When Ed Anderson walks into the Atlanta VA Medical Center, he doesn’t just see a hospital. He sees the place that once saved his life. “I can say with no shame in my voice that the VA mental health care saved my life more than 20, 25 years ago,” said the 71-year-old Air Force veteran. […]
Health
Posted inHealth, Mental Health
Former Falcon Rondale Moore’s Death Highlights Suicide Crisis Among Black Men
When news broke last week that Rondale Moore, a 25-year-old former Atlanta Falcons player, died by a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, it stunned fans and coaches while raising alarm with mental health professionals. Authorities in New Albany, Indiana, said Moore was found dead in the garage of a property in the area and that his […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health
Toxic Air From Sterilizer Plant Sparked Cancer Fears. Now Black Families Are Fighting Back.
Iffat Walker didn’t realize how close a facility that had been emitting a toxic chemical shown to cause lymphoma and breast cancer was to her family until she pulled up a map. Her mother’s home in Covington, where Walker spends time regularly, sits roughly 10 miles from a sterilizer plant that uses ethylene oxide, a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Reproductive Health
Oscar-Nominated Film Goes Inside an Atlanta Abortion Clinic
After Tracii gets to work, she starts each shift with a prayer. As the security guard for an unnamed abortion clinic in Atlanta, she relies on her faith and her wits as she scans the parking lot for patients and protestors in the darkness of the early morning hours. She stays on high alert until […]
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy
Rising ACA Premiums Could Leave More Black Georgians Uninsured
Open enrollment for 2026 Affordable Care Act health coverage ends next week, and Georgia residents are bracing for increased premiums and limited affordable coverage options compared to last year. Advocates predict that premiums in Georgia could jump as high as 75% on average, and that Black Georgians, who face higher uninsured rates than white residents, […]
Posted inHBCUs, Politics & Policy, Reproductive Health
Students at Clark Atlanta Are Organizing to Save Black Mothers’ Lives
Georgia has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics: Black women are twice as likely to die from pregnancy than a white woman. Systemic barriers to health care access and social marginalization are just some of the reasons public health experts cite […]
Posted inCourts, Health
Hair Relaxers and Fibroids: Black Woman’s Lawsuit Revived by Georgia Supreme Court
For decades, hair relaxers promoted the creation of sleek styles, but the chemicals may have resulted in long-term health consequences. Now, the Georgia Supreme Court has given at least one woman a shot at holding manufacturers of chemical straighteners accountable. But the legal window for justice is narrow and closing fast. On Oct. 15, the […]
Posted inHealth
Atlanta’s 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month Events: Walks, Talks, and Testing
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and across metro Atlanta, the community is stepping up with walks, wellness events, educational panels, and fundraising galas — many of them created with Black women in mind. Black women have the lowest survival rate for every known stage of breast cancer across racial demographics, according to the American […]
Posted inHealth, Partner Content
Doctors With Troubled Pasts Are Performing Cosmetic Surgeries Tied to Crippling Pain and Injury
This story was originally published by KFF Health News. Not long after California surgeon Andrew S. Hsu landed a job with a cosmetic surgery chain in Georgia, several of his patients suffered disfiguring injuries, and even his new employer had doubts about his competence, court records allege. Hsu, a board-certified general surgeon, was one of […]
Posted inCOVID-19
New COVID Vaccine Guidance Could Hit Black Georgians Hardest
A recent change in how federal officials are recommending the COVID-19 vaccine may have far-reaching implications for health equity in Georgia — especially for Black residents, who were among the hardest hit during the pandemic. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices shifted its recommendation for the COVID […]