Health care news from The Wichita Beacon

Jessica Provines stands in front of a stained glass window at a Catholic church where she spoke about suicide prevention.

Psychologist works with Wichita Catholic Diocese to fight stigma around suicide

by Sawyer Belair September 27, 2023September 27, 2023

When Jessica Provines left the Catholic Church, she was an idealistic 18-year-old disillusioned with an institution that she saw as rigid, uncompromising and detached from the needs of the suffering. Twenty-six years later, Provines finds the Wichita Catholic Diocese a willing partner, ready to talk candidly about suicide to save lives. She’s worked her way […]

A person putting grocery items in a shopping cart (Canva photo illustration)

Health

Sedgwick County prosecutors warn seniors their nest eggs make them targets for elder fraud

by Cecilia Green September 26, 2023September 25, 2023

At a recent memorial event, Val and Mark Sandoval, far right, join others who lost family and friends to drug overdose from fentanyl in the past few years. Since 2018, more than 500 people in the Wichita area have died from what was a nearly nonexistent threat before then. (Alex Unruh/The Beacon)

Health

500 dead and counting from fentanyl as Wichita struggles to curb overdoses

by Sawyer Belair September 19, 2023September 21, 2023

Mark and Val Sandoval stand in their son's bedroom, holding a pillow marking is birth and death dates. Isaac Sandoval was a victim of youth fentanyl death.

Health

A surge in fake pain pills is fueling a deadly epidemic among Wichita’s teens

by Polly Basore Wenzl May 8, 2023June 29, 2023

Gail Haywood-Tucker and Greg Tucker suffered the death of their adult child 15 years ago. They hold a pillow wth his image .

Health

Deaths of adult children fall hard on aging parents, but help with grief exists

by Cecilia Green April 17, 2023April 17, 2023

A woman holds up a sign directing people to use Narcan.

Health

FDA has approved over-the-counter Narcan. What does that mean for Wichita?

by Trace Salzbrenner April 5, 2023April 5, 2023

Ashley Alexander mourns Dustin Gotham, who died of fentanyl overdose.

Wichitans You Should Know

‘Storm of Addiction’ Part 2: Sober and ready to fight

by Polly Basore Wenzl March 22, 2023March 22, 2023

Cindy Coughenhour teaches self-defense to protect women

Wichitans You Should Know

Cindy Coughenour taught thousands of women to protect themselves after one friend couldn’t

by Cecilia Green March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

Lisa Schmidt, an oncology nurse navigator at the Ascension Via Christi Cancer Center, shows off free colon cancer screening kits.

Health

Uninsured? A free colon cancer screening is available

by Polly Basore Wenzl March 7, 2023March 10, 2023

A color-coded Medicaid expansion map of the United States shows Kansas is among 11 states that have not adopted Medicaid expansion.

State Government

Medicaid expansion in Kansas: What to know, how we got here and what’s next

by Miranda Moore December 16, 2022July 27, 2023