America's economy may look robust, but the country's mental health is deteriorating. Suicides are rising and drug overdoses haven't tapered off after spiking amid rampant opioid prescribing that dates back decades. It's time for a new way of thinking about how the U.S. measures its progress. Other countries are starting to see the limitations in traditional economic measures like gross domestic product and unemployment. New Zealand released a "Wellbeing Budget" earmarking $1.2 billion for mental health, some 15 times per capita what the U.S. government spends on the main agency that provides funding for states to address substance abuse and mental health. Elsewhere, the U.K. has started collecting its own data about citizens' wellness, leading to the creation of the first Loneliness Minister. America's policy-making machine could use more of this kind of creativity, before the crisis here gets even worse.—Cynthia Koons Here's what else we're watching:Merck's helm. The board of the big drugmaker is focused on internal candidates to eventually succeed CEO Ken Frazier, who wants to make sure the company has firm scientific leadership before he departs. Carcinogen conundrum. A pharmacy told the FDA it detected another cancer-causing agent in valsartan, the heart drug already subject to wide-ranging recalls after the discovery of other contaminants. Bugs win. Four years ago, antibiotics maker Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals was worth almost $2 billion. Now, its market value is just $36 million. The company's travails show how investors have soured on fighting superbugs. Alternative fracas. In France, homeopathic remedies for aches, stress, insomnia and more are under siege as a debate rages over whether subsidies that cover about a third of their costs should continue. Dr. Optum. After a 19-month wait, UnitedHealth Group got antitrust approval for its $4.3 billion takeover of DaVita's physician-practice group, putting even more doctors on the payroll of the U.S. health conglomerate. Listen up. Season two of our podcast is all about what happens when we hand over our health data to companies and governments. Download it here on Apple devices, and here on Android.  Got this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to get it every Thursday by clicking here.
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