Marissa Plescia
Reporter
Stories by Marissa Plescia
Mental Health Assistance Hard to Find in Rural America
A shortage of professionals, bad broadband and lingering stigma make it hard for people in rural America seeking mental health help. By at least one measure, Missouri is the worst state in the country in terms of rural mental health access.
Mental Health on Campus: University Counselors Seeing Fewer Clients, But More Often
College mental health counselors saw fewer clients, at least initially, during the COVID-19 pandemic. But clients sought help more frequently.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Goes Beyond Party Lines
While some pundits argue that party affiliation plays a role in low COVID-19 vaccination rates, experts say vaccine hesitancy goes beyond politics.
Remote Learning Report Card: Average GPA Increased at Missouri Universities During Pandemic
The average GPA increased at all of Missouri's public universities from spring 2019, prior to the pandemic, to spring 2020, when remote instruction began.
curiousKC | Are There Pay-As-You-Can Mental Health Resources?
Mental health access continues to be an issue during the pandemic, so this Kansas Citian asks: "Are there pay-what-you-can options for therapy in Kansas City?"
KC Animal Shelter Dealing With a Post-Pandemic Onslaught of Pets
Kansas City's municipal animal shelter is dealing with an onslaught of pets in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
curiousKC | Why do Companies Treat Insurance for Mental Health Differently Than Physical Health?
Mental and physical health are not mutually exclusive. When one suffers, the other can suffer as well. So why, one curiousKC reader inquired, do some insurance companies treat them differently? The short answer is that they shouldn’t. By federal law, insurance companies are required to maintain parity between mental health and physical health. “If, for…
Racism at the Root of Kansas City Health Disparities, New Plan Concludes
Kansas City's new Community Health Improvement Plan is focusing more attention on the connection between racism and life expectancy disparities.
Study Ranks States on Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. How did Missouri and Kansas do?
A new study suggests Missouri remains one of the most unsafe states during the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.