13 podcast episodes to make back-to-school season easier on kids and parents
The new school year can be exciting, but also stressful. Kids may be feeling anxious. Parents may be juggling new responsibilities. Experts share tips on how to manage this season of change.
In a pair of new studies, researchers found that older adults who challenge themselves to learn new things are less likely to experience loneliness or depression, even during times of major upheaval.
“Your Brain Wasn’t Built for This: The Mental Toll of Modern Life”
Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected? Discover how modern life hijacks your brain—and how understanding your own neurology can help you reclaim your mental health. From the author of Wi…
It is well documented through Manic Minds that I am a Psychosis sufferer, it’s not something I shy away from and it is definitely not something I am ashamed of. There is no reason for me to be asha…
Tara Brach: The Transformative Power of Deep Listening: Healing Ourselves and Our World, Part 1
Listening is more than a communications skill, it is a capacity that awakens our awareness. And given our current times, this capacity is essential if we are to navigate the great divides that separate us from our inner life and others. As we learn to listen inwardly, we begin to understand and care for the fears and vulnerability that ask for our attention. And as we listen to others, that same intimacy emerges. In this two-part series we examine the blocks to listening and the practices that cultivate this essential domain of human potential. Our focus is both on the transformational power of listening in our personal lives, and also the necessity for deep listening if we are to bring healing to our wider society.
Be wary of mental health services marketed with urgent language, promises of quick fixes, or therapeutic jargon designed to make you feel instantly understood. Authentic trauma-informed care doesn’t need to announce itself as a shallow sales tactic—it shows up in how you’re treated throughout the entire process.
Be wary of mental health services marketed with urgent language, promises of quick fixes, or therapeutic jargon designed to make you feel instantly understood. Authentic trauma-informed care doesn’t need to announce itself as a shallow sales tactic—it shows up in how you’re treated throughout the entire process.
The Kids Are Not Alright. But Don’t Blame Social Media.
It’s understandable that parents want answers. But policymakers must stop pushing simplistic solutions like banning youth from social media instead of tackling root causes like poverty, trauma and a lack of mental health resources. Parents and kids deserve explanations and solutions rooted in evidence-based research.
What the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers and how it's used
The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — 988 — launched on this day exactly three years ago. People who call the line seeking support are connected to a local network of crisis centers and a trained crisis counselor. And while millions of people have contacted the line since its launch, a new study shows portions of the country still don't know about it. Short Wave host Emily Kwong speaks to Jonathan Purtle, one of the lead researchers of on this study, about the findings, how the hotline differs from 911 and what its existence signals to Americans. Want us to cover more mental health news? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you want to hear from us!Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Growing Up Poor Has Long-Term Mental Health Costs, Danish Study Finds
New research traces depressive symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses, and drug use across nearly two decades, linking them to socioeconomic status at age 15.
The US prison system is failing to provide adequate mental health care to its incarcerated population, with over half of prisoners reporting mental health issues and only 26% receiving professional help, resulting in a system that criminalizes illness and fails at basic human decency.
An Inconvenient Truth about Meaningful Change: Slow is Fast
In today’s fast-paced world, where technological advancements and social media dominate our daily lives, people are increasingly feeling isolated and disconnected. Despite being constantly connected to devices, many struggle with loneliness and a sense of alienation. At the same time, modern Western culture emphasizes self-reliance and self-help solutions, often suggesting that personal growth should be […]
