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(Editor's note: In each issue of MHW during Mental Health Awareness Month, we will feature an innovative initiative in mental health advocacy/promotion.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students from more than 200 universities across the country are reporting decreases in symptoms of anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, and increases in receiving mental health care and support, according to the latest annual Healthy Minds Study, which provides a detailed picture of mental health and related issues in college student populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for depression, little is known about the comparative effectiveness of rTMS and other treatment options, such as antidepressants, researchers stated in a new study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP). To address this objective, researchers used rTMS as a treatment for patients with treatment‐resistant depression (TRD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of a newly published study suggest that initiatives to reduce food insecurity could generate mental health benefits that often are not considered when these programs are designed. The study found that participants in a mobile market intervention conducted by the Greater Boston Food Bank experienced statistically significant improvement in self‐reported depression symptom scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observing that the health care workforce continues to experience high rates of depression and anxiety, particularly given the "upending" of the health care system during the COVID‐19 pandemic, University of Pennsylvania researchers established a well‐being and mental health platform with targeted content to support their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can dogs be depressed? According to Veterinarians.org, researchers in the 1980s found that canines can go through behavioral changes for various reasons, prompting them to experience extreme emotions, just like their human counterparts, People recently reported. Information shared on Veterinarians.org noted that some of the main signs of depression in dogs include "reduced activity levels and a desire to play," plus "clinginess or social withdrawal" and "a loss or change in appetite." "Excessive licking that brings comfort" and "uncharacteristic whining or howling" are other signs of canine depression, according to the organization. A big cause of depression in dogs, the organization noted, can be from experiencing a loss, which can range from that of a human companion or another pet living in the same home. Dogs can also be affected by environmental changes, such as the addition of a new pet or baby, or from something such as a change in scenery from moving, per Veterinarians.org. Dog trainers can help protect against depression in dogs by helping rid a pet of "established and unwanted behaviors through conditioning or positive reinforcement." Veterinarians will sometimes medicate dogs with prescription drugs, similar to ones that humans take for depression, including Zoloft and Xanax. When prescribed, these medications may take up to four to six weeks to kick in and show effective changes, according to Veterinarians.org. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The support of grandparents who are in good health and close by correlates with a lower use of antidepressants in mothers, a new study finds, CNN Health reported on Feb. 16. "Mothers are less likely to purchase antidepressants if their own parents are younger than 70, employed and do not have severe health problems," said the study's lead author, Dr. Niina Metsä‐Simola, a lecturer and demographics researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Researchers tracked 488,000 mothers of young children in Finland between 2000 and 2014, according to the report published Feb. 15 in Population Studies. The research team collected demographic data, including whether the mother had a partner or was separated, as well as the age, health, distance and employment status of the grandparents, both maternal and paternal. The connection between access to grandparents' help and a lower use of antidepressants was especially strong in mothers who were separated from their partners, the study said. "Grandparents are an important source of support to families with children, and support from others is well known to protect individuals from depression," Metsä‐Simola said via email. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness, considered a robust coping mechanism, can serve as a potential buffer to the negative consequences of impulsivity associated with suicide ideation among young Black adults, according to researchers of a study published in Mindfulness. Researchers said the current research is the first to examine mindfulness in addressing suicidal ideation among the younger Black population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can a simple addition to your diet lower the risk of depression? Researchers of a new study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition seem to think so. Adults who consumed nuts every day were less likely to report taking antidepressants or getting diagnosed with depression, they said, Metro news reported. Data was gathered from the UK Biobank, an online database of medical and lifestyle records of around 500,000 residents of the United Kingdom. The positive finding was seen in middle‐aged and older adults who consumed walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts and pistachios daily. Although the findings do not explain why this happens, the researchers speculate that anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties of nuts may have a protective effect. Questionnaires were used to assess nut consumption. Over the course of the study, self‐reported doctors' diagnoses of depression or antidepressant use were recorded. One of the results revealed that those who had a low‐to‐moderate nut consumption — defined as one serving of 30 grams per day — had a 17% lower risk of depression, compared to those who did not eat nuts. "This study builds on the growing literature in nutritional psychology showing diet to be a factor in mood disorders," said Jenna Macciochi, Ph.D., senior lecturer in immunology at the University of Sussex, who was not involved in the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults with major depressive disorder may experience mood improvements within days of taking zuranolone (50 mg/day), a study in The American Journal of Psychiatry suggests. Zuranolone is an oral, once‐daily neuroactive steroid that acts on GABAA receptors. "Patients receiving zuranolone 50 mg/day demonstrated significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms at day 15 compared with those receiving placebo," wrote Anita H. Clayton, M.D., of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and colleagues. The study "supports the potential role for a 14‐day therapy with oral zuranolone 50 mg/day in adults with MDD [major depressive disorder], with rapid improvements in depressive symptoms observed at the day 3 visit that were sustained through day 42, relatively high response and remission rates, and a favorable safety profile." The phase 3 trial included patients who were between the ages of 18 and 64 years, had received a diagnosis of MDD (according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria), had been experiencing symptoms of depression for a least four weeks, and had a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D) score of at least 24 at screening and before they started taking the assigned study medication. A total of 534 patients (266 in the zuranolone group; 268 in the placebo group) were included in the final analysis. The patients in both groups (who were predominantly white and female) had experienced MDD for a mean of approximately 11 years. Compared with patients who took placebo, those who took zuranolone demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms at day 15. "Numerically greater improvements in depressive symptoms for zuranolone versus placebo were observed by day 3 (least squares mean change from baseline HAM‐D score, −9.8 vs. −6.8), which were sustained at all visits throughout the treatment and follow‐up periods of the study," Clayton and colleagues wrote. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to a common misperception that quitting smoking will worsen mental health, research presented during a webinar this month found that smoking cessation treatment for persons with mental illness may help to improve their mood by reducing anxiety, depression and stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Biden Adminis‐tration's strategy to address the National Mental Health Crisis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has awarded $2 million in funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics to establish a National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Mental Wellness, Healthcare Finance reported Sept. 6. The purpose of the center is to develop and disseminate information, guidance and training on the impact — including risks and benefits — that social media use has on children and young people, especially the risks to their mental health. It will also examine clinical and social interventions that can be used to prevent and mitigate the risks. Dr. Miriam E. Delphin‐Rittmon, HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA, said the establishment of the new center was spurred in part by the increasing numbers of young people being diagnosed with anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. "Prior research has indicated that social media may be harmful, particularly to children and young people," she said. "We expect this new center to shed light on this challenge and provide us with best practices and guide us in protecting young people." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it has often been claimed that major depression results largely from biological and genetic factors, researchers using a natural experiment derived from two design features have found evidence that high‐quality rearing environments can meaningfully reduce rates of major depression in individuals with families at high risk. The new study was published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observing the challenges people in Minnesota face in finding mental health services, and, upon doing so, experiencing long wait times, a coalition of public and private purchasers and a behavioral health company have partnered to offer a solution to these challenges to the state's employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychedelic‐assisted psychotherapy is seeing a resurgence as a treatment approach for mental health disorders. It melds pharmacology and psychotherapy, using substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, under medical supervision, to treat conditions such as post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and extreme depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the season of giving continues to unfold, mental health organizations and other nonprofit groups around the country are embarking on their respective Giving Tuesday campaigns, which occurred this year on Dec. 3. Many, such as the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), have also spotlighted their donor giving program on social media and via emails and check solicitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the nonprofit organization called Project Helping established by Justin Kruger in Denver, Colorado. Topics include the groups' aim to organize volunteering events in Denver, the role of volunteering in the improvement of people with mental health problems, and the nonprofit Urban Peak that assists homeless youth. It also discusses how the volunteering concept can be replicated in other communities.

The article reports on a study relate to adolescents suffering from depression. Topics discussed include mental health services helps in improving the mental health conditions with attrition and non-randomization, government funds needed for mental health services for adolescents and child effectiveness in Great Britain and service referrers training for identifying mental health disorders in primary schools.

A new analysis reveals that online cognitive behavioral therapy reduces symptoms in cases of mild, moderate or severe depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Could a Mediterranean diet — rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish —help lower a person's risk of depression? Research published Sept. 26 analyzed 41 studies on the topic and found a link between people's diet and their chances of developing depression, CNN reported. People who followed a strict Mediterranean diet had a 33 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with depression compared to people who were least likely to follow these eating habits. People whose diets were high in inflammatory substances, such as processed meats, trans fats and alcohol, were more likely to have depressive outcomes. Based on their analysis, researchers found that several factors causing damage to the brain — such as oxidative stress, insulin resistance and inflammation — can be controlled by a person's diet. These factors also show an association with depression, according to the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the CHC Teen Mental Health Initiative launched by the Children's Health Council (CHC) in Palo Alto, California to prevent teen suicides and increase the mental wellness of teens. Topics discussed include an overview of the initiative, the death of four local teens by suicide in California from October 2014 to March 2015, and statement from Micaelia Randolph, spokesperson for CHC.

The article reports that the proceeds from a new fragrance, Hope fragrance are helping to support and discover new medications, treatments and prevention of depression.

The article presents news briefs related to mental health in the U.S. as of October 2, 2017. Topics include a report from "The Mercury News" on Depression Grand Challenge initiative of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which aims to study causes and treatments of depression by screening incoming freshmen and transfer students for mental disorders like anxiety and suicidal tendencies; and need for effective police training to interact with people having mental health problems.

The article reports on the Right Direction awareness campaign created by Employers Health Coalition Inc. in partnership with the American Psychiatric Foundation's Partnership for Workplace Health program to provide employers with the necessary tools to address and manage the effects of depression on employees. The results of the 2014 survey "The Impact of Depression at Work Audit (IDeA)" conducted by healthcare research agency Ipsos Healthcare are discussed.

The article informs that nonprofit organization PRS Inc. have launched an outbound telephone service to call Virginia's Fairfax residents to offer emotional and support service and help prevent exploitation and neglect. It mentions under the program residents are connected with a trained volunteer on a regular basis by phone for mental health and other assessments.

The article reports on the U.S. National School Climate Survey which found that, as of March 2014, a majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths are likely to experience depression, suicidal behavior, or substance abuse, with information on the implementation of early-intervention services in schools and communities in Delaware through the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families.

This section offers news briefs. These include reports that less than half of adolescents taken to Minnesota clinics for well-child exams in 2014 were screened for mental health or depression and a report from the Public Policy Forum that very few psychiatrists are accepting Medicaid patients to meet demand for outpatient mental health services in Milwaukee County, Milwaukee.

The article focuses on reducing the risk of depression in teenagers. Topics discussed include the effect on teenagers of being surrounded by happy friends, the study on 2,000 high school students published in "Proceedings B," and the limitations of the study having a "transmission model" from only two time points.

The article cites a study which found that older Americans who regularly spent time online are less likely to suffer from depression than their peers who do not use the Internet.

The article offers information on the study " A Prospective Study of the Effects of Optimism on Adolescent Health Risks," which shows that optimism helps address mental depression.

The article presents the mental health benefits of video game called Bejeweled from PopCap Games Inc. in the U.S. It states that this video game helps prevent mental depression. It also helps improve mood and heart rhythms as compared with non-players. In addition, the company is also examining games for their effects on clinical markers of depression.

The article explains the role of lifestyle and diet elements on the prevalence of depression in the modern society. According to Stephen Ilardi, associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas, the kind of lifestyle and food eaten by people in the modern times cause the prevalence of depression. In his book, Ilardi describes healing elements for depression including eating more omega-3 fatty acids, avoiding excessive rumination and increasing physical exercise.