Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Rural siblings of neurodivergent children face poorer mental wellbeing

New Curtin University-led research has found siblings of people with neurodevelopmental conditions in regional and remote Australia are struggling with poorer wellbeing and are more likely to feel overlooked.

21 May 2026

Most college students with psychosis lack recommended combination treatment

Although the majority of students sought and received therapy or counseling in the past 12 months, less than 40 percent received the recommended combination of therapy/counseling and antipsychotic medication, suggesting potential barriers to accessing this medication.

20 May 2026

Emergency mental health admission costs for youth nearly quadruple over a decade

The total cost of emergency admissions for mental health among children and young people in England rose from £22.5 million in 2012/13 to £87.3 million in 2021/22, finds research published online in the journal BMJ Open.

20 May 2026

Blood protein biomarkers predict psychosis risk in Asian youth

A new study by researchers from NHG Health's Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore's (NTU Singapore) Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) has identified blood-based proteomic biomarkers that may help predict who among the at-risk group is at increased risk of developing psychosis.

20 May 2026

Anxiety and depression linked to mirror opposite sides of the brain's emotional center

A longitudinal study tracking children over a period of seven years identified distinct brain-wave patterns emerging from age 9 can forecast a child's vulnerability to anxiety or depression by age 13.

20 May 2026

Massive global analysis examines cognitive development in children of affected parents

A new study led by Murdoch University has found that children of parents with severe mental illness are more likely to experience cognitive difficulties.

19 May 2026

Experimental smartphone game quickly identifies patients with depression

An experimental diagnostic tool in the form of a computer game was able to quickly identify patients with depression based on anhedonia, a key feature of the disease, a new study shows.

19 May 2026

Psychology professor calls for more thorough diagnostic assessments for ADHD

An increasing number of people are being diagnosed with ADHD, without researchers knowing exactly why. Greater awareness of ADHD and changes in diagnostic criteria may be one reason.

19 May 2026

Nutrition education improves diet quality in university students

Nutrition education at universities shows promise in improving dietary habits and mental well-being, highlighting the importance of healthy eating for students.

19 May 2026

Mental disorders affect one in three pregnant women, and violence may be a key driver

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies involving 17,380 pregnant women found that common mental disorders affected about one-third of participants across studies from Africa, Asia, and South America. The analysis found strong regional variation and identified intimate partner violence as the only statistically significant risk factor, with affected women having about 2.6-fold higher odds of CMDs.

18 May 2026

Children's mental health concerns increasingly addressed during primary care visits

A new study led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston University, Boston Medical Center, UMass Chan Medical School, and Brown University finds that children's mental health concerns are appearing more often during routine visits with primary care doctors.

18 May 2026

Childhood abuse may increase vulnerability to abusive adult relationships

Experiencing abuse or neglect as a child can increase the risk of being victimised by a romantic partner in adulthood, by impacting personality and mental health development, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

18 May 2026

Treatment delays rising among teens with cannabis use disorder

Teens may turn to marijuana use for many reasons: curiosity, stress relief, peer pressure, help with mental health, or for the positive feelings of being "high." However, there is a difference between casual use and reliance on cannabis to function.

18 May 2026

Integrated care needed for lifelong Polyendocrine Ovarian Syndrome management

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which has just been renamed Polyendocrine Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), is the most common hormonal and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age, impacting up to 13% of this population and contributing to nearly 40% of infertility cases worldwide.

18 May 2026

Time in nature may improve disadvantaged children’s mental health

Growing up in disadvantaged communities can take a toll on children, with greater stress leading to mental health issues and delays in psychological development.

17 May 2026

Addressing depression and anxiety in primary care improves chronic pain management

A study published this month in the American Journal of Managed Care explores how integrating behavioral health care into primary care can improve outcomes and be cost-effective for adults with depression, anxiety and chronic pain who are on long-term opioid therapy.

15 May 2026