Depression

Australians will wait an average of 12 years before getting treatment for mental health or substance use disorders, according to a new study. It's not all grim news, though. Younger people are much more likely to seek help when they need it.

A new study has revealed that kids who face exclusionary discipline at school were at greater risk of developing anxiety and depression. The research highlights the need to rethink how young students who act out are treated by educators.

A study is building on a body of evidence showing a common supplement used to build muscle may also confer beneficial mental health outcomes. The clinical trial suggests the effects of psychotherapy can be amplified by adding this nutritional supplement.

We've never been closer to accurately assessing whether someone is more susceptible to developing depression due to their biology, with 293 new gene variants found to play a role in ramping up the risk factor. That's 42% more than previously known.

Using data from twin studies conducted over many years, researchers have found a link between levels of depression and the amount of fruit and vegetables people eat each day.

A recent clinical trial has shown that it's possible to safely and effectively treat depression at home using a brain stimulation device. That means patients can give themselves low-intensity impulses to see positive results with 30-minute sessions.

Giving psilocybin to rats made them more optimistic in the longer term, suggesting that the psychedelic substance could have great potential in treating a core symptom of depression in humans.

As the daylight hours shrink and temperatures drop, it's easy to spend more time indoors. But new research has shown that by self-monitoring time out in the sunshine – also linked to physical activity – can help treat seasonal mood disorder symptoms.

After comparing the long-term effects of the psychedelic psilocybin and a commonly prescribed antidepressant, new research found that both significantly reduced depression. However, psilocybin provided something more: a significant boost to quality of life.

A head-mounted ultrasound device has now completed two human trials. One showed how the targeted sound waves could improve pain symptoms, while another revealed a marked improvement in depression symptoms after just one session.

Taking placebos fully aware that they contain no active ingredients can still significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression according to a new study. It’s suggested that these 'non-deceptive placebos' might be an effective way of improving mental health.

Exercise’s positive effect on depression is well-known, but not how it produces its anti-depressant effects. After reviewing a broad range of studies into how depression and physical activity affect motivation, researchers have now come up with a hypothesis.