Team Sports May Help Build Resilience After Trauma

• Anxiety, Depression, Patients and Families

Traumatic and other negative experiences in childhood can have lasting effects, including increased chances of physical health issues and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. A new study finds that among people who had adverse childhood experiences, participation in sports during adolescence is associated with better adult mental health

Irritability in Children Can be More than Just a Bad Mood

• ADHD, Anxiety, Depression

Irritability, defined as a low threshold to experience anger in response to frustration, is one of the main reasons children are referred to a mental health evaluation. Irritability can appear as age-inappropriate temper outbursts and a sullen, grouchy mood and is associated with several child and adolescent mental health conditions.

Men, Women, and Differing Responses to Stress

• Anxiety, Depression, Men, Sleep Disorders, Women

Stress affects people in several ways—it activates adrenaline and other hormones, the nervous system and immune system. While not all stress is harmful, and some can even be beneficial, chronic or toxic stress can contribute to health problems. “Men and women react differently to toxic stress because their brains are wired differently,” notes Bruce McEwen, Ph.D., of The Rockefeller University, * “and therefore they may be at risk for different stress-related illnesses.” For example, as a result

Eating Healthy for Brain Health and Staying on Budget

We know that what we eat affects our physical health, but evidence continues to mount that what we eat significantly impacts our mental health also. For example, a healthy diet may be able to help prevent and treat depression, reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, and help maintain the mental health of children and adolescents.

Talking about Veteran’s Mental Health

• Depression, Military and Veterans, Trauma

The questions and answers below are some adapted from a recent Twitter chat APA hosted on veteran’s mental health.

Expectations, the Placebo Effect and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth

• Patients and Families

The phenomenon of high placebo response can be a “formidable challenge in clinical trials but a largely untapped resource in clinical practice,” authors Jeffrey R. Strawn, M.D., and colleagues write in a chapter in a new book from APA Publishing on prescribing mental health medication to youth.

Air Pollution’s Impact on Mental Health

• Patients and Families, Teens and young adults

Air pollution is a major environmental health risk — the links between air pollution and health conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are well established. Though less well-understood, there is substantial evidence that air pollution also impacts mental health.

Online Support for People with Mental Health Conditions

• Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Older adults, Patients and Families, Serious mental illness

While these unprecedented times are stressful for everyone, people with mental health conditions may face particular challenges. Many organizations offer ways to connect and find support online or by phone for general mental health and for specific conditions.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Learn about Seasonal Affective Disorder including symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

American Psychiatric Association Members to Visit Hill Virtually

As part of its Federal Advocacy Conference, members of the American Psychiatric Association will be participating in a virtual fly-in this Thursday to speak with their federal representatives and senators about policies and resources to increase access to needed mental health and substance use disorder services. The fly-in comes as COVID-19 continues to impact rates of anxiety, depression and overdoses in the United States.

Yoga as a Mental Health Treatment

• Anxiety, Depression, Patients and Families

In a recent review in the journal Focus, Maren Nyer, Ph.D., and colleagues highlight the mounting evidence that yoga is helpful for a variety of mental health conditions and support integrating yoga into conventional mental health treatment.

Explore Sessions on Well-Being and Burnout

Burnout is a serious concern for residents and physicians alike, and much more prevalent as clinicians and staff have been stretched thin with pandemic-related care.