Mental Health News

Latest Mental Health News From Medical News Today.

Total news: 25
Last news: August 31, 2007 07:00:00

Find current news and in-depth information about clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and ADHD in adults, teens, and children. Expand your understanding of mental illness and the learn techniques for managing stress.

Total news: 48
Last news: August 30, 2007 04:00:00

Ronald Honberg, director of policy and legal affairs for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) issued the following statement on todays Virginia Tech Panel Report: "The report is important for the entire nation. It exposes problems that exist not just in Virginia but throughout the country. Last year, Virginias mental healthcare system received a D grade in a national survey. The national average also was D. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

Mr Jimmy Devins, T.D., Minister for State at the Department of Health and Children, was speaking yesterday Wednesday 29th August in Killarney at the official opening of the Twenty Fourth Biennial World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention.The Congress is a biennial event organised under the auspices of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and is being hosted in Ireland by the Irish Association of Suicidology. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

A groundbreaking public health study has found a connection between damp, moldy homes and depression. The scientists said the findings came as a complete surprise. This was a large study, analyzing data from 5,882 adults in 2,982 households. Molds are toxins, and some research has indicated that these toxins can affect the nervous system or the immune system or impede the function of the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that plays a part in impulse control, memory, problem solving, sexual behavior, socialization and spontaneity. - [Read more]

One in eight rescue and recovery workers (12.4%) had probable post-traumatic stress disorder when they were interviewed in 2003 and 2004. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) varied significantly by occupation, with rates ranging from 6.2% among police officers to 21.2% among unaffiliated volunteers (those who were not working with an organization such as the Red Cross). The prevalence of PTSD in the U.S. population is roughly 4% at any given time. - [Read more]

The Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO is hosting meetings of youth, service providers as well as parents and caregivers from around the world on Monday and Tuesday leading up to the International Institute for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) conference in Ottawa later this week. This is the first time the conference has included youth and parents directly. "The impact of mental illness and its toll on society and individuals are huge. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

Mothers who cradle their baby to their right hand side are displaying signs of extreme stress, a new study suggests. Although most mums feel stressed in the early stages of their babys life, the study suggests their baby cradling habits are a key indicator of whether this stress could become overwhelming and lead to depression. - [Read more]

Reducing the suicide rate means a collective, concerted effort from all groups in society says new Minister of State for Health with responsibility for Disability and Mental Health, Dr Jimmy Devins, TD. Dr Devins was speaking last 26th August 2007, at the Town Hall Meeting on Youth Suicide, organised by St Vincents University Hospital in the Royal College of Physicians. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

With African-Americans and other minority groups having both problem and pathological gambling rates that are 2-3 times higher than Caucasian gamblers, accurate diagnosis is essential to treat gambling addiction," says Renee Cunningham-Williams, Ph.D., a leading gambling addictions expert and visiting associate professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

In anticipation of the new school year, Mental Health America and its 320 affiliates nationwide have provided resources to college students on campuses across the nation to help them manage stress levels and address common mental health problems. The August edition of the Mental Health America podcast, Chiming In, explores campus mental health issues and provides tips and resources to help students improve mental health. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

Melbourne mental health researchers have succeeded in halving the number of relapses experienced by people with bipolar disorder which strikes two in 100 Australians, accounts for 12 per cent of suicides each year and costs the country at least $1.5 billion annually(1). [click link for full article] - [Read more]

An increased number of Gulf Coast residents have experienced suicidal thoughts or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as the recovery from Hurricane Katrina continues, according to the preliminary results of a new survey, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

If you think the big cities of Toronto and Montreal have the highest rate of alcohol and drug use problems, think again. A new study entitled "Geographical Variation in the Prevalence of Problematic Substance Use in Canada" authored by three researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) discovered that Ontario and Quebec had markedly lower concentrations of people with alcohol and drug problems. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

Mental health researchers have succeeded in halving the number of relapses experienced by people with bipolar disorder which strikes two in 100 Australians, accounts for 12 percent of suicides each year and costs the country at least $1.5 billion annually. - [Read more]

Restless legs syndrome is a common problem in children 8 years of age and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, according to a new report. Nearly 2 percent of children aged 8 to 17 are affected, and a significant proportion of those experience moderate to severe symptoms, including sleep disturbance and negative moods. - [Read more]

Non-medicinal interventions are highly effective in preventing the behavioral and academic problems associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to a five-year study.The results were significant. Using a variety of early intervention strategies, parents reported, on average, a 17-percent decrease in aggression and a 21-percent improvement in their childrens social skills. Teachers saw similarly strong results; in the classroom, there was a 28-percent improvement in both categories. Early literacy skills improved up to three times over their baseline status. - [Read more]

WHO: Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General and current Director of the Center of Excellence on Health Disparities at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, where he occupies the Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in Mental Health.WHAT: Satcher addressed attendees of the American Psychological Associations (APA) 115th Annual Convention on the topic of "Culture, Race, Ethnicity, and Mental Health: A Dialogue. [click link for full article] - [Read more]

USA Today on Thursday published four articles on issues related to the mental health of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Summaries appear below. " [click link for full article] - [Read more]

Brain imaging has revealed a breakdown in normal patterns of emotional processing that impairs the ability of people with clinical depression to suppress negative emotional states. Efforts by depressed patients to suppress their feelings when viewing emotionally negative images enhanced activity in several brain areas, including the amygdala, known to play a role in generating emotion. - [Read more]

Research seeks to examine links between childrens mental health problems and alcohol, nicotine and illegal drug use over time. - [Read more]

Depression may be an unrecognized readjustment problem for recently returning veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a new study. Researchers working with veterans referred for psychiatric evaluation from a primary care service found that major or minor depression was associated with domestic abuse and other family problems. - [Read more]