LGBTQ+ Australians Report Far Higher Rates of Psychological Distress, National Survey Finds
A Monash University analysis of Australia's 2020–2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that more than half of cisgender nonheterosexual Australians and more than a third of transgender Australians have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. About 41 percent of cisgender nonheterosexual people and 27 percent of transgender people reported high or very high psychological distress, compared with 16 percent of cisgender heterosexual people. The researchers said the gaps reflect stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers — not anything inherent to being LGBTQ+ — and called for more inclusive, responsive health care settings.
Source: Phys.org
One-Week Break From Social Media Improves Mental Health, Study Finds
A new study in JAMA Network Open by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that a one-week social media "detox" reduced anxiety symptoms by 16 percent, depression symptoms by 25 percent, and insomnia by 15 percent among 295 young adults aged 18 to 24. The researchers say even a short break appears to make a difference, though the benefits were measured only in the short term. Experts note that a break is not a substitute for professional care for persistent symptoms.
Source: The George Washington University
Psychotherapy Soon After Cancer Diagnosis Linked to 21% Lower Mortality
A large analysis of Medicare records for more than 265,000 older adults diagnosed with six common cancers found that those with major depressive disorder faced a higher risk of dying from their cancer. Patients who began psychotherapy within four weeks of their cancer diagnosis had a 21 percent lower risk of cancer-specific death, and the benefit weakened when therapy started later. Only about 3 percent of patients received psychotherapy in that early window, while roughly a third were prescribed antidepressants, which showed a weaker link to survival. The findings were presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting.
Source: ScienMag
A Monash University analysis of Australia's 2020–2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that more than half of cisgender nonheterosexual Australians and more than a third of transgender Australians have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. About 41 percent of cisgender nonheterosexual people and 27 percent of transgender people reported high or very high psychological distress, compared with 16 percent of cisgender heterosexual people. The researchers said the gaps reflect stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers — not anything inherent to being LGBTQ+ — and called for more inclusive, responsive health care settings.
Source: Phys.org
One-Week Break From Social Media Improves Mental Health, Study Finds
A new study in JAMA Network Open by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that a one-week social media "detox" reduced anxiety symptoms by 16 percent, depression symptoms by 25 percent, and insomnia by 15 percent among 295 young adults aged 18 to 24. The researchers say even a short break appears to make a difference, though the benefits were measured only in the short term. Experts note that a break is not a substitute for professional care for persistent symptoms.
Source: The George Washington University
Psychotherapy Soon After Cancer Diagnosis Linked to 21% Lower Mortality
A large analysis of Medicare records for more than 265,000 older adults diagnosed with six common cancers found that those with major depressive disorder faced a higher risk of dying from their cancer. Patients who began psychotherapy within four weeks of their cancer diagnosis had a 21 percent lower risk of cancer-specific death, and the benefit weakened when therapy started later. Only about 3 percent of patients received psychotherapy in that early window, while roughly a third were prescribed antidepressants, which showed a weaker link to survival. The findings were presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting.
Source: ScienMag