Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Study reveals pandemic’s effects on social skills of young children

Lockdowns. Social distancing. Shuttered schools and businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic and its sweeping disruptions set off a stampede of "what it's doing to us" research, focused largely on schoolchildren.

29 Jan 2025

From gut health to metabolism: How sleep controls more than you think

Study reveals that sleep traits predict over 15% of body characteristics across 15 physiological systems, with visceral fat, cardiovascular health, and metabolism deeply intertwined with sleep patterns.

29 Jan 2025

Can an online lifestyle plan keep your brain sharp? Research says yes

"Maintain Your Brain" study shows how a tailored online program can improve cognition and lower dementia risk—discover how simple lifestyle changes could protect your brain as you age.

29 Jan 2025

Self-guided family-based treatment effective for childhood obesity

Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is a clinically-proven approach to treating children with obesity in which a health care professional works with the family to help children lose weight by promoting physical activity, encouraging healthy eating habits, and teaching age-appropriate behavioral skills.

29 Jan 2025

Sports betting is coming to Missouri. A fund to help prevent problem gambling will follow.

Listen as senior producer Zach Dyer reports on the public health concerns over online sports betting and a fund in Missouri that might help with addiction treatment and prevention.

29 Jan 2025

Calorie labels on menus harm people with eating disorders

Calorie labels on restaurant menus are negatively impacting people with eating disorders, according to a new study published today in the BMJ Public Health.

29 Jan 2025

Moderate exercise helps control appetite in obese men

A recent study involving researchers at Murdoch University's Health Futures Institute has revealed that moderate-intensity exercise can significantly influence appetite-related hormones and perceptions in males with obesity.

28 Jan 2025

Researchers identify brain circuit to reduce anxiety without side effects

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have identified in a preclinical model a specific brain circuit whose inhibition appears to reduce anxiety without side effects.

28 Jan 2025

Simple sessions can improve wellbeing of pediatric critical care staff

The Staff Wellbeing (SWell) project, led by Aston University researchers in collaboration with Birmingham Children's Hospital and NHS England, has developed two simple, easy-to-deliver sessions to improve the wellbeing of staff in pediatric critical care (PCC) units in UK hospitals.

28 Jan 2025

Replacing meat with plant-based alternatives reduces cholesterol and weight

A study led by a researcher from the University of Granada and carried out in collaboration with the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the Francisco de Vitoria University has shown that replacing meat consumption with plant-based alternatives that simulate meat products would reduce total cholesterol (6%), LDL cholesterol (12%) and even body weight (1%) in the short term (1 to 8 weeks).

28 Jan 2025

Peer health navigator program improves access to affirming care for transgender individuals

Transgender and gender-diverse individuals often experience additional difficulties navigating health care.

27 Jan 2025

New healthcare teaching facility at Aston University enhances training for students

Aston University has opened a new £1.5m healthcare teaching facility which includes two interconnecting five-bed wards and an interactive immersive room.

27 Jan 2025

Study examines how GPs identify and address treatment burdens in diabetes care

Managing type 2 diabetes involves complex treatment, workload, and costs that impose a significant burden on individuals, impacting their physical and mental health.

27 Jan 2025

Compressed workweeks help employees detach but do not reduce burnout risk

Condensing workweeks into fewer days to enjoy more days off, what are the implications for employee well-being? New longitudinal research from Ghent University at IKEA Belgium challenges policymakers' assumptions about the benefits of compressed work schedules, revealing both their potential and limitations in promoting workplace well-being.

27 Jan 2025

Montana eyes $30M revamp of mental health, developmental disability facilities

As part of a proposed revamping of the state's behavioral health system, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte's administration is looking into moving a facility for people with developmental disabilities, beefing up renovations at the Montana State Hospital, and creating a Helena unit of that psychiatric hospital.

27 Jan 2025

Study reveals significant life expectancy deficit in adults with diagnosed ADHD

A study shows UK adults with ADHD have a life expectancy 6.78 years lower than the general population, underscoring the need for improved healthcare support.

27 Jan 2025

Study reveals the importance of physical activity for healthy aging

Can physical activity extend the lifespans of older adults? A review article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.231336 summarizes the considerable evidence supporting the important role physical activity plays in preventing or reducing the effects of diseases and discusses how to prescribe effective exercise for older adults.

27 Jan 2025