With the hope of making a difference in the lives of people dealing with mental health problems, 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps recently announced his partnership with Talkspace, an online and mobile therapy company that helps connect therapists to those in need. “I feel like with all the issues we have in this world, this is something where I can truly make significant impact,” said the 32-year-old retired competitive swimmer. Continue reading
On the recent episode of web series “Red Table Talk,” the revelation made by American singer and actress Willow Smith shocked her mother Jada Pinkett-Smith and grandmother Adrienne Banfield-Jones to the core. She confessed to cutting herself in her preteens, and resorting to self-harm after the success of her first single “Whip My Hair” in 2010 which took a toll on her mental health. Continue reading
On evaluating the revisions introduced in the upcoming 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), a study led by the New York University (NYU) School of Medicine has identified that the proposed changes are against the interest of patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the study, the revisions, if implemented, would lead to a decline in the number of individuals coming under the ambit of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result, the reduction in diagnosis of moderate or early stage PTSD may reduce by up to 57 per cent. Continue reading
Internet behemoth Google recently announced a slew of features intended toward the well-being of its users. Dubbed as “Digital Wellbeing,” the initiative is a collection of apps and features that the company claims will enable users to make productive use of their time while on Android devices. According to the tech giant, the new features would permit users to keep a track of the time spent on social media, block distracting notifications and reduce the vibrancy of the screen during bedtime that would ultimately help in reining in tech addiction. Continue reading
Finding the right treatment plan for various mental illnesses, especially depression is a big challenge. Experts feel that finding the right medicine for depressive disorder is mostly a trial-and-error process. In a bid to make the depression treatment more efficient and precise, scientists recently developed a genetic testing protocol that can help determine the accurate treatment/medicine for a patient at a faster pace. Continue reading
To study the effect of traumatic injuries on psychiatric health, the Kent State University, Ohio, recently received $2.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to gain a better understanding of factors that fuels the onset of depression and other affective disorders like anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Continue reading
People who live in the countryside with pets are more resilient to stress and mental health problems compared to people who lead a pet-free life in cities, suggests a recent study by researchers from the University of Ulm in Germany and the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder. The researchers attributed the overall well-being of countryside people to their efficient immune systems due to the exposure to animals and bacteria-laden dust. Continue reading
A healthy and nutritious diet, including raw fruits and vegetables, is known to prevent various physical ailments, but one may wonder whether it can also benefit one’s mental health. Now, a recent research by the Department of Psychology in University of Otago, New Zealand, puts all such doubts to rest and says that consuming raw fruits and vegetables can help improve one’s mental health and provide relief from the symptoms of an existing mental illness. Continue reading
The gruesome killing of 10 innocent people in broad daylight has sent the Toronto city in a state of shock and grief. Alek Minassian, a 25-year-old student at Toronto’s Seneca College, killed 10 people and injured 15 others after driving his rental van into a crowd of pedestrians at Yonge Street, north of downtown Toronto, on April 23, 2018. Out of those injured, four are reported to be critical. Though the motive of the incident remains unknown, Minassian has been identified as someone with a history of mental illness. The police is investigating the matter further. Continue reading
Feeling the need to regulate the advertisements on the internet regarding mental health rehabs, Illinois recently suggested certain amendments to the House Bill (HB) 4949 – Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act – to the Mental Health Committee for review. After a short debate on Apr 20, 2018, the committee recommended these to be adopted. As per the proposed changes, it would be illegal for an individual to publish any misleading or false adverts. Further, no individual can indulge in any sort of promotion that misrepresents the need to look for help for mental health issues or treatment for substance use disorder outside the state of Illinois. Continue reading
