A sweeping new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General outlines the best available evidence on how social media is affecting the mental health of youth in the United States. [Read more…]
Why It’s Important to Accept Negative Emotions
May 24, 2023 By
Daily life is full of low points for everyone. You may get frustrated after you step on the Legos that your kids carelessly left on the floor. You may get nervous about the speech you’re asked to give at your daughter’s wedding, or angry at the friend who ditched you for his new girlfriend. [Read more…]
The Secret to a Happy, Healthy Life
March 25, 2023 By
What makes a happy life? In some ways, this feels like one of the most important questions a person can ask.
To look for answers, researchers from Harvard University have been following two very different groups of men for more than 80 years—268 Harvard graduates and 456 men who grew up in inner-city Boston. This is the longest-running study ever of human life. Researchers were particularly interested in the social and psychological factors that impact health and well-being in later in life. [Read more…]
Evidence Synthesized: Exercise Promotes Mental Health
March 1, 2023 By
More than 20 million adults in the U.S. experience depressive episodes each year. Among youth, the incidence of depression and anxiety has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
The most common forms of treatment for depression are medications and talk therapy. But a large body of evidence demonstrates that exercise is also effective in treating depression. In fact, some data show that regular exercise is just as effective as medications and therapy in reducing the symptoms of depression. [Read more…]
Evidence Synthesized: Exercise Promotes Mental Health
February 21, 2023 By
More than 20 million adults in the U.S. experience depressive episodes each year. Among youth, the incidence of depression and anxiety has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
The most common forms of treatment for depression are medications and talk therapy. But a large body of evidence demonstrates that exercise is also effective in treating depression. In fact, some data show that regular exercise is just as effective as medications and therapy in reducing the symptoms of depression. [Read more…]
The Benefits of Mindfulness Education In Schools
February 10, 2023 By
You have heard by now that teens in the U.S. are struggling with mental health more than ever before. A survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted in 2021 found 44% of teens experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness that prevented them from participating in normal activities. Almost 20% of teens said they had considered suicide, and 9% said they attempted suicide. Research finds these problems are more pronounced among lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens. [Read more…]
Does Light Therapy Work for Seasonal Depression?
January 25, 2023 By
While this time of year is full of social engagements and holiday cheer for many, it is also the darkest and coldest time of the year, especially for those living in northern latitudes. While most people undergo physical changes in the winter, such as lower energy levels, sleepiness, and increased appetite, approximately 1 in 10 individuals experience something more serious–seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. [Read more…]
Why to Send Out Holiday Cards, and Create Connection in Other Ways
December 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment
With the holiday season in full swing, most people think about reaching out to friends and family with a holiday card, a plate of cookies, or an invitation to visit.
This year, we may need these connections more than ever. Our social lives are in sharp decline, according to a nationally-representative survey conducted last year by the Survey Center for American Life. According to the survey, Americans say they have fewer close friendships, talk to their friends less often, and rely less on friendships for personal support. [Read more…]
Do Brain Games Help Prevent Dementia?
December 13, 2022 By Leave a Comment
More than six million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and that number continues to grow significantly as the U.S. population ages.
Researchers across the globe are trying to find ways to protect aging brains from dementia. Over the past decade, they have zeroed in on “brain training” — puzzles and games designed to improve cognitive skills — as one possible solution. [Read more…]
Youth and Anxiety: Screening Is Essential
October 25, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Young people ages 8 to 18 should all receive an annual screening for anxiety, according to a new recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a volunteer panel of experts who make public health recommendations. [Read more…]
Does Digital Therapy Work As Well As Face-to-Face?
October 22, 2022 By Leave a Comment
When you think of mental health care, you may imagine a patient seated in a comfortable chair, talking through problems with a therapist. But today, the patient is equally likely to be seated in front of his computer screen working on online exercises. [Read more…]
What Climate Change Means For Our Mental Health
September 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment
July 2022 was one of the hottest months on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was the sixth-hottest July since the U.S. began recording temperatures 143 years ago. In addition, overnight temperatures in the month hit their highest levels in recorded history. [Read more…]
