Climate and Disasters: Taking Action Helps Address Anxiety

As we head toward the peaks of the hurricane and wildfire seasons, disasters and their impacts are in the news and on people’s minds. Almost three in 10 Americans are worried about being personally impacted by a natural disaster, according to a recent APA poll. 

Brain Fog Tied to Long COVID, Other Conditions

"Brain fog” is not a medical term, but it may seem familiar or intuitive. It refers to what people feel in any condition that causes confusion, memory loss, difficulty finding words, and loss of focus or inability to concentrate. These problems affect their day-to-day functioning and diminish their quality of life.

APA Advocacy on Mental Health Legislation Leads to Victory in U.S. House of Representatives

• What APA is Doing For You

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration and deliberation of what measures will be included in a possible mental health legislative package.

Among LGBTQ+ Adults, Mental Health Improves with Age

• LGBTQ+

Many years of research have identified health and mental health disparities among LGBTQ+ individuals, showing they experience higher rates of mental health problems compared to the heterosexual, cisgender population. A recent APA national poll found that LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than adults overall to be anxious about a number of current issues, including gun violence, climate change and the future of reproductive rights. They are twice as likely (62% vs 31%) to be anxious about the future of LGBTQ+ rights.  

Working Towards Health Equity: Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

In 2005, Bebe Moore Campbell and longtime friend Linda Wharton Boyd, Ph.D., suggested dedicating a month that would educate and address mental health stigma and improve mental health services for people of color. Due to their hard work and dedication and with the help of Representatives Albert Wynn and Diane Watson, a resolution was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2008 to establish July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (after Campbell passed in 2006). In honor of Campbell, a mental health advocate and award-winning author, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) celebrates each July with a series of events focused on mental health equity through education and action.