7 most-read stories to highlight World Mental Health Day

An estimated 44.7 million U.S. adults aged 18 years or older experienced a mental illness in 2016, according to the NIMH. In addition, an estimated 10.4 million adults in the United States experienced serious mental illness.

Data from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that women had a higher prevalence of any mental illness than men, and young adults aged 18 to 25 years had the highest prevalence of any mental illness.

To highlight World Mental Health Day, Healio Psychiatry compiled a list of the most-read articles on mental health in 2018.

Machine learning links brain connectivity patterns with psychiatric symptoms

Using machine learning, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that four dimensions of psychopathology — mood, psychosis, fear and disruptive externalizing behavior — were linked to distinct patterns of connectivity in the brain. Read more.

WHO: Harmful alcohol use kills 3 million globally in 2016

Although there have been positive trends in prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related mortality since 2010, there have been no global reductions in total per capita consumption and the global burden of disease related to alcohol remains high, a report issued by WHO found. Read more.

Omega-3 fatty acids may help ease anxiety symptoms

Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis showed that treatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may help reduce symptoms in patients with clinical anxiety. Read more.

TBI may increase risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease

Results from a nationwide cohort study in Denmark of more than 2 million people aged 50 years and older showed that those who sustained a traumatic brain injury were more likely to develop all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those with no history of injury. Read more.

Teachers, other school staff can ease children’s mental health issues

Study findings demonstrated that school-based mental health services delivered by teachers and other school personnel helped reduce mental health issues in elementary-aged children. Read more.

SAMHSA to establish new mental health care approaches

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration plans to take a new approach to serious mental illness, which includes providing evidence-based psychiatric treatment and supporting a collaborative care model with community resource providers. Read more.

College students of color more likely to have unmet mental health needs

Study findings published in Journal of Adolescent Health showed significant disparities in treatment across race/ethnicity among college students with mental health problems. Read more.