Publications on Mental Health Topics

How Exercise May Protect Against Depression, by Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times , Oct 1 2014.

“Exercise may help to safeguard the mind against depression through previously unknown effects on working muscles, according to a new study involving mice. The findings may have broad implications for anyone whose stress levels threaten to become emotionally overwhelming. ”

Predicting future course of psychotic illness, by University of Adelaide, ScienceDaily , Oct 1 2014.

“University of Adelaide psychiatry researchers have developed a model that could help to predict a patient's likelihood of a good outcome from treatment -- from their very first psychotic episode. The model is based on a range of factors, including clinical symptoms, cognitive abilities, MRI scans of the brain's structure, and biomarkers in the patient's blood. ”

Early memory lapses may be sign of dementia, by Jen Christensen, CNN , Sep 24 2014.

“The research suggests that people who feel they are forgetting more things may need to be concerned, even if bigger issues aren't yet showing up on cognitive tests. Participants who reported memory problems at the beginning of the study were more likely to have dementia down the road than those who did not ”

Single Dose of Antidepressant Changes the Brain, by Janice Wood, Psych Central , Sep 19 2014.

“Just one dose of an antidepressant is enough to produce dramatic changes in the brain, according to a new study. While SSRIs are among the most widely prescribed antidepressants worldwide, it’s still not entirely clear how they work, according to researchers. The drugs are believed to change brain connectivity, but over a period of weeks, not hours, researchers noted. The new study shows that changes begin to take place right away. ”

One In Five Workers Has Left Their Job Because Of Bullying, by Kathryn Dill, Forbes , Sep 18 2014.

“Nearly one third of workers report having felt bullied at work, according to a study released today by CareerBuilder. Even worse? Roughly 20% ended up leaving their job because of it. The study is based on data from a nationwide survey conducted by Harris Poll of nearly 3,400 full-time, private sector employees throughout various industries and company sizes. ”

Redefining Race Relations: It Begins at Home, by Erlanger Turner, American Psychological Assosciation , Sep 18 2014.

“In the United States, race relations has had its challenges across history. Although strides have been made over the course of history, we continue to battle racism and injustice in the 21st century. The recent incident in Ferguson, Missouri has re-energized efforts to address race relations, racism, and discrimination. If you’ve been avoiding media or hiding from technology, CNN has provided information on their website detailing the events and current status. ”

Divorce: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, Sep 16 2014.

World Suicide Prevention Day, 2014, by John Grohol, Psych Central , Sep 10 2014.

“Every day around the world, families and friends grieve the loss of a loved one due to suicide. Not once. Not twice. But over 2,000 times per day someone takes their own life. Can you imagine? If Ebola took 2,000 people’s lives per day, we’d hear a world outcry and an immediate call to action. But since it’s just suicide, we turn a blind eye. We go on with our merry lives, and pretend it couldn’t happen to us. It couldn’t possibly happen to someone we know. ”

Why Black Women Struggle More With Domestic Violence, by Feminista Jones, Time, Sep 10 2014.

“Domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) is a “family secret” in our Black communities. While I’m not suggesting that all Black people think and function in similar enough ways that we could all be labeled simply as one “community,” I do know we have pervasive problems that require nuanced discourse — especially in light of the national conversation about domestic abuse that has erupted over the last week. ”

This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids: A Question & Answer Guide to Everyday Life, by Dannielle Owens-Reid, Kristin Russo, and Linda Stone Fish (Foreword) , Sep 9 2014.

10 Depression Myths We Need To Stop Believing, by Alena Hall, Huffington Post , Sep 3 2014.

“In recent weeks, the global conversation surrounding death by suicide has taken center stage, and now more than ever, we're acknowledging the effects of undiagnosed, untreated and mistreated depression on those rising numbers. Approximately two out of three people who commit suicide suffer from major depression first. In the past, we have spent more time focusing on suicide than on this dominant root cause. And that's finally changing. Here are 10 myths and misconceptions about depression that hinder us from truly understanding the disease. ”

Mental Health Care System Is Failing At Suicide Prevention, Advocates Say, by Alana Horowitz, Huffington Post , Sep 3 2014.

“Nearly 40,000 people die from suicide in the U.S. every year -- a number that has climbed recently. CDC data show that in the first decade of the millennium, the suicide rate among U.S. adults rose 28 percent. As researchers told The New York Times last year, this figure may be even higher due to under-reporting. a pending piece of legislation in California that would mandate suicide prevention training for all licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers and even marriage counselors. Such a requirement is startlingly rare: Only two other states have laws similar to the proposed California bill, despite evidence that suggests such training can lower rates of suicide among at-risk groups. ”

In our digital world, are young people losing the ability to read emotions?, by University of California - Los Angeles, ScienceDaily , Aug 22 2014.

“Children's social skills may be declining as they have less time for face-to-face interaction due to their increased use of digital media, according to a UCLA psychology study. ”

Postpartum Difficulties Not Just Limited to Depression, by Traci Pedersen, Psych Central, Aug 19 2014.

“Both mothers and fathers need to pay attention to their mental health during the perinatal period, and they need to watch for these other types of conditions, not just depression, said Carrie Wendel-Hummell, a doctoral candidate in sociology. Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and bipolar disorder are all shaped by circumstances that surround having a baby.”

Childhood mental health disabilities on the rise, by Val Wadas-Willingham, CNN, Aug 18 2014.

“Over the past half century, the prevalence of childhood disabilities in the United States has been on the rise, possibly due to an increased awareness about these issues. Now a study published in this week’s online issue of Pediatrics suggests the nature of those newly diagnosed disabilities is changing. The report, “Changing Trends of Childhood Disability, 2001-2011" found the number of American children with disabilities rose 16% over a 10-year period. While there was a noted decline in physical problems, there was a large increase in disabilities classified as neurodevelopmental conditions or mental health issues, such as ADHD and autism. ”