Mental and Physical Health

The arrival of spring brings flowers and flowering bushes, but unfortunately, those benefits also bring allergies, and allergies are worse in some parts of the country than others.

For the third consecutive year, Wichita, Kansas, has been named the most challenging city in the United States for people with pollen allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s 2025 Allergy Capitals report. 

The report shows the growing impact of climate change on allergy seasons nationwide, with a significant concentration of the worst cities located in the southern and eastern regions of the U.S.

The AAFA’s annual ranking assesses the 100 most populated metropolitan areas based on pollen counts, over-the-counter allergy medication usage, and the availability of allergy specialists. Wichita’s persistent top ranking is attributed to its high levels of tree and grass pollen, increased medication use, and limited access to allergists.

Worst cities

The top 10 worst cities for allergies in 2025 are:

1. Wichita, KS

2. New Orleans, LA

3. Oklahoma City, OK

4. Tulsa, OK

5. Memphis, TN

6. Little Rock, AR

7. Raleigh, NC

8. Richmond, VA

9. Greenville, SC

10. Greensboro, NC

"New Orleans is a stark example of the impact of climate change on pollen allergies," Kenneth Mendez, CEO of AAFA said in a press release accompanying the report. 

"This year, it surged 32 places in our rankings due to increased weed pollen counts. The unusually warm November in Louisiana, coupled with moisture from Hurricane Francine, extended the weed pollen season. Nationally, we’re seeing growing seasons start earlier and last longer, resulting in more prolonged and intense allergy seasons."

Best cities to live in if you have allergies

Boston is the least affected city by allergies, followed by Salt Lake City, Akron, Ohio, San Diego and Cleveland.

The report identified a concerning trend of worsening allergy seasons, particularly in the southern and eastern U.S., where ragweed pollen can trigger symptoms almost year-round in some areas. The increased pollen exposure is leading to more missed work and school days, emergency room visits, and hospital stays, impacting the quality of life and health outcomes for millions, the report found.

While the majority of the worst cities are concentrated in the South and East, the report also noted significant changes in the West. California experienced increased grass and weed pollen counts in 2024, attributed to increased storms and moisture, leading to drastic jumps in the rankings for several cities.

While there have been several studies that have looked at the mental health impact of social media, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin explored the effects of general smartphone use on mental health. 

According to their findings, a two-week break from the internet on your phone could improve mental health, subjective well-being, and attention span. 

“Smartphones have drastically changed our lives and behaviors over the past 15 years, but our basic human psychology remains the same,” researcher Adrian Ward said in a news release. 

“Our big question was, are we adapted to deal with constant connection to everything all the time? The data suggest that we are not.”

The study

The researchers had nearly 500 participants involved in the four-week study. They were instructed to download an app on their phones that blocked everything except text messages and calls. That meant no social media, no internet browsers, and no internet access. However, outside of the study, they were able to access the internet as they pleased. 

For the study, one group had the internet blocked on their phones for the first two weeks of the study, while a second group had the app installed on their phones for the second two weeks. 

The participants completed psychological assessments at several points throughout the month-long study, and they also completed their own self-assessments to report on their mental health outcomes. 

Improving mental health outcomes

Overall, the study showed that taking breaks from constant internet access is likely to yield better mental health outcomes. 

At the end of the study, over 70% of the participants reported better mental health overall compared to the beginning of the study. When looking at the three primary measures of the study – mental health, attention span, and well-being, over 90% of the participants reported an improvement in at least one area. 

It’s also important to note that many of the participants reported feeling better with each day of the study. This means that the longer they went without constant internet access, the better they believed their mental health was. 

“[Participants] increased time spent in the offline world,” Ward said. “That’s doing hobbies, talking to people face-to-face, or going out in nature. They got more sleep, felt more socially connected, and felt more in control of their own decisions.”

Moving forward, the researchers want to see more work done in this area, and they also hope that these findings encourage more consumers to take regular breaks from their smartphones. 

“Technology often progresses much faster than our ability to understand its consequences,” the researchers wrote in the study. 

“Balancing the practical benefits that smartphones offer against these significant negative consequences is an important task for smartphone users. Our results suggest that, for many people, spending less time with their device can help achieve this balance.” 

Much-needed rain is helping Southern California firefighters bring the remaining wildfires under control but mental health experts say the region may be a long way from getting back to normal emotionally.

Rabbi Jason Weiner, PhD, senior rabbi at Cedars-Sinai and director of the Spiritual Care Department, says psychic trauma may not just affect people who lost their homes but also those following the news on a daily basis.

Dr. Itai Danovitch, chair of the medical center’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, said feeling distress and anxiety right now is normal. So is feeling numb or disconnected from emotions. Those aren’t normal feelings.

“There is no one-size-fits-all response to the challenges we’re facing, and adapting to stress can take time, but it helps to pinpoint specific sources of worry,” Danovitch said in a press release. 

“Is there nervousness about the safety of loved ones or a home? Is it the long-term impact on the community or uncertainty about air quality? Knowing this can help manage anxiety in a constructive way.”

Danovitch says the way to manage these anxieties is to maintain daily routines as much as possible. Stay connected to supportive people, get adequate rest and exercise, and practice relaxation or meditation exercises.  

“It also can help to make sure you’re getting information from trustworthy sources to help avoid unnecessary fear,” Danovitch said. “Plan ahead for potential future evacuations and manage exposure to news and social media.”

Possible PTSD

Mental health experts some fire survivors could development post-traumatic stress disorder. Sighs of that condition include:

• Negative thoughts

• Problems sleeping or concentrating

• Social withdrawal

• Intensified and persistent symptoms of despair that interfere with daily functioning 

“A therapist who specializes in trauma treatment, along with medications and participating in support groups and psychotherapy, can be beneficial,” Danovitch said. “Some people may develop PTSD and others won't, but all emotional responses deserve care and attention.”

“Survivor’s guilt” may also affect some Los Angeles residents whose homes were in the path of the fires but somehow did not burn. Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center Chaplain Carrie Kohler this is often manifested by feelings of helplessness. She said many people deal with these feelings by volunteering for relief efforts.

Those who live miles away may also feel distraught. Danovitch said that’s human nature—and it may be especially true for people who once lived in Los Angeles, because the fires conjure nostalgia as well as loss.

“Former Angelenos often have deep relationships, memories and connections to the area,” he said. “Seeing those threatened can heighten feelings of longing and attachment.”

If you go to your doctor complaining of “burnout” at work, your physician might reply, “Join the club.” According to medical authorities, doctors are increasingly stressed out on the job.

The American Medical Association estimates nearly 63% of physicians experience symptoms of burnout at least once a week. It’s not just the patient load, which is increasing, but also the paperwork. Some physicians report spending three hours at home each evening filling out forms.

A study by the National Institutes of Health recently determined that nearly one in three physicians is experiencing burnout at any given time. The authors warned that this may not only interfere with their own well-being but also with the quality of delivered care.

“Healthcare workers, and especially perioperative clinicians seem to be at particular risk for burnout,” the authors wrote. 

“This may have significant negative personal (substance abuse, broken relationships and even suicide), but also important professional consequences such as lower patient satisfaction, impaired quality of care, even up to medical errors, potentially ending up in malpractice suits with substantial costs for caregivers and hospitals.”

Symptoms of burnout range from exhaustion and sleep problems to depression and physical pain. Depression may often stem from family stresses, such as disappointment over missing important family events.

Digital mindfulness

Burnout can occur in just about any profession or occupation that makes heavy demands, includes long hours and is filled with stress. Some clinicians believe mindfulness meditation may reduce work-related stress, as it seeks to encourage awareness of the present moment and promote self-regulation.

Researchers from the University of California San Francisco Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences recently launched a large mindfulness trial for over 1,400 UCSF employees. 

They found that those who received digital mindfulness meditation felt greater satisfaction and engagement with their jobs months later. They also felt happier, less anxious and more mindful of their daily life.

“Our team found significant, sustained improvements in well-being, job enjoyment and mindfulness, particularly for those who meditated more,” said study first author Rachel Radin, PhD, a psychologist and UCSF assistant professor of psychiatry. “This study confirms prior findings indicating psychological benefits of mindfulness practice for employees and extends them to a digital platform.” 

What is it?

What exactly is digital mindfulness? It’s often defined as being aware of how digital devices and technology add stress to life that can lead to burnout.

Digital mindfulness actions include:

• Monitoring screen time

• Turning off unnecessary notifications

• Carefully choosing what digital content you consume

• Taking breaks from technology to promote relaxation

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, CVS Health has chosen this time to help customers consider their mental health and the treatments and resources that are available to them.  

Through Project Health, its free, community-based health screening program, CVS Health will offer free mental health screenings at all of its community events. 

“Our events now serve more communities than ever, tapping into our CVS Pharmacy footprint and a vast network of local organizations to host our mobile units and help ensure transportation is not a barrier to receiving health services,” said Sheryl Burke, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility. “We’re also broadening our services to include mental health screenings as we continue to see a need for accessible mental health care across the country.” 

Expanding access to physical and mental health care

Currently, Project Health offers free physical health screenings and other resources, including blood pressure, glucose, smoking cessation counseling, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, diabetes resources, individual health access plans, and professional consultations. 

At these community events, consumers don’t need to pay and they don’t need to have health insurance. These resources can help detect serious health conditions that can have long-term consequences on consumers’ overall wellness. 

Project Health will now also include mental health screenings in its repertoire. Health professionals will be able to have patients complete questionnaires and other assessments to assess their mood, anxiety, and depression. Then, nurse practitioners will be available to answer questions or recommend the next steps for further mental health resources. 

Mental health resources

For those looking for mental health resources in perhaps a more discreet manner, Project Health has an online platform that can be helpful. 

There are mental health awareness guides for parents and caregivers, LGTBQ+ youth and adults, and young adults, as well as resources for substance abuse, suicide prevention, depression screenings, finding a therapist, and more. 

Researchers from Rutgers University have explored how stress can affect young people's mental health. Their findings showed that students who have the highest academic-related stress may also have the poorest mental health outcomes. 

“This study shows that college students are not uniformly impacted by academic stress or pandemic-related stress and that certain groups should be offered additional resources and support,” said researcher Xue Ming. 

Academic pressures can be burdensome

For the study, the researchers had nearly 900 college students answer questions from two popular questionnaires – the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS) and the Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PAS). The former included questions about general mental health and wellness, while the latter asked about workload, students’ perception of their academic performance, and their expectations for their academic performance. 

It was clear to the researchers that high academic stress was linked with poorer mental health. The more stressed students were about their academic lives, the more likely they were to struggle with their mental health. 

Three groups stood out as having the highest stress levels: female students, nonbinary students, and second-year college students. The team speculates that second-year students are starting to get serious about their lives outside of college and feel the pressure to finalize their majors, take more difficult classes, and put more on their plates. By comparison, first-year students had the lowest stress levels when it came to both academics and COVID-19. 

To help support students during these stressful times and lower their risk of poor mental health, the team hopes universities around the country do their part to provide resources to their students. 

“Colleges should consider offering tailored mental health resources to these groups to improve students’ stress levels and psychological well-being,” said Ming. “To raise awareness and destigmatize mental health, colleges can distribute confidential validated assessments, such as the PAS and SWEMWBS, in class and teach students to self-score so they can monitor their stress and mental well-being.” 

Recent studies have highlighted the ways that activities like traveling and cooking can benefit consumers’ mental health. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Florida may have consumers adding gardening to that list. 

According to the findings, working with plants can help improve overall mental health and wellness – even for beginner gardeners. 

“Past studies have shown that gardening can help improve the mental health of people who have existing medical conditions or challenges,” said researcher Charles Guy. “Our study shows that healthy people can also experience a boost in mental well-being through gardening.” 

Benefits of gardening

For the study, the researchers had 32 women between the ages of 26 and 49 complete different activities for two months. Half of the women went to gardening classes and the other half went to art classes two times per week. When the study began, none of the women were using tobacco or drugs, had chronic health conditions, or were taking medication for anxiety or depression. At the end of the study, the women completed tests that assessed their mental health. 

Ultimately, the women who were gardening throughout the study showed fewer anxiety-related symptoms than the women who took the art classes. While both groups showed similar mental health progress, the team noted that gardeners were less likely to report feeling anxious than those in the art class. All of the study participants reported fewer depression symptoms, lower stress levels, and better overall moods. 

“At the end of the experiment, many of the participants were saying not just how much they enjoyed the sessions, but also how they planned to keep gardening,” said Guy. 

The researchers speculate that there’s a link between humans and plants that may be the cause of this mental health boost. Plants serve as a connection to food and survival. Although this attachment may exist subconsciously in our minds, the team says it can still positively contribute to our mental health.

“Larger-scale studies may reveal more about how gardening is correlated with changes in mental health,” Guy said. “We believe this research shows promise for mental well-being, plants in health care, and in public health. It would be great to see other researchers use our work as a basis for those kinds of studies.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Bath explored the effect that social media can have on mental health. The team found that consumers are likely to see improvements in their mental health and well-being when they take a step back from these platforms.

“Scrolling social media is so ubiquitous that many of us do it almost without thinking from the moment we wake up to when we close our eyes at night,” said researcher Dr. Jeff Lambert. “We know that social media usage is huge and that there are increasing concerns about its mental health effects, so with this study, we wanted to see whether simply asking people to take a week’s break could yield mental health benefits. 

“Many of our participants reported positive effects from being off social media with improved mood and less anxiety overall. This suggests that even a small break can have an impact.” 

Cutting back social media use can have mental health benefits

The researchers had 154 people between the ages of 18 and 72 who reported using social media every day participate in the study. For one week, the participants were divided into two groups: one group continued their social media use as usual, and the second group was asked to stop using all social media platforms. At the end of the week, the participants reported on their mental health and well-being. 

The researchers learned that participants who took a one-week break from Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok experienced improved mental health and wellness. When the study began, the participants reported using these apps for an average of eight hours per week. After analyzing phone stats on screen time and usage at the end of the study, the group that remained on social media spent an average of seven hours on social media apps. The group that was asked to pause their scrolling reportedly spent 21 minutes on social media. 

The study showed that cutting back on the time spent on social media was linked with improvements in anxiety, depression, and well-being. Compared to assessments taken at the start of the study, there was a significant difference in mental health symptoms for those who stayed off of social media for one week. 

The goal now for the team is to build on these findings to better understand how social media breaks can affect mental health long term. For now, they recommend that consumers experiment with spending less time on social media if they are worried about their mental well-being.

“Of course, social media is a part of life and for many people, it’s an indispensable part of who they are and how they interact with others,” Dr. Lambert said. “But if you are spending hours each week scrolling and you feel it is negatively impacting you, it could be worth cutting down on your usage to see if it helps.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Edith Cowan University explored how home cooking can affect our mental health. According to the findings, cooking healthy meals at home, and feeling confident in the kitchen, can improve consumers’ confidence and life satisfaction. 

“Improving people’s diet quality can be a preventative strategy to halt or slow the rise in poor mental health, obesity, and other metabolic disorders,” said researcher Dr. Joanna Rees.

“Future health programs should continue to prioritize the barriers to healthy eating, such as poor food environments and time restrictions, whilst placing greater emphasis on the value of healthy eating via quick and easy home cooked meals, rich in fruit and vegetables and avoiding ultra-processed convenience foods.” 

Cooking confidence improves mental health 

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 650 participants who completed a cooking class at Edith Cowan University between 2016 and 2018. Over the course of the seven-week classes, students learned how to make healthy dishes at home. After seven weeks, a group of researchers assessed the participants’ behaviors with food, their mental health, their confidence in the kitchen, and their satisfaction with cooking. 

The researchers observed notable shifts in the participants’ mental health – even six months after completing the healthy cooking course. Completing the cooking class was linked with improvements in both physical and mental health and overall vitality. 

Participants also reported specific improvements to mental health. They felt better able to adopt healthy eating patterns and had gained more confidence in their cooking abilities. 

This confidence also translated across genders. Before the study began, nearly 75% of female cooking students and 23% of the male students felt confident in their cooking abilities. That gap narrowed considerably by the end of the seven-week period, with both men and women reporting similar levels of confidence in their cooking skills.

“This change in confidence could see change to the household food environment by reducing the gender bias and leading to a gender balance in home cooking,” Rees said. “This in turn may help to overcome some of the barriers presented by not knowing how to cook, such as easing time constraints, which can lead to ready-made meals, which are high in energy but low in nutritional value.” 

The researchers also found that these findings held up regardless of what the participants’ diets looked like after completing the class. Though the courses were focused on healthy eating, participants were left to their own devices once the class was over. 

For older women, taking preventive measures to maximize bone health can be important to help reduce fractures and improve overall wellness. Now, researchers from Penn State have found that eating prunes can be a good way for postmenopausal women to reduce the risk of bone loss. 

“In postmenopausal women, lower levels of estrogen can trigger a rise of oxidative stress and inflammation, increasing the risk of weakening bones that may lead to fractures,” said researcher Connie Rogers. “Incorporating prunes into the diet may help protect bones by slowing or reversing this process.”  

Diet impacts bone health

To better understand the connection between diet and long-term bone health, the researchers analyzed data from several earlier studies that included trials conducted on both mice and humans. Several of the trials explored how eating different amounts of prunes every day for six to 12 months affected postmenopausal women’s bone health. 

Ultimately, the researchers discovered a positive correlation between prune consumption and improvements in bone health. One of the studies showed that eating five or 10 prunes every day for six months helped lower bone resorption and overall bone density loss. Another study highlighted specific areas of the body that benefited from regularly consuming prunes; the findings showed that eating 10 prunes per day for a year was associated with better bone density in the lower spine and forearm. 

The researchers believe that this relationship between prunes and bone health could be related to the ways that prunes impact the gut microbiome. The biggest change is in inflammation, both in the colon and throughout the body, and the reduction in oxidative stress; both inflammation and oxidative stress are key factors in bone health. 

“Taken together, evidence from in vitro, preclinical studies, and limited clinical studies suggest prunes may help to reduce bone loss,” said Rogers. “This may be due to altered bone turnover and by inhibiting inflammation and suppressing oxidative stress.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope to do more work in this area to better understand the specifics behind the relationship between prunes and bone health. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health explored how alcohol can affect consumers’ health and wellness. According to their findings, having as few as two drinks per day can increase the risk of developing several different types of cancer. 

“Alcohol consumption causes a substantial burden of cancer globally,” said researcher Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram. “Yet the impact on cancers is often unknown or overlooked, highlighting the need for implementation of effective policy and interventions to increase public awareness of the link between alcohol use and cancer risk, and decrease overall alcohol consumption to prevent the burden of alcohol-attributable cancers.”  

The link between alcohol and cancer

For the study, the researchers analyzed data on alcohol consumption, alcohol sales, and long-term health outcomes for consumers around the world. The group noted a clear link between moderate alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer; having one to two drinks per day was associated with a higher risk of oral, colon, and breast cancers. 

“All drinking involves risk,” said researcher Dr. Jürgen Rehm. “And with alcohol-related cancers, all levels of consumption are associated with some risk. For example, each standard sized glass of wine per day is associated with a 6% higher risk for developing female breast cancer.” 

Moderate alcohol consumption was specifically linked with the highest risk of breast cancer among consumers in Canada. The researchers learned that having as many as two drinks per day was associated with a 24% increase in breast cancer cases for Canadians in 2020. On a global scale, moderate drinkers made up nearly 15% of all new cancer diagnoses last year. 

“Alcohol causes cancer in numerous ways,” said researcher Dr. Kevin Shield. “The main mechanism of how alcohol causes cancer is through impairing DNA repair. Additional pathways include chronic alcohol consumption resulting in liver cirrhosis, and alcohol leading to a dysregulation of sex hormones, leading to breast cancer. Alcohol also increases the risk of head and neck cancer for smokers as it increases the absorption of carcinogens from tobacco.”

COVID-19 and alcohol consumption

Many consumers have increased their alcohol intake over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of this excessive drinking may be linked to heightened stress over the last year, the researchers worry about how these habits will impact consumers’ long-term health. 

“In our clinic we are seeing many people who report increased alcohol use since the onset of the pandemic,” said researcher Dr. Leslie Buckley. “Although this may be related to temporary stressors, there is a potential for new habits to become more permanent. The consequences with alcohol use are often subtle harms initially that take time to show themselves, while long-term consequences such as cancer, liver disease, and substance use disorder can be devastating.” 

Experts have identified a clear link between poor sleep and mental health struggles, both for consumers young and old. 

Now, researchers from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine explored how insomnia that starts in childhood and lasts through adolescence and adulthood impacts mental health. The team learned that persistent insomnia can increase the likelihood of anxiety and mood disorders. 

“We found that about 40% of children do not outgrow their insomnia symptoms in the transition to adolescence and are at risk of developing mental health disorders later on during early adulthood,” said researcher Julio Fernandez-Mendoza. 

Persistent symptoms led to worse outcomes

The researchers analyzed data from 700 children enrolled in the Penn State Child Cohort. At the first check-in, the children’s parents reported on their insomnia-related symptoms. The researchers then followed up as late as 15 years later, at which point the participants detailed their own sleep habits and answered questions about their mental health. 

Ultimately, participants that experienced insomnia-related symptoms from childhood through adolescence or adulthood were more likely to struggle with their mental health. Those whose insomnia symptoms tapered off as they grew up experienced no heightened risk of anxiety, whereas those who developed insomnia as the study progressed were nearly two times as likely to struggle with internalized disorders, such as depression and other emotional and behavioral disorders. 

Participants with persistent insomnia symptoms that spanned from childhood through adulthood were nearly three times as likely to develop an anxiety or mood disorder. 

Treatments for insomnia are needed

In this study, nearly 40% of the participants never outgrew their insomnia symptoms. In thinking about how that impacts mental health, these findings highlight the need for more comprehensive solutions for insomnia and other sleep-related issues. 

“These new findings further indicate that early sleep interventions are warranted to prevent future mental health problems, as children whose insomnia symptoms improved over time were not at an increased risk of having a mood or anxiety disorder as young adults,” Fernandez-Mendoza said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has explored the mental health risks associated with young children enduring concussions. 

According to the researchers' findings, more than 30% of children who experience a concussion are likely to struggle with mental health issues following the injury. 

“Mental health is essential to concussion recovery,” said researcher Vicki Anderson. “Concussion may both precipitate and exacerbate mental health difficulties, impacting delayed recovery and psychosocial outcomes.” 

Long-term concussion risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed nearly 70 earlier studies that looked at the association between mental health and concussion recovery. In analyzing the health outcomes from more than 90,000 children who experienced head injuries over the course of four decades, the team looked at how concussions impacted long-term mental health. 

Ultimately, the researchers noticed a significant trend between head injuries and mental health issues, and this was true for both those with and without a history of mental health struggles prior to getting hurt. 

Twenty percent of injured children experienced externalized mental health problems, such as attention issues, aggression, and hyperactivity, while nearly 37% struggled with issues like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress following their head injuries. 

“When a child has a concussion they might look fine, but you can’t see the underlying impact,” said Bruce Henry, the father of study participant Emma Henry, who has been undergoing mental health treatment after two concussions. “It’s so important for mental health to form part of concussion management, which has been essential to Emma’s recovery process.” 

In the study, Emma Henry explained that after her two concussions, she struggled to find meaning to do simple tasks, like completing school work or going for walks, both of which impacted her mental health. 

The researchers also noted that the mental health symptoms following a concussion affect each child differently. While some children struggle for a few months, others can have symptoms persist for years after their injuries. 

Moving forward, the team hopes that these findings impact concussion treatment protocol for kids and adolescents. Because of the longer recovery time associated with young people’s head injuries, these findings can help identify those at the highest risk of struggling with mental health long term. 

“Despite the high incidence of concussion among children and adolescents, identifying those at risk of ongoing difficulties after concussion remains a prominent challenge for clinicians,” said researcher Alice Gornall. 

“Incorporating mental health risk into post-injury management represents an opportunity to engage children and adolescents with mental health services to either prevent unnecessary problems emerging or to treat already existing issues,” said Anderson. 

Kids’ mental health has been a source of concern in recent years, and now a new study conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia has found that it could be even more of a concern for kids with autism. 

According to the researchers, nearly 80 percent of kids with autism are also dealing with a mental health condition, like anxiety or ADHD. 

“For a long time, mental health in kids with autism was neglected because the focus was on autism,” said researcher Dr. Connor Kerns. “There’s so much greater awareness now, but we don’t have enough people trained to provide mental health treatments to kids on the autism spectrum. We need to bridge these two systems and the different sets of providers that tend to treat these children.” 

Kids with autism are struggling with mental health

To better understand how kids with autism are struggling with mental health, the researchers analyzed responses from nearly 42,000 participants involved in the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health; these responses included data on more than 1,100 kids with autism between the ages of three and 17.

The researchers learned that nearly 80 percent of the kids involved in the study had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and nearly 45 percent of kids at preschool age were struggling with mental health. Behavioral issues were the most common mental health condition affecting kids with autism, followed by ADHD and anxiety. 

To see the prevalence of mental health conditions among kids with autism, the researchers compared these results to general mental health concerns among all children. They learned that just over 14 percent of kids without autism struggled with mental health. Additionally, when looking specifically at anxiety, kids with special health care needs and kids with intellectual disabilities were three and six times less likely, respectively, to have anxiety than kids with autism. 

“There’s something specific about autism that is increasing this mental health burden, and it’s true not only for anxiety, but also for depression, behavior problems, and attention problems,” said Dr. Kerns. “This is a special population that requires special attention.” 

While getting treatment for mental health has been found to be difficult for all kids, the researchers hope that these findings spur changes in the systems currently in place. The earlier that kids with autism receive support services, the more likely they are to reap the benefits of such treatments. 

“The longer mental health conditions are allowed to exist and worsen, the harder they are going to be to treat,” Dr. Kerns said. “It’s much better to catch them early. Right now, we don’t have a great system for doing that.” 

While finances are one of the biggest factors consumers worry about when thinking of divorce, a new study conducted by researchers from Frontiers explored the physical and mental health ramifications of ending a marriage. 

According to their findings, consumers’ physical and mental health is likely to take a hit in the months immediately following a divorce. 

“The mental and physical health of divorcees was significantly worse than the comparative background population immediately following divorce,” said researcher Dr. Søren Sander. 

Understanding what contributes to poorer health outcomes

To better understand this trend affecting divorced consumers, the researchers had over 1,800 recently divorced men and women answer questions about their education level, income, and number of children. They also answered specific questions about their divorces and their health and wellness. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that the participants’ mental and physical health worsened following a divorce. The study found that the participants were less likely to socialize, struggled with emotional capacity, and had poorer physical and mental health overall. The study also revealed that mental health was likely to be worse for couples who had a lot of conflict throughout the divorce process. 

“Across gender, higher levels of divorce conflict were found to predict worse mental health, even when accounting for other socio-demographic variables and other divorce characteristics,” Dr. Sander said. 

Helping those in need

The researchers found that certain factors were effective at boosting the participants’ mental and physical health following a divorce. For instance, having a new partner, earning more money, and being relatively younger were beneficial for both men and women’s health outcomes post-divorce.  

Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings inspire more consumers to seek support services following the divorce process to help mitigate some of the negative health effects that are likely to crop up. 

“We need evidence-based interventions that can help divorcees immediately following divorce,” said researcher Gert Hald. “These might include face-to-face or digital interventions that are designed to reduce the specific adverse mental and physical health effects of divorce. Not only would this be beneficial for divorcees, but it could also save money by countering the negative effects of divorce on work-place productivity, sick days, doctor visits, and use of health care facilities.” 

As more and more young people continue to struggle with mental health, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia explored how extracurricular activities could benefit teens’ mental health and reduce the amount of time they spend on devices and watching TV.

According to their findings, teens who are enrolled in after-school activities are more likely to have stronger mental health outcomes and spend less time in front of screens. 

“Although we conducted this study before the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings are especially relevant right now when teens may be spending more time in front of screens in their free time if access to extracurricular activities, like sports and art programs is restricted due to COVID-19,” said researcher Eva Oberle. 

“Our findings highlight extracurricular activities as an asset for teens’ mental well-being. Finding safe ways for children and teens to continue to participate in these activities during current times may be a way to reduce screen time and promote mental health and well-being.” 

Improving mental health

To explore the relationship between extracurricular activities and mental health, the researchers analyzed over 28,000 survey responses from seventh graders across British Columbia. The survey asked questions about the teens’ overall mental health and gauged how much time they spent in front of screens versus the time they spent participating in after-school activities. 

Overall, the researchers learned that participating in extracurricular activities was associated with improved mental health outcomes. Compared to those who didn’t participate in after-school activities, those who were enrolled in programs like sports or art spent less time in front of screens after school and also reported experiencing more positive feelings and greater optimism. This was particularly true for teen girls, as they reported the best mental health outcomes when they participated in after-school activities. 

The survey also revealed that two hours in front of screens was the benchmark, as kids who surpassed that threshold of screen time each day were more likely to experience symptoms linked with anxiety or depression. This finding is consistent with the results of another recent study, which found that teens are likely to experience heightened anxiety symptoms when they spend too much time in front of screens. 

Finding the right balance

While many parents may worry about committing their children to too many activities, this study shows that even having just one after-school activity can benefit children in several ways. Though the researchers plan to do more work in this area to better understand why this relationship exists between extracurricular activities, mental health, and screen time, they hope that these findings highlight the many benefits associated with after-school activities. 

“We do know that some forms of screen time can be beneficial, like maintaining connections with friends and family members online if we cannot see them in person, but there are other types of screen time that can be quite harmful,” Oberle said. “There are many nuances that are not well understood yet and that are important to explore.” 

Sitting for long periods of time has been found to negatively affect consumers’ mental and physical well-being, and now a new study is exploring how spending meaningful time sitting down could actually benefit older consumers’ cognitive function. 

According to a new study conducted by researchers from Colorado State University, physical activity is important for older consumers’ overall wellness. However, periods of sitting aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Their study suggests that keeping the mind active, even while sitting down, can lead to strong cognitive abilities. 

“We know that as we grow older, even if we do not have any cognitive impairments, people aged 60 and up already show some decreases in speed, executive functioning, and memory,” said researcher Aga Burzynska. “Those decreases are totally within a normal range, but this study was looking to understand how our behaviors and habits may correlate with cognitive outcomes in older age.” 

Staying mentally sharp

The researchers had 228 participants between the ages of 60 and 80 participate in the study. For seven days, participants wore hip sensors that measured their physical activity and sedentariness, after which they completed cognitive assessments that evaluated 16 different skills, including memory, vocabulary knowledge, and reasoning, among several others.

Ultimately, the researchers learned that the participants were spending on average less than three percent of their time engaging in even moderate levels of physical activity. However, this wasn’t linked with poorer outcomes on the cognitive assessments. 

The study revealed that those who were more active had sharpened different skills than those who were more sedentary. Scores on general knowledge and vocabulary were higher for those who spent more time sitting, whereas skills like problem solving and reasoning were higher for those who regularly exercised. 

“There’s this big push within health and wellness that sitting is always bad for your body, that being a couch potato is not good,” said Burzynska. “And although our earlier studies indicated that the brains of those who spend more time sitting may age faster, it seems that on the cognitive level, sitting time may also be meaningful.” 

While the researchers aren’t encouraging consumers to spend more time on the couch, they do hope that these findings inspire older consumers to make the most of their sedentary time. Exercise is important, but engaging in activities while sitting down can help boost cognitive function into older age. 

“I don’t think I would in any way suggest that we should engage in more sitting, but I think trying to be as physically active as possible and making sure that you get stimulated in your sedentary time -- that it’s not just spent staring at the TV -- that this combination might be the best way to take care of your brain,” said Burzynska. “I hope it sends some positive message for those of us who have limited opportunities to exercise during the pandemic.” 

Recent studies have shown how spending time in nature can be beneficial for consumers’ mental and physical wellness, and now a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter found that those benefits can also be felt virtually. 

According to their findings, essentially any experience with nature can give consumers a mental health boost. Their study found that whether it’s watching a nature-related TV show or experiencing nature in a virtual reality (VR) setting, this kind of experience was found to promote mental wellness for consumers. 

“Our results show that simply watching nature on TV can help to lift people’s mood and combat boredom,” said researcher Nicky Yeo. “With people around the world facing limited access to outdoor environments because of COVID-19 quarantines, this study suggests that nature programmes might offer an accessible way for populations to benefit from a ‘dose’ of digital nature.” 

Spending time with nature

The researchers had nearly 100 participants involved in this two-part study. Because they were interested in understanding how a virtual experience with nature could affect the participants’ mood, they started by showing them an instructional video that was designed to make them feel bored and restless. The participants then watched scenes from a tropical coral reef in one of three methods: a VR headset with computer graphics, a VR headset with full video features, or on a TV. The researchers assessed the participants’ boredom, overall mood, and connectedness with nature both before and after the experience. 

The study revealed that consumers don’t need to go outside to feel connected to nature or to boost their mood. Findings suggested that having a virtual experience with nature can be beneficial to consumers’ well-being. While the researchers observed that the VR experience allowed the participants to feel more connected to nature than those who watched the scenes on a TV, all of the participants reported that they felt less bored and negative.

Though VR headsets aren’t readily available to all consumers, access to a TV is much easier. This study showed that something as simple as nature programming can have powerful effects for mental wellness. The researchers hope that these findings can benefit consumers from the comfort of their homes while more work is done to integrate VR experiences into health care. 

“We’re particularly excited by the additional benefits immersive experiences of nature might provide,” said researcher Dr. Matthew White. “Virtual reality could help us to boost the well-being of people who can’t readily access the natural world, such as those in the hospital or long-term care. But it might also help to encourage a deeper connection to nature in healthy populations, a mechanism which can foster more pro-environmental behaviors and prompt people to protect and preserve nature in the real world.” 

Many college students are receiving treatment for mental health, but some still find it difficult to stay calm when feeling stressed or overwhelmed. 

Now, researchers from Yale University have found that teaching college students breathing techniques could be a great way to ease some of those mental health struggles. 

“In addition to academic skills, we need to teach students how to live a balanced life,” said researcher Emily Seppälä. “Student mental health has been on the decline over the last 10 years, and with the pandemic and racial tensions, things have only gotten worse.” 

Importance of taking a breath

For the study, the researchers had 135 undergraduate college students test out three different programs, all of which are designed to promote mindfulness and reduce stress and anxiety. 

Over the course of eight weeks, the participants tried Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, SKY Campus Happiness, and Foundations of Emotional Intelligence. All three programs took different approaches to improving mental health, and the researchers assessed which one yielded the best outcomes. 

Ultimately, the SKY Campus Happiness program produced the best results. Using a combination of breathing techniques and yoga poses, while also incorporating space for community engagement, the participants reported fewer symptoms associated with stress and depression. The program also helped them feel supported by their peers and gave them tangible ways to be more mindful and capable of tackling their mental health struggles. 

“I didn’t realize how much of it was physiology, how you control the things inside you with breathing,” said Anna Wilkinson, one of the study participants. “I come out of breathing and meditation as a happier, more balanced person, which is something I did not expect at all.” 

Teaching lifelong skills

Though many universities offer mental health services to students, the researchers suggest that having more opportunities for programs like the ones utilized in this study could be even more beneficial. These types of classes offer students skills they can use in their daily lives and can even be administered online. 

“Continually adding staff to counseling and psychiatric services to meet demand is not financially suitable -- and universities are realizing this,” said Seppälä. “Evidence-based resiliency programs can help students help themselves.” 

Mental health struggles affect consumers of all ages -- kids, college students, and adults. However, finding the right treatment can be difficult. 

Now, researchers from Dartmouth College have found that something as simple as a text message can greatly benefit consumers in their mental health treatment. According to their new study, combining a texting service with other treatments can be a viable way for consumers to see improvements to their mental health. 

“This study is very exciting because we saw real improvement in those who utilized the text messaging-based intervention on top of normal care,” said researcher William J. Hudenko. “This was true for individuals with some of the most serious forms of mental illness. The results are promising, and we anticipate that people with less severe psychopathology may even do better with this type of mobile intervention.” 

Utilizing technology

To understand what effect texting could have on consumers’ mental health progress, the researchers provided a dedicated text-line to just under 50 participants involved in the study. The participants were dealing with mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, and all were receiving support services like in-person therapy and medication. 

The text-line allowed participants to contact a licensed mental health professional with any concerns as they popped up throughout the day. The researchers assessed the participants’ progress at the three- and six-month marks and compared that with evaluations taken at the beginning of the study. 

The results showed that the text message intervention had overwhelmingly positive results. On a daily basis, the service was utilized about 70 percent of the time with no negative responses. Nearly 95 percent of the participants said having someone to text with throughout the day to help ease mental health concerns was beneficial to them. 

“A messaging-based intervention is an incredibly scalable, cost-effective way to help manage the enormous shortage of mental health capability in the U.S.,” said Hudenko. 

A great option for the pandemic 

The researchers explained that this intervention would be incredibly helpful in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only are consumers reporting higher levels of stress, but being confined to the house can make it harder for more people to have access to many traditional mental health services. However, texting is an easy way to help ease some of that stress. 

“Texting can help bridge this gap, by providing a means for mental health services to be continuously delivered,” said Hudenko. “A text-messaging psychotherapy is an excellent match for the current environment, as it provides asynchronous contact with a mental health therapist while increasing the amount of contact that an individual can have.” 

While previous studies have highlighted how exercise can be beneficial for consumers’ mental health, especially during times of social isolation, a new study found how sports can similarly boost cognitive function. 

According to researchers from the University of Basel, staying active is crucial for consumers’ mental faculties. Engaging in sports or games that allow players to interact with one another were found to be the most beneficial for improving cognitive function. 

“To coordinate during a sport seems to be even more important than the total volume of sporting activity,” said researcher Dr. Sebastian Ludyga. 

Sports and mental health

To better understand what kinds of sports or games could most benefit consumers’ mental health, the researchers analyzed 80 previous studies that explored various pros and cons of physical activity. 

Their work revealed that staying active is a great way for consumers of all ages to maintain strong cognitive abilities; however, certain types of games proved to have better results than others. 

The researchers learned that the mental aspects of sports were what most benefited consumers. Having a challenge to conquer in the game yielded the greatest cognitive aspects, as did sports that required intricate physical movements and player-to-player interactions. 

It’s also important to note that men and women responded differently to physical activity. The researchers explained that ramping up the intensity of the sport was beneficial for men’s mental health and could provide longer lasting benefits. However, women were less likely to reap the cognitive benefits when this was the case. 

The findings also suggest that families can benefit from incorporating more sports or games into their routines, especially while at home. Because the mental benefits were unanimous among all of the age groups identified, exercising in this way can increase both mental and physical health for kids and their parents. 

With social interactions on the decline as of late, starting a family-wide game can be a great way for consumers to keep their spirits up while also getting exercise in. 

Health and fitness experts have increasingly found that a personalized approach to health and wellness works best, and digital tools now make it easier to take that approach.

RVIVE, a mind and body self-care platform, is being demonstrated this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Company co-founder Wesley Rosner, whose background is in sports medicine, says RVIVE helps people soothe mental and physical stress and promote overall wellness.

“The goal of the platform is to bring together the separated pieces of the things that make someone healthy and have an improved sense of wellbeing,” Rosner told ConsumerAffairs. “We want to take meditation and sleep journeys and put them together with yoga and pilates.”

The app creates the program

People often purchase pieces of exercise equipment, such as foam rollers and heat packs, without a clear plan for using it or understanding how to incorporate it into a regular routine. That’s where the app comes in.

“If I have five minutes, am I going to use all these pieces of equipment or should I incorporate exercise? For the first time, we take all of this self-care equipment that’s on the market and turn it into a program,” Rosner said.

Someone using the app will select all the fitness tools and equipment they have in their possession. Once that information is saved in the app, the platform will make recommendations based on other data that the user provides.

That data includes how much time you have for a session and how much equipment you have access to. Users also describe how they are feeling, which Rosner says is an important element.

“If you report feeling a little more anxious than usual maybe we’ll incorporate some breathing, and we have the ability to tailor that over time based on how you’re feeling,” he said. “Then it Incorporates the pieces of equipment you have to maximize the benefit of that time.”

Tailoring workouts and wellness programs

The app also will ask users if they have pain. If so, it will avoid certain parts of a workout that might make the pain worse. 

“We do all of that on the back end with our smart intelligence to make sure you’re using the equipment the right way,” Rosner said.

The company currently works with corporations to tailor a wellness program for employees. Live sessions are part of the app, so participants can take part in a structured program. The app can be downloaded to iOS phones but for android users, it’s by invitation. But both platforms are readily available for corporate users.

RVIVE is currently offering a 30 day free trial. After that, individual subscribers pay $7 a month.

For the last decade, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been a launchpad for digital health technology, with the introduction of devices and innovations that help both consumers and healthcare providers improve outcomes.

From wearables to telemedicine and virtual reality, technology has helped advance wellness and overall health. CES 2020, which opened today in Las Vegas, will offer plenty of examples this week.

A recent study by Digimind, a company that develops market intelligence software, analyzes

trends in digital health to predict where things will go next. The study predicts that artificial intelligence-powered digital health services will be a dominant theme in the immediate future.

The study estimates that digital health was a $144 billion industry in 2018, and it is growing rapidly. The analysis of key social media posts concerning health suggests that artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, blockchain, robotics, and fintech are high on the agenda.

‘Digital Health is the long-awaited game-changer for the healthcare industry,” said Aurelien Blaha, CMO of Digimind. “The potential for technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and safe for everyone is undeniable.”

Healthcare, technology, and pharmaceuticals

The authors of the study predict an increase in partnerships between the technology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries to achieve a creative synergy that could ultimately have a huge impact on people’s health.

Technology not only brings innovation to health systems but also investment capital. In the last decade, tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Tencent have started focusing more efforts in the area of digital health. 

That, the authors contend, provides traditional healthcare companies with increased partnership options that can help companies grow and meet new healthcare challenges. These partnerships have resulted in practical improvements, such as better appointments scheduling and immediate test results, along with new technologies capable of improving lives.

Among these trends are technologies like Exosystems, which combine robotics and machine learning with medical science to create wearable devices that help patients recover lost mobility of arms or legs.

Eating fruits and vegetables can be difficult for many consumers -- especially those who are picky eaters. But results from a new study may have consumers heading to their grocery stores and stocking up on everything green.

Researchers from the University of Leeds found that consuming more fruits and vegetables can positively impact consumers’ mental health -- in addition to benefiting physical health.

“It’s well-established that eating fruit and vegetables can benefit physical health,” said researcher Dr. Neel Ocean. “Recently, newer studies have suggested that it may also benefit psychological well-being.”

“While further work is needed to demonstrate cause and effect, the results are clear: people who do eat more fruit and vegetables report a higher level of mental well-being and life satisfaction than those who eat less,” he added.

Brain food

The researchers followed over 40,000 United Kingdom residents over a six-year period, from 2011 through 2017, using data from the U.K. Household Longitudinal Survey.

The survey asked participants to divulge several different factors about their lifestyles to get an accurate overall representation of health. Questions accounted for things like day-to-day diet, education, marital status, income, age, health, and employment status. The participants were also required to report on their own mental well-being and overall life satisfaction.

The researchers found that those who were eating more fruits and vegetables were found to have more positive feelings about their lives. Even a small amount made a difference, as adding just one extra serving of fruits and veggies each day reaped enormous mental health benefits. The researchers found that this small change affected participants’ mental health in the same way that walking eight extra days a month would.

The researchers are hopeful that these results will inspire more people to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diets, as many participants reported not eating enough on a regular basis.

“There appears to be accumulating evidence for the psychological benefits of fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Peter Howley. “Encouraging better dietary habits may not just be beneficial to physical health in the long run, but may also improve mental well-being in the shorter term.”

Helping the environment

The benefits of healthy eating seem to be endless. A recent study that consumers who follow eco-friendly diets are helping the planet -- and their bodies.

Though climate-friendly diets were lacking in some nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin D, consumers who followed them also ate less red meat and dairy, which helps to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and also fills the body with more healthy, saturated fats.

“We can have both,” said researcher Diego Rose. “We can have healthier diets and reduce our food-related emissions. And it doesn’t require the extreme of eliminating foods entirely. For example, if we reduce the amount of red meat in our diets, and replace it with other protein foods such as chicken, eggs, or beans, we could reduce our carbon footprint and improve our health at the same time.”

As the conversation around mental health gains ground in the United States, it’s more important than ever to check in with the people in your life -- especially children.

A group of researchers recently presented a study at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition that explored the record high numbers of children in the United States suffering from mental health disorders -- particularly those in low-income neighborhoods. According to the researchers, mental health issues have become one of the most common pediatric illnesses, as over 17 million children are affected.

“Access to mental health services among children can be difficult, and data suggest that it can be even more challenging for minority children compared with non-minority youths,” said Monika K. Goyal. “Our findings underscore the importance of improving access to outpatient mental health resources as well as expanding capacity within the nation’s emergency departments to respond to this unmet need.”  

Dramatic increase in mental health cases

The researchers investigated records from 45 hospitals across the country -- with anonymous information -- to better understand how mental health is on the rise among the country’s youth.

Between 2012 and 2016, nearly 294,000 children received a mental health diagnosis. Over 50 percent were covered by public health insurance, and the average age was approximately 13 years old. Moreover, for every 100,000 children diagnosed, over 51 were non-Latino white children, and over 78 were non-Latino black children.

“When stratified by race and ethnicity, mental-health related visits to the nation’s emergency departments rose for non-Latino black children and adolescents at almost double the rate seen for non-Latino white children and adolescents,” said Dr. Goyal.

The researchers also found that two to five percent of all children’s emergency room visits were due to mental health concerns. The number of children going to the emergency room for mental health-related issues went up nearly 30 percent between 2012 and 2016. In 2012, the figure was at just over 50 percent, and by 2016 the number had increased to nearly 80 percent.

Overall, Dr. Goyal believes that better care is needed for children’s mental health needs -- particularly at hospitals across the country.

“These children come to our emergency departments in crisis, and across the nation, children’s hospitals need to expand mental health resources to better serve these vulnerable patients,” Dr. Goyal said.

Ways to help

While every mental health disorder is different, and treatment methods are even more different, there are some ways to support children that are struggling with mental health issues.

For anxiety sufferers, researchers have found that lack of sleep, smartphones, and the holidays are all contributing factors to increased anxiety. Though some kids tend to keep mental health concerns to themselves, experts suggest normalizing their feelings. Educating them about physical symptoms can help to reduce anxiety.

Additionally, physical exercise has been found to help with a variety of mental health issues, including both anxiety and depression. Allowing kids the time and space to run around has been linked to improved mental health.

The beginning of college can be a tumultuous and confusing time for many young people. It may seem like the trajectory of one’s life hinges on choices made at this young age, and a report shows that this is negatively affecting the mental health of college students around the globe.

Researchers from Columbia University found that over one-third students in eight industrialized countries showed symptoms consistent with a diagnosable mental health disorder. They point out that the finding could have huge implications.

“While effective care is important, the number of students who need treatment for these disorders far exceeds the resources of most counseling centers, resulting in a substantial unmet need for mental health treatment among college students,” said Dr. Randy P. Auerbach, the study’s lead author.

“Considering that students are a key population for determining the economic success of a country, colleges must take a greater urgency in addressing this issue.”

Under-equipped counseling services

The researchers came to their conclusions after examining data from an initiative run by the Word Health Organization (WHO). The information covered nearly 14,000 students from 19 countries, including the United States.

The researchers say that over one-third (35 percent) of students reported having symptoms that were linked to at least one mental health disorder. The most common was major depressive disorder, with generalized anxiety disorder coming in second.

The findings are worrying in light of previous research, which shows that only 15-20 percent of students will seek help from a counseling service at their college or university. Even at that lower percentage, the researchers point out that resources are nearly tapped out.

“University systems are currently working at capacity and counseling centers tend to be cyclical, with students ramping up service use toward the middle of the semester, which often creates a bottleneck,” Auerbach said.

Internet-based tools could help

While many of these counseling centers may be under-equipped to handle all student cases, Auerbach says that using other tools to get help is a viable option, especially for students who may be reluctant to come forward and talk to someone in person.

“Internet-based clinical tools may be helpful in providing treatment to students who are less inclined to pursue services on campus or are waiting to be seen,” he said.

The full study has been published by the American Psychological Association.

Tide laundry detergent developed a handy way to wash your clothes. Instead of measuring detergent, you simply toss in a prepackaged detergent pod.

For some reason, some person decided to video themselves eating one of these soap pods and put it on social media, daring others to "accept the challenge." What happened next was predictable. Eating Tide laundry pods became "a thing," causing doctors and poison control officials to warn of the dangers.

Now the Consumer Wellness Center has put some research behind those warnings. Commissioned by Science.News, the Center conducted a laboratory analysis of a Tide laundry pod and identified 700 unique and potentially dangerous chemicals.

You can find the lengthy list on the Science.News website.

Promoting awareness

Mike Adams, who is lab science director at the Consumer Wellness Center and author of the popular science book "Food Forensics," says the public -- parents especially -- need to be aware of what's in the laundry pods.

"Many of these chemicals pose very real risks to human health as well as aquatic ecosystems," Adams said.

Tide’s warning label on the product advises consumers to "call your local Poison Control Center or doctor immediately" if the product is swallowed.

"Concentrated detergent pacs can burst if children put them in their mouths or play with them," the warning label reads. "The liquid inside is harmful if put in mouth, swallowed or in eyes. KEEP PACS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN."

Absent from the label

But Adams says the label does not name specific chemicals on the packaging, leading him to believe consumers could be unaware of the potential dangers.

"Given the toxicity of this product when ingested, many consumers are now wondering whether it's safe to wear those same chemicals on their skin," said Adams. "An even bigger question is what happens downstream when these chemicals are rinsed out of clothing and flushed away."

As we reported in 2013, a seven month-old child died after eating a laundry pod, the first known fatality.

Proctor and Gamble CEO David Taylor, whose company makes Tide, says he can't understand why people are eating his product and he's not sure what to do about it.

"Ensuring the safety of the people who use our products is fundamental to everything we do at P&G," Taylor said in a January 22 blog post. "However, even the most stringent standards and protocols, labels, and warnings can't prevent intentional abuse fueled by poor judgment and the desire for popularity."

There are quite a few science-backed health benefits to getting a daily dose of nature. Taking a walk in the woods (a Japanese custom called “forest bathing”) has been shown to lower stress levels and boost well-being, while gardening has been linked to a number of physical and mental health benefits.

Now, a new study finds that bird watching can have a positive effect on mental health. Researchers in Great Britain found that people who can watch birds from their homes have a lower risk for depression, stress, and anxiety compared to people who live in less leafy areas with fewer birds.

The researchers also found that people reported higher levels of depression and anxiety when they had to spend more time indoors than usual in the previous week.

"This study starts to unpick the role that some key components of nature play for our mental well-being,” said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Cox from the University of Exeter. “Birds around the home, and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live."

Afternoon hours

Compared with those who lived in areas with limited bird activity, participants who resided in neighborhoods where they could see birds and greenery around their home were found to have lower levels of stress and depression.

Having the ability to watch birds in the afternoon, specifically, was found to have the greatest stress-reducing effect. Afternoon bird numbers were studied because they are typically lower, the researchers say, which is more in line with the number of birds that people are likely to see in their neighborhood on a daily basis.

Several common types of birds -- including robins, crows, and others -- were included in the study. However, the researchers did not find a correlation between bird species and mental health.

Instead, it was the number of birds that mattered. Watching birds of any species was found to help people relax and feel more connected to nature.

The full study has been published in BioScience.

There is no question that consumers are more concerned than every about whether the food they are buying is good for them. Health factors are influencing buying decisions as never before.

According to Berkley Wellness, a service of the University of California, the essential steps to a healthy diet are to eat mostly foods derived from plants — vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, while limiting highly processed foods.

The Institute of Food Technologists has recently highlighted 9 seeds and fruits that provide maximum nutrition while minimizing processed food.

Fruits and seeds

The first is Chia seeds, which are often used in yogurt, homemade trail mixes, baked goods, commercial nutrition bars, beverages and snacks. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Flaxseeds are another good source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and phytoestrogens in the form of lignans and omega-3 fatty acids. A Canadian study has also linked eating ground whole flaxseed to lowering blood cholesterol.

Sunflower Seeds are often considered a traditional ballpark snack but they provide monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, protein, fiber, vitamin E, and phytochemicals like choline, lignan, phenolic acids and betaine.

Pumpkin seeds are packed with protein, fiber, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. They are another “snack” that provides a powerful nutritional punch between meals.

New respect for blueberries

Blueberries have garnered increase nutritional accolades in recent years. Daily blueberry consumption may reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness. They are also packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, fructose, and antioxidants. Antioxidants in blueberries are linked to the prevention/delaying of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and the aging process.

Acai berry extracts have been linked to dubious claims in recent years but the berries themselves are an indisputably rich source of anthocyanin and have a fatty acid ratio similar to olive oil. They have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Tart cherries are healthy because they are high in anthocyanin and have high antioxidant activity. Studies have shown they can help you sleep, reduce inflammation in arthritis and gout, and promote recovery from sports injury.

Avocados

Avocados should also be on your shopping list. More than just the main ingredient in guacamole, avocados have beneficial effects on cardio-metabolic risk factors that extend beyond their heart-healthy fatty acid profile.

For example, a study of 45 overweight or obese subjects who ate a moderate-fat diet including an avocado daily found avocado consumption had a positive impact on cholesterol than those on a similar diet without the avocado or those on a lower-fat diet.

Finally, cranberries can promote improved health when you work them into your diet. Cranberries have long been associated with benefiting urinary tract health but have also shown to benefit heart health, cancer prevention, oral health, and glycemic response.