Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Men with lower testosterone at 31 reported good health 15 years later

Researchers analyzed testosterone concentrations measured at age 31 in 2,691 Finnish men and assessed self-reported health, medical conditions, and quality of life at age 46. Men across testosterone quartiles generally reported good health and excellent quality of life, while differences in metabolic and gastrointestinal conditions lost statistical significance after adjustment for waist circumference.

27 Oct 2026

Curtin study reveals most childhood physical abuse occurs within families

New Curtin University-led research has revealed most childhood physical abuse in Australia occurs within families - and before children turn 10.

27 Oct 2026

Black Dog Institute announces Australian-first ketamine treatment trial for Australia’s emergency service workers

Black Dog Institute has today announced a new clinical trial investigating whether ketamine, combined with evidence-based psychological therapy, can improve treatment outcomes for Australia's emergency service workers living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

27 Oct 2026

The vaginal microbiome may relate to more than reproductive health

Researchers analyzed vaginal microbiota, metabolites, and psychological questionnaire scores in 105 young Italian women and found associations between microbial community types and reward responsiveness, motivational drive, and behavioral inhibition. Exploratory models identified statistical links involving vaginal GABA and valine, but the cross-sectional study could not establish whether microbiome changes influence psychological functioning or the reverse.

26 Oct 2026

Physical activity may help lower genetic risk of depression in adults

Adding physical activity to a daily routine may seem like a simple step for better health, but research from Kansas State University suggests it could be especially beneficial for individuals with a genetic predisposition to depression, potentially helping reduce their risk and ease their symptom burden.

26 Oct 2026

New report urges unified lifecycle approach to women's heart health

A new approach to women's heart health may offer them a lifetime of opportunities. A trio of scientific papers, published today in the journal Circulation, spells out how fluctuating hormones, mental health and well-being, the heart and the brain are linked and how those connections need to be a routine part of care from a young age.

26 Oct 2026

Young mothers see rapid increase in substance-related emergency department visits

Emergency department (ED) visits for use of substances, especially opioids, amphetamines, and cannabis, by mothers with dependent children increased almost 5% a year, in contrast to an increase of almost 2% a year among females without children, according to a large study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260078.

26 Oct 2026

Taking a GLP-1 drug? Here's what the safety evidence really shows

A review on GLP-1 receptor agonists highlights risks like pancreatitis and thyroid cancer, emphasizing individual patient risk over general safety concerns.

26 Oct 2026

Women in perimenopause report more anxiety than other menopausal groups

Researchers reviewed 21 studies involving 24,523 women and found that perimenopausal and postmenopausal women had higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms than premenopausal women. Their meta-analysis of 15 studies found the highest odds during perimenopause, but the cross-sectional evidence cannot establish that menopause causes anxiety.

25 Oct 2026

Massive study identifies genetic variants associated with five major personality traits

A massive genetic study offers one of the clearest pictures yet of how DNA contributes to personality, identifying genetic variants associated with five major personality traits.

24 Oct 2026

Queensland study reveals shifting Australian attitudes toward smacking children

A study published this month shows many Queenslanders believe parents should not be convicted of assault for doing things such as smacking their children for misbehavior.

24 Oct 2026

Reddit discussions could help improve public health messaging on heat

Two years ago, Robbie M. Parks, an environmental health scientist at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg, director of climate and disaster resilience at Americares, founded an online community on Reddit, r/heat_prep, where members share information and advice about coping with extreme temperatures.

24 Oct 2026

LGBTQ+ college students facing discrimination report higher mental health risks

LGBTQ+ college students who experience discrimination are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and avoid needed health care, according to a new national study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

23 Oct 2026

Using different dating apps may reduce anxiety among gay men

Using more than one type of app, including both mainstream sites such as Tinder or Hinge and gay sites like Grindr, could lead to lower levels of anxiety among gay men who use mobile dating platforms.

23 Oct 2026

Maternal stress alters placental pathways affecting fetal brain development

About one in five U.S. women experience maternal mental health conditions, and chronic stress during pregnancy can contribute to risk for both maternal and child health challenges.

23 Oct 2026

Low-power implantable neural chip tracks communication across brain regions

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a therapeutic technique that delivers electrical pulses to specific areas of the brain via an implant to modulate neural activity.

23 Oct 2026

Psilocybin reshapes brain connections through distinct cellular pathways

A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, reveals how psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in "magic mushrooms," reshapes neural connections in the brain.

22 Oct 2026

Study challenges concerns linking ADHD medication to self-harm risk

The risk of self-harm amongst people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highest before people start ADHD medication, rather than after treatment begins, according to new research led by Aston University.

22 Oct 2026

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy raises complication risks

A new study of more than one million births led by McMaster University researchers has found that gaining too much weight during pregnancy, regardless of a person's starting weight, is linked to a higher risk of life-threatening maternal complications.

22 Oct 2026

New survey reveals how chronic stress impacts U.S. adults

U.S. adults appear increasingly likely to view stress as an unavoidable part of daily life, according to the 2026 Stress in America™ survey by the American Psychological Association.

22 Oct 2026