A new scoping review found that those with chronic health concerns, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions, are not only at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection, they are also more likely to experience anxiety, depression or substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the review was to address […]
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Mental health experiences of LGB Vietnam-era veterans
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual Veterans from the Vietnam era report PTSD and poorer mental health more often than their heterosexual counterparts, according to an analysis of data from the Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VE-HEROeS). A greater burden of potentially traumatic events among LGB Veterans, such as childhood physical abuse, adult physical assault, and […]
10 Ways to Build Mental Toughness Without Being Told to \u2018Man Up\u2019
Navigating life’s true challenges doesn’t require being “tough.” It requires awareness, finesse, and knowing your own mind. We got experts to answer the questions we hear most about building mental strength. Use their strategies to level up your grit game. Not a single answer tells you to “man up.” 1) Can you get physically stronger […]
Mental health toll from isolation affecting kids on reentry
After two suicidal crises during pandemic isolation, 16-year-old Zach Sampson feels stronger but worries his social skills have gone stale. Amara Bhatia has overcome her pandemic depression but the teen feels worn down, in a state of “neutralness.” Virginia Shipp is adjusting but says returning to normal “is kind of unnormal for me.” After relentless […]
Children face added mental health struggles during pandemic
Psychiatrist Tami Benton was recently called to the emergency department about a child whose family had concerns about the girl’s suicidal threats to run into traffic and end her life. The child was only 5 years old. Both of the child’s parents had lost their jobs. The mother was struggling with depression, stressed by the […]
Mental health services wane as insurers appear to skirt parity rules during pandemic
Therapists and other behavioral health care providers cut hours, reduced staffs and turned away patients during the pandemic as more Americans experienced depression symptoms and drug overdoses, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The report on patient access to behavioral health care during the COVID-19 crisis also casts doubt on whether […]
Mental health may play big role in recovery after a heart attack
Young and middle-aged adults who reported severe psychological distress—such as depression or anxiety—after suffering a heart attack were more than twice as likely to suffer a second cardiac event within five years compared with those experiencing only mild distress, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session. The […]
COVID-19 pandemic may have increased mental health issues within families
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, many families found themselves suddenly isolated together at home. A year later, new research has linked this period with a variety of large, detrimental effects on individuals’ and families’ well-being and functioning. The study—led by Penn State researchers—found that in the first months of the pandemic, parents […]
Long wait times increase for children seeking emergency care for mental health
Rates of prolonged visits for pediatric mental health emergency department (ED) visits increased over a decade, in contrast to non-mental health visits for which visit times remained stable, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. From 2005-2015, rates of ED visits lasting over six hours for children presenting for mental health issues jumped […]
Mindfulness program in campus dorms, groups improved students’ mental health
As experts nationwide point to a mental health crisis among teens and young adults, a pilot program teaching mindfulness and coping techniques to students at the University of Washington has helped lower stress and improve emotional well-being. New studies by the psychology researchers who created the program find that the strategies, offered first in residence […]