Poetry and Mental Health: The Healing Power of Poems

• Healthy living for mental well-being, Patients and Families, Treatment

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.

Mentorship Is Leadership in Action: Introducing the APA Mentorship Platform

The APA is launching a new Mentorship Platform designed to bring together medical students, resident-fellows, early career psychiatrists, and experienced professionals in one centralized, intelligent system built for meaningful connection.

Defining Mental Well-Being: An Expert Consensus

• New research, Patients and Families, Public awareness

“Mental well-being,” “flourishing,” “thriving,” “positive mental health”: these terms are widely used in research, health care, workplaces, schools and public policy. But they are not consistently understood or defined. A new study aims to help define the term “positive mental health.” Having a more consistent definition would allow for more comparable research and policies and practices better able to support and facilitate positive mental health.

Mindfulness as a Performance Tool: The Science of Attention, Control, and Cognitive Excellence

• By Brook Choulet, M.D.
• Healthy living for mental well-being, Patients and Families, Public awareness

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.

Gaming and Mental Health: Understanding Internet Gaming Disorder

Gaming is a mainstream activity, and most children participate at some level. Moderate participation in gaming is not harmful and may even provide social connection and mental well-being benefits, according to James Sherer, M.D., and colleagues in a new book from APA Publishing. Significant problems with gaming, or gaming addiction, only affect players