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Get Outside: The Many Ways Nature Can Boost Your Mental Well-Being
‘Go outside and get some fresh air’ has long been common advice for staying healthy. Although the calming, mood-boosting and inspirational effects of spending time in nature have long-been championed, recent research has strengthened the case in support of nature's therapeutic benefits.
Dark Chocolate Offers a Variety of Potential Benefits
Many of us regularly enjoy, or even crave, chocolate at times. As you consider your chocolate choices, opting for dark chocolate may be your best bet. Research continues to identify a variety of health and mental health benefits associated with dark chocolate.
Alcohol Use Disorder: Social Media, Technology, and Treatment
While most can enjoy alcohol occasionally without problems, alcohol use disorder is common and often untreated. An estimated 11% of all adults and 15% of young adults (aged 18-25) had alcohol use disorder in the past year. Several recent studies highlight some challenges related to alcohol content on social media along with some promising approaches to treatment.
How Running and Resistance Training Can Help Depression and Anxiety
It is well-known that exercise or physical activity can help support mental health. It can help reduce symptoms, improve working memory and focus, and help prevent cognitive decline. New research points to specific significant benefits for treating depression and anxiety symptoms with running and resistance training. Resistance training, also called strength training or weight training, uses resistance to build muscle strength and anaerobic endurance.
Nature’s Benefits for Mental Health May Not Work So Well When Pressured
During the more than a year of pandemic restrictions, access to parks and other green spaces have been very important escapes for many, offering a place to go for exercise and social interaction when other options weren’t available. Fifteen national parks set new recreation visitation records in 2020, despite temporary park closures and restrictions in response to the pandemic.
Healing Through Art
Visual arts, whether you’re engaging in them or just appreciating them, can bring enjoyment and encouragement, but expressing oneself through art can also have physical and mental health benefits. Art therapy, a type of psychotherapy, helps provide a way to express emotions and experiences not easily expressed in words. It is not about the final product; it is about healing through the process of making art. Research has identified a range of physical and mental health benefits of art and art t
Mental Health Parity: New Proposed Rule
On July 25, 2023, the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services released a proposed rule intended to strengthen enforcement of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and improve patients’ ability to access care for mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD). At the same time, the agencies also released a Technical Release, seeking feedback on data requirements related to network composition and a possible enforcement safe harbor; a second Report to Congr
Culture Corner: Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides an excellent complementary alternative to contemporary treatments for physical and mental health needs. Integrating TCM with modern healthcare enriches the available treatment options and aligns with the shift towards a more holistic and integrated approach to care.
Pandemic Experience Shows Benefits of Telepsychiatry in Increasing Access to Care
New research finds that after the shift to mostly remote appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at psychiatric appointments increased significantly, potentially leading to more effective treatment. The research was published online in March in Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association.
Special Issue of APA’s Official Journal Focuses on Psychedelic Medication
As the body of research grows around the potential promise of psychedelic medications in psychiatry, many questions and challenges remain. The January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry features a series of articles, including new research, reviews and commentaries, on the use of these treatments.
Americans’ Pets Offer Mental Health Support to Their Owners, 1 out of 5 Pet Owners Has an Emotional Support Animal
They say in Washington, if you want a friend, get a dog. The results of an American Psychiatric Association Healthy Minds Monthly Poll released jointly with the American Veterinary Medical Association seem to align with that adage: Among the many mental health benefits of pets, nearly two-thirds of pet owners say that their animals offer companionship (65%), are a true friend (65%) and provide unconditional love and support (64%).
Americans, Psychiatrists Agree: Sports Can Be Good for Mental Health
APA July 2024 Healthy Minds Monthly Poll on Mental Health and Sports