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Clinical research has identified strengths and weaknesses in treating mental illness with medication. A focus on art therapy and programs such as ‘Arts on Prescription’ are developing a growing recognition of potential benefits for mental health. And 'Arts for the Blues – A New Creative Psychological Therapy for Depression', recently shared results from a pilot study, reporting positive results of art therapy. Based on this research, I invited experts to provide insight into how art therapy benefits people struggling with mental health concerns. [More]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, as it's commonly known, is on the rise. But why? Is it just that we’re becoming more aware and accepting of the disorder or is something else causing the increase? “It was already known that children with ADHD have higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratios,” researcher Monica Lopez told us, “so we wanted to test whether these higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratios were involved in the origin of the symptoms.” [More]

Researchers have found the kind of time fathers spend with their children influences the strength of their relationship in the early years. [More]

Experts say cartoons, comics, graphic novels, and other images can be helpful for those struggling from mental health issues in addition to spreading awareness when done correctly. Those who have not experienced a mental health condition in themselves or families and who have not received training find mental health is a difficult concept to understand. [More]

Recently there was an item in the news about a young boy who was with his drug-addicted mother and her boyfriend on a bus. They were in Camden, New Jersey. When they reached their stop the boy tried, unsuccessfully, to arouse the two adults. The man was unable to stand. The mother was unresponsive and appeared to snort something off of her wrist. One of the astonished passengers filmed the event and informed the child welfare authorities that this child was at risk. [More]

Worried that your teen is spending too much time alone in their room? Turns out, alone time is good for them, and you too, as long as you're not forced into it. According to a new study, when people seek solitude willingly, they're actually enhancing their creativity, identity development and emotional regulation skills. Worried that your teen is spending too much time alone in their room? Turns out, alone time is good for them, as long as they're not forced into it. According to a new study, when teens seek solitude, they're actually enhancing their creativity, identity development and emotional regulation skills. The study, titled, Motivation matters: Development and validation of the Motivation for Solitude Scale - Short Form (MSS-SF), was recently published in the Journal of Adolescence. Theravive spoke with one of the authors of the study, Margarita Azmitia, a professor of psychology at the University of California. [More]

"Getting creative really does boost your mood" was a recent headline based on the BBC Arts Great British Creativity Test, suggesting that creativity can help avoid stress and improve self-development. Some mental health professionals promote creativity in their work with clients and others report benefits from using it personally. [More]

A new study published in the Accounting Review examines whether it is possible to design incentives that make people more creative. “In the contemporary workforce, just about any job that can be automated is being automated,” study author Steven J. Kachelmeier told us. “Routine tasks are now being performed by robots and computers. What this leaves for humans are more judgment-oriented jobs that require creative and innovative solutions to solve unique problems.” [More]

Hackathons traditionally are short term projects with a group of people collaborative on software projects. HackMentalHealth has a different focus. Recently hosting the second annual 24-hour Bay Area mental health hackathon with over 500 attendees, their goal is to positively revolutionize mental health care alongside technology. [More]

Using a garden for therapy at a neuropsychiatric hospital has improved patient outcomes. Now researchers are hoping other hospitals will follow. [More]