General Mental Health Articles
- Americans are anxious about the election. The American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America survey found that, as of August, politics were the leading cause of stress for seven out of 10 adults across party lines. In a poll from a mental-health-care company the same month, 79% of respondents reported that the presidential election made them feel anxious this year, and more than half thought about the election every day. Read more here.
- The 2024 election cycle may be remembered for redefining anxiety and drawing attention to the unique way politics stresses Americans. Pitched partisanship, razor-thin margins, political violence, and a barrage of ads have measurable health effects, including high levels of stress-related hormones in the body that can lead to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and more. Read more here.
- As winter approaches and daylight hours grow shorter, people prone to seasonal depression can feel it in their bodies and brains. “It’s a feeling of panic, fear, anxiety, and dread all in one,” says Germaine Pataki, 63, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She’s among the millions of people estimated to have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Read more here.
Youth Mental Health
- Teens getting four or more hours of screen time each day are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics. In a brief shared by the agency, data showed that about half of teenagers aged 12 to 17 between July 2021 and December 2023 had four hours or more daily screen time, 22.8% had three hours, 17.8% had two hours, 6.1% had one hour, and only 3% had less than one hour. Read more here.
The Opioid Crisis and Addiction Issues
- A decade into New Hampshire’s overdose crisis, there are some signs of progress. Overdose deaths declined last year, after surging during the pandemic. Access to treatment, recovery, support, and the overdose-reversal drug naloxone has improved. However, hundreds of Granite Staters are still losing their lives to drugs each year – 431 in 2023, according to the latest data from the state medical examiner. Read more here.
- The number of people who died of drug overdoses in Ohio was 4,452 in 2023, a 9% decrease from the previous year, according to the state’s latest unintentional drug overdose report. Read more here.
Mental Health Hotlines
- Florida has launched a hotline for first responders dealing with mental health issues. Those in need can call 1- 866-4-FL-HERO (866-435-4376) or go online to lasttoask.com. Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the "First Responder Hope Line" during a press conference in Tampa. It’s meant to help police, firefighters, and EMTs seek help for trauma they receive on the job. According to research by the Ruderman Family Foundation, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression rates among firefighters and police officers are five times higher than the general population. Read more here.
Climate Change and Mental Health
- Not being able to cool down after a long, hot day can lead to potentially fatal heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Exposure to extreme heat may also contribute to other adverse health conditions, including heart attacks and strokes. Older adults, young children, the mentally ill, and people with chronic diseases are among those most affected by extreme heat, according to the CDC. Read more here.
Loneliness and Mental Health
- From a wellbeing perspective, tangible aspects of life experiences can play a significant role in reducing the chances of experiencing loneliness. Liking what you do each day, a core aspect of career wellbeing, represents having a natural right fit into one’s day-to-day activities. It is also a part of wellbeing that employers can greatly influence. For those who do not like what they do every day, the rates of burnout, unplanned absenteeism, and turnover all rise substantially. Read more here.
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