depression

When teens step out of their comfort zone to help people they don't know, they feel confident.

Helping Strangers May Help Teens' Self-Esteem

10:59am January 13, 2018

by Juli Fraga

Adolescents are under more pressure than ever, and many suffer from depression and anxiety. But new research suggests that volunteering to help strangers makes them feel better about themselves.

Light therapy helps some people with seasonal affective disorder feel better. Now it's being tested as a treatment for bipolar disorder.

Light Therapy Might Help People With Bipolar Depression

5:19pm November 27, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

Light therapy can help treat depression that's part of seasonal affective disorder, but it hasn't worked so well for treating bipolar disorder. It may come down to when people are exposed to light.

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People on the autism spectrum are more likely to have mental health diagnoses as well, which can make the transition to adulthood daunting.

Many Young Adults With Autism Also Have Mental Health Issues

5:00am October 01, 2017

by Tara Haelle

Young adults with autism are more likely to have anxiety, depression or other diagnoses than people with other disabilities. And that can make transitioning to adulthood more challenging.

"I'd lost 60 pounds in the years since my passport picture had been taken and I hardly looked like myself," writes author Haroon Moghul. "Each time I approached a border, I feared I'd be denied a visa or, worse, deported."

An Encounter At A Passport Checkpoint Offers Respite From Depression's Grip

10:20am September 27, 2017

by Haroon Moghul

Newly divorced and suffering from depression, author Haroon Moghul moved to Dubai for a while, hoping to find a reason to live. Strangely enough, sharing a laugh over his "fat" passport photo helped.

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Researchers aren't sure why strong relationships in adolescence seem to pay dividends later in life, but one hypothesis is that those bonds act as a buffer against depression and insults.

Having A Best Friend In Your Teenage Years Could Benefit You For Life

3:53pm August 26, 2017

by Angus Chen

Researchers have found that people with deep friendships in adolescence had less anxiety and a greater sense of self-worth in early adulthood. Close friends matter, their study found.

More doctors are using ketamine to treat severe depression in patients who haven't responded to other treatments.

Ketamine For Severe Depression: 'How Do You Not Offer This Drug to People?'

4:39pm March 20, 2017

by Jon Hamilton

More and more doctors are offering ketamine, an anesthetic and club drug, to severely depressed patients who haven't responded to other treatments.

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There might not be much science to support the benefits of art therapy, but students in a poetry class in Los Angeles say creating art brings them joy.

Can Poetry Keep You Young? Science Is Still Out, But The Heart Says Yes

7:33am February 20, 2017

by Ina Jaffe

Scientific evidence showing health benefits from engaging in the arts is still weak. But Los Angeles students in their 80s say their poetry class gives them joy, solace, community and a voice.

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A new study suggests that teen girls experience more bouts of depression than teen boys.

Depression Strikes Today's Teen Girls Especially Hard

9:30am February 13, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

A study tracking depression rates among U.S. teens from 2005 to 2014 finds an increase — especially among girls. A steady diet of harsh judgments from social media may play a role, researchers say.

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A still from the game "At-Risk For College Students".

Can An Online Game Help You Learn To Help Struggling Friends?

5:00am January 21, 2017

by Angus Chen

It's hard to ask someone if they're depressed or suicidal. Colleges are using an online game to help students learn how to have those conversations. The goal: more support and empathy.

Musi, an African elephant, is one of Fresno Chaffee Zoo's five elephants enrolled in the Elephant Welfare Initiative.

Fitness Trackers Aim To Improve The Health And Happiness Of Zoo Elephants

10:08am January 11, 2017

by Kerry Klein

OK, so they're not using Fitbits. But zoos across America are using software to minutely track the activity, behavior and physiology of captive elephants, and using that data to improve zoo life.

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