APA Blogs
25 Results
Olympian Mindset: The Role of Sports Psychiatry
- By Brook Choulet, M.D.
The journey to becoming an Olympian is as much a mental endeavor as a physical one. Behind every gold medal and record-breaking performance lies preparation, mental clarity, resilience, physical training, and sacrifices. Athletes face internal and external pressures from family and coaches to their self-criticism and strides toward perfection. These factors can ultimately lead to detrimental effects on performance. However, through optimizing their mental health and overall well-being, athletes can harness the strength of their minds, leading to mental clarity, focus, and record-breaking performances.
Marking Two Years of 988: The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Two years ago, on July 16, 2022, a new, easy-to-remember, three-digit number (9-8-8) to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became available across the United States. The three-digit number provides easy access to crisis services for people with mental health and substance use issues and helps reduce the stigma surrounding these conditions. The 9-8-8 number is considered the 9-1-1 of mental health and substance use issues. The goal of 9-8-8 is to have 24/7 crisis call centers (someone to talk to), mobile crisis teams (someone to respond to crises), and crisis stabilization programs (somewhere to go).
Climate Cafés: A Resource to Help with Climate Distress
The multiple impacts of climate change are increasingly part of everyday discourse. These impacts weigh on the minds of many, and elicit several emotions, such as distress, worry, anxiety, sadness, and others as described in the Climate Mental Health Network’s Climate Emotions Wheel. In 2023, 64% of adults in the United States reported being worried about climate change, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication’s Climate Opinions Map. Meanwhile, other research suggests that a majority of youth are very or extremely worried about climate change.
New Podcast Features Conversations with Leading Women Psychiatrists
The field of psychiatry has greatly benefited from the contributions of women, who have played a crucial role in advancing research and clinical practice. Women psychiatrists have made significant strides in understanding mental illnesses and developing effective treatments. One such pioneer is Helen Mayberg, M.D., whose groundbreaking work on deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression has transformed the field. Nada Stotland, M.D., a former president of the APA, is another remarkable trailblazer who has played an instrumental role in advocating for policy changes that reduce stigma and improve access to mental health care. There are countless women like Dr. Mayberg and Dr. Stotland who have furthered the field of psychiatry in so many ways.
Pets and Mental Health: 2024 Social Media Toolkit
We're back again! March is here, and so is #Paws4MentalHealth, celebrating the mental health impact of our cats, dogs and other furry (and not furry) friends. Join the movement and take a "paws" in your day to share how your pets positively influence your well-being. Let's make this a month to remember! #Paws4MentalHealth