Mental Health

What Happens In The Brain Of An Extreme Procrastinator?

8:49am August 26, 2016

by NPR/TED Staff

Blogger Tim Urban explains his process of extreme procrastination in which his brain wages war between instant gratification and the moment of pure panic just before a deadline.

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Instagram photos posted by depressed individuals had values that shifted towards those in the bottom photograph, compared with photos posted by people who weren't depressed. The bottom photo has higher hue (bluer), lower saturation (grayer) and lower brig

Instagramming In Black And White? Could Be You're Depressed

12:46pm August 24, 2016

by Angus Chen

Researchers analyzed people's photo galleries on Instagram, then asked about their mental health. People who favored darker, grayer photos and filters were more likely to be depressed.

Hiroyuko Yamamoto, a crossing guard in Matsudo, Japan, has been trained in how to recognize and gently approach people who are wandering, or have other signs of dementia, in ways that won't frighten them.

Japanese City Takes Community Approach To Dealing With Dementia

4:47pm August 23, 2016

by Ina Jaffe

Japan expects 7 million cases of dementia among its long-lived residents by 2025. It has started training pharmacists, bankers and postal workers in how to recognize the signs and be supportive.

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A Small Town Struggles With A Boom In Sober Living Homes

11:53am August 22, 2016

by Will Stone

Prescott, Ariz., has become a destination of choice for people trying to get sober, with growing numbers of group homes for recovering addicts. Some residents are calling for regulation of the homes.

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After IVF, Some Struggle With What To Do With Leftover Embryos

7:00am August 20, 2016

by Juli Fraga

Nearly a million embryos are in frozen storage in the U.S. Some couples feel ambivalent, even after their family is complete, so put off deciding what to do with what some call their 'maybe babies.'

Women may have different ways of coping with childhood stresses than men, which may increase their risk of health problems in adulthood.

Abuse In Childhood Raises The Risk Of Early Death For Women

12:25pm August 17, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

The link isn't definite, but it matches other research that suggests that difficult experiences in childhood affect physical health years down the line. Just how that happens remains a mystery.

A poll of psychiatrists about the mental fitness of Barry Goldwater, Republican nominee for president in 1964, led to the creation of a rule that discourages doctors from public diagnoses.

Health & Safety

Psychiatrists Reminded To Refrain From Armchair Analysis Of Public Figures

6:00am August 13, 2016

by Bret Stetka

After a 1964 poll of psychiatrists found almost half considered Barry Goldwater psychologically unfit to be president, the doctors' professional society said they should stay mum on mental fitness.

Veterinarians say that helping suffering animals and stressed-out owners can become grueling.

For Vets, Caring For Sick Pets And Grieving Owners Takes A Toll

5:00am August 06, 2016

by Kasia Galazka

Veterinarians have high rates of stress and suicide, so vet schools are trying to give them tools to deal with challenging tasks such as euthanasia — and with comforting with grieving pet owners.

Four states have no legal insanity defense.

With No Insanity Defense, Seriously Ill People End Up In Prison

3:13pm August 05, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Four states have no insanity defense. Advocates say that means seriously ill people can be executed where in other states they wouldn't be convicted at all, and it makes it harder to get treatment.

Jeana West touches the headstone of her son, Generro Sanchez, at a cemetery in Stuart, Okla., in February. He was killed by a college classmate who was found to have antisocial personality disorder.

Does A Psychopath Who Kills Get To Use The Insanity Defense?

5:22pm August 03, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Having a serious mental diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean that juries will consider an insanity defense. Some states have changed their laws to exclude people with antisocial personality disorder.