Mental health News

Q&A: Deciphering common mental health myths Special By Tim Sandle Mental health is a topic that has gathered a lot of attention recently, given the numbers affected. Despite this, many people are still consumed by myths that are rooted in fear and misinformation. Dr. Prakash Masand unravels these.

Essential Science: Scientists decode mood swings By Tim Sandle A new research tranche puts forward the idea of decoding depression. This involves translating mood signals as a novel means for the treatment of affective disorders.

The under-reported issue: Mental health issues at work By Tim Sandle London - Levels of mental health issues in the workplace are rising in many countries. A new survey conducted by the charity Mind has assessed that half of all employees experience a mental health issue during their working life.

Dopamine used for targeted therapy for neuropsychiatric disorders By Tim Sandle New research shows how dopamine plays an influence with neuropsychiatric disorders. The focus is with how dopamine receptors create signal within cells. It is hoped the research will lead to better and more targeted treatments.

AI system analyzes speech patterns to detect depression By Tim Sandle Boston - Scientists have developed a machine model designed to detect depression in patients without needing responses to specific questions. Instead, the analysis is based on an assessment of the person's natural conversational or from their writing style.

Artificial intelligence can assess personality By Tim Sandle A new artificial intelligence driven platform can assess a person’s personality by scanning the eyes. This is through assessing the way that the eyes move, through the use of an advanced tracker and data analysis software.

Digital hub aims to improve youth mental health By Tim Sandle Belfast - Mental health issues remain on of society’s major, and sometimes overlooked, issues, especially among younger people. A U.K. government backed scheme aims to tackle some mental health concerns using digital technology.

Key messages from the annual workplace mental health summit By Tim Sandle Toronto - Recently more than 1,000 people attended the annual workplace mental health summit. A series of Employers Connect events took place in eight Canadian cities. The events discussed new research and ideas to improve employee well-being.

Speech analysis software predicts psychosis By Tim Sandle A new study shows how speech analysis software can predict a mental illness like psychosis, in at-risk patients, with up to 83 percent accuracy. This offers a potential diagnostic tool for psychiatry.

Essential Science: Why telemedicine works with mental health By Tim Sandle Telemedicine can trump face-to-face care in some situations. A new study shows how a telephone-delivered collaborative care program for treating panic and generalized anxiety disorders in primary care proves more successful than conventional care.

Digital games improve mental health of refugees By Tim Sandle Ankara - Digital platforms can help refugee children to better assimilate into a new society, helping with language and education, and also in addressing the mental health issues that inevitably accompany the traumas of escape.

Businesses are using technology to support mental health By Tim Sandle London - Workplace absence costs employers millions of lost pays and billions in lost revenue each year. Many of these absences are due to mental health issues, of which stress and anxiety are the leading triggers.

How businesses can tackle mental health at work By Tim Sandle Mental health issues in the workplace create problems for individual worker and they impact on the business in terms of productivity loss. As a result many businesses are investing in new ways of supporting employees.

Most dangerous social media app for mental health revealed By Tim Sandle London - Social media platforms are rated in different ways, covering the spectrum from marketability to user experience. How about mental health? Instagram is rated, from a new survey, as the worst social media platform for young people's mental health.

Mental health issues studied one year after Fort McMurray fire By Arthur Weinreb Fort Mcmurray - A psychiatrist with the University of Alberta is studying how the 2016 wildfire has affected the lives of children in Fort McMurray. Other studies are also being conducted regarding anxiety, depression and PTSD among those who lived through the ordeal.

Cats cause no harm for your mental well-being: Study By Tim Sandle A new research project has cast doubt on earlier, more controversial studies that suggested there is an association between cat ownership and mental health issues. The new research has found no connection between cat ownership and psychotic symptoms.

Researchers study impact of mental health on sport performance By Tim Sandle A decline in form and a bad run of results for a high performing sports player can be tied to a mental health issue. To help study the effects, with a view of aiding to sports stars of today, researchers have investigated some high profile players.

Biomarker for depression during pregnancy detected By Tim Sandle Many women who are pregnant suffer from depression, with some medics putting the rate at one in seven. To assist medics in detecting the likelihood of a woman suffering from depression a biological marker has been detected.

Pets help people through mental illness By Tim Sandle Manchester - People who keep pets are often healthier than those who do not, according to a new study. The study focuses on people who suffer with a major mental illness.

Microbiomes interact with mental health treatment By Tim Sandle People who experience a 'nervous stomach' under periods of stress will understand the connection between the gut and a person’s mood. It seems that there is now scientific evidence to support this link.

Physical source of depression identified By Tim Sandle A connection between depression and physiology has been found from a new research study. This indicates that depression is associated with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex of the brain.

New approach for treating teens with depression By Tim Sandle Washington D.c. - Depression is a growing problem among teenagers as the pressures from schools increases, together with interactions with peer groups and from social media. The rise requires new strategies for treatment by health authorities.

Why many mental health apps are failing By Tim Sandle Health apps are becoming increasingly common. All of them collect data and this data is shared with the manufacturer. How concerned should we be? A new issue has been raised about mental health apps in particular.

Review: George F. Walker completes Bobby and Tina cycle on mixed note Special By Jeff Cottrill Toronto - The third entry in a trilogy is often the weakest one. Think of “The Godfather Part III”, “Return of the Jedi”, “The Return of the King” – and now, if this rule counts for indie theatre too, add George F. Walker’s “The Damage Done”.

Brain area where depression occurs is detected By Tim Sandle Feeling low? Scientists now know where in the brain depression is most strongly associated with. The region is associated with reward and it also interacts with a second region of the brain that stores memories.

Tackling Alzheimer’s with cancer delivery mechanism By Tim Sandle A drug delivery mechanism intended for the treatment of a form of cancer may have effectiveness at slowing down the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new research study.

Review: Bedlam and Beyond exhibition in London Special By Tim Sandle London - Bedlam asylum was the first asylum for people with mental health issues, with its origins in the thirteenth century. The history of the asylum, on show at the Wellcome Collection in London, charts the history of social attitudes.

Essential Science: Electroconvulsive shock treatment on the rise By Tim Sandle Electroconvulsive shock treatment, once a fairly common treatment for mental illness, is regaining popularity and could be set to make a comeback to the psychiatric mainstream.

Bipartisan data initiative to reduce U.S. prison population By Jack Derricourt The Obama Administration is looking to lower the prison population through innovative data management. The Data-Driven Justice Initiative (DDJ) was announced on June 30, and will work to divert low level prisoners out of the prison system.

Yeast infection linked to mental illness By Tim Sandle Infection with a common yeast can lead to mental health problems in some cases, according to new research. This is shown from analysis of patterns relating to psychiatric patients.

Mental health Image