Among individuals receiving publicly funded mental health services who use social media, nearly half (47%) reported using these platforms at least weekly to feel less alone (Brusilovskiy, Townley, Snethen, & Salzer, 2016). Like other online communication, the ability to connect with others anonymously may be an important feature of social media, especially for individuals living with highly stigmatizing health conditions (Berger, Wagner, & Baker, 2005), such as serious mental disorders (Highton-Williamson, Priebe, & Giacco, 2015). Rates of social media use among psychiatric populations have increased in recent years, as reflected in a study with data from 2017 showing comparable rates of social media use (approximately 70%) among individuals with serious mental illness in treatment as compared to low-income groups from the general population (Brunette et al., 2019). The wide reach and near ubiquitous use of social media platforms may afford novel opportunities to address these shortfalls in existing mental health care, by enhancing the quality, availability, and reach of services. Across the United States and globally, very few people living with mental illness have access to adequate mental health services (Patel et al., 2018).
Newer Insights: How to Harness Digital Technology and Novel Methods of MH Promotion and Protection
- Lifestyle factors, including stress management, a balanced diet, and regular exercise, can help regulate glutamate levels.
- Such an approach will lead to more-useful science, and will lessen the risk of developing irrelevant or inappropriate interventions.
- The field of epigenetics explores how environmental factors can affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself.
Researchers from The University of Mississippi and The University of Alabama examine the extent, range, and characteristics of the predominantly U.S.-based evidence on youth SIRC implementation research webinars mental health first aid. Public mental health and policy Epidemiology of mental health Researchers from Iowa State University explore the mental health impacts of long COVID. The American Psychiatric Association has announced big upcoming changes to psychiatry’s big book of mental disorders, the DSM
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Pharmacological interventions, such as benzodiazepines, target GABA receptors to enhance their calming effects, providing relief from anxiety and insomnia. Medications such as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) target norepinephrine pathways to treat depression and anxiety disorders. In mental health, norepinephrine influences mood, motivation, and cognitive functions such as focus and decision-making. The neurobiology of mental health is intricately linked to the regulation of neurotransmitters and the functioning of specific brain regions. As the pandemic subsided, post-COVID mental health challenges emerged, with many experiencing what is termed “pandemic fatigue,” chronic stress, exhaustion, and emotional burnout.
However, the dearth of trained mental health care providers in most countries is an impediment to the delivery of treatment interventions for moderate and more severe conditions. A review of social determinants of mental health aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) grouped several risk factors into economic, neighborhood, environmental, and social/cultural domains 19•. The mental health impact of recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geo-political events, and environmental change is likely to persist and require coordinated care approaches for those in need of psychosocial support. The vast care gap for common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety means countries must also explore innovative approaches to expand and diversify care.
The lateral hypothalamus is involved in arousal, motivation, and energy levels, with connections to depression. The supraoptic nucleus (SON) regulates vasopressin, influencing social behavior and stress reactions. The hippocampus, crucial for memory formation and emotional regulation, is particularly vulnerable to chronic stress and depression, which can reduce its volume and impair both memory and emotional control. Mental health is intricately linked to the functioning of specific brain regions, each playing a critical role in regulating emotions, behaviors, and cognitive processes. Lifestyle factors, including stress management, a balanced diet, and regular exercise, can help regulate glutamate levels. Medications such as NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonists, such as ketamine, have shown promise in rapidly alleviating treatment-resistant depression by modulating glutamate pathways.
Goldstein-Piekarski also led a study on cognitive behavioral therapy for people who suffered poor sleep during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when stress levels were high. People with insomnia, for example, are 10 times more likely to have depression and 17 times more likely to have anxiety than the general population. Addressing underlying causes and making healthy lifestyle changes — such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep — can help people with malaise feel better.