Recent posts

APA Condemns Violent Attack on U.S. Capitol, Warns of Long-Term Effects of Recurring Trauma

By drwong
January 8, 2021

American Psychiatric Association Thu, Jan 7, 2021 APA today condemned the violent action of a pro-Trump mob who on Wednesday stormed the halls of Capitol, forcing the evacuation of both chambers of Congress during the ceremonial reading of the electoral college votes for President-elect Joe Biden.“Yesterday’s violence and the rhetoric that incited it are seditious,” said APA...   read more


What Can Be Learned From Differing Rates of Suicide Among Groups

By drwong
January 8, 2021

The New York Times By Austin Frakt Dec. 30, 2020 White Americans have higher rates than most other racial and ethnic groups. U.S. suicide rates vary widely across racial and ethnic groups in ways that can upend expectations. The explanations may suggest avenues for prevention. Suicide in America has been rising for two decades, with rates for...   read more


How to find a therapist who is right for you

By drwong
December 31, 2020

Los Angeles Times By Ada Tseng Dec. 23, 2020 Finding a therapist who’s right for you, or your loved one, may not be easy. Mental health professionals are in especially high demand, as many struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic turmoil, political anxiety, racial reckonings and other traumas, disorders and heartbreaks. “People are suffering, and...   read more


Comedy show ‘Normalize Everything’ aims to de-stigmatize mental illness by joking about it

By drwong
December 31, 2020

Los Angeles Times By Ada Tseng Dec. 24, 2020 For a spirited hour and a half during a stand-up-comedy livestream on Saturday, to be the child of a parent with schizophrenia was the norm. Discussion topics included: Is it worse to grow up with a parent with schizophrenia or one with schizoaffective disorder, where you...   read more


What is therapy? A beginner’s guide to mental health

By drwong
December 31, 2020

Los Angeles Times By Jessica Roy Dec. 23, 2020 Considering what we’re living through, we’re all probably due for some therapy. If you’ve never done therapy before, the concept can seem a little daunting. Are you just sitting in a room (or, these days, on a video call) with a stranger, telling them your darkest...   read more


How to talk to loved ones when you’re worried about their mental health

By drwong
December 24, 2020

The Washington Post By Allyson Chiu Dec. 1, 2020 The year 2020 has exacted a psychological toll on Americans. Levels of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed alongside increases in drug overdoses and alcohol consumption. Meanwhile, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contained an alarming statistic: When young adults were asked if they had seriously considered suicide in...   read more


Dementia may cause major financial problems long before diagnosis, making early detection critical

By drwong
December 24, 2020

The Washington Post By Allyson Chiu November 30, 2020 The anecdotes Lauren Nicholas was hearing were all similarly alarming: People with dementia were experiencing “catastrophic financial events” — often before they or their loves ones knew there was anything wrong with them. “Once you miss a bunch of payments, the bank owns your house or...   read more


Light therapy lamps can ease seasonal depression. Here's what you need to know.

By drwong
November 18, 2020

The Washington Post By Allyson Chiu and Lizzy Raben For some people, the beginning of winter signals more than a change in weather. The shorter, darker days trigger a noticeable shift in their mood and behavior, causing what’s known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. And this winter, the onset of SAD may be exacerbated by...   read more


What to do about Ahav?

By drwong
November 18, 2020

The Washington Post By Hannah Dreier October 24, 2020 A mother’s fight to save a Black, mentally ill 11-year-old boy in a time of a pandemic and rising racial unrest DECATUR, Ga. — Her 11-year-old was on the floor drawing. Her 9-year-old was next to him, playing with plastic robots. It was a rare quiet...   read more


Fatal police shootings of mentally ill people are 39 percent more likely to take place in small and midsized areas

By drwong
October 20, 2020

The Washington Post By Kimberly Kindy, Julie Tate, Jennifer Jenkins and Ted Mellnik Oct. 17, 2020 The final moments of Stacy Kenny’s life are captured on a recorded 911 call. Kenny, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, begs an emergency operator to explain why she’s been pulled over. Amid screaming and rustling sounds, police...   read more