Mental Health
Psychiatrists call for RFK Jr. to be replaced as health secretary
Two groups are calling for new leadership at HHS after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s actions on substance abuse treatment and mental health medications, among other issues.
Some Democrats share Trump’s goal of forcing more homeless people into medical care
President Trump says one part of the answer to homelessness is civil commitment and forced medical care. Some Democrats agree.
With therapy hard to get, people lean on AI for mental health. What are the risks?
People are using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence apps to help them with emotional issues, but experts say they are not a substitute for therapy or companionship.
Prone to winter depression? Starting light therapy now can help
As daylight diminishes people can feel their mood dimming. In fact millions of U.S. adults experience seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy can help fend off winter depression, starting in the fall.
Their teenage sons died by suicide. Now, they are sounding an alarm about AI chatbots
Grieving parents and online safety advocates at a congressional hearing called for new laws to regulate AI companion apps to protect the mental health of minors.
RFK Jr. wants to end mental health screenings in schools. Experts say it’s a bad idea
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Education Secretary Linda McMahon are against schools giving kids standardized questionnaires about their mental well-being. But experts say they are wrong.
A clash of the comebacks: Osaka and Anisimova face off in the U.S. Open semifinals
Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday. Both players have been climbing up the rankings after taking mental health breaks from the sport.
Hurricane Katrina had a silver-lining for some: Post-traumatic growth
The mental health effects of Hurricane Katrina have been studied for more than a decade, and that research found that post-traumatic growth can co-exist with post-traumatic stress.
Talking to kids about school shootings. Be truthful and follow their lead
Parents are struggling to figure out what to say to their children after another school shooting. We talked to some experts, who offered these guidelines.
RFK Jr. is shrinking the agency that works on mental illness and addiction
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration has seen its staff cut by more than a third, and it's facing deep budget cuts. Progress on overdose deaths could be lost, experts warn.
5 years after anti-police protests, initiatives for officer mental health have traction
Efforts to improve officers' mental health have grown over the past five years. They were sparked in part by the death of George Floyd, which prompted a wave of anti- police protests.
He was experiencing psychosis. Then, his boss made a decision that saved his life
A few years ago, "A" experienced a psychotic episode. His boss made a decision that saved his life.
Medicaid payments barely keep hospital mental health units afloat. Federal cuts could sink them
Patients seeking mental health care are more likely to be on Medicaid than patients in more profitable areas of care, such as cancer or cardiac treatment.
Education Department stops $1 billion in funding for school mental health
Congress created the grants in the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The goal was to help schools hire mental health professionals, including counselors and social workers.
How to get older men to socialize is a puzzle. A group called ROMEO is one answer
ROMEO stands for "retired older men eating out," and it's helping guys in one Maine town get out of the house and into more friendships.
VA officials acknowledge the need for privacy for telehealth therapy
The VA looks like it is changing course on a plan that would have threatened the privacy of veterans receiving mental health care via telehealth, according to documents obtained by NPR.
The (artificial intelligence) therapist can see you now
Many AI products claim to deliver mental health therapy, but with little quality control. But new research suggests with the right training, AI can be effective at helping people.
‘Grandpas’ got together to help kids. Scientists say it boosts the elders’ health, too
Older men can find themselves isolated after retirement. Volunteer groups like Grandpas United are good for both physical and mental health.
Trump’s back-to-office order will hurt veterans, VA docs and therapists say
The Department of Veterans Affairs embraced telehealth, especially for mental health care, in recent years. Now, staffers hired to give therapy and other health care remotely are ordered to do it from offices lacking privacy, VA clinicians told NPR.
TikTok is full of ADHD advice — just don’t trust it for a diagnosis
TikTok has become the go-to-source on ADHD for teens and young adults. But a new study finds a lot of the information is misleading and can make people's symptoms worse.
This Harlem pastor fights mental health stigma — and shares his own struggles
First Corinthian Baptist Church founded a separate nonprofit that employs therapists to bring mental health care to a community where stigma remains a high barrier to healing.
Trump’s policies are destabilizing mental health care for veterans, sources say
The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the largest providers of mental health care in the U.S. Its integrated care model means patients are already feeling the cuts and changes that are underway.
Why VA mental health workers feel Elon Musk’s emails are psychological warfare
Mental health professionals with the Veterans Health Administration say the stress caused by Elon Musk's "What did you do last week?" emails is hurting veterans' care.
From blah to buoyant, these skills can improve your mood and optimism
Last fall, thousands of people took part in a stress reduction study, learning skills that can improve mood and reduce anxiety. The results are in: Here's what they show.
U.S. veterans work to make sense of New Year’s Day incidents: It’s ‘doubly tragic’
U.S. veterans are worried that two deadly incidents involving current and former service members could increase stigma, or paint veterans as somehow damaged.
In New Orleans, focus shifts toward community recovery, healing after terror attack
Officials and health experts are working to make sure those affected by the Bourbon Street attack have access to the medical and financial resources they need.
‘Kids will end their lives’: Anti-trans legislation is impacting mental health in the Gulf South
As book bans and legislation pile up, a Louisiana trans teen describes the mental toll it’s taking on him and highlights the importance of support systems.
Alabama lawmakers debate legal definition of ‘woman’
The “What is a Woman” Act drew a full crowd to a public hearing Wednesday and LGBTQ advocacy groups marched outside the statehouse.
Alabama prison staff shortage worsens despite court order
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson said Friday the state can not continue with what he called horrendous staff levels.
Teens say Birmingham’s gun violence takes a heavy toll
At least 11 students in Birmingham have died due to gun violence since the beginning of the year, and their peers say the ongoing issue causes their mental health to suffer.
How Dr. Emily Fortney is using her clinical psychology work to help pregnant people
Suicide is a leading cause of death in women, and mood and anxiety disorders make perinatal risks more complicated. Dr. Fortney’s work is focused on this issue.
With the mental health system strained, here’s how some people are coping during the pandemic
Alabama is among the bottom of states for media health providers per capita. That has people looking online and other places to find help.
