Anxiety Disorders
Learn about anxiety disorders, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
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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
Latino Youth: Overcoming Challenges to Mental Health and Access to Care
Latino youth are more likely than their peers to have mental health issues, which often go unaddressed and untreated, according to a recent review of research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Many Latino youth face several stressors related to family life and to community/school that can impact their mental health.
Kleptomania
Most people are familiar with the term kleptomania, a real, but rare, mental health condition. The key feature of kleptomania is the repeatedly acting on impulses to steal items even though the items are not needed. A person with kleptomania does not usually preplan the theft and does not work with others. The stolen objects typically have little value and the person often gives or throws them away. Kleptomania is different from ordinary theft or shoplifting.
Sports Organizations Take on Mental Health
Several professional and elite sports organizations have recently taken action to support their athletes’ mental health and well-being. In May, the NFL and the NFLPA announced a new initiative that will require teams to have a mental health professional on staff. The NBA announced the launch of a new Mental Health and Wellness Program in 2018, beginning with the hiring of a director of mental health and wellness.
100 Day Step Challenge for Mental Health
Many employers offer wellness programs for their employees. A team of researchers in Australia wanted to explore the potential mental health benefits of a short-term workplace wellness program. Their study involved nearly 2,000 participants in a 100-day, 10,000-step challenge program. They found a small, but consistent effect on several measures of mental health over the term of the program. The positive mental health effect appeared regardless of whether a person reached the 10,000-step goal
Pet Robots Helping Dementia Patients
We increasingly hear of robots taking over humans’ jobs, but could robots fill in for dogs in pet therapy? Pet robots are increasingly being used in assisted living facilities and day care centers to help patients with dementia.
New Research: As Demand for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rose, Promise in “Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Programs” Emerged
Referrals from primary care providers (PCPs) to Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) programs increased and involved more complex mental health concerns, particularly regarding mood and anxiety, during the pandemic, according to a new study published online today in Psychiatric Services. These trends underscore the importance of these programs to supporting the growing need for children’s mental health care.
Crisis Hotlines: A Vital Response Resource
Crisis hotlines provide support and assistance easily available to anyone 24 hours a day, a vital resource at any time, but especially critical during our current national crisis. Many hotlines are seeing significant increases in calls. A national crisis hotline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Disaster Distress Helpline, saw an increase in calls of more than 300% in March compared to February this year.
For Many, Returning to Work May Bring New Worries
As restrictions guarding against COVID-19 infection are easing, and people begin getting back into the community and work, some people will be ready to go, others may be much more hesitant.
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.
City Living and Mental Well-being
More than half the world’s population lives in cities, and the number is expected to continue to increase in the coming decades. Living in urban areas has been associated with increased risk for mental disorders, including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Research using functional magnetic resonance imaging has identified changes in the brain indicating that urban upbringing and city living are linked to social stress processing.
‘Outbreak’ of Sudden Tics Among Teen Girls
Researchers in several countries are reporting that the pandemic has triggered an increase in the number of teen girls with tic-like behaviors that are severe, frequent and disabling.