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“Zoom fatigue” is a catchphrase for 2020 as the pandemic forced in person meetings online. But is there a better alternative? A study by Ericsson, “The Dematerialized Office”, predicts that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) would “enable the experience of collaborating in the same room with colleagues.'' If this becomes a routine solution in the business world, it will likely become commonplace for personal use, including therapy. However, is this introducing another potential solution that people will grow tired of? [More]

Recently, Vermont’s Center for Cartoon Studies released “Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide To Mental Health”, a 24-page comic book geared toward middle and high school students. Cara Bean, a cartoonist and art educator who collaborated on this project, shared her experience with this project. [More]

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, a condition that has contributed to the opioid epidemic in the United States for the past three decades, costing the country billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives. Now, a groundbreaking new study is showing yoga, meditation, and other forms of mindfulness-based stress reductions may help patients manage that pain. [More]

For centuries, spiritual gurus and scientists alike have been trying to answer the age old question of human consciousness: What is it? Where is it? Does it even exist? Now, a team of scientific researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan have discovered what they believe could be the area of the brain involved in generating consciousness. The study, titled: The claustrum coordinates cortical slow-wave activity, was published in the Journal of Nature Neuroscience. Researchers set out to elucidate the function of a mysterious brain region called the claustrum. [More]

A recent review published in the Journal of European Neuropsychopharmacology looked at nutritional psychiatry and whether mental health can be improved by what you eat. The popular press often provide advice to the general public about recommendations on how to improve one’s mental health by changing what we eat – specific diets, supplements or foods. A group of researchers wanted to set the record straight and explain in an informed balanced manner, the actual data behind common claims and misconceptions. [More]

A new report by RAND showed that Los Angeles county could potentially divert up to two-thirds of their mentally ill inmates out of jails and into community-based treatment services. Diversion programs benefit individuals by giving them patient centered care while easing the burden on the jail system. But an increase in people with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system and the shortage of beds in outside mental health facilities make this a tough transition. [More]

You are what you eat or so the saying goes. But is it true? A new review published in the Journal of European Neuropsychopharmacology looked at nutritional psychiatry and what the research says about mental health and the food we consume. While there is data that shows an association between mental health and nutrition, research is lacking when it comes to causality. [More]

Recreational cannabis use is associated with the relief of stress, anxiety, and depression. A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders reviews the evidence surrounding inhaled cannabis use for mental health. Most sessions reviewed showed a positive impact on stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. [More]

A recent study in JMIR found that data from Fitbit and smartphone devices could help identify college students experiencing loneliness. The results suggest “fine-grained behavioral features” from mobile and wearable devices can distinguish between high and low levels of loneliness. Students [More]

Virtual reality is one tool for distancing where people create a realistic image of themselves, matching appearance and movement. By virtually “body-swapping”, they can view their virtual selves from a distance. And when there is distance from a problem, people detach from it emotionally and gain a different perspective. [More]