Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

New research challenges myths about parenting and adult personalities

New research challenges traditional views and myths in psychology, such as the long-held belief that parenting is the biggest influence on adult personalities.

7 May 2025

Study reveals insights into mental health of healthcare providers in Ecuador during COVID-19

A recent study conducted by researchers from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and Johns Hopkins University has revealed critical insights into the mental health of healthcare providers in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic.

7 May 2025

Mental health diagnoses rise sharply among publicly insured children

In the first comprehensive investigation into the trends of mental health diagnoses among children with public health insurance, a new study reports the percentage of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses increased substantially in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic.

6 May 2025

New therapy targets emotional processing to manage chronic pain

A new study led by UNSW Sydney and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) shows that targeting emotional processing is key to treating and managing chronic pain.

6 May 2025

New insights into how romantic partners can influence a person's genetic risk for binge drinking

A study led by Virginia Commonwealth University and Rutgers University has revealed new insights into how romantic partners can influence a person's genetic predisposition to unhealthy alcohol use.

6 May 2025

Norwegian study shows teens who move more cut their depression risk

Norwegian researchers found that increasing physical activity in adolescence reduces future depression risk, especially from ages 14 to 18. Within-person analysis showed that higher activity protected against depressive symptoms, while sedentary time had no such effect.

6 May 2025

Social media hurts teens with anxiety and depression more than healthy peers

Adolescents with mental health conditions spend more time on social media and engage differently online than their mentally healthy peers, particularly in social comparison and emotional reactivity to feedback. These differences vary by condition type, with internalizing disorders showing stronger effects across key engagement measures.

6 May 2025

Research reveals how psychedelics reshape communication between the brain and immune system

In a compelling Genomic Press interview published today, rising scientific star Dr. Michael Wheeler unveils revolutionary findings about how psychedelics reshape communication between the brain and immune system, potentially transforming treatments for psychiatric disorders and inflammatory diseases alike.

6 May 2025

Adolescents with mental health conditions show different social media habits

Young people with a diagnosable mental health condition report differences in their experiences of social media compared to those without a condition, including greater dissatisfaction with online friend counts and more time spent on social media sites.

6 May 2025

Ultra-processed foods increase risk of anxiety and depression, study shows

A large UK Biobank study linked ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption to increased risks of anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and other mental health outcomes. A metabolomic signature associated with UPF intake partially mediated these relationships, especially in adults under 60.

5 May 2025

Women face higher depression risk from unhealthy food

A cross-sectional study of over 15,000 adults across multiple countries found that ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption was linked to higher odds of depression, especially in women across all age groups. Healthy dietary patterns were protective in women aged 18–54, but showed no benefit for men.

5 May 2025

Asthma-related emergency visits increase during wildfire smoke events in Ontario

New research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241506 found an increase in asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits across Ontario following heavy smoke in early June 2023.

5 May 2025

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher psoriasis risk

A large UK Biobank study found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis. Each 10% increase in UPF intake raised psoriasis risk by 6%, with obesity and inflammation partially mediating this effect.

4 May 2025

New research maps neural overlap in insomnia, depression, and anxiety

New research from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience maps the similarities and differences between the three most common brain disorders.

3 May 2025

New imaging technique reveals live neural activity in deep brain regions

The communication between the brain and bodily organs is fundamental to emotion regulation and overall mental health.

2 May 2025

New drug technique targets gut inflammation with precision

A new approach to drug design can deliver medicine directly to the gut in mice at significantly lower doses than current inflammatory bowel disease treatments.

2 May 2025

VR-guided meditation helps hospital parents manage stress

Parenting in the hospital is stressful. Moms and dads naturally focus on their ill child, sometimes to the neglect of their own mental health.

2 May 2025

Getting active in midlife may boost brain resilience to Alzheimer’s

In cognitively healthy middle-aged adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, becoming physically active, especially in line with WHO guidelines, was linked to lower brain amyloid burden. Remaining sedentary was associated with reduced cortical thickness in brain regions vulnerable to AD.

1 May 2025

COVID-19 restrictions linked to better birth timing but worse mental health

A global review reveals that while lockdowns helped reduce early births in some regions, they also worsened maternal mental health, highlighting the need for more tailored support during future health crises.

1 May 2025

California’s primary care shortage persists despite ambitious moves to close gap

Sumana Reddy, a primary care physician, struggles on thin financial margins to run Acacia Family Medical Group, the small independent practice she founded 27 years ago in Salinas, a predominantly Latino city in an agricultural valley often called "the salad bowl of the world."

1 May 2025