What New Study Findings Tell Us About Serotonin, Depression and SSRIs: A Chief Psychiatrist’s Take
by Vidya Krishnan, MD, Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director, Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services, CHC
Approximately 280 million people around the globe have depression, according to a report from the World Health Organization. The personal, familial, and societal effects of this condition are profound. Especially considering that depression, at its worst, can lead to suicide. Read more ›
Nearly half of Americans report feeling left out or alone, and over two-thirds of teens report being lonely. Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity. But did you know that even just one friend can be enough? 
Parents seeking therapy for teenagers who self-harm or suffer from anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts face an imposing thicket of treatment options and acronyms: cognitive behavioral therapy (C.B.T.), parent management training (P.M.T.), collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (CAMS), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and others. 
School shootings in the U.S. 
Karla Garcia said her son’s social media addiction started in fourth grade, when he got his own computer for virtual learning and logged on to YouTube. Now, two years later, the video-sharing site has replaced both schoolwork and the activities he used to love — like composing music or serenading his friends on the piano, she said. 
Educators are often the first to notice mental health problems. Here are some ways you can help students and their families. 
Mental health problems don’t only affect adults. Children, teens and young adults can have mental health problems, too. In fact, three out of four people with mental health problems showed signs before they were 24 years old. 
The death of a grandmother can have severe and lasting mental health consequences for both her adult children and grandchildren, according to 
In other words, what can they do to protect their mental health? Experts suggest that parents and teenagers take proactive steps now to help plan for and preserve mental well-being during the big transition to college. 
Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage of teens who reported having “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 37 percent and, in 2021, to 44 percent. Further, research shows that 1 in 5 youth in distress felt that they didn’t have someone they could turn to in a crisis. How can we let our teens know we’re here for them and protect them from significant mental health challenges? 
