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APA Releases Official Positions on Issues Affecting Mental Health in America
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recently released a number of official position statements on a series of major issues affecting mental health for millions of Americans across the country. The statements, approved by APA’s Board of Trustees this month, represent official APA policy on issues of critical importance to mental health in America, including the need for continued research into the use of psychedelics to treat psychiatric disorders, the role of psychiatry in care of patient
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.
New Research: The Long-term Physical-Psychiatric Effects of Childhood Trauma
Exposure to trauma in childhood is associated with both psychiatric and physical problems for decades afterward, according to new research presented here today at the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Annual Meeting. Researchers are longitudinally assessing more than 1,000 individuals who were directly exposed to the 9/11 terror attack as children, as well as a matched control group of 500 individuals who were not.
Two in Five Americans Say Their Mood Worsens in Winter; 29% Say “Falling Back” Hurts Their Mental Health
As the nation “falls back” to standard time, Americans are twice as likely to say their mood declines in the winter (41%) as they are to say it improves (22%). But, as also found in the latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA), when spring comes around, 61% report feeling better.
Light, Sleep and Mental Health
Light, both natural and artificial, can affect our health and mental health in several different ways. Depending on the time of day, light exposure can promote or disrupt sleep. A persistently disrupted sleep cycle can contribute to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, obesity and mental health disorders. Research is also beginning to clarify non-circadian effects of light – light can have a direct impact on the sleep and mood centers in the brain.
FDA Approves Novel Depression Treatment
Last month, esketamine nasal spray became the first treatment for depression with a new mechanism of action approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) was approved in the late 1980s. Esketamine (sold as Spravato) has the potential to be extremely useful for people who have not responded to other treatments. Used in combination with an oral anti-depressant, it can take effect much faster than many common antidepressant medications. However, it comes
Indigenous Populations Face Unique Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Help
Indigenous populations face different barriers and are less likely than majority populations to receive professional help for mental health, according to a new study(1). Researchers at Lakehead University in Ontario, led by Christiana J. Goetz, M.A., looked at the barriers to and facilitators of help-seeking and service use for Indigenous populations in Canada, the United States, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.
Suicide Prevention is a Community Effort
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and all month long you’ll see the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and our allied groups sharing their knowledge and resources to foster education and confront the stigma around this topic.
Leveraging Telepsychiatry for Population Health
Synchronous telepsychiatry has become part of the mental healthcare landscape. Multiple studies have documented its ability to improve access to care for diverse patients in multiple settings and to improve the quality of that care.
Personal Perspectives on Bipolar Disorder, Part 2
This episode is the second of a two-part discussion about bipolar disorder led by Dr. Ken Duckworth. He leads a deep discussion that offers insights for individuals, family members and mental health professionals: living with it, loving someone who has it, treating it, the impact of cultural identity, and more.
Athletes and Isolation During the Continued COVID-19 Pandemic
In this time of COVID-19, no one wants sports back than the athletes themselves. In a recent study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin, 68% of the 3,243 high school student-athletes surveyed reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, an uptick of about 37% from past, pre-pandemic studies.
Culture Corner: Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides an excellent complementary alternative to contemporary treatments for physical and mental health needs. Integrating TCM with modern healthcare enriches the available treatment options and aligns with the shift towards a more holistic and integrated approach to care.