Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

An Arm and a Leg: Personal finance guru faces down an insurance denial

Less than 36 hours before his wife was scheduled to undergo major surgery, New York Times personal finance columnist Ron Lieber got an unwelcome letter from his family's insurance plan: It was denying prior authorization for the procedure.

19 Feb 2026

Young adults with complex conditions face Medicaid coverage disruptions at age 19

In most states, Medicaid eligibility rules shift at age 19, when individuals transition from child to adult classification.

18 Feb 2026

Can mobile apps change how we eat?

Evaluating digital tools for sustainable eating, the review highlights initial positive impacts but stresses the importance of long-term effectiveness research.

18 Feb 2026

A simple handgrip test reveals how strong your working memory may be

Grip strength correlates with working memory performance and prefrontal activation, highlighting its potential as a cognitive health marker in older adults.

18 Feb 2026

Dual approach strengthens recovery for military PTSD

Military service members and veterans frequently experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is linked to a range of psychological challenges and adverse effects.

17 Feb 2026

Study reveals persistent gaps in child mental health access

A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute finds that mental health care gaps for U.S. children remain stark: one in five households reported a child needing treatment, yet nearly a quarter didn't receive it, and many who did still struggled to access care.

16 Feb 2026

Probiotic form matters for memory, mood, and more

How you take probiotics can affect their impact on the brain. A study from örebro University points to new possibilities for personalized approaches, depending on whether the primary aim is, for example, to improve memory or reduce depression.

16 Feb 2026

Excessive social media use linked to loneliness among U.S. college students

More than half of college students are lonely – and those who use social media the most are particularly likely to feel isolated, a study of tens of thousands of 18 to 24-year-olds in the US shows.

16 Feb 2026

High consumption of sugary drinks linked to anxiety symptoms in adolescents

A new study has identified an association between consumption of drinks containing a high amount of sugar and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.

16 Feb 2026

Relationship confidence drives personal health improvements for couples

When couples attend relationship counseling, it benefits not only their partnership but also their individual well-being.

13 Feb 2026

Causal gene mapping identifies key drivers of Alzheimer's disease progression

Researchers led by Min Zhang and Dabao Zhang of the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health have created the most detailed maps to date showing how genes causally regulate one another across different types of brain cells affected by Alzheimer's disease.

13 Feb 2026

New research initiative examines impact of legal psychedelic services in community settings

A federally funded research initiative will enable researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and other organizations to assess the safety and effectiveness of state-regulated access to psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.

12 Feb 2026

Academic pressure at age 15 linked to depression

Pressure to achieve at school at age 15 is linked to depressive symptoms and risk of self-harm, and the association appears to persist into adulthood, finds a study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

12 Feb 2026

Gene activity pattern links childhood abuse to depression

Scientists have identified a pattern of gene activity present in some female survivors of childhood abuse that is associated with an elevated risk of depression.

12 Feb 2026

Researchers find leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum women

Researchers at Columbia University have found that accidental drug overdose, homicide, and suicide are the leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum women.

12 Feb 2026

Alabama’s ‘pretty cool’ plan for robots in maternity care sparks debate

It sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but Alabama officials' plan to use robots to improve care for rural pregnant women and their babies is real.

12 Feb 2026

Addictive screen habits harm early adolescent mental health

New research following US adolescents ages 11–12 shows that problematic use of mobile phones, social media, and video games was associated with higher risks of mental health problems, sleep disturbance, and suicidal behaviors one year later.

12 Feb 2026

Adjunctive brexpiprazole boosts schizophrenia patients' information processing speed

Cognitive impairment, including decreased attention and memory, remains one of the most disabling aspects of schizophrenia, affecting social life of patients.

12 Feb 2026

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