Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Standard doses of antidepressants during pregnancy appear to be safe, study suggests

Using a standard dose of antidepressants during pregnancy appears to be safe for the baby, suggests new research from the University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital.

24 Feb 2026

Attacks on healthcare surge in Ukraine

As Ukraine enters the fifth year of full-scale war, its people have endured the highest number of attacks on their health care in 2025 – increasing by nearly 20% compared to 2024.

24 Feb 2026

New poll links pet ownership to healthier aging

Taking a dog for a walk, cuddling a cat, watching fish glide through a tank, or just having a pet around may help many middle-aged and older adults with their health or well-being, a new poll finds.

23 Feb 2026

Family conflict and loneliness shape adolescent-peer relationships

Teens who are lonely and those who experience conflict in their home life are more likely to act aggressively toward peers or become victims themselves.

23 Feb 2026

Five sessions a day TMS approach may reduce depression symptoms in one week

For the many patients with depression who haven't found relief through medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) - a noninvasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain - has become an increasingly important treatment option.

23 Feb 2026

Moments of awe show measurable links to reduced loneliness in daily life

Daily diary data from healthcare workers and community adults during COVID lockdowns showed that people reported less loneliness on days when they experienced greater awe. This association was partly explained by increased feelings of connectedness to nature, although the observational design prevents causal conclusions.

23 Feb 2026

Study reveals how meal skipping during teen pregnancy connects to mental health

A cross-sectional study of pregnant adolescents found that skipping meals, screen distraction during eating, and low dairy intake were associated with higher depressive symptom prevalence. Overall dietary diversity showed no significant relationship, and causality could not be established.

23 Feb 2026

Mental health conditions post-cancer diagnosis linked to higher mortality risk

In a study of adults with cancer, those who developed a mental health condition within the first year after their cancer diagnosis had a higher likelihood of dying over the next few years.

23 Feb 2026

Frontline healthcare workers experienced highest insomnia rates during and after pandemic

An analysis co-led by Josefa A. Antón Ruiz, a researcher from the Department of Health Psychology at the University of Alicante (UA), reveals that 43.5% of healthcare professionals experienced clinically significant symptoms of insomnia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

23 Feb 2026

New Orleans brings back the house call, sending nurses to visit newborns and moms

When Lisa Bonfield gave birth to daughter Adele in late November, she was thrust into the new world of parenting, and faced an onslaught of challenges and skills to learn: breastfeeding, diapering, sleep routines, colic, crying, and all the little warning signs that something could be wrong with the baby.

23 Feb 2026

As more Americans embrace anxiety treatment, MAHA derides medications

After a grueling year of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to treat breast cancer, Sadia Zapp was anxious — not the manageable hum that had long been part of her life, but something deeper, more distracting.

23 Feb 2026

NUS scientists transform kombu into a probiotic superfood with fruity aromas

Kombu (Saccharina japonica) is a brown seaweed extensively cultivated and consumed in Japan, Korea and China. Despite its nutritional value, its strong fishy and grassy odor can deter some consumers.

23 Feb 2026

Grant funds research on prenatal massage for maternal mental health

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) announces the award of a research grant to University of Denver, Denver, Colo. The grant will support a three-year study entitled, "Prenatal Massage: A Complementary Approach for Maternal Health and Mental Health," led by Primary Investigator Galena Rhoades, PhD.

22 Feb 2026

Certain brain regions found to be more active in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder

A new study revealed that certain brain regions are more active in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during cognitively demanding tasks.

22 Feb 2026

Social media exposure associated with steroid use intentions among boys and men

A new study of more than 1,500 boys and men in Canada and the United States suggests that social media may play a meaningful role in shaping intentions to use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), particularly when users are exposed to muscularity-focused content and engage in body comparisons online.

20 Feb 2026