Therabot Study Flawed and Biased
A psychologist writes to say that our report on a randomized clinical trial for Therabot, an AI therapy chatbot, overlooked methodological weaknesses and researcher bias.
Essays & Interviews
Latest in Essays & Interviews
Surviving Solitary: People Who Endured Prolonged Isolation Push for Mental Health Care
Part 2 of this series looks at the forms of mental health care and support that can help people who have been subjected to solitary confinement cope with their trauma and adjust to new lives.
When Freedom Still Feels Like Prison: Life After Solitary Confinement
Solitary confinement can cause severe psychological impacts and the U.N. considers it torture. Yet prolonged isolation remains widespread in U.S. prisons and jails, where more than 122,000 people are held in solitary.
Kendra’s Law in New York: Report Blasts Racial Disparities in Forced Mental Health Treatment
When someone is forced into treatment, it strips them of their autonomy, say critics of Kendra's Law in New York.
Alexei Navalny Died a Year Ago. His Writings Hold Lessons on Resisting Authoritarian Rule
“We must do what they fear – tell the truth, spread the truth. This is the most powerful weapon against this regime of liars, thieves, and hypocrites. Everyone has this weapon. So make use of it.”
Photoshopped Images, Scientific Fraud Derail Quest for Alzheimer’s Treatments
A reporter uncovers evidence that research fraud on a massive scale has hyped the potential benefit of expensive drugs aimed at slowing or reversing the mental decline of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
A New Sense of Urgency for Mental Health in the Workplace
The divisive times we live in can impact our ability to work as cohesive teams. Finding ways to work well together, with respect and inclusivity is an important step forward.
Losing My Vision Has Been a Blow to My Mental Health. I Cope by Seeking Help and Having a Sense of Humor
Twenty-seven years ago I went to my eye doctor for what I thought was a routine post-cataract-surgery visit. After some additional tests, I learned I had macular degeneration and that my vision was going to progressively deteriorate. Here are my suggestions for coping.
California Psychiatrist Says Black Kids Overdiagnosed with ‘Oppositional Defiant Disorder’
Black children are too often diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, labeling them as “bad kids” and perpetuating systemic racism, says a California psychiatrist.
Confronting Immoral Actions, We Can Aim to Stand Up, Not Look On
My dilemma: Imagine that I am walking down the street heading to the mailbox and I see an ICE officer approaching a young woman emerging from a house she has just spent the morning cleaning. In this scenario, I am a bystander, about to be a witness. What I do or don’t do matters.
Fury mounts over insurance claim denials – including mental health – after killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Public response to the murder of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson reveals depth of rage toward insurance industry
Thousands of People in Prison Have ADHD. Why Aren’t They Receiving Treatment?
As many as half of all prisoners have ADHD, but they rarely get treatment, even though research suggests treatment can help reduce recidivism and ease reentry.
New Report: Mental Health Philanthropy Inches Up, but Still Lags Far Behind the Need
Mental health giving is rising slowly, but it's still a small percentage of overall giving.
That Crisis of Mentally Ill People Languishing in Jail? It’s Even Worse Than We Thought
The number of mentally ill people held in jails for weeks or months awaiting competency hearings is rising. Experts call it a crisis.
‘The Toughest, Most Rewarding Job I’ve Ever Had’ – Vivek Murthy on Parenting
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, the father of two young children, turns the focus in his latest advisory to the stresses faced by parents. In previous reports, he has focused on the mental health crisis affecting children and the epidemic of loneliness in America.
The Burnout Crisis Isn’t Over. Here’s What We Can Do About It.
Healthcare and social services workers are experiencing enormous burnout. But a closely evaluated pilot program offering therapy, wellness sessions and coaching is helping lower depression and anxiety in three-quarters of participating healthcare workers.
Our World War II Dads, the Supreme Court and Our Collective Mental Health
Our World War II parents would be outraged and not rest till the courts' presidential immunity decision was overturned, and so should we.
When a Pet Dies
Friends and family may not understand the depth of the grief you feel over the loss of a beloved pet. Here are some ways to cope.
How Can We Combat the Rise in Suicides Among Black Youth? An Interview with Dr. Yolanda Lawson
Dr. Yolanda Lawson, president of the National Medical Association, talks with MindSite News about suicide prevention among Black youth.
A Student Journalist on How Her Team Coped with the Stress of Covering a Campus Under Siege
Isabella Ramírez, editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator, describes the stress experienced by her team of student journalists as they covered occupations and police actions – and coped with accusations of being anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim over the past eight months.
Why Does My Young Daughter Dislike Her Body So Much?
A mother worries her preteen daughter may be headed for an eating disorder.
Help! I Don’t Like My Child
A divorced father can't figure out why he no longer enjoys his teen daughter's company. Find out what Dr. Greenberg advises.
The Night Parade: A genre-bending memoir that helps reshape the cultural narrative on bipolar illness and grief
Jami Nakamura Lin has written a rich, exquisitely illustrated memoir that expands the cultural narrative on mental illness and grief.
A Former Hotline Counselor ‘Hands the Mic’ to Call-takers to Amplify Their Voices
The author of a survey of crisis hotline counselors talks about his experiences and why he wanted to tap into the wisdom of the people who answer calls to 988.
How Allen Ginsberg’s Poems About Madness Helped Change Psychiatry: An Interview with Biographer Dr. Stevan Weine
Dr. Stevan Weine talks about his recent book on how poet Allen Ginsberg's writings helped change psychiatry for the better.
Surviving Solitary: People Who Endured Prolonged Isolation Push for Mental Health Care
Part 2 of this series looks at the forms of mental health care and support that can help people who have been subjected to solitary confinement cope with their trauma and adjust to new lives.
When Freedom Still Feels Like Prison: Life After Solitary Confinement
Solitary confinement can cause severe psychological impacts and the U.N. considers it torture. Yet prolonged isolation remains widespread in U.S. prisons and jails, where more than 122,000 people are held in solitary.
Kendra’s Law in New York: Report Blasts Racial Disparities in Forced Mental Health Treatment
When someone is forced into treatment, it strips them of their autonomy, say critics of Kendra's Law in New York.
Alexei Navalny Died a Year Ago. His Writings Hold Lessons on Resisting Authoritarian Rule
“We must do what they fear – tell the truth, spread the truth. This is the most powerful weapon against this regime of liars, thieves, and hypocrites. Everyone has this weapon. So make use of it.”
Photoshopped Images, Scientific Fraud Derail Quest for Alzheimer’s Treatments
A reporter uncovers evidence that research fraud on a massive scale has hyped the potential benefit of expensive drugs aimed at slowing or reversing the mental decline of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
A New Sense of Urgency for Mental Health in the Workplace
The divisive times we live in can impact our ability to work as cohesive teams. Finding ways to work well together, with respect and inclusivity is an important step forward.
Losing My Vision Has Been a Blow to My Mental Health. I Cope by Seeking Help and Having a Sense of Humor
Twenty-seven years ago I went to my eye doctor for what I thought was a routine post-cataract-surgery visit. After some additional tests, I learned I had macular degeneration and that my vision was going to progressively deteriorate. Here are my suggestions for coping.
California Psychiatrist Says Black Kids Overdiagnosed with ‘Oppositional Defiant Disorder’
Black children are too often diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, labeling them as “bad kids” and perpetuating systemic racism, says a California psychiatrist.
Confronting Immoral Actions, We Can Aim to Stand Up, Not Look On
My dilemma: Imagine that I am walking down the street heading to the mailbox and I see an ICE officer approaching a young woman emerging from a house she has just spent the morning cleaning. In this scenario, I am a bystander, about to be a witness. What I do or don’t do matters.
Fury mounts over insurance claim denials – including mental health – after killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Public response to the murder of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson reveals depth of rage toward insurance industry
Thousands of People in Prison Have ADHD. Why Aren’t They Receiving Treatment?
As many as half of all prisoners have ADHD, but they rarely get treatment, even though research suggests treatment can help reduce recidivism and ease reentry.
New Report: Mental Health Philanthropy Inches Up, but Still Lags Far Behind the Need
Mental health giving is rising slowly, but it's still a small percentage of overall giving.
That Crisis of Mentally Ill People Languishing in Jail? It’s Even Worse Than We Thought
The number of mentally ill people held in jails for weeks or months awaiting competency hearings is rising. Experts call it a crisis.
‘The Toughest, Most Rewarding Job I’ve Ever Had’ – Vivek Murthy on Parenting
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, the father of two young children, turns the focus in his latest advisory to the stresses faced by parents. In previous reports, he has focused on the mental health crisis affecting children and the epidemic of loneliness in America.
The Burnout Crisis Isn’t Over. Here’s What We Can Do About It.
Healthcare and social services workers are experiencing enormous burnout. But a closely evaluated pilot program offering therapy, wellness sessions and coaching is helping lower depression and anxiety in three-quarters of participating healthcare workers.
Our World War II Dads, the Supreme Court and Our Collective Mental Health
Our World War II parents would be outraged and not rest till the courts' presidential immunity decision was overturned, and so should we.
When a Pet Dies
Friends and family may not understand the depth of the grief you feel over the loss of a beloved pet. Here are some ways to cope.
How Can We Combat the Rise in Suicides Among Black Youth? An Interview with Dr. Yolanda Lawson
Dr. Yolanda Lawson, president of the National Medical Association, talks with MindSite News about suicide prevention among Black youth.
A Student Journalist on How Her Team Coped with the Stress of Covering a Campus Under Siege
Isabella Ramírez, editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator, describes the stress experienced by her team of student journalists as they covered occupations and police actions – and coped with accusations of being anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim over the past eight months.
Why Does My Young Daughter Dislike Her Body So Much?
A mother worries her preteen daughter may be headed for an eating disorder.
Help! I Don’t Like My Child
A divorced father can't figure out why he no longer enjoys his teen daughter's company. Find out what Dr. Greenberg advises.
The Night Parade: A genre-bending memoir that helps reshape the cultural narrative on bipolar illness and grief
Jami Nakamura Lin has written a rich, exquisitely illustrated memoir that expands the cultural narrative on mental illness and grief.
A Former Hotline Counselor ‘Hands the Mic’ to Call-takers to Amplify Their Voices
The author of a survey of crisis hotline counselors talks about his experiences and why he wanted to tap into the wisdom of the people who answer calls to 988.
How Allen Ginsberg’s Poems About Madness Helped Change Psychiatry: An Interview with Biographer Dr. Stevan Weine
Dr. Stevan Weine talks about his recent book on how poet Allen Ginsberg's writings helped change psychiatry for the better.