13 is too young to join social media, US surgeon general says
In a CNN interview, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that kids are still “developing their identity” at this age.
Scottsdale horse therapy program for first responders with PTSD in need of funding
Hunkapi is a 10-acre farm that uses equine therapy for many people in all walks of life. That includes those with addictions, ADD, autism, and those with PTSD.
Arizona lawmakers seek to study psychedelic mushrooms
If House Bill 2486 is passed, a psylocibin research advisory council would be established to study the impacts of the drug.
Mesa Public Schools seeks to join multi-district lawsuit against social media companies
The Mesa Public Schools District is seeking to take social media companies to court over practices they consider harmful to the mental health of young people. The governing board voted unanimously to work with outside counsel to file a complaint. An Arizona lawyer says research confirms algorithms for apps like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube have contributed to anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts among young people. Meta says it has the required tools to help them be safe while online.
US veterans can now access free emergency mental health care
A new Department of Veterans Affairs policy will provide some much-needed help for veterans in mental health crises. Reporter Madison Scarpino has more. (Help is available. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.)
US veterans in suicidal crisis now eligible for free emergency care at any facility
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system for the new policy, which includes inpatient care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Calls, texts and chats pouring into new 988 mental health helpline
The 988 mental health helpline has quickly expanded its reach in the six months since it launched — with over 2 million calls, texts and chat messages pouring in.
Study: Children who habitually check social media may experience major brain changes
Researchers said habitual social media checking in teens is impacting their brain development at a time when they're already going through "significant structural and functional reorganization."
California seeks sterilization victims to pay $15K in reparations
California had the nation’s largest forced sterilization program, which inspired practices in Nazi Germany.
Phoenix area mental health expert shares advice on mental health during the holiday season
The holidays could be difficult for some people, especially those who are struggling mentally. An Arizona mental health expert is offering advice for coping.
TikTok boosts posts about eating disorders, suicide, report says
The findings come from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which created TikTok accounts for fictitious young people living in the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia.
An Arizona man hopes to make talking about mental health a bit easier for others, especially men
Mental health is a tough topic to talk about, especially among men. The holidays can make it even harder, but a Valley man is talking about his battle with depression and hopes it leads other guys to get the help they need. FOX 10's Anita Roman has more.
Having a strong sense of purpose in life may help you live longer, study suggests
The study found an association across race/ethnicity and gender, but women may benefit slightly more from the health-protective benefits of having a sense of purpose.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson opens up about mental health: ‘You gotta ask for help’
"As guys, we have a tendency to not ask for help. Ego gets in the way, and we start stuffing things deep down in our guts, which is not a good thing," Johnson said.
Utah man jumps into icy river to save woman attempting suicide
“I told her ‘I don’t know who you are, but I’m here and I love you, and I’m going to help you,’” Dane Entze said.
Binge eating disorder looks different in the brains of boys and girls, study finds
The study findings may help future efforts to better understand the origins of eating disorders and how they differ between sexes, researchers said.
Study finds spike in children going to ER with suicidal thoughts — even before pandemic
Before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on mental health, there was already a surge of youth visits to emergency departments for suicidal thoughts between 2016 and 2019, the study says.
Study: Video games can lead to ‘enhanced cognitive performance in children’
Findings from the study suggest kids who played video games three or more hours a week performed better with intellectual abilities, including working memory.
Synthetic 'magic mushroom' drug may ease depression in hard-to-treat patients, study says
A single dose of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” was found to help some people who previously had gotten little relief from standard antidepressants.
Gilbert Police forms Crisis Response Team that focuses on calls related to mental health
The city's Crisis Response Team, according to officials, are already responding to an average of 15 to 16 calls per day. Members of the team have received extra training in negotiation and de-escalation.