The Economic Cost of Depression is Increasing; Direct Costs are Only a Small Part

• Depression, Patients and Families

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and can cause tremendous challenge and burden for individuals and families. It also carries a large economic cost. The economic burden of major depressive disorder among U.S. adults was an estimated $236 billion in 2018, an increase of more than 35% since 2010 (year 2020 values), according to research published in early May in the journal Pharmacoeconomics.

Understanding How Social Media Can Enhance Your Practice

What if there were a free, accessible way for you to network with leading experts in your field, collaborate with colleagues across the globe, learn about research directly from the investigators, dispel medical myths, and advocate for your patients—all from your smartphone, in the middle of a pandemic? Believe it or not, social media can serve all these purposes and more. For many physicians in training, social media serves as an escape from reality or as a magnifying glass on its less appealing aspects.

Cannabis: Understanding the Risks

• Addiction, Patients and Families

At a recent session at the APA Annual Meeting, a panel of psychiatrists addressed many of the common misconceptions around cannabis. With more states legalizing cannabis and changing public perceptions, there is confusion around its safety and uses.

How Nutrition Impacts Mental Health

• Patients and Families

The relationship between nutrition and mental health is a hot topic, and it was the subject of a recent panel discussion at the APA’s online Annual Meeting in early May. A panel of experts reviewed research on the potential roles of nutrition in the causes of, recovery from and potential resilience against psychiatric illness.

Nature’s Benefits for Mental Health May Not Work So Well When Pressured

• Anxiety, Depression, Patients and Families

During the more than a year of pandemic restrictions, access to parks and other green spaces have been very important escapes for many, offering a place to go for exercise and social interaction when other options weren’t available. Fifteen national parks set new recreation visitation records in 2020, despite temporary park closures and restrictions in response to the pandemic.