Legendary actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close is on a quest to change how we think about mental health, starting with her decision to speak out about her own family's struggles — a brave choice considering the stigma that pervades the topic. In a sweeping conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Close shares the inspiration behind the advocacy group she founded to combat the crisis, underscoring the transformative power of community and the critical need for comprehensive mental health care systems.

Depression, schizophrenia, suicidal feelings—too often, these experiences stay private. These speakers who've struggled with mental illness boldly share their stories, in hopes that others don't feel so alone.

MedicalNewsToday.com

Mental health is about how people think, feel, and behave. Mental health care professionals can help people manage conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addiction, and other disorders that affect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

NPR.org

"Brain rot" is the Oxford word of the year for 2024, and it's pretty much what it sounds like: a perceived mental decline from consuming too much online media. If just reading that definition has you worried about your gray matter, never fear! Researchers are finding promising — and surprising — ways to boost our brain health and de-stress our minds. Here are nine stories on the topic that engaged our readers this year.

TVO Today

It seems like everyone wants to talk about mental health now a days, but what even is mental health? A lot of people like to stigmatize the concept and confuse it with mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression. However, mental health and mental illness are not the same.

Anna Freud

We All Have Mental Health is an animation designed to give young people aged 11-14 a common language and understanding of what we mean by mental health and how we can look after it.

Nucleus Medical Media

This 3D medical animation shows the parts of the brain associated with mental health and function. The process of neurons passing messages to each other via neurotransmitters is shown. A few examples of mental illnesses are listed, along with the neurotransmitters associated with them.

The WHO's "Mental health: strengthening our response" fact sheet emphasizes the urgent need for action in mental health. It highlights that mental health is essential to well-being and is influenced by various factors. The fact sheet also notes that affordable and effective strategies are available to promote, protect, and restore mental health.

The SAMHSA mental health page provides comprehensive information on mental health, emphasizing its impact on thoughts, feelings, and actions. It offers resources on various topics, including mental health conditions, treatment options, and support services. The page also highlights the importance of early intervention and provides links to helplines and treatment locators for immediate assistance.

The Science Behind Mental Illness and Recovery explores the multifaceted causes of mental illnesses, including genetics, environment, trauma, and lifestyle. It emphasizes that understanding these factors and how various treatments work can aid in personal recovery journeys.