A synthetic version of the psychedelic drug ibogaine appears to relieve depression and addiction without producing hallucinations or other dangerous side effects — at least in rodents.
Youth depression, anxiety and suicide attempts have been on the rise during the pandemic. School shutdowns keep kids from friends and therapists, leaving social growth up to parents in many cases.
"Relationships with animals are simple," notes one researcher. In a year when life feels fraught, pets have been healers, helping human companions get exercise, quell anxiety and make new friends.
Decades of living with bipolar disorder was "training" for the coronavirus pandemic, says Terri Cheney, whose new book shares lessons for navigating mental illness — and the times we live in.
Mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been profound, researchers find. Nearly 25% of Americans are depressed, particularly those who have low incomes and have lost a job or a loved one.
Obama describes having trouble sleeping and periods throughout the pandemic in which she has felt down: "Spiritually, these are not ... fulfilling times."
Though anxiety has increased in the U.S. in recent months, a drastic spike in loneliness that psychologists expected hasn't emerged. People seem to be finding new ways to connect, researchers say.
The United Nations' policy brief laid out concerns that the spread of COVID-19 and its economic consequences will take a heavy toll in ways that may not be immediately obvious.
While self-quarantining amid the coronavirus pandemic, photographer Kisha Ravi took instant photos to help process her time isolating in a triggering place: her childhood bedroom.
Though John Moe's podcast, 'The Hilarious World of Depression' centers on mental illness, the conversations are funny. Humor "can bust me out" of a dark place, he says, the way platitudes never would.
Scientists say certain brain wave patterns can predict whether a person is likely to respond to a common antidepressant, or would do better with non-drug therapy.
Women with a history of depression and anxiety are at a higher risk of having a flare-up during the time leading up to menopause. And getting doctors to take the issue seriously can be challenging.
Joy can be cultivated. Hostility often masks depression. As one year ends and another begins, these six insights and tips from psychologists offer hope for a good new year.
Spravato, a nasal spray of the anesthetic ketamine, has been shown to help people with major depression. Now studies show it can relieve depressive symptoms in people actively considering suicide.
Researchers asked adults to reflect back on their happy childhood memories. They found those who recalled more were less likely to have depression in adulthood and had more supportive relationships.
Ella Risbridger was suicidally depressed when she roasted a chicken and ended up writing an uplifting, genre-bending cookbook that reads like a magical mix of memoir, novel and self-help book.
For teens who've experienced childhood trauma, playing team sports may help them avoid depression and anxiety later in life. But the cost of teen sports puts them out of reach for many could benefit.
Anthony Rostain and B. Janet Hibbs say college students today face an "inordinate amount of anxiety" — but parents can help their kids cope. Their book is The Stressed Years of Their Lives.
Denver could be the first place to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms if voters pass a ballot measure today. Supporters point to research finding therapeutic effects from fungi containing psilocybin.
Reaching out in kindness, mindful breathing and taking time daily to note positive moments and personal strengths are all part of a program that reduces anxiety and depression. But it takes practice.
Mind Fixers, by historian Anne Harrington, takes a hard look at the ways the marketing of a new pill to treat a mental disorder can change the way the condition is defined and treated.
What can you do when you fear someone you know may be considering suicide? It can feel daunting, but suicide prevention experts say we all can help someone at risk by reaching out and showing we care.
!["If we can erase some of the stigma around [depression and suicide]," says podcast host John Moe, "that person can have at least a better shot at treatment and avoiding this kind of fate."](https://knpr.org/sites/default/files/public/styles/thumbnail/public/images/npr-story/850913562_316348421.jpg?itok=IQ46xvai "Malte Mueller, fStop/Getty Images")
