Publications - Depression

CDC study sheds new light on mental health crisis linked to coronavirus pandemic, by Jacqueline Howard & Andrea Kane, CNN Health, Aug 13 2020.

“The Covid-19 crisis has brought with it a mental health crisis in the United States, and new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show just how broad the pandemic's impact on mental health might be. A new CDC survey found that almost 41% of respondents are struggling with mental health issues stemming from the pandemic -- both related to the coronavirus pandemic itself and the measures put in place to contain it, including physical distancing and stay-at-home orders. ”

An Era of Peril for Black Mental Health, by Joseph P. Williams, U.S. News & World Report, Aug 13 2020.

“n Cook County, Illinois, home to Chicago, officials say suicides in the Black community this year have been happening at an extreme pace, with men accounting for nearly 80% of victims. Meanwhile, snapshot government data collected last month indicates 4 in 10 Black Americans were struggling with anxiety or depression, while a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday showed that 15% of Black survey respondents in late June had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, compared with about 8% of whites. ”

Botox could ease depression in addition to wrinkles, study finds, by Kristen Rogers, CNN Health, Jul 30 2020.

“More than 264 million people worldwide are suffering from depression. But common treatments for depression aren't effective for nearly one third of these people, even when they stick to their treatment plans and tolerate the medications, according to the study, which published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports. ”

Can probiotics help with depression? New research suggests a link, by Katie Hunt, CNN, Jul 6 2020.

“A gut-wrenching experience. Butterflies in your stomach. Many of us instinctively feel the connection between our gut and our brain. That connection and how the range of bacteria residing in our digestive tract -- our microbiome -- might help treat mental illness has become a field of interest for scientists in recent years. A new review of medical literature has suggested that probiotics -- foods or supplements containing microbes thought to exert a positive influence on our gut -- could help ease depression. ”

How to Help Children Cope with Depression and Anxiety Right Now, by Tessa Yannone, Boston Magazine, Jun 16 2020.

“Growing up like a “regular kid” is anything but regular these days. From virtual learning to days on end spent with parents and siblings instead of friends and classmates, plus urgent new Black Lives Matter protests (read more on how to speak to kids about the protest movement here) and nonstop fireworks keeping neighborhoods up at night, parents may be wondering how to gauge how anxious kids are and how to help. This article addresses this issue! ”

Mental illness is a health issue, not a police issue, by Pete Earley , Washington Post, Jun 15 2020.

“Pete Earley is the parent designee on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, which advises the federal government about mental health reform. Americans with mental illnesses make up nearly a quarter of those killed by police officers, according to The Post’s Fatal Force database. Meanwhile, a cumulative list shows 115 police officers have been killed since the 1970s by individuals with untreated serious mental illnesses. ”

These are challenging times — here's how to get free mental health assistance, by Cory Stieg, CNBC, Jun 7 2020.

“As millions of people around the world are protesting police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to sweep the nation. Many people are experiencing increased levels of stress and anxiety as a result. From therapy to coping mechanisms, here are some free and low-cost resources that can help you during this time: ”

4 Ways to Help if Your Kid Is Depressed, by Melinda Wenner Moye, New York Times, Jun 2 2020.

““This unusual, unprecedented, extraordinary public health crisis is literally affecting everyone’s mental health,” said Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., a child psychiatrist and the medical director of the Child Mind Institute in New York City.  This article includes several strategies to support the emotional well-being of your children during this time.  ”

Not a staycation: Isolating at home affects our mental health (and what to do), by Claire McCarthy,MD, Harvard Health , Apr 14 2020.

“Tips from a pediatrician at Havard Medical School, Dr. McCarthy. "There is no way that we can live this without anxiety and sadness — and no way that our children can live it without anxiety and sadness. We all need to do our best, sure, but it’s important that we acknowledge that we are feeling strange and bad, that our kids are too, and this can’t help but affect how we all behave. We have to take care of ourselves in a different way, being proactive about our mental health." ”

Keep your teen moving to reduce risk of depression, study says, by Sandee LaMotte, CNN, Feb 11 2020.

“Science shows moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise is good for us -- it improves sleep; lowers blood pressure; protects against heart disease, diabetes and cancer; reduces stress; boosts mood; and fights anxiety and depression. It's especially important in adolescence, where the first signs of depression often begin, studies show. But unless your child is an athlete, it can be tough to wean them away from social media and the ever-present screen to swim laps or go for a blood-pumping jog. ”

Some states are now offering mental health days off to students, by Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, Feb 1 2020.

“Oregon and Utah are allowing students to take off for mental-health reasons, and there are legislative proposals to do the same in California, New York and Florida. In addition, the Montgomery County school district in Virginia recently decided to allow students to cite mental health for an excused absence. ”

Single dose of psychedelic drug eased cancer patients' anxiety, depression for years, by Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, Jan 28 2020.

“Nearly five years after a group of cancer patients were given a single dose of a psychedelic drug to ease depression and anxiety, new research finds that many of them are still feeling the positive effects. ”

How ‘brain hacking’ could help fight Alzheimer’s, depression and more, by Susannah Cahalan, New York Post, Jan 25 2020.

“Microglia are long-dismissed free-floating brain cells located all over the brain, making up 10 percent of the cells that populate the inside of our skulls. According to emerging research, these cells appear to play a significant role in a host of conditions including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, anxiety disorders and more.   Promising research suggests microglia -- tiny brain cells that act as "humble trashmen" -- may be manipulated to cure a host of health conditions. ”

Mental health declining among older U.S. adults, poor hardest hit, by Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, Jan 3 2020.

“Many older Americans have experienced more days of poor mental health in recent years, particularly individuals with limited income and education, a U.S. study suggests. ”

Fathers should be screened for postpartum blues, too, by Vishwadha Chander, Reuters, Dec 26 2019.

“Screening fathers for postpartum depression is as important as screening mothers, researchers argue, and current guidelines don’t go far enough in urging doctors to identify new fathers who may be suffering. ”