Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

New clinical guideline adopts holistic approach to brain and heart health

A new brain–heart clinical practice guideline takes a holistic approach, integrating neurologic and mental health evidence with guidance for cardiovascular disease as many brain and heart conditions overlap and share similar risk factors.

30 Mar 2026

Brain resilience peaks about an hour after stress exposure

Psychological resilience is often misunderstood as simple "toughness" or an insensitivity to stress. However, true resilience is the brain's capacity to adapt and recover after a stressful event.

28 Mar 2026

Long ADHD wait times leave families feeling powerless and 'forever in limbo'

Families are feeling stressed, powerless and 'forever in limbo' as they wait months, or sometimes years, for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments, according to a new study.

26 Mar 2026

Taking a GLP-1? Doctors say not to forget about movement and mental health

Severe ankle pain drove Jelon Smart to start taking a weight loss injection a year and a half ago.

26 Mar 2026

New fathers face delayed mental health risks after childbirth

Paternal mental health risks increase after childbirth, with delayed detection of psychiatric disorders underscoring the need for targeted support for fathers.

26 Mar 2026

Childhood ADHD medication shows protective effect against future psychosis

A major new study, led by scientists at University College Dublin and the University of Edinburgh and funded by the St John of God Research Foundation, has found that commonly prescribed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication in childhood may lower the long‑term risk of developing serious psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.

25 Mar 2026

Study links social media addiction to worse student mental health and points to family as a key buffer

A study of 627 Saudi university students found that higher social media addiction was associated with more anxiety and depression, while family environment fully mediated those links in the statistical model. The findings suggest that supportive family relationships may help buffer the mental health burden associated with problematic social media use, although the cross-sectional design does not establish causation.

25 Mar 2026

Community parenting programs improve family wellbeing and reduce inequalities

Evidence-based parenting programs delivered through community organisations can support family wellbeing and should be considered as part of wider strategies to reduce health inequalities, a landmark UCL study has found.

25 Mar 2026

Stroke may trigger younger brain patterns in unaffected regions

In a new study published in The Lancet Digital Health, scientists at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) have discovered that the brains of people who experience severe physical impairment after a stroke may reorganize themselves in unexpected ways, showing signs of "younger" brain structure in undamaged regions as they adapt to injury.

25 Mar 2026

Genetic study maps bacteria’s protective armor behind severe infections

The first large-scale genetic study of E. coli's protective armor has identified the five capsule types that are responsible for 70 per cent of all multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in Europe.

25 Mar 2026

Sleep apps help you track sleep, but can they also increase anxiety?

Sleep apps offer data-driven insights for better rest, but may increase anxiety in some users. Study reveals varied effects based on demographics and insomnia.

25 Mar 2026

Pediatric mental health triage often inaccurate in emergency departments

In emergency medicine, triage differentiates patients who require immediate attention from those who can safely wait for care. When it comes to children's mental or behavioral health, however, triage scores were found to be inaccurate in two-thirds of the cases when compared to the level of care the child actually received during their emergency visit, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

24 Mar 2026

Conflict exposure increases PTSD and suicidality among young people in Ukraine

For more than a decade, Ukrainian children have grown up with war as a constant backdrop. According to researchers, the psychological consequences are now becoming clear.

24 Mar 2026

How behavior and biology combine to drive addiction

Genomic analyses reveal that addiction risk is influenced by both shared behavioral traits and specific biological factors, informing prevention and treatment.

24 Mar 2026

Breast reduction surgery is linked to lower diabetes and heart risk

Findings suggest breast reduction surgery is associated with lower long-term diabetes and cardiovascular risks, enhancing women's metabolic health.

24 Mar 2026

Large-scale study finds no link between psychosocial factors and cancer risk

New research indicates that psychosocial factors-which influence how a person perceives, interprets, and reacts to their surroundings-do not affect an individual's risk of developing cancer. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

23 Mar 2026

Study finds addiction risk tied to reward and impulse genes

Most of the genetic risk for developing a substance use disorder comes from genes that broadly affect how our brains process rewards, regulate impulses and weigh consequences – not from genes that specifically influence substance use disorder or any single drug.

22 Mar 2026

Study explores post-game depression and emotional impact on players

Experiencing a sense of loss and sadness after dozens of hours spent on a video game? Researchers from SWPS University and the Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences examined the feeling of emptiness that accompanies completing an engaging computer game.

19 Mar 2026

GLP-1 medications linked to reduced psychiatric hospital visits

GLP-1 medications used to treat diabetes and obesity were associated with a reduced need for hospital care and sickness absence due to psychiatric reasons, a new study shows.

18 Mar 2026