Mental Health

Teams from the UNIGE and EPFL have used for the first time the method of longitudinal network analysis applied to children, in order to detect the symptoms that herald the development of psychotic illness in the future. One third of children with a microdeletion of chromosome 22 will later develop a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia. But how do we know which of these children might be affected? Today, various studies have contributed to the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that are associated with the development of psychotic illnesses. The problem is that the ability to identify those at risk and adapt their treatment accordingly remains limited. Indeed, many variables - other than neurobiological - contribute to their development. This is why a team from the University of Geneva has joined forces with a team from the EPFL to use in a longitudinal manner an artificial intelligence tool:  the network analysis method. This algorithm correlates many variable...

Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania, depression, or hypomania. These shifts in mood are the key characteristic of this mental health condition, but it's not unusual for people living with bipolar disorder to also have symptoms of psychosis. Bipolar with psychotic features can closely resemble schizoaffective disorder. People living with this condition have combined symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder — a mix of mania or hypomania, depression, and psychosis. This complex array of symptoms can make schizoaffective disorder harder to diagnose. The fact that schizophrenia, like bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, can involve depression and psychosis only adds another layer of complication. Some experts believe the significant overlap between these three conditions suggests they occur on something of a spectrum: Bipolar disorder at one end, schizophrenia at the other, and schizoaffective disorder representing a midpoint between the two. For now, experts still reco...

Bengaluru: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death globally, accounting for one in every 100 deaths. Life lost due to suicide is higher than deaths caused due to diseases such as malaria, HIV, breast cancer, etc or by war. In India, around 1,39,123 people were reported to die by suicide in 2019. The major triggers for these suicides were attributed to family problems and health conditions followed by drug abuse, marital problems, love failure, so on and so forth. The number of suicides has been reported to increase by about 67.7% as reported by online news media during the COVID-19 pandemic owing to the loss of jobs, stress, fear of getting infected by the virus, loneliness, among many others. September 10th of every year is celebrated as the World Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness about suicide and suicidal behaviour to reduce the suicide rates worldwide. Triggers for suicide No single cause can be attributed to suicidal tendencies. However, suicidal thoughts or tendenc...

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In the study, researchers uncovered the extent of the stigmatisation of schizophrenia, as well as common misconceptions, highlighting the way this impacts those who live with it In the last decade, an immense amount of work has been done to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health, and the people who live with mental illnesses. But it's clear that there's still much work left to be done, as a new study highlighted when its findings uncovered the extent of stigmatisation surrounding the condition schizophrenia. Described by the NHS as a severe long-term mental health condition which causes a range of psychological symptoms, schizophrenia is a type of psychosis – meaning the individual may not always be able to distinguish between their thoughts and ideas and reality. Symptoms of schizophrenia: Hallucinations – both visual and audible Delusions – unusual beliefs that are not based on reality Muddled thoughts as a result of delusions and hallucinations Loss of...

Another found that 84 percent of people think climate change will negatively affect mental health at least as much as unemployment and Covid-19. My own poll , which received over 1,750 responses, found that climate change has been either 'moderately' or 'severely' detrimental to 79 percent of answerers' mental health. While some have investigated this, including the American Psychological Association and a slew of articles in a number of academic journals , we are at the very beginning of understanding this. Anxiety I have bipolar disorder. I also have PTSD, the long tail of a suicide attempt that happened several years ago and resulted in me losing a leg and entering a pervasive state of extreme dissociation. After over a decade of treatment, my medical team and I are convinced that climate change played a crucial role in triggering my illness. How? The terror, the angst, and the creation of an existential narrative of min...

Bipolar disorder affects about 2.8 percent of the population in the United States, with the average age of diagnosis at 25. Almost 83 percent of people have severe symptoms. While not everyone with a bipolar disorder experiences depression, the symptoms of mania can last a week or more and include elevated or irritable moods. The time between symptoms can vary, sometimes lasting years without experiencing any symptoms. If you suspect you may have bipolar disorder, it's important to get an official diagnosis and treatment from a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. However, support groups can be an important part of your treatment plan. Bipolar support groups offer emotional support from other people who understand what it's like to live with bipolar disorder. They aren't a substitute for professional care or therapy, but they're a place to get support and ask questions. Some groups are run by mental health professionals, but others are led by volunteers who...

The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. Adblock test (Why?)

Postpartum depression (PPD) is depression that occurs after childbirth. It is a type of perinatal mood disorder—a mood disorder that starts during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth. PPD often begins within the first month of giving birth but can strike any time within the first year. Many people expect having a new baby to be a joyous time, but it can also be a time of emotional and social changes and tremendous stress. PPD is very common: As many as 1 in 8 new mothers develop PPD, and rates are even higher among adolescent and low-income mothers. It is important that mothers and their loved ones keep a lookout for the signs and symptoms of depression. PPD is sometimes confused with the baby blues—mild moodiness, crying spells, and bouts of sadness that often occur shortly after birth. Up to 80% of new parents experience the baby blues. The rapid drop in pregnancy hormones after birth, exhaustion, and nervousness about caring for a new baby ca...