Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

PCORI announces new funding for patient-centered clinical effectiveness research

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) today announced new funding to support patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) across a range of health conditions experienced by Americans, along with projects designed to help bring practice-changing CER results into real-world care settings.

28 Apr 2026

Stanford research shows group brain scan averages hide unique individual activity

Studying cognition by averaging data from many people's brain scans hides how individuals use their brains, new Stanford Medicine research has shown.

28 Apr 2026

New scientific statement defines brain health across life

Brain health isn't determined only by genetics or what happens later in life. A growing body of research shows that a range of factors-from mental health and sleep to environment, lifestyle and social conditions-play a powerful role in shaping how the brain functions and ages.

28 Apr 2026

New intervention improves coping and well-being in young cancer patients

A cancer diagnosis can upend any life. For young adults already navigating a step into independence, it can be especially distressing.

28 Apr 2026

Rural youth face high firearm exposure and mental health risks

Rural youth experience higher rates of firearm exposure, handgun carrying and associated mental health risks, according to Rutgers researchers.

27 Apr 2026

Stronger slow-wave sleep helps older adults regulate anxiety overnight

Researchers at Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas have identified a specific feature of sleep that helps older adults regulate anxiety overnight - and shown that, as it deteriorates with age, emotional wellbeing deteriorates along with it.

27 Apr 2026

Socio-economic gaps hinder mental health care for children and teens

Children and young people from deprived areas with mental health conditions are less likely to access mental health services, according to a new study led by experts from the University of Nottingham.

27 Apr 2026

AI tools can predict ADHD risk years before a formal diagnosis

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects millions of children, yet many go years without a diagnosis, missing the chance for early support that can change long-term outcomes even when early signs are present.

27 Apr 2026

Molecular map reveals how Down syndrome alters brain development

Scientists at UCLA have created one of the first cellular-resolution molecular maps detailing how Down syndrome alters human brain development before birth - a resource that resolves longstanding contradictions in the field and could lay the groundwork for future therapeutic strategies.

25 Apr 2026

Economic modelling and evaluation to support future mental health reforms

The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) has engaged Monash University to deliver the most comprehensive economic modelling and evaluation of mental health interventions undertaken in Australia.

25 Apr 2026

Baby teeth reveal early metal exposure effects on brain

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai report that early-life exposure to common environmental metals may influence brain development and behavioral health more than a decade later.

25 Apr 2026

WHO reports measurable health gains but warns of unmet goals

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its Results Report, highlighting measurable improvements in people's health worldwide in 2025, despite funding cuts affecting both the organization and the broader global health sector.

24 Apr 2026

Negative parenting behaviors linked to gaming disorder in children with ADHD

A new Children's Hospital of Philadelphia study examines the relationship between parenting factors and gaming disorder in young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings from the study will be presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting, taking place April 24-27 in Boston.

24 Apr 2026

Psilocybin use rises among Americans amid growing clinical interest

The use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in "magic mushrooms," is rising in the United States alongside de‑criminalization efforts in several states and local jurisdictions, as well as heightened interest by the general public.

23 Apr 2026

Study highlights gaps in opioid use disorder care during pregnancy

Opioid use disorder during pregnancy remains a critical yet under-addressed public health issue in the U.S., according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

23 Apr 2026

Study maps the evolution of myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome

It may be possible to identify which pre-cancerous cells will develop into a rare type of blood cancer, due to new research showing that a single genetic change drives myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome.

23 Apr 2026

Heavy drinking linked to next day cognitive problems in students

When college students drink very heavily or to the point of blacking out, they're more likely to report poorer cognitive functioning the next day, like forgetting someone's name or having trouble making decisions, according to new research from the University of Oregon.

22 Apr 2026

Why social supermarkets are gaining attention in the fight against food insecurity

This scoping review found that social supermarkets can offer a more dignified, choice-based way to access lower-cost food while also helping divert some surplus food from waste. However, the evidence suggests they work best as a complement to existing food support, not as a solution to the underlying causes of food insecurity or overproduction across the food system.

22 Apr 2026

Rural and urban children face distinct mental health challenges

A study in Pediatric Investigation found that rural and urban children and adolescents tend to experience different mental health issues, with those living in the country showing more emotional problems and those in the city demonstrating more behavioral issues.

22 Apr 2026

Study reveals genetic factors influencing SYNGAP1 encephalopathy disease severity

SYNGAP1 encephalopathy is a rare genetic disorder for which there is no treatment, causing epilepsy, intellectual disability, psychomotor delay and, frequently, autism.

22 Apr 2026