950 Results
Social Connections Key to Maintaining Mental Well-being
Positive social connections have consistently been shown to support mental health and well-being. New research finds that social support is also key to coping with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has upended life for most of us, and the uncertainty, economic strain and isolation have left many struggling with stress, anxiety or depression.
American Psychiatric Association on Passage of H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666), calling it an important step to expeditiously address the nation’s mental health crisis. The legislation will help address record levels of overdose and suicide deaths, the child and adolescent mental health crisis, and the adverse psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Americans.
APA Statement on Supreme Court Decisions on Affirmative Action
Race-conscious admissions policies are designed to address racial discrimination by recognizing and responding to the structural barriers that hinder access to higher education for underrepresented students. While the ramifications have yet to be fully determined, today’s decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina undermine the ability of colleges, universities, and medical schools to buil
New Patient Guide for Mood and Anxiety Disorders Available to the Public
A new book developed by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides readers with the evidence-based knowledge and tools to understand mood disorders and make informed decisions toward lasting mental health and wellbeing.
Practicing Self-Compassion
At the start of the year, many people set resolutions and intentions for enhancing their emotional well-being. One tool that can help improve psychological well-being is the practice of self-compassion. Many people find themselves being quite critical towards themselves. Some people believe that they are not good enough and that they don’t deserve compassion. In the long term, excessive self-criticism may contribute to depleting one’s emotional reservoir.
APA Applauds Congress for Taking Action to Strengthen Mental Health Parity; Including Key Mental Health Programs in Year-End Funding Package
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today lauded Congress for passing the Strengthening Behavioral Health Parity Act (H.R. 7539) and including several key mental health and substance use-related programs in its combined $1.4 trillion year-end appropriations and COVID-relief funding package.
Tips for Family Mental Well-being During the Pandemic: Young Children to Elderly Parents
Families are continuing to cope with challenges during the pandemic and many are juggling multiple roles, including working from home and caring for children and elderly parents. The American Psychiatric Association Foundation recently hosted a virtual town hall addressing Mentally Healthy Families in Times of a Pandemic with geriatric psychiatrist Uyen-Khanh Quang-Dang, M.D., M.S., Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, and psychiatrist Lisa Harding, M.D., clinical instructor of psychiatry at Yale
Addressing Loneliness in Older Adults through Empathetic Conversations, Health and Fitness Classes
The COVID-19 pandemic and social-distancing focused much attention on impacts of social isolation particularly for older adults, but even before the pandemic, loneliness had been increasingly of concern. Researchers are looking at the relationship between social disconnectedness and mental illness, effective interventions and prevention.
New Book Issues Wake-up Call on Technology Addiction
A new book from APA Publishing, Technological Addictions, is a wake-up call alerting the medical community—and society at large—to the addictive potential of technology. Edited by Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., and James Sherer, M.D., the book provides context and understanding around potential addiction to a variety of technologies, along with discussion of assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
Is Internet Use Changing Our Brains?
It’s easy to see how much the internet has changed our lives. Most adults go online daily and more than one in four are online “almost constantly,” according to a recent Pew Research Center report. But is our extensive online activity affecting our brains? That is the question looked at in a recent study published in World Psychiatry.
School-Based Program Brings Mental Health Services to Children in Rural Areas
A program in West Virginia is using an innovative approach to bring much needed mental health services to children in rural communities. In 2016, the West Virginia Children’s Access Network began providing mental health services in rural schools via telepsychiatry.
Project SEARCH: Increasing Employment Opportunities for Young Adults with Autism
Landing your first full-time job can be challenging for anyone, but for people with autism it’s especially challenging. Two years after high school, more than half of young adults with autism are not employed, according to Autism Speaks. The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work program aims to help improve the odds for employment for young people with autism.