Latest National Institute of Mental Health Stories
"While a move can represent a positive change, all moves involve some degree of loss," say Carol Podgorski from the University of Rochester in New York and colleagues in an article published this week in PLoS Medicine, and this can lead to heightened risk for suicidal behavior.Whether by choice or necessity, more older adults are now living in residential homes. And while the residences themselves are designed to be appealing, the underlying reasons that precipitate moving into a...
It is time to reassess mental disorders, recognizing that these are disorders of brain circuits likely caused by development processes, according to a commentary in the May 19 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on mental health.Thomas R. Insel, M.D., Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, Md., presented the commentary at a JAMA media briefing on mental health.Dr. Insel and commentary co-author Philip S. Wang, M.D., Dr.P.H., Deputy Director, NIMH, write that compelling...
WASHINGTON, May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is calling on Congress for greater scientific research, mental health grants to offset massive state budget cuts and an end to a backlog in the processing of Social Security disability claims. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100216/NAMILOGO) NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick outlined the needs of adults and children living with serious mental illness during "public witness...
"The View's" Sherri Shepherd, child development pioneer Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, and expert panel join SAMHSA to celebrate fifth anniversary of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day WASHINGTON May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To highlight the importance of promoting children's mental health from birth, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and more than 80 public and private collaborating organizations and federal programs and agencies - including...
New data reveal parents and caregivers experience improved quality of life and higher productivity after their young children receive mental health supports and services WASHINGTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a new report released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), behavioral and emotional problems decreased among nearly one-third (31 percent) of young children with mental health challenges within the first 6 months after...
Like patients, engineered mice falter at working memory tasksThe strongest known recurrent genetic cause of schizophrenia impairs communications between the brain's decision-making and memory hubs, resulting in working memory deficits, according to a study in mice."For the first time, we have a powerful animal model that shows us how genetics affects brain circuitry, at the level of single neurons, to produce a learning and memory deficit linked to schizophrenia," explained Thomas...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), working in collaboration with the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation, announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African American community. The new PSAs were unveiled at a Black History Month event at Howard University this morning to coincide with the first...
Findings reported in "Behavioral Neuroscience" suggest that the perils of adolescence-from risky behavior to psychological disorders-could result from increased neural sensitivity to teens' feelings and surroundingsWhile the otherworldly behavior of teenagers is well documented, University of Pittsburgh researchers have taken a significant step toward finally unraveling the actual brain activity that can drive adolescents to engage in impulsive, self-indulgent, or self-destructive behavior....
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) is offering small emergency grants and free Mental Health First Aid training to support mental health efforts in the wake of the devastating Haiti earthquake. "Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti and with their loved ones in the U.S. We commend the efforts of many agencies and individuals that are providing disaster relief. Our pockets are not deep but we are...
HAMILTON, N.J., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MedAvante, Inc., the leader in centralized evaluation of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announced today that it has been contracted to provide psychiatric rating services for a five-year, $25 million study of schizophrenia sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The multi-center study is part of the NIMH-funded Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project, and is being led by a group of researchers at...
