Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Discontinuing antidepressants during pregnancy raises psychiatric risks

Pregnant patients who stopped taking their antidepressant medication during pregnancy were almost twice as likely to experience a mental health emergency compared with pregnant patients who continued taking their prescription, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting.

11 Feb 2026

Simple wrist-worn device enables early detection of depression relapse

Could a smart watch act as an early‑warning system for depression relapse? New research from McMaster University suggests that disruptions in a person's sleep and daily activity routine, as detected through a simple wrist-worn device, can signal when there is increased risk of relapsing into major depression.

11 Feb 2026

WHO urges faster cataract surgery access to end blindness

The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to accelerate efforts to ensure that millions of people living with cataract can access simple, sight‑restoring surgery – one of the most effective and affordable interventions to prevent avoidable blindness.

11 Feb 2026

Sprint-based exercise reduces panic attacks and improves mental health

High-intensity exercise shows promise in retraining fear responses in panic disorder, providing a sustainable and engaging alternative to traditional therapies.

11 Feb 2026

Group intervention reduces burnout among foster carers

A group-based support program for foster carers significantly improves carer wellbeing, reduces burnout and stress, and strengthens relationships with children in care, while also offering good value for money, finds a new study led by a UCL researcher.

10 Feb 2026

Analysis finds aerobic exercise to be most effective for reducing depression and anxiety

Aerobic exercise, such as running, swimming, and dancing, may be most effective for relieving the symptoms of depression and anxiety, finds an overarching (umbrella) review and data synthesis of the available evidence, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

10 Feb 2026

High-fat diets cause more damage to metabolic health than carbohydrates

In recent years, many media reports and social media influencers have emphasized the dangers of eating too many carbohydrates.

10 Feb 2026

'Partial reprogramming' of engram neurons restores memory performance in mice

Age-related memory decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's are often thought of as irreversible.

10 Feb 2026

Cannabis legalization linked to rising tobacco and cannabis co-use

The legalization of cannabis and the start of retail sales of the drug in the US are linked to both a rise in its recreational use and concurrent use of tobacco, as well as a fall in sole tobacco use, finds an analysis of health behavioral data, published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

9 Feb 2026

Barriers to testosterone therapy drive men toward underground sources

Some men are resorting to obtaining testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) from underground sources due to significant barriers to accessing the therapy through formal medical channels, according to new Griffith University research.

9 Feb 2026

Cognitive speed training shows potential to delay dementia for two decades

Adults age 65 and older who completed five to six weeks of cognitive speed training - in this case, speed of processing training, which helps people quickly find visual information on a computer screen and handle increasingly complex tasks in a shorter time period - and who had follow-up sessions about one to three years later were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, up to two decades later, according to new findings published today in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions.

9 Feb 2026

Digital resource aims to enhance trauma-informed health care for people with complex PTSD

A new digital resource co-created by University of Victoria (UVic) researchers and trauma survivors will streamline access to resources and tools for clinicians who support people with complex post-traumatic stress at Island Health in B.C. and other jurisdictions.

9 Feb 2026

Why autism is diagnosed later in females than males

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9 Feb 2026

High-quality family dinners reduce teen substance use risk yet severe adversity blunts the benefit

Higher-quality family dinner interactions were associated with lower adolescent alcohol, vaping, and cannabis use in a U.S. survey of parent–adolescent dyads. This protective association was evident mainly among adolescents with low or moderate adverse childhood experiences, but not those with high adversity exposure.

8 Feb 2026

Novel neuroprotective drug improves recovery after acute ischemic stroke

Stroke patients treated intravenously with loberamisal, a novel neuroprotective medication, daily for 10 days and starting within 48 hours of stroke symptoms, had better recovery than patients who received a placebo, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

7 Feb 2026

New analysis reveals hidden complexity in the vaginal microbiome

For decades, gynecological tests have relied on a simplified view of the vaginal microbiome, categorizing bacteria as either "good" or "bad."

6 Feb 2026

Ending female genital mutilation: A global call to action

In 2026 alone, an estimated 4.5 million girls – many under the age of five – are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM). Currently, more than 230 million girls and women are living with its lifelong consequences.

6 Feb 2026

Why “low testosterone” has become a profitable masculinity crisis online

Social media's portrayal of low testosterone transforms masculinity into a marketable issue, linking health interventions to male identity and performance.

6 Feb 2026

Brain connectivity fingerprints differ in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating condition that affects more than 246 million people worldwide, yet scientists have struggled to identify consistent brain markers that could improve diagnosis and treatment.

5 Feb 2026

Hormonal contraceptives show differing heart risks among stressed women

Antonia Seligowski, PhD, of the Neurocardiac Effects of Stress & Trauma Laboratory within the Department of Psychiatry at Mass General Brigham, is the senior author of a paper published in JAMA Network Open, "Hormonal contraceptive use, stress disorders, and cardiovascular and thrombotic risk in women."

5 Feb 2026