It’s been more than five years since the arrival of Covid-19, which has led to the deaths of 1.2 million in the US and 7+ million around the world, according to the WHO.

Readers may also remember another crisis that emerged alongside the pandemic: pediatric mental health.

From March to October 2020, emergency department mental health visits rose about 24% among children ages 5–11 and around 31% among ages 12–17 from the year prior, according to the CDC. Suicide attempts also rose nearly 51% among teenage girls in 2021 compared to 2019, the CDC also reported.

At that time, there weren’t enough providers to meet the increased need, an issue the industry has reckoned with for years leading up to the pandemic. As a result, many young patients ended up waiting hours in the ER to be admitted to inpatient care.

To help address this need for care, several new behavioral health startups popped up during the pandemic. While not all of them made it—like Pear Therapeutics, Mindstrong, and Ahead—others, like InStride Health and Brightline, are still going strong.

See the latest installment in our Quarter Century Project here.—CM

Hoping to switch jobs soon? You may have fewer options than you think.

Healthcare went on a hiring spree after the Covid-19 pandemic began. Today, there are still more healthcare job openings than pre-pandemic, but the number of job postings is decreasing, according to a new report from the job listing and hiring platform Indeed.

The report, which analyzes Q2 2025 job postings through July 11, found nursing had the largest decline: Job postings are down 10% YoY, though still up 15.1% compared to Feb. 1, 2020.

The trend isn’t exclusive to healthcare, either. Many industries have slowed or plan to slow hiring, Daniel Culbertson, senior economist with the Indeed Hiring Lab and the report’s author, told us.

“Healthcare was generally thought of as recession-proof, or downturn-proof, before the pandemic. But the pandemic taught us that healthcare can be impacted just like the rest of the labor market, and so it’s probably better thought of as recession-resistant,” Culbertson said.

Here’s more from the study.—CC

When talking about climate change-related health issues, extreme heat tends to be a popular talking point.

And for good reason: There’s been an increased risk of illness or death from extreme heat in recent years, and heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the US, according to the National Weather Service.

That’s why nonprofit Americares, which brings health programs and supplies to communities impacted by disaster and inequity, announced plans to expand its protection efforts for patients dealing with extreme heat.

In an Aug. 21 press release, the organization shared it will award grants to 13 free clinics and community health centers (CHCs) so they can purchase supplies to help patients confront extreme heat, including air conditioners, ice packs, reusable water bottles, and more. The grants are part of an extension of the Climate Health Equity for Community Clinics program, which provides extreme heat and wildfire smoke resources to clinics and CHCs.

Find more on the partnerships here.—NO

As people and companies seek cheaper, more flexible options beyond conventional health coverage, alternative insurance models are gaining traction. Healthcare Brew examines the benefits, risks, and legal complexities of several nontraditional solutions: short-term health plans, farm bureau health plans, healthcare sharing arrangements, and innovations in self-funded employer plans. Check out this e-book to learn more about significant trade-offs and regulatory concerns that come with these alternatives, how these solutions aim to reduce costs and increase flexibility, and how these plans can bypass standard insurance regulations.

Real jobs, shared through real communities. CollabWORK brings opportunities directly to Healthcare Brew readers—no mass postings, no clutter, just roles worth seeing. Click here to view the full job board.