Publications on Mental Health Topics

How to talk to your children about protests and racism, by Sandee LaMotte, CNN, Jun 2 2020.

“As cities and social media explode with anger over the killing of yet another black man at the hands of police, worried parents struggle with how to protect their children from seeing the worst of the violence while simultaneously explaining the ravages of racism. ”

What Keeps A Top Mental Health Official Up At Night During A Pandemic—And What You Can Do To Help, by Naz Beheshti, Forbes, May 26 2020.

“Service providers already see an uptick in demand for counseling and support. Unlike the virus, where someone affected usually displays symptoms within days, psychological symptoms can take much longer to surface. That demand is likely to grow exponentially in the coming weeks and months. ”

Mental health apps draw wave of new users as experts call for more oversight, by Kira Herzog, CNBC, May 25 2020.

“ First-time downloads of the top 20 mental wellness apps in the U.S. hit 4 million in April. That’s up 29 percent from 3.1 million in January. By contrast, first-time downloads of the top 20 such apps fell 30 percent during the same period last year. Services like Talkspace and BetterHelp, in particular, have reported a rush of new users in 2020, but teletherapy apps have been dogged by concerns around privacy and efficacy. Six mental health experts emphasized that the digital therapy space needs more transparency and oversight, but there isn’t a consensus on what the path forward should be.  ”

Coronavirus: Mental health advice for those with virus anxiety, by Sarah Kendrick, BBC, May 24 2020.

“Mental health experts are offering advice to help adults and children cope with "Covid-19 anxiety". This article includes various tips from mental health professionals. ”

The coronavirus pandemic's impact on global mental health is "already extremely concerning," UN says, by Jacqueline Howard, CNN, May 14 2020.

“There is a "high prevalence" of mental distress in countries across the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic, especially among health care workers and children, according to the United Nations and the World Health Organization. "The impact of the pandemic on people's mental health is already extremely concerning," WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a news release Thursday. During the pandemic, 47% of health care workers in Canada have reported a need for psychological support; 50% of health care workers in the People's Republic of China reported depression; and 42% of health care workers in Pakistan reported moderate psychological distress and 26% severe psychological distress, a new UN policy brief released Thursday says. ”

Substantial investment needed to avert mental health crisis, by World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Organization (WHO), May 14 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the need to urgently increase investment in services for mental health or risk a massive increase in mental health conditions in the coming months, according to a policy brief on COVID-19 and mental health issued by the United Nations today. ”

Could COVID-19 Finally Destigmatize Mental Illness?, by Jessica Gold, TIME, May 13 2020.

“There is a research model going around that suggests as many as 150,000 additional people could die from mental health-related outcomes of COVID-19. I could argue the merits of the mathematical model as many of my colleagues have. I could also make the case that discussing the depths of despair and predicting increasing suicide rates over and over could, in fact, lead to copycat suicides. But what if I took an alternative stance, and told you that—though absolutely no one would wish a pandemic on anyone— this is actually what mental health needed to stop being stigmatized and start being valued? ”

How CEOs Can Support Employee Mental Health in a Crisis, by Ryan Smith, Harvard Business Review, May 1 2020.

“Business leaders are justifiably focused on the here and now of the Covid-19 pandemic, but there’s a looming second-order mental health crisis that is only beginning to emerge as a result of global quarantines and a massive, sudden shift to working from home. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 75% of people say they feel more socially isolated, 67% of people report higher stress, 57% are feeling greater anxiety, and 53% say they feel more emotionally exhausted, according to a global study of over 2,700 employees across more than 10 industries undertaken by Qualtrics and SAP during March and April 2020. ”

Too Much Time Spent On Social Media Is Taking Mental Health Toll On Users During Coronavirus Pandemic, by Peter Suciu, Forbes, May 1 2020.

“Even as social distancing efforts continue and millions of Americans remain in isolation it is impossible to escape coronavirus-related news and information. It leads the evening newscasts on the networks, fills seemingly endless hours of cable news; and is discussed by every talking head, political pundit and even late night comedians. Coronavirus also continues to dominate social media, which remains where many people now are turning for news – but should they? ”

The best mental health tips for staying sane in isolation, by Rachel Mishael, BBC, Apr 29 2020.

“As people around the world self-isolate because of Covid-19, factors like anxiety, a lack of social interaction or outdoor time and economic stressors can lead to mental health challenges. While everyone’s circumstances vary and people are experiencing this global pandemic in different ways, many have found relief using similar approaches. Here’s what our readers shared about how they’re holding up and what has helped them stay positive. ”

Coronavirus is causing a mental health crisis. Here’s how to fight it., by Anna North, Vox, Apr 16 2020.

“Covid-19 patients and those caring for them could be especially at risk for anxiety, depression, and other conditions. As weeks of distancing turn into months, many people are experiencing a greater and greater sense of isolation. They’re also dealing with the uncertainty of when and how the pandemic will end, the fear of getting infected, the economic crisis that has cost millions of Americans their jobs, and the inconsistent messaging about the virus from authority figures. ”

Supporting Social and Emotional Learning During the Coronavirus Pandemic, by Erlanger Turner, U.S. News & World Report, Apr 14 2020.

“During this current COVID-19 crisis, many parents now find themselves in the role of a teacher given school closures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. For decades, psychologists, child development experts and educators have emphasized the importance of social and emotional learning, or SEL. ”

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." ”

Coronavirus is harming the mental health of tens of millions of people in U.S., new poll finds, by Joel Achenbach , Washington Post, Apr 2 2020.

“Nearly half the people in the United States feel the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health, according to a survey published Thursday that demonstrates how the covid-19 pandemic has escalated into a nationwide psychological trauma. The tracking poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, conducted March 25 to 30, found that 45 percent of adults say the pandemic has affected their mental health, and 19 percent say it has had a “major impact.” The rates are slightly higher among women, Hispanic adults and black adults, the survey found. ”

Pregnant during a pandemic, by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN , Mar 30 2020.

“Imagine the challenge of expecting a child without knowing what to expect. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta shares the stories of three women who are due to give birth in the coming weeks and answers key questions about pregnancy in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. ”