Mental Health News, Features & Updates

Learn more about what it’s like to live with tardive dyskinesia.

A diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia can be hard since many doctors aren’t aware of its symptoms. Here’s how one patient got a much-needed diagnosis.

Learn more about what’s new in the field.

August 29, 2025 — Feeling some end-of-summer blues? You can't stop the seasons from changing, but you can use the science of savoring to improve your mood and well-being as you make the most of what's left of the sun-soaked months.

August 20, 2025 — As more people turn to AI chatbots for mental health support, experts warn the tools aren’t built for therapy, raising concerns about bias, safety, privacy, and the risks of replacing real human care.

July 3, 2025 — Hope isn’t just a feeling, it’s a science – and its power can push beyond positive thinking, gratitude, and optimism into something more meaningful and permanent.

February 26, 2025 — Research suggests that nature’s regeneration can provide solace to people traumatized by wildfires. And after the Los Angeles wildfires, residents see surviving trees as symbols of hope and recovery.

February 13, 2025 — Distrust of everything from institutions to people closest to you takes a serious toll on health and happiness. Here’s how to find a way back.

January 22, 2025 — Just after a wildfire disaster, receiving good support from the community ranks high in aiding mental health, and opening up about feelings and frustrations should come when evacuees are ready, experts say.

December 19, 2024 — Mental health issues, such as depression and substance use, often peak during the holidays, but research has shown that just looking at twinkling lights outside of people’s homes evokes feelings of friendliness and warmth.

December 16, 2024 — Does your family make you sick at the holidays? We’re not just talking about catching a bug. It’s the emotional toll, which can unwrap physical and mental ailments.

November 22, 2024 — A group of researchers is drawing scientific attention to “seasonal psychology,” revealing useful new ways to improve your mental and physical health, especially in winter.

November 15, 2024 — Finding the right mental health care takes time and effort, but following these steps can help.

October 2, 2024 — "I felt a freedom": From healing emotional trauma to beating cancer, here's how dancing like nobody's watching can make all the difference for people living with disease.

September 12, 2024 — Scolionophobia, or fear of school, affects about 1 in 20 children at different points of childhood. Here's what parents need to know.

September 10, 2024 — More Americans than ever before are reporting feelings of anxiety around politics. But while it may feel like everything is out of your control, there are ways to cope and work through those feelings.

August 21, 2024 — Climate change is directly adding to climate event emergencies caused by extreme heat, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes, and the events are taking a toll not only on our physical health, but our mental health as well.

July 3, 2024 — As the weather heats up, learn how heatwaves, air pollution, and rising CO2 levels can chip away at your mental well-being – and how to fight back.

June 20, 2024 — Olympic athletes train their brains as much as their bodies so they can handle pressure and maintain a positive mindset. These same techniques can work for you.

June 5, 2024 — Studies show that ketamine and MDMA therapies for depression and PTSD are promising, but obstacles remain that hinder their widespread adoption.

May 22, 2024 — When it comes to your health, mindset matters – whether you’re coping with yet another migraine or a serious cancer diagnosis. Research is finding that our mindset – core assumptions we make that lead to expectations and behaviors – affects outcomes.

May 6, 2024 — Many new mothers aren’t aware that postpartum PTSD even exists, but it’s far from rare. Here's what to know.

April 8, 2024 — We tend to keep to ourselves in public – but experts say chatting with acquaintances and bystanders could be good for our mood and physical health.

April 4, 2024 — Fatigue, headaches, stomach pain, and a higher risk of heart disease: Although these things may not make you think of grief at first, many people who have a significant loss get these and other physical symptoms.

March 26, 2024 — Studies show benefits for people with high anxiety, depression, and PTSD, but there are questions about how these drugs might be used.

A strong spiritual life may protect your mental health. Find out how religion and spirituality can boost your well-being.

January 22, 2024 — Research links the personality trait with a range of health problems, like heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Here’s why, and what you can do about it.

December 22, 2023 — What's a good balance between having "me time" – being alone – and loneliness, which is already at epidemic levels? Here's how to find the sweet spot.

In the WebMD webinar, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explained what the holiday blues are, how they can affect you, and what ways you can prevent and overcome them.

Experts remind us to breathe and prioritize ourselves this holiday season.

It’s natural to worry about your baby. But pregnancy-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can take over your life. Learn how two women learned to manage symptoms of perinatal and postpartum OCD.

November 29, 2023 — New government data shows U.S. suicides hit another record high in 2022, but the numbers also contain good news about suicides among young people and about deaths in the U.S. overall.

November 27, 2023 — The number of patients with a ketamine prescription rose more than fivefold from 2017 to 2022.

November 17, 2023 — Highly successful cognitive processing therapy helps female veterans overcome PTSD.

October 23, 2023 — Following a Mediterranean diet may help people exposed to trauma limit how severe their posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms are, a new study suggests.

October 12, 2023 — Even though humans need sunlight for optimal health, less than 20% of people get outside every day for fun activities or relaxation, according to the 2021 General Social Survey. Now the same smartwatch that records your steps and sleep can also track your time in the sunshine.

October 12, 2023 — The top state for mental health is Nebraska, according to new rankings based on things ranging from violent crime rates to air pollution. Rounding out the top five spots were Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Rhode Island.

September 27, 2023 — New research is showing that caring for a loved one with a mental illness exacts a tremendous toll.

September 21, 2023 — A new study suggests that suppressing negative thoughts may improve people’s mental health.

Psychedelics scientist Roland Griffiths, who helped return scientific rigor to the study of psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA, died Monday at age 77. Just a few weeks ago, he discussed his cancer diagnosis and a new Johns Hopkins endowment for psychedelics, with Manish Agrawal, MD,

September 15, 2023 — People who drink two to three cups of coffee per day are the least likely to have anxiety or depression, compared to people who drink more or less of the popular beverage.

August 31, 2023 — Raging drivers, violent airline passengers, irate customers – we dismiss them as jerks, but experts say a little-known psychological disorder could be at play.

August 23, 2023 — Recent surveys suggest that our hopefulness is sorely lagging, and in some populations more than others. Learning hopefulness is not only a good skill to have; it could be lifesaving.

August 11, 2023 — In 2022, 49,449 people in the U.S. died by suicide. That’s the most suicides in a single year in U.S. history and marks a 2.6% increase over the prior year, according to new figures released by the CDC this week.

July 10, 2023 — A person’s memories of childhood abuse or neglect may have a stronger impact on subsequent mental health than the experience itself, says a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

July 6, 2023 — Loneliness, once considered a mere longing for connection, is gaining recognition from doctors and scientists as something much more dangerous: a risk for heart disease, dementia, certain cancers, and even death.

June 26, 2023 — Recent research shows that limiting social media use among teens can be challenging, but the benefits can be worth it.

June 14, 2023 — More people facing crises such as suicidal feelings, addiction, or abuse are choosing artificial intelligence systems such as ChatGPT for help. But are they really helpful? A new study offers some insight.

June 13, 2023 — Mount Sinai researchers used smartwatches to assess people’s resilience and well-being, the latest advance in a slowly growing field studying wearables for monitoring mental health.