Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Black youth, especially Black girls, use mental health services less than their White peers

New research published in CMAJ found that Black adolescents with mental distress are less likely to access mental health care, with Black girls being the least likely. The study highlights the need for culturally responsive and sex-specific adaptations to care, as well as policy changes to equalize mental health service use.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 8, 2025

“I want to get some bad-ass tattoos”: Study reveals why suicidal teens choose to keep living

A new study has identified the deeply personal reasons that suicidal adolescents give for wanting to live, with family connections being the most common reason. Young people also spoke about personal dreams, simple joys, and meaningful activities, such as getting a tattoo, as reasons to keep living.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalPsychiatric Services·TypeObservational study·DateSep 4, 2025

Dental fear is widespread—But most people want treatment

A new study found that nearly three out of four adults suffer from dental fear, with 45.8% experiencing moderate fear and 26.8% severe fear. Most individuals interested in overcoming their fear are open to free, brief treatment options, such as virtual dental fear treatments using apps and telehealth.

SourceNew York University·JournalThe Journal of the American Dental Association·DateSep 2, 2025

A patient’s own cartilage cells may be the key to help healing after hip surgery

A recent study by researchers at the University of Missouri has made a groundbreaking discovery using patient's own cartilage cells to aid in healing after hip surgery. The research team successfully cultured and expanded cartilage cells, or chondrocytes, in the lab, paving the way for future clinical applications.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalArchives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2025

Thousands of kids in mental health crisis are stuck for days in hospital emergency rooms, study finds

A new study found that over 1 in 10 Medicaid-enrolled youths experiencing a mental health crisis are kept in hospital emergency rooms for three to seven days. The research highlights the shortage of appropriate care in Oregon and nationwide, with experts warning that boarding kids can worsen their conditions and demoralize families.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 15, 2025

UH study finds positive childhood experiences protect against disordered eating

A University of Houston study found that positive childhood experiences, such as supportive relationships and regular household routines, can protect against disordered eating behaviors in college students. Adverse childhood experiences, including abuse and neglect, were also linked to increased risk factors for disordered eating.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalAdversity and Resilience Science·DateAug 13, 2025

Ukrainian teachers' mental health benefits from training to help their students

A recent study found that Ukrainian educators who participated in a virtual mental health intervention significantly reduced their own symptoms of anxiety and depression. The PSE treatment group reported greater improvements in mental health, knowledge, and readiness to provide psychological support.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCambridge Prisms Global Mental Health·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 25, 2025

Persistently, intensely grieving relations are nearly twice as likely to die within 10 years after losing a loved one

A large-scale study published in Frontiers in Public Health found that individuals experiencing persistent and intense grief are nearly twice as likely to die within 10 years after losing a loved one. The study followed a cohort of 1,735 bereaved individuals and found that those with high grief symptom levels had significantly higher r...

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateJul 25, 2025

First impressions count: How babies are talked about during ultrasounds impacts parent perceptions, caregiving relationship

A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that how healthcare providers describe babies during ultrasounds impacts parent perceptions and can influence a child's future behavior. Positive descriptions are associated with fewer behavioral difficulties in toddlers, while negative descriptions lead to greater challenges.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalCommunications Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 22, 2025

Global study of more than 100,000 young people latest to link early smartphone ownership with poorer mental health in young adults

A global study of over 100,000 young people found that owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poor mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood. The study found correlations between early smartphone ownership and symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, and low self-worth.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Human Development and Capabilities·TypeObservational study·DateJul 21, 2025

Children’s social media activity highlights emotional stress of living with long-term health issues

A study using AI language models analyzed sentiments and emotions expressed by almost 400 pediatric patients on social media, finding that 94% of comments were negative, with sadness and fear prevalent. The study highlights the need for integrated care approaches to support vulnerable young patients managing complex medical conditions.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 10, 2025

Loneliness predicts poor mental and physical health outcomes

A new study found that 4 in 5 adults in the US report some level of loneliness, strongly correlated with poor mental health days and physical health days. Women and Black individuals experienced higher rates of depression and poor mental health days than men and White individuals, respectively.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeSurvey·DateJul 9, 2025

Study shows more support needed for police mental health

A study of police organisations in Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales reveals rising levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related mental health challenges. The research identifies key trends and insights into how policing organisations can enhance support systems to balance job demands with adequate resources.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Forensic Practice·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 8, 2025

Childhood maltreatment can affect body trust

A meta-analysis of 17 studies found a link between childhood maltreatment and reduced body trust, particularly in those who experienced emotional abuse or neglect. This can impair emotion regulation, perception of one's own needs, and stress processing, increasing the risk of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalNature Mental Health·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 7, 2025

Genetic markers for depression reveal consistent patterns in psychiatric treatment outcomes

Research synthesizes evidence from dozens of studies on polygenic scores and their clinical implications, revealing consistent patterns that could contribute to personalized psychiatric care. Higher genetic risk for depression correlates with poorer treatment outcomes, including nonresponse to antidepressants and mood stabilizers.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalGenomic Psychiatry·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 24, 2025

Remaking psychiatry with biological testing

A global roadmap aims to incorporate biological measurements in psychiatric diagnoses over the next 15-20 years, improving accurate treatment for patients. Current diagnostic methods rely on subjective responses and can be vague, leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeNews article·DateJun 18, 2025

Peripheral cues may amplify emotional distress in individuals with depressive symptoms study finds

A new study by researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem finds that people with higher levels of depressive symptoms are more susceptible to the emotional influence of negative surrounding images. This effect was not mitigated by positive imagery, highlighting an asymmetry in how depression affects emotional processing.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalEmotion·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2025

Effects of psilocybin on religious and spiritual attitudes and behaviors in clergy from major world religions

A study found that psilocybin increased overall psychological well-being, including positive changes in religious practices and attitudes. Clergy who received psilocybin reported sustained improvements in their behavior and attitudes up to 16 months after treatment.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalPsychedelic Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 9, 2025

Mother’s warmth in childhood influences teen health by shaping perceptions of social safety

A new UCLA Health study found that maternal warmth in early childhood predicts better physical and mental health outcomes for teens by shaping their perceptions of social safety. Children who experience more maternal warmth at age 3 have more positive social safety schemas, leading to improved health outcomes at age 17.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 28, 2025

How stress disrupts emotion control in people with mental health conditions

A new study by ECU Masters student Tee-Jay Scott and Professor Joanne Dickson found that acute stress may impair key brain functions involved in managing emotions, particularly in people living with depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. The researchers suggest that these disruptions could undermine the effectiveness...

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders Reports·TypeSystematic review·DateMay 21, 2025

New clues to autism: epigenetic study identifies RABGGTB as a novel candidate gene

A recent epigenetic study identified RABGGTB as a promising biomarker for autism spectrum disorder, revealing extensive DNA methylation abnormalities in key brain regions. The findings suggest that studying this gene could unlock new doors to understanding ASD and lead to future diagnostic breakthroughs.

SourceUniversity of Fukui·JournalPsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 21, 2025