Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Depression and loneliness predict future chronic pain in older adults

Researchers tracked more than 7,000 older adults in England and found that loneliness and depression increased years before the onset of chronic pain, and remained elevated long after pain began. Social isolation also rose with age, but differences between those with and without pain were minimal.

21 May 2025

Study shows elevated risk of psychopathology in children of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

A new study confirms that children of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk of developing psychopathology compared to children whose parents do not have these conditions.

21 May 2025

Microplastics in ultra-processed foods may fuel mental health risks, experts warn

New research highlights a possible link between microplastics in ultra-processed foods and rising rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Experts call for urgent investigation as microplastic accumulation in the human brain increases alongside ultra-processed food intake.

21 May 2025

Majority of U.S. workers report stress linked to job insecurity

A majority of U.S. workers (54%) said job insecurity has had a significant impact on their stress levels at work, and more than a third (39%) said they are concerned they may lose their job in the next 12 months due to changes in government policies, according to the American Psychological Association's 2025 Work in America survey.

21 May 2025

3 things to watch on mental health in Trump’s early budget proposals

Since President Donald Trump released his 2026 budget blueprint in early May, calling for $163 billion in federal spending cuts, much of the attention has focused on his slashing of foreign aid and boosting of border security.

21 May 2025

Global report highlights key health challenges facing adolescents

Poor mental health, rising obesity rates, exposure to violence and climate change are among the key challenges facing our adolescents today, according to a global report.

20 May 2025

Long COVID linked to rising anxiety and depression in children

A new study from Kennedy Krieger Institute is calling attention to an emerging mental health crisis among children with long COVID. Researchers found that nearly 40% of pediatric patients with long COVID reported feeling significant symptoms of anxiety or depression.

20 May 2025

Snooze alarms steal hours of sleep each month, new research shows

Researchers analyzed over 3 million sleep sessions from a global cohort of smartphone users and found that more than half used snooze alarms, with frequent snoozing linked to irregular sleep patterns. The study highlights potential health implications and the need for further research into the effects of repeated snooze use.

20 May 2025

Lifelong mental health struggles found in young adult cancer survivors

Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors exhibit persistently elevated levels of depression and anxiety throughout their lifespan, but only symptoms of anxiety tend to stabilize in their later years, say University of Michigan researchers.

19 May 2025

Personality traits influence risk and persistence of insomnia

A study conducted at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil examined the influence of personality traits on the development and perpetuation of insomnia and found that there is a direct relationship between the two.

19 May 2025

WHO honors tobacco control champions across the Americas

Researchers, activists, civil society organizations, and journalism organizations from Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as government agencies from Brazil, have been recognized with World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025 Awards at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland today.

19 May 2025

New short film sheds light on the impact of climate change on brain health

A powerful new short film, from the FutureNeuro Research Ireland Centre and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences sheds light on the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on brain health.

19 May 2025

New machine learning model shows promise in predicting postpartum depression risk

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 15 percent of individuals after childbirth. Early identification of patients at risk of PPD could improve proactive mental health support.

19 May 2025

Study reveals high rates of cannabis use disorder in older US veterans

A large national study of U.S. veterans aged 65–84 found that 10.3% reported cannabis use in the past 30 days, with over one-third of these meeting criteria for cannabis use disorder. Frequent use and inhaled forms of cannabis sharply increased the risk.

19 May 2025

Skipping breakfast and losing sleep: Are US girls sacrificing health to slim down?

More than half of US adolescent girls want to lose weight, even those with a healthy BMI. Many pursue weight loss while adopting habits like skipping breakfast, poor sleep, and increased screen time, highlighting a need for better health interventions.

18 May 2025

City size reduces obesity and impulsivity through better lifestyle and education

Researchers analyzing data from 915 U.S. cities found that both obesity and impulsivity (measured by ADHD rates) are less common in larger cities, with physical inactivity linking ADHD to obesity. Education and mental healthcare access further influence these patterns, highlighting modifiable factors for urban health.

18 May 2025

Midlife carbohydrate quality linked to healthier aging in women

Intakes of dietary fiber, high-quality and total carbohydrates in midlife were favorably linked to healthy aging and other positive health outcomes in older women, according to a new study by researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

16 May 2025