E-Poster | Psychiatry | Mental Health

Corporate health crisis: 1 in 5 employees seek mental health support, 20% ready to quit as chronic illness hits before 40

2025-05-31 - 2025-05

One in five employees is seeking mental health support. Nearly 20 percent are considering quitting their jobs due to burnout. And chronic lifestyle-related illnesses — from hypertension to diabetes — are hitting Indians before they turn 40.

This is the current reality inside India’s glass-walled offices and buzzing co-working hubs. The very same professionals powering the country’s digital economy are burning out — fast.

Plum, an employee health benefits platform, has released its Employee Health Report 2025, offering a comprehensive view into the growing health burdens faced by India’s white-collar workers.

Drawing from over 100,000 telehealth consultations, 25,000 insurance claims, 1,998 health camp screenings, and 512 survey responses, the report paints a deeply concerning picture: chronic diseases are hitting Indians earlier than ever before, mental health issues are escalating, and burnout is driving a significant portion of the workforce to consider quitting.

Talkspace integrates with Amazon Pharmacy for psychiatry services

2025-05-30 - 2025-05

A virtual behavioral healthcare provider, is collaborating with Amazon Pharmacy to streamline the pharmacy encounter for Talkspace members, allow for medication management and offer support for providers.

The alliance will enable Talkspace members to fill prescriptions from their Talkspace provider via Amazon Pharmacy.

Both new and returning Talkspace customers will be able to select Amazon Pharmacy as a free home delivery option. Alternatively, if the patient prefers, a Talkspace psychiatric provider can forward prescriptions directly to Amazon Pharmacy.

Customers who shop on Amazon will have the ability to determine coverage for Talkspace therapy and psychiatry services via Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector website.

"This partnership builds on our successful collaboration with Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector last year and represents another way consumers can access the care they need," Dr. Jon Cohen, CEO of Talkspace, said in a statement.

Mental disorders significantly impact youth aged 10-14 in Singapore: Lancet study

2025-05-28 - 2025-05

SINGAPORE - Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability and death among 10- to 14-year-olds in Singapore, while the impact of mental distress on population health here is the highest in Asean, according to a new paper published in medical journal Lancet Public Health on May 28.

In 2021, the prevalence of mental disorders here was estimated at 12.8 per cent among males and 11.7 per cent among females.

Altogether, 653,000 diagnoses of mental disorders were made in Singapore that year, including among those above 70 years of age, an age group that experienced a threefold rise from 1990 in the number of cases.

St Agnes School CBSE hosts capacity building programme on student mental health and wellness

2025-05-26 - 2025-05

Mangaluru, May 25: St Agnes School CBSE, Mangaluru, organized a capacity building programme on mental health and wellness among students for its facilitators on May 24. The session aimed to equip educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to support the holistic development of students and foster a supportive learning environment that prioritizes mental well-being.

The programme commenced with a symbolic and traditional invocation of divine blessings, followed by the ceremonial presentation of the lamp to the resource persons. Josephine extended a warm welcome to the gathering and introduced the distinguished resource persons for the session. Dr Shashikumar K C principal, Vidyadayinee English Medium CBSE School, Surathkal, Mangaluru.

The evolving voice of mental health in advertising

2025-05-21 - 2025-05

The first time I encountered a conversation about mental health, I wasn’t even part of it; I was eavesdropping on my family talking in hushed tones about someone who seemed deeply distressed. But the secrecy around it meant I didn’t really understand what was going on, or why it mattered, until much later. When I grew older and found myself overwhelmed by my own thoughts, I was fortunate to have people around me who simply listened and did not try to teach me how to swim when I was drowning.

Dassault Systemes and the FondaMental Foundation Launch a Sovereign and Secured Nationwide Health Data Warehouse in France Dedicated to Psychiatry

2025-05-20 - 2025-05

Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) and the FondaMental Foundation today announced their collaboration to deploy a nationwide Health Data Warehouse (HDW) in France dedicated to psychiatry. This project aligns with France’s 2025 public health priorities: strengthening diagnostic and therapeutic research and innovation capabilities by structuring and leveraging complex clinical data within a sovereign and highly secure framework, to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Through the deployment of this Health Data Warehouse, Dassault Systemes - with its OUTSCALE brand - addresses the growing needs for health data security for processing and analysis. It supports the FondaMental Foundation’s work on complex conditions such as bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, treatment-resistant depression, and autism spectrum disorders.

The OUTSCALE sovereign cloud, certified for Health Data Hosting and qualified SecNumCloud 3.2 by ANSSI, meets the highest standards for protecting sensitive data, especially health data. It provides a high-performance, sovereign, and scalable cloud environment, combining computing power, trusted infrastructure, and an optimized network to advance scientific understanding of mental health conditions while enabling more precise and personalized care approaches.

Poor mental health as child limits capacity to work in later life, study finds

2025-05-19 - 2025-05

Children in Great Britain with serious mental health conditions are two-thirds more likely to have a limited ability to work in adulthood, according to research from a leading thinktank.

The report by researchers at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) looked at data from about 6,000 people who took part in the 1970 British Cohort Study, which is following the lives of individuals born in a single week in 1970 across Great Britain.

The analysis found that people who had severe mental and behavioural issues as a child were 85% more likely to have symptoms of depression at the age of 51, and 68% more likely to have a long-term condition that affects their ability to work.

Children with a physical health problem were 38% more likely to have limited capacity for work in later life, according to the analysis.

Mental health in emergencies

2025-05-16 - 2025-05

Almost all people affected by emergencies experience psychological distress, which typically improves over time.
One in five people (22%) who have experienced war or conflict in the previous 10 years has depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Emergencies significantly disrupt mental health services and reduce the availability of quality care.
People with severe mental health conditions are especially vulnerable during emergencies and need access to mental health care and other basic needs.

Burnout is real. Miami experts say you should follow this advice to ease stress

2025-05-14 - 2025-05

Happiness laughing with loved ones, a purpose in life, something to look forward to is a factor in whether a person will live a healthy and long life, experts say.

Eating healthy, sleeping well and staying active critical lifestyle changes that can promote healthy aging are easier to track. But happiness can be difficult to measure, and at times, difficult to feel.

“How do you feel happy if you're dealing with dementia How do you feel happy if you're a caregiver How do you feel happy if you're unhoused and dealing with multiple chronic conditions It's a real challenge,” said Joy Siegel, a professor at Nova Southeastern University.

Siegel is also a board member of the private not-for-profit Alliance for Aging. The organization provides resources and services to seniors, their families and caregivers in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

IIT Kharagpur forms committee to enhance campus mental health

2025-05-13 - 2025-05

The committee is tasked with assessing the multiple factors, be they primary, secondary, or tertiary, and the impact on the mental health of students, faculty, and staff. It will also identify challenges such as inadequate resources, administrative shortfalls, and academic pressures that may hinder the resolution of mental health issues on campus.

According to an official statement, the committee aims to gather comprehensive inputs, engaging with all stakeholders, to recommend measures that can strengthen the institute’s mental health ecosystem. The committee is expected to submit its report within three months

What is body dysmorphia Karan Johar opens up about mental health condition

2025-05-09 - 2025-05

Director and producer, Karan Johar recently revealed that he has been going through a mental health condition called body dysmorphia. Bollywood is known for its unusual expectations of physical appearance from the industry members. Actors are known to have gone on strict diets and tiring workout regimes to mark the benchmark set by the beauty industry. Karan Johar opened up about battling this condition and that he “couldn’t even look at himself in the mirror”.

What is body dysmorphia
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) or commonly called as body dysmorphia is defined by the NHS as “a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD, but it’s most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women. Having BDD does not mean you’re vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life.”

Scroll. Post. Break Down: The mental health cost of being an influencer

2025-05-08 - 2025-05

When 28-year-old influencer Misha Aggarwal was found dead by suicide recently, her followers were stunned. Just a few days earlier, she was posting upbeat reels, endorsing beauty brands, and sharing "get ready with me" videos. But beneath the filtered glow of her Instagram life was a spiral of anxiety, self-doubt, and depression, reportedly triggered by a sudden drop in her follower count and post engagement.

KU professor leads collaboration across disciplines to teach perinatal mental health care

2025-05-07 - 2025-05

Mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting one in five pregnant and postpartum women every year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Yet three-quarters go untreated and undiagnosed.

Part of the reason for this shortage in care is that fewer than 500 psychiatrists in the United States are trained in providing reproductive mental health care to the 800,000 women a year who experience maternal mental health complications, according to the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.

Erin Bider, M.D., clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, is looking to change that. Bider’s expertise in perinatal psychiatry — honed during her internship and residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — makes her uniquely qualified to address the overall lack of training in maternal mental health care.

Obesity and Poor Diet Quality Widespread in Severe Mental Illness

2025-05-06 - 2025-05

A survey of adults with severe mental illness reported obesity in 42% of participants, along with poor diet quality and ineffective weight management despite efforts, highlighting gaps in current weight management approaches.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey using online, postal, or researcher-assisted methods and included 529 adults (mean age, 49.3 years; 58% men) with severe mental illness.
Participants were required to have a documented diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder.
Data on physical activity and sedentary behaviour, diet, medication use, body mass index, mental health, and sociodemographic measures were collected in two phases: Pre–COVID-19 pandemic (before March 2020) and post-onset (June 2021 to March 2022).

Former Fetterman Aide Expressed Concern to Doctor About Senator’s Mental Health

2025-05-03 - 2025-05

The former chief of staff to Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, was so alarmed with his ex-boss’s erratic behavior last year that he wrote a lengthy letter to his doctor warning that the senator was spiraling out of control and that his mental health issues could cost him his life.

“I’m worried that if John stays on his current trajectory he won’t be with us for much longer,” Adam Jentleson, the former chief of staff, wrote on May 20 to a doctor who had treated Mr. Fetterman at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Mr. Fetterman’s behavior, according to former aides who are still connected to his diminishing circle, is still at times a cause of concern. Other former members of his staff, speaking on the condition of anonymity, report that their colleagues sometimes were frightened to be in the senator’s presence, if he was in an amped-up mood.

Trump Administration Cancels $1 Billion in Grants for Student Mental Health

2025-05-02 - 2025-05

The Trump administration has halted $1 billion for mental health services for children, saying that the programs funded by a bipartisan law aimed at stemming gun violence in schools were no longer in “the best interest of the federal government.”

Lawmakers authorized the money in 2022 after a former student opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers and injuring 17 others. The measure, known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, broke a decades-long impasse between congressional Republicans and Democrats on addressing gun violence by focusing largely on improving mental health support for students.

MERIT Therapy for Schizophrenia and Serious Mental Illness

2025-04-30 - 2025-04

MERIT is one of several metacognitive psychotherapies, designed especially to meet the needs of individuals living with serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia. It is deliverable in both group and individual settings, and it aims to improve metacognitive capacities through specialized interventions.

Metacognitive Capacities and Psychosis
Metacognition is a word utilized in fields ranging from education to mental health, often with subtle differences in meaning. Broadly, it references how one thinks about the process of thinking, or one's own cognition in particular. Therefore, the simplest definition of metacognition might be understanding how we and others think. It involves self-reflection, understanding others, considering greater trends, and using all this information to make meaning and move toward our valued goals.

Hoarding a mental health emergency - group warns

2025-04-29 - 2025-04

Hoarding in the UK has become a "mental health emergency" which requires an urgent response, a leading social enterprise has warned.

Clouds End CIC has been supporting more than 300 people who hoard in Birmingham, helping them to declutter their homes and encouraging them to attend mental health support groups.

It is an intervention project funded by Birmingham City Council, working closely with social services.

Estimates suggest 2-5% of the UK population may have hoarding disorder, which the World Health Organisation classified as a mental health condition in 2018. However, Heather Matuozzo, founder of Clouds End CIC, says the true number will have risen significantly since the pandemic.

Using smartwatches to better understand psychiatric illness

2025-04-28 - 2025-04

Wearable sensors such as smartwatches that collect physical and physiological data may be powerful tools in the effort to better understand brain and behavioral illnesses and their genetic drivers, a new Yale study finds.

Using smartwatch data collected from more than 5,000 adolescents, Yale researchers were able to train AI models to predict whether individuals had different psychiatric illnesses and uncover illness-associated genes. The findings, published Dec. 19 in the journal Cell, suggest wearable sensors may enable a much more nuanced understanding — and treatment — of psychiatric illness.

“In traditional psychiatry, a doctor will assess your symptoms and you’ll either be diagnosed with an illness or you won’t,” said co-senior author Mark Gerstein, the Albert L. Williams Professor of Biomedical Informatics and professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, of computer science, and of statistics and data science. “But in this study, we focused on processing the wearable data in a meaningful way that could both be leveraged to predict illnesses more comprehensively, and to better connect with underlying genetic factors.”

Study shows significant increase in mental health diagnoses among publicly insured children

2025-04-25 - 2025-04

In the first comprehensive investigation into the trends of mental health diagnoses among children with public health insurance, a new study reports the percentage of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses increased substantially in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers from Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta used Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program claims data to analyze trends in mental health and neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses among nearly 30 million publicly insured children ages 3-17 across 22 U.S. states from 2010-2019.

The study, which was published in JAMA on Thursday, found the percentage of children diagnosed with such disorders in each year rose from 10.7% to 16.5% during this period. After accounting for population changes over time, this translated into an increase of 6.7 percentage points.

“The size of the increase is alarming and clinically significant on its own. But it is even more concerning that we saw this increase and our last year of data was 2019, when we know from other sources that mental health among children continued to decline after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic," says lead author Janet Cummings, PhD, professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

Dhanbad woman slammed for calling son's anxiety 'nautanki' in viral video

2025-04-24 - 2025-04

A woman from Dhanbad was slammed online after she shared a video she recorded of her son possibly experiencing anxiety. The internet accused her of turning a distressing moment into content.
A Dhanbad-based woman found herself at the receiving end of the internet after she shared a video of her son appearing visibly distressed while doing his homework.

The video, shared by Saloni Agarwal on Instagram, shows the boy telling his mother that he is struggling to breathe. Instead of comforting him, Saloni is heard questioning him with a sarcastic remark: "You were breathing fine while playing earlier."

Nearly half of teens say social media is bad for youth mental health, report finds New York

2025-04-23 - 2025-04

The impact of social media on young people's mental health and well-being is a growing topic of concern among parents, educators, health care professionals and regulators. And now, nearly half of US teens say social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age - and almost the same proportion say they're cutting back on social media use.

That's according to a Pew Research Center report published Tuesday that asked American teens and parents about their attitudes around social media and smartphones. It offers an updated glimpse into how teens view their own social media use, following a separate Pew study from December that found nearly half of US teens say they're online almost constantly.

The report comes as parents and regulators have called on social media companies to do more to keep young people safe - and prevent them from spending too much time - on their platforms.

Doctor shares what to eat for mental health and what to avoid: ‘Eating processed foods can worsen your mental health’

2025-04-19 - 2025-04

We all have our go-to comfort foods, but what we eat might be doing more than just satisfying cravings. From mood dips to feeling anxious or low, our daily diet could be shaping how we feel mentally too. In his April 4 podcast, Stanford neurobiology professor Andrew Huberman spoke with Harvard psychiatrist Dr Chris Palmer about how food choices can affect mental health.
haring a clip from their conversation on Instagram, Huberman wrote in the caption, “The idea that what we eat can impact our mood and mental health comes at no surprise. However, it's only recently that scientific and clinical studies have begun to establish the powerful relationship between eating highly processed foods and mental health disorders. Alterations in mitochondria likely represent the bridge between these two factors.”

Long-Read Sequencing Pinpoints Genetic Basis for Psychiatric Diagnosis in Pediatric Case

2025-04-17 - 2025-04

Researchers at Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM) in San Diego have successfully applied long-read genome sequencing to reveal the genetic underpinnings of complex psychiatric conditions in a 17-year-old patient, showcasing the potential of this advanced technology for clinical diagnosis and future gene therapies.

In the recent study, “Long-Read Genome Sequencing in Clinical Psychiatry: RFX3 Haploinsufficiency in a Hospitalized Adolescent With Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Behavioral Decompensation,” published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers utilized the PacBio Revio platform, a long-read sequencing technology, to pinpoint the diagnosis of RFX3haploinsufficiency syndrome in an adolescent with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.

'Sunshine Guilt' Leads To Summertime Sadness For Nearly Half Of Americans — Which States Suffer The Most

2025-04-16 - 2025-04

We’re all familiar with the negative, depressive emotions that come during the colder, darker months of the year. Typically, we think of the summer months as being the literal rays of sunshine that cut through the emotional gray of winter.

However, a recent TikTok trend has led people to share their feelings regarding “sunshine guilt,” or feelings of guilt and depression that occur during the summer. Forbes Health conducted a survey to determine just how prevalent this sunshine guilt is.

Sunshine guilt or experiencing depression and other negative symptoms during the summer is not uncommon.
Forbes Health surveyed 2,000 “general population Americans” to determine how bad symptoms of sunshine guilt were. 48% of participants admitted to having negative mental health symptoms at some point during the summer, with the most typical being anxiety, stress, problems sleeping, and depression.

Overcoming Challenges in Psychiatry Clinical Research: Innovations in Patient Retention and Collaborative Care, Upcoming Webinar Hosted by Xtalks

2025-04-15 - 2025-04

In this free webinar, gain insight into the critical challenges and innovative solutions designed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of psychiatry clinical research. Attendees will learn about innovative medication adherence services, which are crucial in reducing placebo impacts by promoting consistent and accurate medication use among participants. The featured speakers will share insights into leveraging community partnerships to help build trust in the community to enhance participant engagement and retention, leading to more reliable and comprehensive data. The speakers will also discuss effective strategies for managing placebo responses, improving patient recruitment and retention, and leveraging the power of lived experiences to advance mental health research.

TORONTO, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Discover an informative webinar to learn how innovative solutions and collaborative efforts are transforming psychiatry clinical research.

Psychiatry clinical research involves distinctive challenges that make it difficult to achieve reliable study outcomes. As a result, these challenges hinder the ability to bring new and effective treatment options to the patients who need them. The diversity of psychiatric disorders, the subjective nature of diagnosis and the strong placebo effect obscure the true efficacy of interventions. Moreover, poor medication adherence and patient retention issues undermine the reliability and effectiveness of clinical trials.

The expert speakers will share insights from the accelerated enrollment solutions (AES) sites and highlight successful strategies for maintaining high retention rates.

In this upcoming webinar, the expert speakers will dive into these critical challenges and explore innovative solutions designed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of psychiatry clinical research. This webinar is tailored for researchers, clinicians and stakeholders aiming to improve patient outcomes and streamline research processes.

One of the primary issues is the high incidence of placebo responses, which can significantly skew study results. In this webinar, the expert speakers will discuss cutting-edge methodologies and best practices for managing and mitigating placebo effects, ensuring more robust and conclusive findings. A key focus will be innovative medication adherence services, which are crucial in reducing placebo impacts by promoting consistent and accurate medication use among participants.

Patient recruitment and retention remains a significant challenge in clinical research. The expert speakers will share insights from the accelerated enrollment solutions (AES) sites and highlight successful strategies for maintaining high retention rates. They will focus on how to enhance participant engagement and retention, leading to more reliable and comprehensive data.

Troubled With Postpartum Bipolar Disorder Expert Shares Tips To Manage

2025-04-14 - 2025-04

Society often places unrealistic expectations on mothers to be perfect caregivers. This stigma can prevent women from seeking the help they need. It’s essential to open doors for candid conversations around postpartum mental health.
Postpartum is often painted as a joyful yet challenging period for new mothers. However, for some women, this phase can bring in intense mood swings, erratic energy levels, and periods of depression or mania—symptoms associated with Postpartum Bipolar Disorder (PPBD).

PPBD is a mood disorder that emerges during or after pregnancy. Unlike the baby blues or even postpartum depression, it involves episodes of mania and depression. Mania may manifest as heightened energy levels, reduced need for sleep, and impulsive decision-making, while depression can bring on feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, and an inability to bond with the baby.

Our expert, Dr Ruchi Srivastav, Senior Consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sharda Care Hospital, Noida, sheds light on this under-discussed condition and offers practical strategies to cope. Explaining the condition she explains, “PPBD is caused by a combination of hormonal shifts, genetic predispositions, and psychological stress.” Let’s understand its symptoms and tips to manage.

Mental illness shouldn't define us, says runner

2025-04-11 - 2025-04

A marathon runner who said he refused to be defined by a mental illness he had as a child has been pounding the pavements as part of a 365-day challenge.

Cooper Berry, 23, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, is running at least 7.5 miles (12km) every day in 2025 to raise money for Suffolk Mind – and has just conquered his 100th day.

The running coach had anorexia for six years from the age of 11 and hoped his year-long, 2,721 mile (4,380km) run would encourage more people to speak out about their mental health struggles.

"I am very lucky to still be here today and I do not take that for granted, but some people do still suffer in silence, so my goal is to get more men talking," he said.

"I think we still don't talk about our feelings enough and it can be really tough - 12 men take their own life every day in the UK, so that's why the number 12 has such significance.

"Even going for a run is really helpful and I just want people to have meaningful connections and speak about their feelings."

Genetic breakthrough in psychiatry using long-read genomic sequencing

2025-04-10 - 2025-04

In a manuscript published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry titled Long-Read Genome Sequencing in Clinical Psychiatry: RFX3 Haploinsufficiency in a Hospitalized Adolescent With Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Behavioral Decompensation, authors describe how they leveraged long-read genomic sequencing (LRS) to make a genetic diagnosis in a17-year-old male with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and acute behavioral decompensation that would not have been possible by standard methods. Through the use of LRS, a cutting-edge technology that reads extended stretches of DNA in a single pass, enabling more accurate detection of complicated genetic changes, authors describe a complex rearrangement that resulted in inactivation of the RFX3 gene. The resulting clinical diagnosis of RFX3 haplo-insufficiency syndrome, which has previously been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual impairment, was not possible with the conventional technology that is currently used in clinical sequencing.

During the patient's psychiatric hospitalization, he exhibited a range of severe symptoms, including psychosis, depression, anxiety, and catatonia. His legal guardians provided consent to enroll him in the authors' study "Mental Health Crises in Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities."

Screen Time and Teen Girls: Understanding It's Link To Depression And How To Mitigate The Risk

2025-04-09 - 2025-04

In today’s digital age, screens are everywhere — from classrooms to bedrooms. For teenagers, especially girls, screen time has become an integral part of daily life. Social media, streaming platforms, online schoolwork, and gaming are just a few of the many digital activities competing for their attention. While technology has undoubtedly opened up new avenues for learning and socialisation, a growing body of research suggests that increased screen time may be linked to a rise in depressive symptoms among teen girls.

So what’s really happening behind those glowing screens More importantly, what can parents and caregivers do to help

Science Behind Screen Time and Depressive Symptoms
Studies have shown that teenage girls are particularly susceptible to the mental health impacts of excessive screen time. According to research published in JAMA Pediatrics, higher levels of social media use were associated with increased depressive symptoms in adolescent girls. Unlike boys, who may engage more in interactive gaming, girls often use screens for social comparison — a double-edged sword when it comes to mental well-being.

World Health Day 2025: Pregnancy Depression vs. Postpartum Depression, What’s the Difference

2025-04-08 - 2025-04

Pregnant women face several issues apart from their changing bodies, according to experts. They are not just prone to anxiety but can also be diagnosed with pregnancy depression or postpartum depression—and both conditions need to be dealt with with utmost care and professionalism for the health of both the baby and the mother. On World Health Day, the theme this year, `Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,' deals with this very important issue.

SKIMS introduces rTMS machine in Psychiatry Dept

2025-04-07 - 2025-04

SRINAGAR, Apr 5: In a major upgrade to mental health services, SKIMS Medical College Bemina has introduced J&K’s first-ever repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) machine in its Department of Psychiatry.
Installed at the Neuromodulation Centre, the machine offers a non-invasive treatment option for depression and is expected to significantly enhance patient care, the hospital said today.
Additionally, the department has added a DB-80 coil, specially designed for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), along with an ultraflex arm to facilitate more treatment sessions in a day, particularly for patients with depression, OCD, and anxiety disorders.
Another significant development, the hospital said, is the availability of Ultra-Brief Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in a general operation theatre setting.
“This advancement allows clinicians to select stimulus strength as per patient needs, making it especially beneficial for high-risk individuals and those with multiple comorbidities.”
The department has also strengthened its infrastructure with a range of modern therapies and diagnostic services.
These, as per the hospital, include Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Multi-Modal Behavioral Therapy, neurobiofeedback, and a fully updated Psychology Lab equipped for psychological assessments, IQ testing, psycho-diagnostics, and various psychological interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy, relapse prevention, and addiction treatment.
The Department of Psychiatry at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, continues to offer OPD services on all working days at Room No. 9, where patients can consult experts and access the upgraded facilities, the hospital informed.

Experts develop new guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia

2025-04-04 - 2025-04

New guidelines have been developed for the treatment of schizophrenia after a collaboration of international experts from 30 countries.

University of Queensland Professor of Psychiatry Dan Siskind said the International Guidelines for Algorithmic Treatment (INTEGRATE) offer a 'globally relevant' approach to treating the mental illness.

Schizophrenia imposes a significant healthcare burden worldwide with substantial physical health comorbidities.

The new guidelines include shared patient-doctor decision making, and tailored individual treatment, making it more likely people stick with treatment.

They offer hope and will improve the quality of life for patients and their families.''

Dan Siskind, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Queensland

Psychiatrists as Shakepeare's Fools

2025-04-03 - 2025-04

Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who specialized in the cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry and is now in retirement and retirement as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific writer and speaker, he has done a weekday column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News” and a weekly video, “Psychiatry & Society,” since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. He was chosen to receive the 2024 Abraham Halpern Humanitarian Award from the American Association for Social Psychiatry. Previously, he received the Administrative Award in 2016 from the American Psychiatric Association, the one-time designation of being a Hero of Public Psychiatry from the Speaker of the Assembly of the APA in 2002, and the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 1991. He presented the third Rabbi Jeffrey B. Stiffman lecture at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis on Sunday, May 19, 2024. He is an advocate and activist for mental health issues related to climate instability, physician burnout, and xenophobia. He is now editing the final book in a 4-volume series on religions and psychiatry for Springer: Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianity, and now The Eastern Religions, and Spirituality. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times.

The dark side of psychiatry – how it has been used to control societies

2025-04-02 - 2025-04

In his new book, No More Normal, psychiatrist Alastair Santhouse recalls an experience from the 1980s when he was a university student in the UK helping deliver supplies to “refuseniks” – Soviet citizens who were denied permission to leave the USSR. These people often faced harsh treatment, losing their jobs and becoming targets of harassment. Some were even diagnosed with a psychiatric condition called “sluggish schizophrenia”.

By the time Santhouse encountered this diagnostic category, sluggish schizophrenia had been kicking around psychiatry in the Soviet Union for some time. It first entered the diagnostic lexicon in the 1930s, coined to describe cases in which adults diagnosed with schizophrenia had displayed no symptoms of the disorder in childhood.

This notion of a symptomless disorder gave it tremendous value to Soviet officials in the 1970s and 80s, who wielded it ruthlessly against those who suddenly suffered from delusions of wanting a better society or hallucinatory desires to emigrate.

But they weren’t the only ones to wield psychiatry to repress and control. “Punitive” or “political” psychiatry has proven to be quite a useful tool in many parts of the world. One well-known case is that of Chinese political activist Wang Wanxing, who marked the third anniversary of the 1989 pro-democracy student protests in Tiananmen Square by unfurling his own pro-democracy banner on that same spot.

T.N. Mental Health Authority lists minimum standards for de-addiction centres

2025-04-01 - 2025-04

The Tamil Nadu State Mental Health Authority has outlined the minimum standards for de-addiction centres in the State, which include a ban on physical, mental, and sexual abuse or violence. It has also specified the conditions under which physical restraint may be used.
“Physical restraint is to be used if it is the only means available to prevent imminent and immediate harm to the person concerned or to others, and it should be approved by the psychiatrist. The circumstances, duration of restraint shall be recorded in the case sheet and a separate register kept for the purpose,” the notification said.

TeleManas helpline proves lifeline for mental health support in Telangana

2025-03-31 - 2025-03

The data, categorised into psychological issues, stress-related disorders, anxiety problems, sleep disturbances, mood-related sadness, relationship conflicts, suicidal ideation and medical complaints, highlights the growing demand for mental health interventions.

Quirky ‘Killbill Society’ promotional campaign backfires, psychiatrists slam makers

2025-03-28 - 2025-03

Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji’s upcoming Bengali film Killbill Society has run into controversy with a promotional campaign sparking outrage for allegedly diluting the gravity of mental health disorders.

A poster of the upcoming film starring Parambrata Chattopadhayay and Koushani Mukherjee, pasted in different parts of Kolkata, carries the text “Are you feeling helpless Contact Mrityunjoy Kar” — a message that many see as an allusion to suicide helpline numbers.

Rethinking autism diagnosis with AI and clinical expertise

2025-03-27 - 2025-03

In diagnosing autism – the developmental variant that affects around 80 million people worldwide – medical practitioners today put too much emphasis on a child's lack of sociability and not enough on their interests and how they naturally behave spontaneously with objects.

And so, to be more accurate in their assessments, health authorities should start tapping the vast analytic powers of artificial intelligence, combined with the experience of clinicians, and come up with better diagnostic criteria.

That's what Canadian neuroscientists argue in a new study, published today in the journal Cell.

Genetic and environmental factors in schizophrenia

2025-03-26 - 2025-03

Schizophrenia affects millions worldwide, yet its causes remain one of the greatest medical mysteries. In an exclusive Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Consuelo Walss-Bass, a pioneering researcher in psychiatric genetics, shares how both genetic predisposition and environmental factors contribute to severe mental health disorders.

As the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Chair in Psychiatry at UTHealth Houston, Dr. Walss-Bass has dedicated her career to understanding these mechanisms, transforming scientific discoveries into real-world applications for patient care.

A personal and scientific journey into mental illness
Dr. Walss-Bass's passion for psychiatric research is deeply personal. Born and educated in Torreón, Mexico, she was drawn to genetics after witnessing her mother's and sister's struggles with schizophrenia.

Trump and DOGE Propel V.A. Mental Health System Into Turmoil

2025-03-24 - 2025-03

Late in February, as the Trump administration ramped up its quest to transform the federal government, a psychiatrist who treats veterans was directed to her new workstation — and was incredulous.

She was required, under a new return-to-office policy, to conduct virtual psychotherapy with her patients from one of 13 cubicles in a large open office space, the kind of setup used for call centers. Other staff might overhear the sessions, or appear on the patient’s screen as they passed on their way to the bathroom and break room.

The psychiatrist was stunned. Her patients suffered from disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Treating them from her home office, it had taken many months to earn their trust. This new arrangement, she said, violated a core ethical tenet of mental health care: the guarantee of privacy.

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