As Americans Emerge from Pandemic, Many Report Adopting Better Habits, While One in Five Are Smoking or Drinking More

As states lifted masking requirements and infection numbers dropped late this winter, the majority of Americans reported their mood was stable since January (64%) and that the pandemic either hadn’t changed their daily habits (49%) or had changed them for the better (26%). However, nearly three in 10 (28%) rated their mental health as merely fair or poor, and almost a fifth reported that they were smoking (17%) or drinking (18%) more.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Psychotherapy Outcomes

• Patients and Families

Artificial intelligence, the ability of a computer program or a machine to think and learn, is increasingly being used in many areas, including mental health treatment. A new study uses artificial intelligence to measure psychotherapy treatment and to examine links between specific aspects of the therapy and outcomes. This information could potentially lead to improvements in psychotherapy.

“Nowhere to Turn”: COVID-19 and Caregiver Stress

• Older adults, Patients and Families

“I need help, and I have nowhere to turn.” I find this a frighteningly common refrain among my patients who are also caregivers for people with dementia, autism, or children with a panoply of mental health conditions who need consistency and structure. As an individual psychiatrist, there seems to be no option, and I simply listen.

Practicing Gratitude to Boost Mental Well-being

• Patients and Families

Good mental health means emotional, social and psychological well-being, healthy relationships, effective functioning and productive activities, and an ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. One approach that has been shown to foster mental well-being is focusing on gratitude. Many studies have found an association between being more grateful and a greater sense  of overall well-being.

Americans Embrace the Shift to Telehealth

• Patients and Families

About one in three U.S. adults (31%) have used telehealth services, according to a new poll* from the American Psychiatric Association. Almost three-quarters (72%) of those who have used telehealth services have done so for the first time in the past six months.

Poll: American Workers are Increasingly Comfortable Talking about Mental Health in the Workplace

• Patients and Families

The COVID-19 pandemic and required isolation and economic consequences have negatively impacted the mental health of many Americans. The pandemic has also changed the way we work, with many people at home or adopting physical distancing requirements and masks. In addition, many Americans are also juggling work and helping their children who are distance learning.

COP26: A Critical Juncture on Climate Change and Global Mental Health

All eyes are on the global leaders who are convening in Glasgow at COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference, to focus on strategies for cutting carbon emissions across the world. The risks and ongoing impacts of climate change are clear, summarized by The American Psychiatric Association’s position statement on the subject: “climate change poses a threat to public health, including mental health.”

Coping with Sleep Problems in Stressful Times

• Patients and Families

The stress, isolation, changes, loss and other impacts of the pandemic have disrupted our lives in many ways, and for many people, it’s led to more problems sleeping. However, some people have experienced positive changes and researchers have identified some effective ways of coping with sleep challenges during the pandemic.

Understanding Warning Signs of Mental Illness in the AAPI Community

In the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, mental illness warning signs can be difficult to identify because of stigma and lack of culturally competent care. These barriers can make it difficult for people to seek out help. AAPIs are less likely than other racial/ethnic groups to seek help for mental health conditions

APA Collaborates with YouTube to Develop Fact-based Mental Health Content; Receives “Accredited Health Educator” Label 

Over the better part of a decade, health-related searches on social media platforms have increased exponentially. YouTube has more than 2 billion monthly logged-in users and every day, people watch over a billion hours of video and generate billions of views. To connect Americans with evidence-based information about mental health, the American Psychiatric Association has recently ramped up its efforts on this important platform.

Heading off to College: How to THRIVE (Not Just Survive) on College Campuses

The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on the Youth Mental Health Crisis, released Dec. 7, 2021, shed light on the concerning trend of worsening mental health among children, adolescents, and young adults in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (1). Indeed, college and university students are experiencing greater frequency and intensity of mental health symptoms than ever before.

APA Launches LaSaludMental.org, a New Collection of Spanish-Language Mental Health Resources

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today announced the launch of LaSaludMental.org, a website dedicated to hosting Spanish-language information and resources on mental health and substance use disorders that are culturally competent and evidence-based.