News & Stories for Oregonians
As we gather with friends and loved ones during the holiday season, drinking alcohol may be on the menu. Oregon Health Authority’s Rethink the Drink initiative encourages us to find ways to enjoy the season safely. Alcohol ads and marketing can seem to be everywhere Many of us cross the line into drinking too much, […]
An initiative to build a more diverse, culturally responsive behavioral health workforce is preparing Oregon students for a future career in the field. High school juniors and seniors are gaining real world experience to explore potential career paths in behavioral health through the High School Behavioral Health Career and Technical Education (CTE) grant program offered […]
More than one in five Oregon eighth- and 11th-graders experienced unmet mental or physical health care needs in 2022, according to a new state Student Health Survey (SHS) report developed with Oregon youth using the most recent data available. The findings paint a sobering picture of the challenges youth face in accessing essential care, and […]
Healthier Oregon provides coverage to more people and helps keep the overall cost of health care down. In this post, we’ll break down the facts about who’s covered, what’s covered and how this program supports every community in our state. What Is Healthier Oregon? Healthier Oregon is a state-run program that provides free health coverage to […]
We want to let you know that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, people who get SNAP food benefits in Oregon may not get their November food benefits on time. This could affect about 757,000 people, including children, older adults, and working families. We understand this news may feel stressful. Food benefits are […]
In Oregon, adults 21 and older can legally use cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed, pot or hemp. But just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone, especially when it comes to pregnancy, breastfeeding and caring for a baby. If you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding, it’s important to understand […]
Open enrollment – Nov. 1, 2025 to Jan. 15, 2026 – is the time when people who don’t get insurance through their job, Medicare or the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) can sign up for a Marketplace plan. For many, it is the best chance each year to secure affordable, comprehensive coverage, and the upgraded Window […]
Did you know that babies born in Oregon are tested for more than 45 developmental disorders within two days of birth? Moments after a baby enters this world, a few drops of blood are taken from its tiny heel and sent to a laboratory for testing—namely, the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) in Hillsboro. […]
Oregon State Hospital (OSH) staff has relaunched a popular concert series for patients to build community and unravel unhealthy behaviors that, for some, can be tied to listening to or playing music. It’s important to normalize community gatherings and experiences that patients may be exposed to when they return to their own communities, said Jesse […]
Eating disorders affect nearly 29 million people in the United States, with 95% being ages 12-25. Yet too many myths and not enough resources make it one of the least talked about and understood mental and physical health problems out there. For example, you may not know that: OHA’s Child and Family Behavioral Health division […]
