What Is Depression?
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.
Depression
Learn about depression, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
289 Results
Remaining Calm in Volatile Times
Last month, faced with an unprecedented amount of social unrest in the lead-up to this year’s election, APA issued a statement calling for calm. As we continue to hear about the threats on individual lives and see the violence in the lead up to the January presidential inauguration, I reiterate that call.
Media Advisory: APA Releases New Recommendations for Reporters Covering the AAPI Community and Anti-AAPI Hate and Violence
The unprecedented rise in anti-AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) hate incidents and crimes that began during the COVID pandemic has taken a heavy mental health toll on the AAPI community — high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms have been reported.
A Presidential Initiative for Mental Health
The 2020 presidential election will be one of the most consequential in recent memory. Whoever is inaugurated the following January will have to contend with a growing health care crisis, particularly where mental health and substance use disorders are concerned.
Personality Types and Traits Impact How We Cope with Loneliness and Isolation
A new study looks at the issue of loneliness, a growing public health concern even before the current environment of social distancing and self-isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study looked at older adults living in senior living communities and characteristics that help some people avoid feeling lonely as they age.
New Research Details Links Between COVID and Mental Health
Several new studies highlight links between mental health disorders and COVID-19. People with mental health disorders and intellectual disabilities are more at risk for contracting COVID and people who have had COVID are at greater risk for developing mental disorders. Understanding these risks can potentially help health professionals and individuals to improve prevention, assessment, and treatment.
What Will Protect Health Care Workers’ Mental Health During the Pandemic?
Health care workers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since March, many of them facing very difficult and stressful situations, such as long hours, lack of equipment, unknowns about spread of the virus, and concerns for their own safety and that of their families. Some health care workers have lost colleagues or family members to COVID-19. The mental health concerns the workforce faces are devastating and may linger long after the pandemic ends.
Can Mindfulness Help with Pain Management?
Many people suffer with chronic pain, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The typical treatment has involved the use of opioids, but they have well-established drawbacks and risks, including the risk of dependence. Many alternatives are being explored and there is increasing research and evidence of the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in reducing pain.
7 Tips for Using Social Media for Mental Well-being
Social wellness, a measure of connectedness with family, friends and community, is key in influencing happiness and positive mental health.(1,2) Research has shown social connection to be a protective factor against a host of mental health disorders, from depression to anxiety.(2) The quality and quantity of our social relationships can also impact our physical health.(3)
After College: Facing the Uncertainty of What’s Next and Prioritizing Mental Health Care
It’s one of the biggest transitions that one can experience in life; a piece of paper that embodies the years of hard work, friendships made, mentors gained, and a little bit of fun in between. Most parents dream of this moment: their child walking across a stage and receiving the diploma that opens a new chapter of life. There is much celebration and reward surrounding college graduations, yet why is it that students approaching the end of their college career shudder when they are asked “Are y
Mental Health Concerns in E-Sport Athletes: Lessons from a Legend
Lee Sang-Hyeok is probably the most famous e-sport athlete of all time. Better known as his gamer name “Faker,” he is the most dominant League of Legends player in history, with a total of four world championship titles. His incredible success can be attributed to not only his work ethic, but also the massive infrastructure in place around him, including an enormous training center built in Seoul, Korea by his team T1 Esports. Even with access to some of the best resources the industry has to of
Myths and Facts Concerning Abortions and Mental Health
The APA Council on Women’s Mental Health has put together a series of Myths and Facts everyone needs to know about abortion and mental health.
New Study Examines Relationship Between Parental Acceptance of Lesbian and Gay Children and Later Life Mental Health
A new study, released today at the American Psychiatric Association’s 2021 Annual Meeting, held online, examines the relationship between parental acceptance of lesbian and gay children’s sexual orientation and their mental health in later life. The study finds that a consistent perspective, even negative, leads to better outcomes for lesbian and gay people, than parents with changing perspectives.