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APA Statement on COVID-19 and Health Disparities
Reports are emerging that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is disproportionately impacting the African-American community in areas across the United States. In Chicago, for instance, half of those diagnosed with COVID-19 have been black, while African Americans only make up one third of the total population. Seventy percent of the fatalities linked to COVID-19 in Louisiana have been among black people, while this community makes up about a third of the overall population.
APA Offers Resources to Cope with COVID-19
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to its physical health impacts on thousands of Americans, has disrupted the lives of millions more. Many now face uncertainty over their medical condition and that of their families, management of their daily lives, social isolation, financial stressors, and other issues. In the face of this pandemic and the turmoil it has caused, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) offers the following guidance for maintaining mental health and coping with st
Athletes and Isolation During the Continued COVID-19 Pandemic
In this time of COVID-19, no one wants sports back than the athletes themselves. In a recent study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin, 68% of the 3,243 high school student-athletes surveyed reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, an uptick of about 37% from past, pre-pandemic studies.
Social Media in the Therapy Session
Digital communications – text messages, Facebook, Instagram, other social media – are a big part of most of our everyday lives. In a recent study, researchers are looking at how these electronic communications are being used in therapy sessions. Researchers at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School surveyed clinicians, primarily psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed clinical social workers, providing outpatient psychotherapy at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Challenges Faced by Transitional-Age Youth with Mental Health Concerns
The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is an exciting time for young people, marked by new relationships, as well as educational and vocational opportunities. While exciting and new, this transition time also brings challenges and stress, as young people learn to navigate their new responsibilities with increased independence.
Celebrating Women’s History Month and Resilience
Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women to events in history and modern society. Initially a weeklong celebration in 1980, it quickly evolved into a month in 1987 when the nonprofit organization, National Women’s History Project (NWHP) successfully lobbied Congress. Today, Women’s History Month is celebrated during March in the United States and other countries and corresponds with International Women’s Day on March 8. The 2019 theme is “Visionary women: Champions of Peace an
Bandersnatch: You Can Choose Your Ending, but Proceed with Caution
When I was a kid, I used to love the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. It always seemed like endless enjoyment going back and forth between the alternate endings and seeing what changed for the character as a result. Enter Netflix’s newest episode of “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.” This show is a first-of-its kind TV episode that lets you choose the plot and what the main character, Stefan Butler (played by Fionn Whitehead), should do next—from what breakfast cereal he eats, to what music he shou
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.
Coping with Isolation and Social Distancing
In these unprecedented, uncertain times when many of us are isolated, stuck at home and separated from friends and family, fear and stress are natural reactions. With so much of what is happening out of our control, it’s helpful to focus on what you can do to take of yourself and your family. Keep in mind people react to stressful situations in different ways.
“Nowhere to Turn”: COVID-19 and Caregiver Stress
“I need help, and I have nowhere to turn.” I find this a frighteningly common refrain among my patients who are also caregivers for people with dementia, autism, or children with a panoply of mental health conditions who need consistency and structure. As an individual psychiatrist, there seems to be no option, and I simply listen.
Susceptibility to Conspiracy Theories and Fake News
Conspiracy theories, which explain events or a set of circumstances as the result of secret plot by usually powerful and malevolent groups, are quite common. Research has provided some understanding about why people are drawn to conspiracy theories and what makes some people more likely to believe than others.
College Students Benefit from Wellness Training
Demand for mental health services at college counseling centers has been on the rise in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater mental health impact on young adults than other age groups. A new study examines the potential of a proactive, preventative approach to building resilience and promoting psychological thriving in students before they experience mental health symptoms.