mental health crisis in Baton Rouge for some time.... more »

• St. Vincent de Paul expecting to help more homeless this year

  November 18, 2015 7:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - St. Vincent de Paul is expecting to have to help a larger number of people this year as the weather gets cooler. "When those cold nights take off in the coming weeks, I really think our numbers are going to surpass what we served last year. And... more »