Do Social Network Sites Help or Harm Well Being?

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How does social network site use influence well-being? Researchers suggest this depends on the extent to which site use is “connection-promoting."

Perfectionism May Lead to Significant Psychological Distress, Study Suggests

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A new study suggests needing to appear perfect to others leads to mental health stigma and a higher risk of untreated psychological distress.

Xanax: Children As Young As 11 Taking Anxiety Drug

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From BBC: The abuse of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax is becoming widespread among children and adolescents as young as 11 years old. "To gain an idea of the...

Study Investigates Long-Term Effects of Social and Emotional Learning Programs

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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs have gained popularity in U.S. schools in recent years. A new study examines the nature and longevity of their impact on students.

Phone Addiction Is Real — And So Are Its Risks

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From Forbes: Increasing evidence shows that smartphones can be addictive, and that smartphone addiction can have a very negative impact on our mental health, especially...

Experts Decry Dangerous Use of Antipsychotics in Children

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In a featured article for Psychiatric Services, psychiatrists from Dartmouth raise the alarm on the increasing numbers of children prescribed dangerous antipsychotic drugs. Despite the fact that data on the safety of long-term use of these drugs in this vulnerable population “do not exist,” the rate of children and adolescents being prescribed antipsychotic drugs have continued to increase over the past fifteen years.

International Study Documents Widespread Distress in College Students

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An international study of college students reveals ubiquitous social and emotional challenges faced by young adults.

“The Decline of Play in Preschoolers and the Rise in Sensory Issues”

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“We are consistently seeing sensory, motor, and cognitive issues pop up more and more in later childhood, partly because of inadequate opportunities to move and play at an early age,” writes Angela Hanscom in The Washington Post.

The Connection Between Sleep, Exercise, Screen Time and Cognition in Childhood

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Can current guidelines for sleep, exercise, and screen time in childhood be linked to positive cognitive outcomes?

Is School Driving Kids Literally Crazy?

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From FEE: School may have a negative impact on children's and teens' mental health: children's psychiatric emergency room visits drop precipitously over the summer and increase...

Relaxation Techniques for Depression and Anxiety in the Elderly

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-Time magazine looks at the effects of a number of relaxation techniques on depression and anxiety in elderly people.

New Study Finds That Lavender Extract Eases Anxiety

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A new study in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience has found that the smell of lavender extract has an anxiolytic effect.

Increasing Physical Activity in Schools May Improve Mental Health

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A new article suggests integrating physical activity throughout the day may help to address the mental health of students.

When Anxiety or Depression Masks a Medical Problem

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From The New York Times: The mind and body are more connected than we often think — symptoms of anxiety and depression may result from...

Out-of-home Placements for Children Increase Odds of Psychiatric Issues

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When controlling for social and family characteristics, separating children from parents into out-of-home care increases psychiatric issues, prescriptions, and criminal activity.

Transition into Poverty May Worsen Child and Maternal Mental Health

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Transitioning into poverty linked to behavioral issues in children, but may be mitigated by mother’s mental health.

I’m Withdrawing From Antidepressants After Nearly 20 Years

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From The Lily: In light of the recent New York Times article highlighting the effects antidepressant withdrawal, Ashley Abramson shares her personal story of deciding to...

Teenage Antidepressants “Doing More Harm Than Good”

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From BBC: A leading UK psychiatrist, Dr. David Healy, speaks out about the dangers of the growing prescription of antidepressants to young people under age...

Study Finds Parents Need More Support to Identify PTSD in Children

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A new study, published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, investigates the presence of posttraumatic stress symptomatology in children involved in motor vehicle collisions...

Critical Influence of Nutrition on Psychosocial Wellbeing in Childhood

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The bidirectional relationship between diet and nutrition and social, emotional, and educational factors among European youth.

Evidence for Chile’s School-Based Mental Health Program

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Chile’s Skills for Life (SFL) program, the largest school-based psychosocial intervention program in the world, has demonstrated improved behavioral and academic outcomes for elementary students identified as “at risk.” A team of Chilean and U.S. researchers assessed the SFL program and will publish their results in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP).

Brief Trauma-Focused Psychotherapies Effective for Children with PTSD

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Writing Therapy both reduce PTSD symptoms in children who experienced a single traumatic event.

A Likely Culprit for Teen Mental Health Deterioration

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From The Conversation: In the five years between 2010 and 2015, U.S. teens' mental health greatly deteriorated. The sudden ascendance of the smartphone is most...

Arts Participation May Improve Mental Well-Being and Social Inclusion

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Introductory arts courses at Open Arts Essex show improvements in mental well-being and social inclusion for individuals with mental health challenges.

Technology Not a Strong Factor in Adolescent Well-being, New Study Claims

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A new study suggests digital media use among adolescents has a smaller negative effect on well-being than bullying or smoking marijuana.