Publications on Mental Health Topics

Stress? Fear of COVID-19? Therapists treating the vulnerable go online to help, by Menna A. Farouk, Reuters, Mar 25 2020.

“As the spread of coronavirus grows so too has people’s stress levels and anxieties, prompting businesses for good around the world to turn to technology to help the most vulnerable cope with mental health issues. ”

How To Sleep With Coronavirus Anxiety, by Adam Popescu, New York Times, Mar 25 2020.

“Many people spend their nights now tossing and turning, struggling to unglue from the constant scroll of coronavirus news updates. But, while there is no body or life hack to make you impervious to the touch of disease, we do know that sleep is key to helping our bodies stay healthy. “Sleep is an essential part of protection from and response to any infection,” said Douglas B. Kirsch, a neurologist and former president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. ”

Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Resource Hub, by Network of Care MA, Mar 19 2020.

““Last year, Network of Care MA launched as a tool to provide residents with a free online directory, searchable by zip code, with over 5,000 mental health, substance use, and social service listings across our Commonwealth. The website also includes an extensive library of health information with more than 30,000 high-quality articles, fact sheets, and interactive tools written by leading experts and organizations in their fields.  After one year in operation and with nearly 38,000 individuals accessing the site, Network of Care MA is launching the Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Resource Hub to help connect Black, Latinx, and Asian American community members with groups that are providing care that affirms their lived experiences and speaks to their social, cultural, and linguistic needs. Find resources near you and take the first step at www.massachusetts.networkofcare.org #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #NetworkofCareMA” ”

Mental health experts offer counsel on staying calm during coronavirus pandemic, by Joel Achenback, Washington Post , Mar 17 2020.

“The coronavirus pandemic is becoming a brutal psychological test. This is a dreadful moment with a potentially deadly pathogen on the loose. This public health crisis can take a mental toll on people, especially those struggling with anxiety, depression and other conditions. ”

Stress and Coping- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), by Center of Disease Control, CDC, Mar 14 2020.

“The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. ”

How to keep coronavirus fears from affecting your mental health, by AJ Willingham, CNN, Mar 14 2020.

“"There is a ton of information out there. The challenge is trying to determine which information is accurate." says Lynn Bufka, Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy at the American Psychological Association. She suggests taking control of your intake through the following steps (listed in article) ”

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. ”

1 in 5 Mothers Gets Postpartum Depression. New York City Plans to Help., by Jeffery C. Mays, New York Times, Feb 5 2020.

“Every first-time parent in New York City will soon be eligible to receive as many as six home visits from professionals as part of a $43 million early childhood effort that Ms. McCray will announce on Wednesday. The New Family Home Visits initiative, which will initially begin as a $9 million effort in Brooklyn before spreading to the rest of the city by 2024, will offer expanded access to at-home screenings for anxiety and postpartum depression, and connect mothers to relevant mental-health services. ”

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. ”

What Schizophrenia Does to Families, by Abigail Jones, Washington Post, Jan 13 2020.

“A first person account of the struggles that individuals and their families face when schizophrenia is diagnosed. ”

Mental health: How we've improved and where we need to do better in 2020, by Nicole Spector, NBC News, Jan 10 2020.

“Some of the most significant advancements in the last 10 years reveal just how far we have to go ”

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. ”