What Is Depression?
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.
Depression
Learn about depression, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
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Mental Health Pathfinders: Dr. Mary H. Roessel on the Mental Health of Indigenous Peoples
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, Dr. Mary Hasbah Roessel joins us to discuss her experiences and insights into the mental health care needs of Indigenous communities, particularly focusing on the Navajo culture.
Mental Health Equity Champion Spotlight – Dr. Jonathan Shepherd
Jonathan Shepherd, M.D., is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist. Dr. Shepherd is the Chief Clinical Officer for the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health. He is also a part-time staff psychiatrist at The Ross Center.
Employees Say Workplaces Are Offering Fewer Mental Health Services in 2022, According to APA Poll
As the pandemic wanes, employees report employers are offering fewer mental health services and are more reluctant to address mental health concerns in the workplace, according to the 2022 Healthy Minds poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). About half of employees work at home at least some of the time and about one in five works at home all the time.
Special Issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry Examines Structural Racism and Mental Health Disparities, Offers Solutions
A special issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, released today at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting, highlights the pervasive negative consequences of structural racism on mental health and the importance of community and system-wide interventions and proposes mental health inequity research priorities.
Among LGBTQ+ Adults, Mental Health Improves with Age
Many years of research have identified health and mental health disparities among LGBTQ+ individuals, showing they experience higher rates of mental health problems compared to the heterosexual, cisgender population. A recent APA national poll found that LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than adults overall to be anxious about a number of current issues, including gun violence, climate change and the future of reproductive rights. They are twice as likely (62% vs 31%) to be anxious about the future
Intersectionality and Crisis Intervention
Officer for Crisis Text Line. “We are losing children of color at rates that are epidemic,” says Shairi Turner, M.D., M.P.H., an internist and pediatrician with a background in trauma. She is Chief Health Officer for Crisis Text Line, a national non-profit providing 24/7 crisis counseling via text in both English and Spanish.
Black History Month: Resistance, Accountability, and Progress
As we begin Black History Month, we are both encouraged to celebrate and challenged to understand the essential role that Black Americans play in U.S. History. While this time is devoted to recognizing the experiences and successes of Black Americans, it is also a chance for government to take accountability for the role that it has played in the historical disenfranchisement of Black Americans. These commemorative practices play a role in the collective healing of marginalized communities. Furt
Taking on the Public Health Threat of Loneliness and Social Isolation
Loneliness is a significant and growing problem with substantial physical health and mental health impacts. Research has found that loneliness and social isolation may be as bad for your health as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day and significantly impacts mental health. (1) The restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the problem and increased public awareness of the issue.
How Do Companion Animals and Therapy Animals Support Mental Well-being?
Companion animals are increasingly being used to support mental wellbeing and to augment mental health treatment. A new book from APA Publishing, The Role of Companion Animals in the Treatment of Mental Disorders, reviews recent research and highlights the variety of ways mental health professionals are working with companion animals to support treatment and promote mental health.
Maternal Mental Health: A Brief Look at the Impact of Birth Trauma
For some women, childbirth can be a traumatic event often associated with birth complications or a near miss for maternal mortality 1. A traumatic birth involves a perceived or life-threatening series of events that result in severe injury or death of the infant or mother. This traumatic experience increases the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth and can lead to challenges with attachment between the birthing parent and their infant
New Poll Finds the Public Perceives Psychiatry as Innovative, But Show Caution on Using New Treatments
In recent years, the field of psychiatry has seen many new developments and innovations in diagnosis and treatment, and that is reflected in public perception. The latest APA Healthy Minds Poll, a national public opinion poll, finds that almost three-fourths of Americans agree with the statement: “Psychiatry is an innovative field, and new diagnostic tools and treatments are being developed that will help people’s mental health.”
New Research Identifies Genetic Links Between Schizophrenia and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
New research finds that people with schizophrenia have a genetic propensity to smoking and a reduced genetic risk of obesity. The study, published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, revealed genetic overlap between schizophrenia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, particularly body mass index (BMI) and smoking. The findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in the development of obesity and other CVD comorbidities.