Eating Disorders, Weight-Shaming and “Clean” Eating

• Addiction, Eating Disorders, Patients and Families, Women

Eating disorders affect all kinds of people: women, men, young and old and from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Many factors likely contribute to developing eating disorders, including a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Having a close relative with an eating disorder or a history of dieting are risk factors. High levels of body image dissatisfaction and setting unrealistically high expectations for oneself (perfectionism) also increase the risk

Support for Mental Health in the Workplace: Employee Perspective

• Anxiety, Depression, Patients and Families

An estimated one in five working age adults lives with a mental health condition, yet more than 60 percent do not receive treatment. When employees do receive effective treatment for mental illnesses, it also leads to increased productivity, lower absenteeism, and decreased disability costs. Many companies are increasingly providing resources and programs to support employee mental health and well-being. So how do employees think their employers are doing with these efforts? That is the question addressed in a recent national survey of employees conducted by the Harris Poll for the American Heart Association.*

Choice and Control over Mental Health Services Can Lead to Better Outcomes

• Depression, Patients and Families, Trauma

When people have some choice and control over their mental health care, they have better outcomes. That is the conclusion of a couple of recent studies looking at different aspects of choice in treatment and care.

Eating Healthy for Brain Health and Staying on Budget

We know that what we eat affects our physical health, but evidence continues to mount that what we eat significantly impacts our mental health also. For example, a healthy diet may be able to help prevent and treat depression, reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, and help maintain the mental health of children and adolescents.

Increase in Teen Vaping Raises Concerns

• Addiction, Patients and Families

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) late last year new released new research showing that more than 3.6 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2018, a significant increase from 2017. More than one in five high school seniors (21 percent) used e-cigarettes, nearly double the number in 2017 (11 percent).