The transition from high school to college can be a difficult one. Students are faced with not only a more challenging academic life, but often a separation from the world they have grown up knowing. Moving out of the parents’ house, and the freedom, independence and responsibilities that come with it, can make for an emotionally charged time filled with ups and downs. As students deal with these difficulties and the academic challenges that face them, (both during their freshman year and throughout the college experience) mental health issues can often present themselves. Studies...

War is hell, said General William Tecumseh Sherman. Fortunately, very few of us have to find out. We trust in highly trained professional soldiers, who bear everyone's burden. Not all of them are able to leave these burdens behind, when the battle call falls silent. The Veteran's Health Administration is coping with a record number of physically, emotionally, and mentally scarred warriors returning home. Some of the damage cuts across the artificial boundary we in the West have drawn between the physiological and the psychological. The care we have developed for seared skin, tor...

When scientists discover a new type of drug that "promises" to become a "wonder" drug for all sorts of maladies, caution is a better route than joy and hope.

Anyone who has competed in sports knows it can be a mental game as much as a physical one. So what are the mental keys that separate the good athletes from the great athletes? And how much do psychological factors like rituals and mental control contribute to physical performance?

When tragedies strike that affect communities or the nation as a whole, it is important to take the time to care for mental health. Sometimes traumas can cause mental distress not only for those directly involved, but for widespread publics too.

Energy drinks may be all the rage for a certain set of on-the-go young people, but are they safe? These caffeinated concoctions are said to help people focus, overcome lethargy, and provide fuel for a night of partying. Now, some researchers say there are risks involved, especially when mixed with alcohol, and that energy drinks need more scrutiny. Americans love their coffee, and energy drinks can be thought of as just another delivery system for caffeine, one of the world's favorite drugs, and one of the very few enjoying something with establishment approval. Back in the 199...

Bipolar disorder can be hard to manage at any age. But when a sufferer is young, it can be even more so in a variety of different areas - harder to identify, harder to treat, harder to cope with. Bipolar disorder in children is sometimes called early onset bipolar disorder or juvenile bipolar disorder and there is some disagreement on how the illness manifests itself in young patients. Despite debate, with proper awareness, attention and treatment, both children with this disorder and their families can adjust and succeed. How Bipolar Disorder is Displayed in Children Bipol...

Addiction is not a moral issue. Approximately 16 percent of Americans over the age of 12 deal with addiction. That’s twice the amount of people fighting cancer, 40 million compared to 19 million, and almost twice the number of people with heart disease or diabetes. Those numbers don’t include the 80 million people who smoke, drink and use drugs in “risky ways that threaten health and safety.” A major report, released by the University of Columbia’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), is 586 pages of addressing one of America’s most ignored health...

A diagnosis of schizophrenia can be a challenging and difficult pill to swallow, not just for the patient but for the friends and family of those diagnosed. But by understanding what kind of support systems these patients need, loved ones can help patients cope and adjust. In order to help a loved one with this disorder, it is important to thoroughly understand the symptoms of the disorder and the treatment options available to patients as well. Schizophrenic Symptoms According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), symptoms of the disorder (which typically show up between t...

The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development ( NICHD ) has released numerous studies investigating the outcomes of alcohol and drug use during pregnancy.