Innehållsförteckning för The Mental Health Edition från The Goodnewspaper

Bipolar disorder is a heritable mood disorder that impacts about 2.8% of Americans. There are four categorized types of bipolar disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, each pointing to various patterns of depression, mania, and other unstable moods. The main treatment for the condition is lithium, though it doesn’t help all patients and comes with significant side effects. However, a genetic study led by scientists at Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has revealed new key genetic insights that could help detect, diagnose, and treat bipolar disorder. The international study, which included 14,000 participants with bipolar disorder, and 14,000 control participants, pinpoints a gene called AKAP-11 as a strong risk factor for both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. These findings not only help…

Kyndra Bailey is a small business owner slinging handprinted apparel, stationery, stickers, and more under the brand Kyn You Believe It. In 2022, Bailey introduced her line of mental health journals, designed to be an “all-in-one resource for caring for your mind.” The journals feature daily mood trackers and prompts, coloring pages, contact information for one’s support system, and an emergency resource page. Bailey knew that purchasing a journal would be inaccessible to some, so she started the Write In The Feels program. Anyone who is interested in a journal but cannot afford one is invited to fill out a request form on a no-questions-asked basis. The sales from Bailey’s shop fund these donations, but customers can also independently donate to get journals in the hands of anyone who needs…

GOOD Follow art therapist Amelia Hutchison on Instagram or TikTok for tips and tutorials to integrate art into your therapy and healing practices. Check her out at @art_therapy_irl on both platforms! BETTER Donate to Write In The Feels to help someone in need access a mental health journal. Visit writeinthefeels.com to donate directly, buy your own journal, or download fliers to advertise the program. BEST Take care of yourself so you have the capacity to help make a difference. Visit a museum, (many have free admission days!), spend time in nature, or begin a journaling practice of your own.…

Schizophrenia is a spectrum of neuro-psychiatric brain diseases that cause people to interpret reality abnormally, potentially resulting in hallucinations, delusions, or extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily life. However, the personal impact of the disease is not the only challenge; stigma is still a very real and ongoing threat to care and social belonging. It is estimated that 40% of people living with schizophrenia do not have access to treatment, and 6% face homelessness. Moreover, those with the condition require lifelong treatment, and early intervention is key to preventing serious complications. Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA) is a nonprofit dedicated to systems transformation, peer-to-peer support, and public education to change the narrative around schizophrenia and psychosis. S&PAA does this work through a number of campaigns. One element…

“Meditative Story” by Rohan Gunatillake combines immersive storytelling with science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice embedded into the storylines — along with breathtaking originally composed music. “The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos” — a Yale professor who studies the science of happiness — takes you through the latest scientific research and shares stories that will change the way you think about your mental health. “A Slight Change of Plans” is a podcast hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar that blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are, as well as who we become, in the face of a big change.…

“It can be overwhelming to witness/experience/take in all of the injustices of the moment; the good news is that they’re all connected. So if your little corner of the work involves pulling at one of the threads, you’re helping to unravel the whole damn cloth.” This is a quote from writer and educator Ursula WolfeRocca, and while it illustrates the interconnectedness of all social movements, it also perfectly illustrates the thread that runs through mental health and activism. An individual’s lived experience is almost always interdependent on the entire culture, community, and systems that raise them. The oppressive systems at work in our current Zeitgeist depend on the poor mental health of its people, and it’s up to us all to confront these truths. We can confirm this phenomenon in…

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotions. Someone with BPD might experience intense and extended emotions that can lead to impulsivity, poor self-image, relationship challenges, and dangerous behaviors like self-injury. However, those living with the condition and the people who love them want the world to know: those big emotions matter. Emotions Matter is a nonprofit that was created by a network of families and individuals impacted by BPD who have united around a shared vision to improve social connection, awareness, and healthcare systems for those living with the condition. The organization was established in 2015 when three women connected at an awareness walk and bonded over their shared experiences with family members who live with BPD. Since then, Emotions Matter has established…

GOOD Many people experience mental health conditions as a result of systemic oppression. Check out “The Side Effects of Living” by Jhilmil Breckenridge and Namarita Kathait to read about diverse lived experiences. BETTER Redistribute your wealth to: We R Native (wernative.org), Trans Lifeline (translifeline.org), Asian Mental Health Project (asianmentalhealthproject.com), or The Loveland Foundation (thelovelandfoundation.org). BEST Take a mental health and social justice training! Inclusive Therapists has a full catalog of options to choose from. Look for workshops and trainings at inclusivetherapists.store…

Canadian nonprofit HeadsUpGuys started from a simple survey in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. On the survey, men indicated they were having suicidal thoughts, yet failed to mention these thoughts to the doctor they were about to see. This was the catalyst for HeadsUpGuys, an anonymous online resource specifically designed for men living with depression. Launched in 2015 as a program of the University of British Columbia, HeadsUpGuys is now a global resource to support men as they recover from depression and reduce their risk of suicide, as well as improve mental health literacy and decrease stigma among men. In this time, over 500,000 “self checks” have been completed on the organization’s website, and dozens of campaigns —including public art and celebrity PSAs —have reached those looking for…

GOOD Donate to Support For The Psyche to help folks who can’t afford therapy access care. You can donate funds or buy a t-shirt to help! To support others or share the opportunitiy with someone in need, visit supportforthepsyche.com. BETTER Tell your story to help others know they’re not alone. Read and share through The National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org/share-your-story) and The Solidarity Stories (thesolidaritystories.com). BEST Become a Peer Support Advocate with Project LETS to provide immediate support to those in crisis (without calling the cops). Programs are available across the U.S. Get started by visiting projectlets.org.…

Meet your newest selfcare bestie: Finch: Self Care Widget Pet. Finch is a self-care pet app (you think of it as a modern-day Tamagotchi pet that lives on your phone) that helps you feel prepared and positive. The goal is simple, take care of your pet by taking care of yourself. Insight Timer is a free app that offers a variety of guided meditations (over 130,000), helping people address their sleeping patterns, anxiety, and stress. Each session is peer-reviewed and offers live events like yoga, mood tracking, private mentoring, and workshops. Whole: Self-Care Habit Builder, by The Happiness Broadcast, is a free science-based self-care app designed to help people build and maintain healthy habits. Some notable features include breathing exercises, hydration checks, sleep sounds, meditation, and more.…

Alegra Kastens (@obsessivelyeverafter) is a licensed marriage and family therapist, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) advocate, content creator, and founder of Center for OCD, Anxiety and ED. She specializes in treating OCD, anxiety, body-focused repetitive behaviors, body dysmorphic disorder, and eating disorders. As someone who lives with OCD, Kastens's work to provide treatment, education, and advocacy is deeply personal. “There are misconceptions about many illnesses, but OCD seems to be one of the most misunderstood of them all,” she shared with Made of Millions. Beyond the important work and support she provides to her clients, Kastens serves an online community of over 95 thousand followers by posting reliable research-based OCD and anxiety content. She also offers online workshops aimed at providing helpful resources and insight for people overcoming the shame and guilt…

In the summer of 2022, the U.S. rolled out its first-ever three-digit mental health hotline: 988. Designed to be the 911 of mental health emergencies, this new initiative came with pros and cons. Along with a positive investment in mental health crisis teams across the country and a much more memorable and accessible hotline number, 988 also adds to the complexity of treating mental health emergencies, concerningly still putting people in the hands of law enforcement and other first responders who are not equipped with comprehensive mental health training — ultimately causing more harm. This leads to ineffective treatments (people experiencing reality-altering situations likely will not respond well to being detained), unnecessary incarceration or hospitalization, compounded trauma, and in some cases, police violence that could even lead to death. Although…

One of the most accessible daily mental health interventions we have at our disposal is journaling (ugh, we know you’ve probably heard that one too many times!). But while we might not feel like we have the time, motivation, or energy to put pen to paper, study after study shows that this practice (even for just two minutes) can have a lasting impact on our well-being. Inspired by bestselling author Neil Pasricha’s “Two Minute Mornings: A Journal to Win Your Day Every Day,” we hope this page serves as a way for you to take two minutes (seriously, only two minutes) out of your day to connect with yourself and the world around you. DAY 1 I am grateful for… I will accept… I will celebrate … DAY 2 I…

Scientists at King’s College London are giving a whole new meaning to “bird brain.” New research has found that seeing or hearing birds is associated with an improvement in mental wellbeing that can last up to eight hours, according to Science Daily. The study took place over the course of about three years, as 1,292 participants used a smartphone app to chart their mental wellbeing alongside their reports of seeing or hearing birds. The app asked participants three times a day if they could see or hear birds, followed by questions about their mental wellbeing. Researchers also collected data about the participants’ existing mental health conditions. This led researchers to find that birds had an impact on mental health improvements for both “healthy” folks and those with preexisting conditions like…

GOOD If you like learning about the science of our brains, check out the podcast “The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos” — which is based on the most popular course in Yale University history. BETTER Donate to organizations funding mental health research. Some suggestions include OneMind (onemind.org), MQ Mental Health (mqmentalhealth.org), and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org). BEST If you’re eligible and able, enroll in a clinical trial or research study to help advance mental health care, resources, and treatment for all. Visit nimh.nih.gov/health/trials to find a study and learn more.…

Inspired by existing projects in Canada that issue prescriptions to fine art museums and national parks (park prescriptions are a thing in the U.S, too!), one of the largest hospitals in Brussels has implemented museum therapies for people suffering from depression, stress, or anxiety. The project is currently running a pilot program for six months, partnering with the city’s history museum, a center for contemporary art, and the fashion and lace museum. Participants can also explore the sewer museum, which allows them to stroll 10 meters underground along the banks of the Senne River. Doctors stress that these museum prescriptions are not a replacement for other treatments but are a voluntary addition to medication, psychotherapy, and other forms of relaxation. Delphine Houba, a Brussels deputy mayor in charge of culture,…

While some of us might think of self-care as a good retail therapy session or bubble bath, there are additional layers to caring for yourself that we often overlook: like, supporting our mental, emotional, and physical selves, (We call this proactive self-care.) The good news is that this kind of care is readily available at our fingertips. Whether you’re working on keeping yourself hydrated, focused, or a little less anxious, we’ve compiled a few resources offering compassionate, simple reminders that caring for yourself doesn’t have to be complicated.…

Well, of course, we have to include our free daily email, The Goodnewsletter! Our team of good news journalists collect and share the top good news stories of the day — plus a few bonus goodies — all to leave you feeling more hopeful about the world. goodgoodgood.co Girls’ Night In is a weekly newsletter by women, for women. From pop culture to self-care, to mental health and (you guessed it) tips on having a great night in, this newsletter is the coziest dose of comfort for you and your inbox! girlsnightin.co If you have ADHD (or love someone with ADHD), Extra Focus is a straightforward ADHD-friendly newsletter that offers ideas and strategies on time management, energy, and motivation. extrafocus.io…

Lorenzo Lewis spent most of his childhood and teen years at his aunt’s barbershop, where he soaked up the playful banter, laughter, and hushed conversations between barbers and their clients. Lewis’s intimate connection with barbershops later resurfaced in his late 20s when he worked as a juvenile case worker. Many of the kids he worked with were Black students suffering from trauma, depression, and other mental illnesses. “Since African American boys and men had little access to therapy, why not bring therapy to them,” Lewis thought. The solution: The Confess Project of America, a national organization training barbers and stylists to become mental health advocates. The organization is the largest nonprofit committed to building a safe space for Black boys, men, and their families to address their mental health —…

We have all experienced the intrinsic connection between our bodies and minds. Whether our heart rates skyrocket in fear, our stomachs twist with stress, or our hands stim in delight, we know that our feelings and how our body feels are dependent on one another. As most trauma scholars will tell you: the body knows what we’ve been through. One tool to heal from trauma, oppression, and mental health conditions is the practice of somatic therapy. Soma means “the living body,” and somatics is the practice of being in communication with the body; using psychotherapy and physical therapy for holistic healing. This can happen through breathwork, meditation, visualization, massage, dance, eye movement and tapping exercises, and lots of other mind-body practices. Whether it’s being used to help abuse survivors, or…

Sometimes, when someone we love needs support, we don’t realize it until it’s nearly impossible for them to reach out and ask for help. Sometimes, asking for help becomes a challenging task in itself because the people closest to us don’t know what we need. Sometimes — like the past couple of years — it seems as if everyone needs help, and it’s hard to know how much we have to give each other. A recurring theme in Anne Helen Peteron’s Substack blog Culture Study is how to cultivate community and care for one another. She sums up why it’s so hard to ask for help: Our society makes it difficult to develop real networks of care. Whether through inadequate housing, social safety nets, or otherwise, many of us have…