Most Mental Illnesses Arise Without Family History

Summary: A massive Danish study shows that most mental illnesses—like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression—occur in people with no close family history of the condition. Analyzing data from over 3…

How mothers supporting mothers can help fill the health care worker shortage gap and other barriers to care

For generations, women have relied on informal networks of friends, family and neighbors to navigate the complexities of birth and motherhood. Today, research is finally catching up to what generations…

Genetic Link Between Cannabis Use Disorder and Mental Health

Summary: A large genetic study reveals that cannabis use disorder (CanUD) is strongly linked to increased risk for multiple psychiatric disorders, including depression, PTSD, ADHD, and schizophrenia. By analyzing global…

More Than Serotonin: How Psychedelics Engage the Whole Brain

Summary: Classical psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline are known for activating the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, but a new study reveals their effects go far beyond. Researchers profiled 41 psychedelics…

How the Brain Decodes Social Emotions and Anxiety

Summary: The anterior temporal lobe (ATL) plays a key role in interpreting social hierarchies and facial emotions, offering insight into anxiety and mood disorders. A research project used advanced imaging…

How prison affects Black men’s mental health long after they’ve been released

Mike returned home to Philadelphia after a 15-year prison sentence and suffered an emotional breakdown. “I just couldn’t stop crying … I don’t know. It was the anxiety. It was…

When grief involves trauma − a social worker explains how to support survivors of the recent floods and other devastating losses

The July 4, 2025, floods in Kerr County, Texas, swept away children and entire families, leaving horror in their wake. Days later, flash floods struck Ruidoso, New Mexico, killing three…

Tiny Brain Region Orchestrates How We Segment and Remember Life Events

Summary: Our memories don’t flow like a continuous stream—they’re divided into meaningful events, thanks to a tiny brain region called the locus coeruleus. New research shows this region acts like…

Hepatitis C Found in Brain Lining Linked to Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder

Summary: Researchers have discovered hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the brain lining of individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suggesting a possible link between infection and psychiatric symptoms. The study…

When disasters fall out of the public eye, survivors continue to suffer – a rehabilitation professional explains how sustained mental health support is critical to recovery

The devastating losses from the historic flooding in Texas Hill Country on July 4, 2025, are still coming into grim focus, with 121 deaths confirmed and more than 100 still…