Health - Marblehead Current

24 Feb

CURRENT EVENTS

Leigh BlanderArt, Health, Life Style, Recreation, Top Stories

Don’t miss Marblehead’s best bets coming up Current Events spotlights notable happenings around town in the coming week. To submit a listing, email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org Marblehead Wellness DaySaturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Marblehead’s annual Wellness Day returns to the Marblehead Community Center, bringing together dozens of local health, fitness and community organizations under one roof. Organized by Tom McMahon and the Marblehead Board of Health, the free event is designed to connect residents with wellness resources already available in town.…

23 Feb

Marblehead Counseling Center talks about National Eating Disorder week

Pamela Wheaton ShorrHealth, Local News

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week — a nation-wide campaign to raise awareness, provide hope and support to those who struggle with eating disorders and to challenge the stigma that often goes with them — runs this year from Feb. 23-March 1. The 2026 theme is Every BODY Belongs. Eating disorders are serious mental health disorders marked by severe disturbances in one’s eating behaviors, and affect 30 million Americans. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, too often, people with these disorders go unseen or unsupported…

09 Feb

Underage drinking key concern in town wellness survey

Aleka KroitzshHealth, Local News

At its Feb. 5 meeting, Marblehead’s Board of Health focused on education and closer coordination with schools and local officials to address social hosting, after a new community survey found overwhelming concern about teen substance use. Chair Dr. Thomas Massaro presented results from a recent survey completed by 15% of town residents. An average of 86% of participants across all age groups reported moderate or high concern about teen substance use. In response to the findings — which were submitted before social hosting became a…

27 Jan

The CAHM wellness survey; examining preliminary results

Dr. Tom MassaroHealth, Local News

In anticipation of expansion to five members, the Board of Health regularly discusses strengthening the public health services through an initiative known by the acronym CAHM for Creating A Healthier Marblehead. CAHM is designed to provide baseline data on the health and wellness of the town today. That baseline will be used to help make strategic decisions about what programs are needed and eventually to document (and be held accountable) for the outcomes of those programs. The BoH raised external funds to support the CAHM…

21 Jan

Marblehead police, health officials to launch addiction and recovery education series

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories

Marblehead Police and the town’s Public Health Department are partnering to launch a six-week addiction and recovery educational series, “in an effort to foster understanding, reduce stigma and strengthen community responses to substance abuse disorders,” according to a Jan. 20 press release. “This series is rooted in education and empathy,” said Police Chief Dennis King. “By increasing awareness and understanding, we can help reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and encourage healthier, more effective responses when individuals or families are struggling.” Beginning Feb. 3, the series…

20 Jan

Suicide is a public health crisis; prevention starts with recognizing the signs

Leigh BlanderHealth, Local News

It is never easy to talk about suicide. The words seem inadequate, invasive or inappropriate. The fact is that suicide is a health crisis in this country, the 11th leading cause of death in the US. The reality is that we will likely meet or know someone in our lives who will either take their own lives, try to take their own lives or consider taking their own lives. At Marblehead Counseling Center, we work with individuals who are in the midst of this struggle,…

20 Jan

Examining Marblehead school vaccine rates

Janani Srinivas and Anaina VineethHealth, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

As controversy over childhood vaccinations rages nationwide, student immunization rates in Marblehead have remained steady over the past three years, with most schools reporting 90% or more of pupils have gotten all vaccines required by state law. Dr. Thomas Massaro, a retired pediatrician and the chair of the town’s Board of Health, said the community’s demographics likely play a key role in maintaining consistent vaccination rates. “Massachusetts is a pretty progressive state, and Marblehead is consistent with that,” he said. “About 77% of residents have…

16 Jan

Marblehead Fire Chief Gilliland feeling ‘extremely well’ after emergency heart surgery

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories

Marblehead Fire Chief Jason Gilliland is home recovering from emergency heart surgery earlier this week. "I'm doing extremely well," he told the Current on Friday. "I went in for a routine MRI and, luckily, the radiologist went a little higher and noticed a golf ball-size tumor in my heart. They said it's lucky that a piece didn't flick off or I would've been dead." The tumor was non-cancerous. "I had a really great surgeon at Mass General who took the damn thing out," Gilliland said.…

15 Jan

Health board warns of severe flu; talks about youth substance use

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories

With influenza severity reaching “high” levels, Marblehead health officials warned residents that the town remains in the midst of a difficult flu season and urged continued vaccination and caution in crowded indoor settings. During the Jan. 13 Board of Health meeting, member Dr. Amanda Ritvo said hospital visits for influenza-like illness have reached levels not seen since the late 1990s, with roughly 11% of outpatient visits statewide involving symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat. COURTESY PHOTO / Andrea Piacquadio She reported that 24.7%…

07 Jan

Marblehead health leaders warn of flu surge, stress importance of vaccination

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories

As flu cases surge across Massachusetts — reaching “very high” levels and killing at least 30 people so far this season — Marblehead public health leaders are urging residents to get vaccinated if they have not already. Officials cite two key factors fueling the spread: an unexpected new flu variant and lower vaccination rates. “We continue to recommend and urge everyone 6 months of age and older to stay up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations,” Public Health Director Andrew Petty told the Current…