When it comes to mental illnesses, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community is no exception. In fact, due to the prevalent prejudice and discrimination, the community is prone to more negative mental health outcomes. When troubled by a mental health problem, youth generally choose the path of self-medication through alcohol and […]

When the internet was first introduced to the world in 1991, no one had dreamt that one day it would go on to occupy such an important space in everyone’s lives. Today, for people of all groups, it is difficult to imagine anything without internet – from communicating and connecting with people to shopping and […]

Disordered eating behavior is closely related to the risk of future depression and bullying, says a recent study. Although eating disorders like bulimia nervosa, anorexia and binge-eating are more common among adolescent girls, the five-year longitudinal study found the consequences to be similar in boys as well. The study involved 612 adolescents (boys and girls […]

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is characterized by sudden changes in mood and energy that can affect an individual’s ability to perform day-to-day activities. Not only adults, even adolescents can experience the disorder. Though the disorder is not common among adolescents, roughly 20 percent of teenagers tend to develop bipolar disorder within five […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected the Alkermes Plc’s depression treatment initiative ALKS 5461, citing lack of sufficient clinical evidence to support the effectiveness of the drug. The Dublin-based drug manufacturer has been asked to conduct further clinical trials to establish the utility of the antidepressant. The latest announcement by the FDA […]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a widely researched area among adult women, but there are limited studies to address PPD among adolescent mothers. Despite declining significantly since its peak in 1991, teen pregnancies and birth rates for American teens aged 15-19 are among the highest of industrialized economies. Adolescent motherhood is linked to a range of […]

Depression is a pervasive problem among American adolescents. However, a little awareness among adolescents about this mental problem can play a vital role in dealing with the issue. According to a recent study, published online in the journal Psychiatric Services in March 2018, while seeking help for themselves or others, the attitudes of students with […]

  Self-injury Awareness Month: Autistic children hospitalized with self-injurious behavior have low IQs, finds study Children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an elevated risk of engaging in self-injurious behavior (SIB). However, limited knowledge exists regarding the risk factors associated with the prevalence of self-injury among children with ASD who need to be […]

A recent survey commissioned by three United Kingdom-based charities – SelfharmUK, YoungMinds and The Mix – investigated the prevalence of self-inflicted injury among 1,009 British teens and young adults aged 16 to 25. The results, released on March 1, 2018, suggested that 36 percent respondents had intentionally harmed themselves at some point in their lifetime. […]

Not all violence stems from mental health problems, yet every macabre incident involving students forces the authorities to be more vigilant and take appropriate action. Broward County Sheriff officials apprehended Zachary Cruz (18), brother of the infamous school shooter Nicholas Cruz, on charges of transgressing the Marjory Stoneman Douglas compound on March 19, 2018. The […]