Stress Awareness Month 2021: COVID-19-related stressors, prenatal stress and more

In 1992, the Health Resource Network designated April as National Stress Awareness Month, and the month has been recognized as such each year since.

In conjunction with this observance, Healio Psychiatry has compiled a list of articles covering recent developments in stress research.

Experts highlight psychological stressors linked to COVID-19 pandemic

Several experts provided an overview of the psychological stressors linked to the COVID-19 pandemic in a virtual presentation presented by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Read more.

More than 50% of COVID-19 health care workers at risk for mental health problems

More than half of health care workers involved in COVID-19 care may be at risk for one or more mental health problems, including traumatic stress, according to study results published in Journal of Psychiatric Research. Read more.

Prenatal stress may mutate child’s DNA, increase risk for disease

Maternal stress during pregnancy may mutate the child’s DNA and thus affect risk for developing disease, according to study results published in Biological Psychiatry. Read more.

Early-life stress exposure linked to neural inflammation and psychiatric effects

Children exposed to severe, chronic stress may be at increased risk for developing neural inflammation that can affect their mental health, according to study results published in American Journal of Psychiatry. Read more.

Stress-related disorders linked to kidney disease progression, AKI

Swedish patients who had a stress-related disorder were more likely to experience chronic kidney disease progression and AKI compared with a population-matched control group. Read more.