APA Blogs
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Poetry and Mental Health: The Healing Power of Poems
Poetry can support mental health and emotional well-being in several ways. Reading or listening to poetry can remind us of shared experiences such as grief, despair, or hope. It can provide comfort, help people feel less alone or encourage reflection. Poetry can be a safe place to express overwhelming feelings, to say things that are difficult to talk about.
Mindfulness as a Performance Tool: The Science of Attention, Control, and Cognitive Excellence
- By Brook Choulet, M.D.
Today, people are expected to perform at a high level in every area of life—as parents, physicians, friends, family, athletes, etc. There often isn’t protected time in our calendars for rest and recovery due to the constant expectations placed on individuals, which heightens stress and pressure for many. The elite performers in today’s world have recognized a tool that allows them to engage in intentional recovery while also achieving higher performance in life: mindfulness.
How What You Eat Can Affect Your Mental Health
Food and nutrition are linked to mental health in a variety of ways. Research increasingly shows that the type and quality of the food we consume influence not only our physical health, but also our emotional well-being and resilience. As William Compton, M.D., writes in “Food, Nutrition, and Mental Health,” what we eat shapes “our health—our physical health, our emotional or psychological health, and our strength, resilience, and well-being,”
Need a Break from Social Media and AI Chatbots? Here’s How to Do it
- By John Torous, M.D., and Nicole M. Benson, M.D., MBI
Whether you are a teen or anyone who has ever used social media (more than 80% of the US population (1)) or tried an AI chatbot, you’ve probably noticed two digital forces pulling for your attention at the same time: social media feeds that never end and AI chatbots that always want to answer. Neither is inherently “good” or “bad.” But both can quietly reshape mood, sleep, stress, and how you cope, especially when they become the default way to unwind, vent, or avoid hard feelings. Up to 95% of teenagers are active online (2).
Loneliness Across Age Groups: New Guidelines Offer Suggestions for Social Connection
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in America. The report emphasizes the importance of social connections — relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and community members — as a key aspect of public health, and notes that “far too many Americans lack social connection in one or more ways.” Loneliness and isolation can have significant physical and mental health impacts, including increased risk for heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.