Recent medical studies on kids are showing alarming results: children today are more depressed and anxious than they were a decade ago. Even comparing today’s kids with those of the more stressful periods in human history. Eating disorders and suicidal thoughts have also increased and are becoming more and more frequent among younger kids.
While healthcare professionals have yet to agree on the deciding cause or causes for the deteriorating mental health of kids in our society, parents, teachers, and adults, in general, can contribute to making the world an easier and safer place for growth and development.
Tag: Mental Health
The Double-Sided Nature of Mental Health TikTok
TikTok does an exceptional job of bringing people together. During the early days of the pandemic, conversations surrounding mental health reached the forefront of our collective consciousness, creating space on the popular platform for people with mental illnesses to seek assistance and community. But on an app that is specially designed to suck you down bottomless rabbit holes fueled by endless scrolling, it can be easy to get caught up in a web of false information and dubious advice. While I’m personally of the belief that mental health TikTok serves as a refuge for many, it can be quite dangerous for others–especially for the young and easily impressionable.
The Healing Benefits of Music Therapy
Non-traditional therapeutic practices have long been considered trivial when it comes to addressing one’s mental and physical health, and I think that’s a big mistake. In a world where Big Pharma peddles pills over all else, it can be easy to dismiss forms of treatment that don’t align with doctor’s orders. While medicine is unquestionably important to those who need it, there has been a growing wave of medically-backed encouragement to supplement treatment with healing practices that involve more than just physical therapy, taking meds, and talking about your problems. Today, I’d like to highlight the benefits of music therapy.
Ezra Miller Reportedly Seeking Help For Mental Health Issues
Ezra Miller is seeking treatment for mental health-related issues following recent erratic behavior. The Flash star has issued a statement regarding their mental health and problematic behavior. The 29-year-old actor is seeking treatment after facing numerous run-ins with law enforcement this past year, which all made headlines for their bizarre and dangerous nature.
Depression Is Not Caused by Chemical Imbalance in the Brain
Upon analyzing 17 previous studies on the subject of depression, scientists have concluded that there might be no link between depression and lower levels of serotonin in the brain. The authors of the review also said that these findings could refute not only theories connecting depression to a chemical imbalance but also the effectiveness of prescribing antidepressants that target serotonin. Decades ago, the serotonin hypothesis proposed that depression and a chemical imbalance in the brain—including a deficiency of serotonin—could be closely related. Therefore, the most commonly prescribed antidepressants are those formulated to make serotonin more available in the brain by blocking its reabsorption into the neurons. These are the antidepressants known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Op-Ed: Top 5 Mental Health Documentaries on Prime
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 21% of U.S. adults—1 out of 5—experienced mental illness in 2020, and an alarming 7.7 million young people, aged 6 to 17, experienced a mental health disorder in later years. Conversations about mental health are becoming increasingly more important to help inform, raise awareness, and destigmatize these issues.
This is where the media can help
Strangers Rally to Offer Free Mental Health Help after the Deadly Fourth of July Parade Shooting
After the deadly shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, IL earlier this month, a therapy resource is going viral, illuminating the widespread mental health impact of mass shootings in the U.S. Following the shooting that claimed seven lives and injured several more, an interior designer from Illinois named Alexandra Kaehler created a list of available mental health therapists that people could go to and posted them on Instagram.
Having One Drink a Day Could Raise Brain Risks
It is a very well-known fact that heavy drinking is directly linked to chronic disease, from damage to the liver to a higher risk of throat, esophagus, and even breast cancer. What most people don’t know is that moderate drinking—namely, just one cup a day—could also posit some serious health risks. According to a new study, even moderate drinking may be related to higher iron levels in the brain. Iron accumulation in the brain can be detrimental to memory and thinking skills.
988 Suicide Prevention Hotline To
Launch Nationwide
Starting on Saturday, the new three digit number will become a suicide and crisis lifeline. The launch of 988 will make access to mental health and resources more accessible to people across the country. The hotline will provide 24/7 free and confidential support around the U.S. to those experiencing mental health distress. People across the country will be able to call or text if they start to experience a crisis. Advocates hope that this new focus on emergency assistance will bring about the expansion of other mental health services that are in short supply in many communities.
Why it is Important to Exercise Even When your Body Hurts
There are different kinds of body soreness. It can happen after an intense workout, where you wake up to feel the pain from every muscle you worked out the day before. Body soreness can also come from inactivity. Joint pain and stiff muscles can appear when someone has been in bed or sitting for too long. Whatever the reason, it is still important to push through and try to move your body, or at least the body parts that are not in so much pain.
Five Ways to Mentally Refresh after a Stressful Day
Stress is a common problem in our world today. Stress can affect multiple areas of the body, including both mental, emotional, and physical health. Having techniques to cope with the daily stressors of life is important, even if you’re not experiencing extreme stress levels. According to The American Institute of Stress, about 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress and 77 percent of people have stress that impacts their mental health. Here are some basic techniques that you can add to your daily routine to mentally refresh after a stressful day at work or school.
Smoking and Mental Health Risks
Many people today understand the risks that smoking poses to someone’s health, however on top of this it also affects mental health. Smoking linked to serious health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. In addition to these risks, chemicals such as nicotine can affect a person’s mood and mental health.
