‘Nature prescriptions’ deliver mental health benefits worth more than four times their cost Young Australians are struggling. Almost three in 10 are experiencing high psychological distress, nearly a quarter feel lonely most of the time, and around 60% face some form of social exclusion. Read More
Is AI making some people delusional? Families and experts are worried Generative artificial intelligence has quickly permeated much of what we do online, proving helpful for many. But for a small minority of the hundreds of millions of people who use it daily, AI may be too supportive, mental health experts say, and can sometimes even exacerbate delusional and dangerous behavior. Read More
Here’s a strategy to get through stressful holiday gatherings. Act like a dull rock The holidays are a time of merriment, festivity—and, for many, tense family gatherings. Read More
Daily coffee drinking may slow biological aging of people with major mental illness Drinking a maximum of 3–4 cups of coffee a day may slow the "biological" aging of people with severe mental illness, by lengthening their telomeres—indicators of cellular aging—and giving them the equivalent of 5 extra biological years, compared with non-coffee drinkers, finds research published in BMJ Mental Health. Read More
Fame itself may be critical factor in shortening singers’ lives, research suggests Fame itself may be a critical factor in shortening singers' lives beyond the hazards of the job—at least those in the UK/Europe and North America—suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Read More
Study reveals unexpected link between dopamine and serotonin in the brain Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Columbia University and the University of San Francisco, have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism by which dopamine, a key brain chemical vital for movement and motivation, can affect brain activity indirectly by boosting serotonin. The study was published in Science Advances. Read More
Collaborating minds think alike, processing information in similar ways in a shared task, study shows Whether great minds think alike is up for debate, but the collaborating minds of two people working on a shared task process information alike, according to a study published in PLOS Biology by Denise Moerel and colleagues from Western Sydney University in Australia. Read More
Psychological distress in Gaza has tripled over the past 5 years amid ongoing conflict, surveys suggest A new study tracking the mental health of adults in the Gaza Strip suggests that psychological distress has tripled over the past five years, with a sharp increase following the conflict escalation in October 2023. Read More
Reducing social media use for just a week can improve mental health In a new study, published in JAMA Network Open, 295 participants report promising mental health benefits after reducing their social media usage for a week. The cohort consisted of young adults from the ages of 18 to 24—the age group commonly associated with the highest social media usage, as well as a heightened risk of mental health issues. Read More
Research suggests autistic adults have an increased risk of suicidal behaviors, irrespective of trauma Autistic people are more likely to report suicide-related behaviors and psychological distress irrespective of previous traumatic experiences, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. Read More