Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

One in six people worldwide affected by loneliness, WHO report reveals

The World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Connection has released its global report revealing that 1 in 6 people worldwide is affected by loneliness, with significant impacts on health and well-being.

30 Jun 2025

Early therapy for preschool depression shows long lasting benefits

Depression affects 1%-2% of children younger than 13 in the U.S. and can arise as early as age 3, but a specialized therapeutic intervention can help preschool-aged children find relief from this condition - with benefits lasting at least four years, according to a new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

27 Jun 2025

Poor diet quality weakens resilience and mental health in food insecure populations

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 13.5% of American households experienced food insecurity at some time during 2023. That means 18 million families didn't have enough to meet their needs and often didn't know where the next meal would come from.

26 Jun 2025

Sleep does not block brain response to screams and alarms

During sleep, the brain must achieve a delicate balance: disconnecting from sensory input to allow restorative functions, while remaining alert enough to wake if danger arises.

26 Jun 2025

Bedfont® Scientific Limited joins IFE Group to support young people’s mental health

Bedfont® Scientific Limited, a local medical breath analysis device manufacturer, is thrilled to announce its sponsorship and participation in a local charity golf day hosted by IFE Group, raising vital funds for Young Minds, a leading UK charity dedicated to fighting for the mental health of children and young people.

From Bedfont® Scientific Ltd 26 Jun 2025

Teaching emotional skills improves student wellbeing in Japan

Today, high school students worldwide face unprecedented levels of stress as they navigate academic pressures, issues with social identity, and future career decisions.

26 Jun 2025

Performance pay initially boosted GP care but gains did not last

Introducing performance related pay for UK general practices initially improved quality of care, but did not seem to provide lasting improvements beyond that expected by previous trends, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

26 Jun 2025

Experts urge shift from weight focus to patient centered care

Focusing solely on achieving weight loss for people with a high body mass index (BMI) may do more harm than good, argue experts in The BMJ today.

26 Jun 2025

Synthetic opioids and designer benzodiazepines linked to driving impairment

No-one could claim to be unaware of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID): drugs can increase the time needed to react, impair coordination, alertness, and cognition, and lower inhibitions, thus encouraging reckless and aggressive driving.

25 Jun 2025

Grip strength offers new clues to early psychosis

Psychosis often begins not with characteristic disturbances of the mind – delusions like paranoia or hallucinations – but with disturbances in the way we move our body.

25 Jun 2025

Virtual canine modules offer mental health support

While it's well known that spending time with dogs can ease stress, new research shows that watching a short video of a dog can have a similar comforting effect.

25 Jun 2025

Working in people-contact roles increase risk of type 2 diabetes

The emotional demands and confrontation inherent in person-contact roles, involving direct face to face or voice to voice interaction with external parties, are linked to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes, suggests research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

25 Jun 2025

Study finds nearly double risk of depression and anxiety in autoimmune patients

Living with an autoimmune disease is linked to a near doubling in the risk of persistent mental health issues, such as depression, generalised anxiety, and bipolar disorder, with these risks higher in women than in men, finds a large population-based UK study, published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

25 Jun 2025

Medicaid cuts threaten health care access in rural America

Major cuts to Medicaid funding could have rural communities across the country facing widespread hospital closures and reduced access to health care, says Michael Shepherd, a health policy researcher at the University of Michigan.

25 Jun 2025

Genetic markers show promise in predicting mood disorder treatment outcomes

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Thought Leaders Invited Review, researchers have synthesized findings from dozens of studies examining how genetic markers for mood disorders influence treatment outcomes and clinical features across major psychiatric conditions.

24 Jun 2025

‘We need to keep fighting’: HIV activists organize to save lives as Trump guts funding

Cedric Sturdevant woke up with "a bit of depression" but made it to church, as he does every Sunday. In a few days, he would drive from Mississippi to Washington, D.C., to join HIV advocates at an April rally against the Trump administration's actions.

24 Jun 2025