William Wan
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
William Wan is an enterprise reporter focused on long-form stories at The Washington Post and was The Post’s national health reporter during the early days of the pandemic . During 16 years with the Post, he has reported from 20-plus countries, he has reported from more than 20 countries, covering national security, the Obama presidency, mass shootings and disasters, foreign policy and religion. As The Post's China correspondent, he uncovered corruption in the judicial system and human rights abuses. His coverage of mental health during the pandemic contributed to government action and an unprecedented increase in federal funding. He has won awards for his coverage of religion, China and health. He was part of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist team that covered the Fort Hood shooting. Before joining The Post, he worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and the Baltimore Sun. He has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. For his Data Fellowship project, he will examine the worsening problem of suicide in America and the deep disparities in our health care system when it comes to mental illness compared to physical ailments.
William Wan of The Washington Post explains how he reported his remarkable story on the agonizing waits some children face when seeking mental health help in ERs.
Zach Chafos languished for a total of 76 days in a Maryland ER waiting for a psychiatric bed — part of a growing mental health treatment crisis for teens across the country
After struggling to get treatment for her mentally ill son, a mother’s act of desperation: Giving up custody.
The disparity in America between those who suffer from physical ailments and mental ones is a yawning chasm. But data can show us where the mental health care system is failing.