The hottest Mental health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Can AI Help Us With Our Mental Health Issues?

Bojan’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people change their mental perspective to overcome psychological problems like depression and anxiety.
  2. CBT is well-researched but requires frequent and prolonged use, which can be challenging to sustain.
  3. Generative AI could assist in mental health by creating realistic conversation partners to track and improve mental health states.

No active ingredients whatsoever

Internal exile • 46 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. Placebos work because of belief and social interactions, not just the medicine itself. This shows that the setting and care from doctors can be as important as the actual treatments.
  2. People can still feel the effects of placebos even when they know they’re fake. This suggests that our expectations and the way we think about treatment can influence our experience of pain and illness.
  3. The rise of AI in healthcare may change how we think about treatment. Just like placebos, the way we perceive AI support can create real feelings and experiences, but it also risks losing the human connection that aids in healing.

This is How The World Ends. Not with a Bang, but a Smile.

OK Doomer • 126 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. There's a growing trend of courses teaching people how to smile, reflecting a culture obsessed with appearing happy despite feeling otherwise. Many are pressured to smile even when they don't feel like it, which can be unhealthy.
  2. T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Hollow Men' speaks to the emptiness of society and resonates more today as we face crises and pressures to conform, like forcing smiles.
  3. Forcing yourself to smile can worsen mental health issues, and it's important to acknowledge how societal expectations around smiling can be harmful.
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Anti-depressants: The trials last 8 weeks; People take them for 8+ years

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 85 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. People often take anti-depressants for many years, even decades, but they were only studied for about 8 weeks in trials.
  2. There isn't clear evidence that taking these medications long-term is better than not starting them at all, which raises concerns about their effectiveness.
  3. We need longer and better studies to truly understand the benefits and downsides of anti-depressants, including how they impact things like sexual health.

How to Tell if You are Truly Concerned About Fat People’s Health

Weight and Healthcare • 219 implied HN points • 30 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Truly caring for fat people's health goes beyond body size and includes addressing weight stigma and oppression.
  2. Using stigmatizing language like 'ob*se' or believing thinness can magically solve health issues perpetuates weight stigma.
  3. Recommendations for intentional weight loss may often lead to harm and supporting anti-fatness contradicts true concern for fat people's health.

A NOTE TO READERS

Seymour Hersh • 85 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author is recovering from their first knee replacement surgery. They're dealing with significant pain during the healing process.
  2. They mention taking a lot of pain medication, which affects their ability to write clearly.
  3. The author plans to return with more content next week once they're feeling better.

Addendum to What the DSM-5 Gets Wrong About Mental Illness

Mind & Mythos • 159 implied HN points • 23 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. The HiTOP model offers a different way to look at mental health by using sliding scales instead of strict categories for diagnoses. This helps avoid labeling people in a way that might cause stigma.
  2. Unlike the DSM-5, which uses clear diagnoses, the HiTOP focuses on understanding a person’s unique traits and where they fall on various scales. This allows for a more personalized approach to mental health treatment.
  3. There is a connection between the HiTOP model and the Big Five personality traits, suggesting that mental health issues can overlap with broader personality traits rather than being completely separate categories. This creates opportunities to better understand and treat mental health challenges.

Desert Myths

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 179 implied HN points • 29 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Many animals like scorpions and rattlesnakes are often misunderstood and thought to be dangerous, even though bites are rare and usually not fatal. Most people are more at risk from common animals like bees or dogs.
  2. Tarantulas aren't aggressive and only bite when threatened. They can also flick irritating hairs as a defense, but they prefer to stay hidden.
  3. A lot of myths surround these desert creatures. For example, you can't tell a rattlesnake's age by counting its rattles, and black widow spiders don't actively eat males after mating; instead, the males usually leave and die on their own.

Dropping Out

Comment is Freed • 125 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🚌 Education Mental health
  1. England's schools have greatly improved over the last few decades, becoming some of the best in Europe. This success is partly due to effective policies and the integration of immigrant students.
  2. However, since the pandemic, schools have faced serious challenges with increased behavior issues and poor attendance among students. Many children are missing more classes, leading to worries that they might drop out.
  3. To sustain the progress in school standards, the government needs a focused approach that addresses the interconnected issues of attendance, behavior, and mental health. Otherwise, the gains made in education could be lost.

SuperHuman: How To Manage Your Time, Attention and Energy Daily For Growth.

Day One • 738 implied HN points • 01 Sep 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Controlling your time is crucial for success. It's the one resource we have a lot of but can't make more of. Time management sets apart the top achievers from the rest.
  2. Identify what's draining your time. Social media is a major time thief. Focus on tasks that truly impact your life, and learn to make social media work for you, not against you.
  3. Use technology wisely. Apps can help with time management, but a solid strategy is essential for success. Choose apps that align with your goals and priorities.

Stay soft

Splattern • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Recovering is important and shouldn't make you feel guilty. Taking breaks helps your body heal and is part of the journey.
  2. Finding the right support, like insoles, can make a big difference in your comfort and performance. Small adjustments can help you avoid injuries.
  3. Challenging experiences can teach valuable lessons about choice and resilience. It's okay to pause and reflect instead of constantly pushing forward.

Active Recovery

Splattern • 39 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Active recovery is important, and treating it like a job can help you heal faster. Things like cold showers and strength workouts can make a big difference.
  2. Cold therapy, like ice baths, might help with inflammation and mood, even if the science isn't fully there yet. Many athletes believe in its benefits for recovery.
  3. It's good to follow your passion and step away from things that don't make you happy. Whether it's a job or social media, focusing on what you love is key.

All These Hysterical Women

Men Yell at Me • 424 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Historically, women's reproductive organs were viewed as uncontrollable and tied to their mental stability.
  2. The concept of 'hysteria' stems from the Greek word for uterus, implying lack of control over women.
  3. There is a need for women to be vocal, protest, and fight for their reproductive rights despite being dismissed as hysterical.

4 Gentle Shifts That Can Quietly Change Your Year

Prawfeed Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Listen to the quiet nudge inside you; what feels calm often points the right way even if the path isn’t clear.
  2. Be honest about the real reason you want change, like needing breathing space or less stress; when your why is clear you stop forcing things and move more naturally.
  3. Don’t wait until you feel ready — readiness often follows action; focus on the next manageable step today instead of the whole journey, because small steps create clarity.

Natural Trans Fats

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Trans-fats in dairy products from ruminants are naturally occurring and include conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid, produced by bacterial action in the rumen.
  2. Putting seed oils in cow food can lead to the transformation of fats into trans-fats as a detoxifying defense mechanism by gut bacteria.
  3. Vaccenic acid found in human orbitofrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia raises questions about its role in these conditions.

Pedophile Problems (v2)

Secretum Secretorum • 505 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Ethical dilemmas arise when teaching and mentoring individuals with a history of heinous crimes like pedophilia.
  2. Taboos around discussing pedophilia can hinder conversations about related issues such as mentoring and societal norms.
  3. The genetic component of pedophilia and potential medical interventions raise complex ethical questions that society will inevitably need to address.

Night Season

Neckar’s Notes • 252 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Life moves in cycles, and it's beneficial to try to align yourself with these cycles rather than strain against them.
  2. Dark nights of the soul, challenging periods that force deep reflection, are opportunities for transformation and spiritual growth if approached with acceptance and openness.
  3. During times of darkness, it's important to embrace the discomfort, sit with the darkness, and allow the unfolding process to reveal hidden truths and lead to personal growth.

New Nicotine vs. Good Ol’ Fashioned Weed

The Broccoli Report • 39 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The nicotine industry is evolving with new products like Zyn pouches that appeal to a wellness-focused generation and provide stronger nicotine doses than cigarettes.
  2. Zyn's popularity among young adults has raised concerns about underage use and addiction, leading to calls for federal oversight in response to its rapid sales growth.
  3. There are valuable lessons for the cannabis industry to learn from the oral fixation trend seen with products like Zyn, as well as important considerations when dealing with addictive substances.

RTO mandates tend to follow poor results

Make Work Better • 125 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Mental health
  1. Return-to-office rules often happen after companies see bad results. This suggests that there might be a link between poor performance and the push for employees to return to the office.
  2. Many people are facing burnout in their jobs, which can lead to serious thoughts about life. It's important to talk about mental health and the pressures of work.
  3. Companies are starting to pay more for jobs that require workers to be in the office, with some salaries increasing by around 20%. This shows a shift in how businesses value in-person work.

Are emotions fueling your growth or hindering it?

Upon Reflection • 39 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Emotions are valuable tools at work, providing crucial information for navigating challenges and fostering connections with others
  2. Managing emotions is essential as they can be disruptive and drain valuable time and energy that could be used for productivity or self-care
  3. Practicing emotional awareness, moving from subjective to objective observation, creating space for growth, and supporting team members are key strategies for emotional intelligence in the workplace

A Sensitive Question

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 243 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Sensitivity is a complex trait that cannot easily be controlled or changed. It's not about achieving perfection or adjusting like a dial, but understanding and acceptance.
  2. Sensitivity affects how we perceive and interact with the world around us. It's not just about emotional reactions but also about sensory experiences and nuances.
  3. Being sensitive can lead to deeper connections and insights, but also makes a person more vulnerable to pain and suffering. It's important to find a balance between sensitivity and resilience.

Ask For and Accept Help

Polymathic Being • 85 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. It's okay to ask others for help; doing everything alone can lead to failure. We’re social beings, and working together usually gets better results.
  2. People often struggle to accept help, especially when it’s different from how they would do things. Letting go of control can open the door to new ideas.
  3. Recognizing the differences between masculine and feminine qualities helps create stronger partnerships. It's important to appreciate both instead of treating everyone the same.

⚡️November, 30th | Mental Health Roundtable: Leveraging the digital era for your Mental Health Product

digitalhealthinsider • 59 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. A Mental Health Roundtable is happening on November 30th about leveraging the digital era for mental health products.
  2. The event will feature discussions on mental health equity, psychiatry stigma, and innovations.
  3. Experts will share tools and resources to enhance patient experience and treatment performance.

5 Lessons from Stanford's COVID Conference

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 129 implied HN points • 06 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. Closing elementary schools during the pandemic may have been a bad idea because kids were not significant spreaders of COVID-19. Some experts, like Anders Tegnell from Sweden, believed this from the start.
  2. Many people now agree that long school closures were harmful, but some didn't speak up about it at the time. It shows the importance of questioning popular opinions instead of just following the crowd.
  3. Countries that had less income inequality tended to handle the pandemic better than those with more inequality. Access to basic healthcare might have played a bigger role than strict lockdowns or border closures.

Untreated

KERFUFFLE • 97 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mental health
  1. The current state of mental health care in the U.S. struggles to address serious mental illnesses. Many people with severe issues end up homeless due to insufficient treatment options.
  2. Getting someone into a supportive psychiatric facility requires proving that they're a risk to themselves or others, which is a tough standard. This makes it hard to get help for many who desperately need it.
  3. After hospital care, many individuals are released back to the streets without proper long-term plans. This shows a systemic failure to manage mental health properly and protect the community.

On Leaving The Left and Finding My Center

Journal of Free Black Thought • 118 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Seeing myself as a victim made it hard to know who I truly was. This mindset kept me stuck in a cycle of blame and low self-esteem.
  2. I realized that being in an echo chamber of like-minded people limited my understanding of the world. It helped me see that I could respect different opinions even if I disagreed.
  3. Focusing on personal growth and unplugging from social media has been really valuable. It taught me to connect with people based on character rather than labels.

Too Stressed to Rest

David Spinks' Newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Rest happens on three levels: physical, psychological, and egoic. You need all three, not just sleep, to feel truly rested.
  2. Psychological rest comes from welcoming and listening to the anxious parts of yourself instead of distracting or numbing them. Slowing down, breathing, journaling, or therapy lets those parts soften and stop shouting.
  3. Egoic rest is the deepest state where the sense of “I” quiets and you experience presence, enoughness, and peace. Reaching this state replenishes energy and makes work and play feel generative instead of draining.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day Six

QUALITY BOSS • 39 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Mindfulness helps us be more aware of our thoughts and feelings without judging them. It can make our daily lives feel less stressful and more peaceful.
  2. You don't need a special place or time to practice mindfulness. Just focus on your breath or what you're doing in the moment for a few minutes.
  3. Using techniques like visualizing thoughts as clouds can help us acknowledge and then let go of distractions. This practice can lead to a clearer mind and improved well-being.

Abigail Shrier: Letters to the Editor

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Abigail Shrier's book has sparked discussion on mental health, particularly regarding the harm mental health professionals may unintentionally cause to young people.
  2. Intergenerational trauma is a controversial topic, with experiences like Holocaust survivors' children showing different responses that may not align with traditional perspectives.
  3. There are varying opinions on how modern parenting styles and educational systems impact young people's mental health and development, with some believing that constant self-focus can be detrimental.