The hottest Mental health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Ask a Divorced Person (in 2025)

Culture Study • 2795 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Divorce can be a positive step for people in unhealthy relationships. It can bring freedom and greatly improve overall happiness.
  2. It's normal to feel guilty and uncertain about wanting a divorce, but it's important to prioritize your own happiness and well-being.
  3. Communication about feelings and the state of a relationship is key. Talking openly with a partner can help clarify whether to stay or leave.

On cannabis, psychosis, and the long tail of the truth

Unreported Truths • 52 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. High‑potency cannabis products, especially near‑pure THC vapes, are increasingly linked to psychosis, schizophrenia, and other serious mental‑health harms in teens and young adults, and new research and major outlets are starting to warn about this.
  2. First‑person stories from families and friends of people harmed by cannabis carry a lot of emotional weight and seem to be changing public perception more effectively than editorials or studies alone.
  3. Even with growing alarm, the commercial momentum behind legalization and the cannabis industry is strong, so this wave of concern could fade and real policy change remains uncertain unless more people recognize the risks.

Do You Get in Your Own Way?

Are You Okay? • 1198 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. It's often limiting beliefs, not lack of good intentions, that hinder behavior change.
  2. Our unconscious mind can sabotage success to keep us in our comfort zone.
  3. Embracing failure and accepting ourselves fully can lead to growth and a more positive outlook.

the life-changing magic of being direct

bookbear express • 941 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Being direct is important, even if you think the answer will be no. Sometimes you'll be surprised and get a yes!
  2. Expressing your feelings or desires helps you understand yourself better. It creates closure and clarity about what you want.
  3. People who always hold back their thoughts tend to feel frustrated in relationships. True connection needs honesty and being present.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The opportunity theory of depression

Wood From Eden • 3936 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Depression can happen when people feel there are no good opportunities in their lives. It's like a warning sign telling them to pause and wait for a better situation.
  2. Humans seek to feel useful and appreciated, which is different from just seeking social status. Feeling unimportant can lead to feelings of sadness or depression.
  3. Teenagers today sometimes feel low because they are seen as separate from adults and lack meaningful roles in society. This can make them feel powerless and contribute to depression.

the only thing the spiral wants is...

Both Are True • 118 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. A spiral is self-perpetuating: it grabs any detail and keeps spinning regardless of whether the problem is real.
  2. Noticing the spiral — calling it out or shifting into a calmer “noodle” — can slow it down, and awareness, however annoying, actually helps.
  3. Small real actions and sharing your work lead to real outcomes and connections, while the spiral tends to ignore wins and amplify imagined failures, often harming relationships.

The weight loss slider

Metabolic Repair • 79 implied HN points • 16 Aug 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Weight loss can be painful and hard to maintain. Many diets lead to cravings and a drop in energy, making it difficult to stick to them for a long time.
  2. There are painless ways to lose weight by focusing on simple food choices, like the potato diet or high-fat keto. These diets can help you lose weight without feeling deprived or constantly hungry.
  3. Personal habits and lifestyle choices play a big role in weight loss. Customizing your diet to fit your life can make the process smoother and less stressful.

Confession

Wild Holy & Free • 1358 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Self-care involves how we think about medical tests and appointments, it's important to be kind to ourselves during the process.
  2. Receiving medical test results should not define our worth or character; it is simply a snapshot of our body's condition.
  3. In the face of challenges, be proud of your body for surviving and remember to practice gentleness and self-compassion.

The Healthy Humanity of Aaron Bushnell

Humanities in Revolt • 758 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Humanistic psychology focuses on mental wellness rooted in universal, objective values, not just societal norms.
  2. Mental health involves love, reason, identity, and objectivity, all essential for human flourishing.
  3. Acts of self-sacrifice for a higher cause can be seen as expressions of deep moral convictions and values, rather than mere suicide.

Japan - Utopia or Illusion?

Win-Win • 359 implied HN points • 03 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Japan has a high level of social cooperation, leading to a clean and safe environment with minimal crime. This reflects a strong cultural aversion to social shame and a commitment to following rules.
  2. Despite the apparent orderliness, Japan faces serious issues like a high suicide rate and increasing isolation among its youth. This suggests that the pressure to conform may stifle individual expression and innovation.
  3. A balanced approach is needed that encourages both social cooperation and individual freedom. Learning from both Japanese and U.S. cultures can help create systems that promote harmony and growth.

Why We Need a Serious Debate About Healthcare For Transgender Youth

Persuasion • 2338 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Understanding the nuances of healthcare for transgender youth is essential for improving the quality of care.
  2. Nuanced debates about transgender youth healthcare are important, despite controversies and biases.
  3. Major medical organizations emphasize the importance of gender affirming care for youth, but ongoing research challenges and the need for responsible practices remain.

How Much Alcohol is Okay?

Are You Okay? • 2336 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Conscious consumption starts with curiosity, so it's important to be aware of the impact of alcohol on mental and physical health.
  2. New research on alcohol can be contradictory and may not always have straightforward implications for individuals' health decisions.
  3. Assessing the relationship with alcohol goes beyond quantity and involves looking at how it affects behavior, emotions, cognition, and physical health.

Side Effects With Progesterone/Progestins in MHT

The Vajenda • 1139 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Reproductive hormones can have different effects on women, such as premenstrual syndrome and postpartum depression.
  2. Progesterone/progestins in menopausal hormone therapy can impact mood and may have complex interactions in the brain.
  3. Options to consider if progesterone/progestins negatively affect quality of life include switching dosage or trying alternative medications.

Personality or Pathology

Polymathic Being • 37 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Personality traits are real, measurable, and partly inherited, so tools like MBTI or the Big Five can help meaningfully describe how people tend to think and act.
  2. If we throw out personality frameworks, normal differences can get pathologized as disorders, while real personality disorders may be missed or hidden.
  3. Personality tests are imperfect stereotypes but useful when used carefully; they help match people to roles and prevent forcing everyone into the same behavioral box.

Advice Time! Advice Time!

Culture Study • 2988 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Joining a community can really help lift your spirits. It's nice to feel cared for and connected to others.
  2. You can ask for help on any topic, big or small. People love to share their thoughts and advice from their own experiences.
  3. Helping others is just as important as getting help. Be ready to give advice too, and keep the conversation going.

#225: Making bad decisions on purpose

Maybe Baby • 1374 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Mental health
  1. Making choices that seem bad, like indulging in too many sweets, can be a way to cope with stress and busy life. Sometimes, it's okay to enjoy life even if it looks reckless to others.
  2. Acknowledging that not every choice has to be perfect or ideal can actually help you manage life better. It’s all about what works for you at the moment.
  3. Being flexible with your decisions and recognizing their purpose can lead to a more carefree attitude. It’s about finding a balance between fun and responsibility.

Is it Time to Start An Antidepressant?

Are You Okay? • 1238 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Depression is a medical condition, not a flaw. Seeing your doctor is crucial.
  2. Treatment options for depression vary and can include therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft.
  3. Pharmacotherapy, like antidepressants, can be beneficial in managing depression when used as part of a holistic treatment plan.

New Year, Same You

Ladyparts • 1437 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author's new year resolutions for 2024 are the same as last year's, focusing on writing and reading.
  2. Acceptance and gratitude are emphasized as important attitudes for the new year.
  3. The post encourages readers to subscribe for access to the full archives with a 7-day free trial.

Getting the Crab to the Beach

Living Fossils • 29 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Distress often signals a bad fit between a person and their situation, not a fundamental personal defect; feelings can be most useful as clues about the environment.
  2. Focusing too much on thoughts, memories, or meaning can trap people in rumination; changing routines and context is often more effective than insight alone.
  3. Practical solutions usually involve altering the situation to match the person—adding structure, social context, or different schedules—because shifting circumstances is often easier and more reliable than trying to reengineer personality.

When the Sackler Brothers studied LSD

Res Obscura • 2799 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
💾 History Mental health
  1. The Sackler brothers, known for their later role in the opioid crisis, initially explored the potential of LSD and other psychedelic treatments in the 1950s. They even attended early scientific discussions about LSD.
  2. Despite their good intentions to improve mental health treatments, the Sacklers also recognized the financial gains from pharmaceuticals. This shift in focus highlights how idealistic motives can change when wealth is involved.
  3. The ongoing debate about psychedelics mirrors this historical pattern. As society cautiously opens up to these substances for therapy, there are concerns about commercialization, addiction, and the potential for harm.

Evolution Explains Polygenic Structure

Astral Codex Ten • 8465 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Mental health
  1. Genes for severe conditions like schizophrenia are likely small in effect and numerous, not large and few.
  2. Evolution would have eliminated genes with large negative effects, leaving only genes with small effects.
  3. The presence of genes with very small effects may be due to various factors like insufficient time for removal or counterbalancing advantages.

Thank you for being here

Disaffected Newsletter • 2138 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🎙 Podcasts Mental health
  1. The current times are tough, and many people are feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
  2. It's important to focus on the positive aspects of life, even when negativity feels more apparent.
  3. Gratitude is significant, especially for the support received from subscribers and readers.

A snapshot into how deportations affect health

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1399 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health
  1. Deportations affect not just the individuals who are removed but also the families and communities left behind, especially children who may experience trauma, stress, and uncertainty.
  2. Studies show that fear of deportation can lead families to avoid seeking medical care, which can have serious public health implications for entire communities.
  3. Support from caregivers, educators, and communities is crucial for children and families affected by these policies, helping them cope and thrive despite the challenges they face.

I’m a Psychiatrist. And I Support Trump’s Plan for Helping the Mentally Ill.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 881 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mental health
  1. Homeless people with severe mental illness are a major issue, with nearly one in five suffering from serious conditions like schizophrenia. This situation is urgent and needs attention.
  2. Trump's new executive order aims to make it easier to give psychiatric care to homeless individuals who are severely mentally ill. This could lead to more resources for helping these vulnerable people.
  3. If the plan works, it might change how we approach mental health treatment for the homeless, but it needs support from the courts and local governments to be successful.

Being on TV was bad for my mental health.

Changing The Channel • 2132 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Being in the public eye, especially on TV, can lead to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
  2. Constant criticism, particularly amplified by social media, can have a significant negative impact on one's well-being and relationships.
  3. Leaving a high-profile TV career can bring a sense of relief, allowing for personal growth and a reconnection with oneself.

Show Up For Yourself First

Culture Study • 7951 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Taking care of your own needs first is important to be able to help others effectively.
  2. Liking yourself and spending time alone can lead to better relationships and a more fulfilling life.
  3. Balancing spending time with yourself and with others is essential for overall well-being and maintaining healthy relationships.

The Maybe Baby Archive

Maybe Baby • 143 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. The writing covers a wide range of everyday and big-picture topics — existential life questions, culture, relationships, parenting, work, and mental health. It aims to help readers think through how to live well in modern life.
  2. Content appears in many formats — free essays, advice columns, podcasts, recommendation lists, and even diagrams or invented theories — so readers can choose between personal essays, practical advice, and bite-sized recs.
  3. A clear tagging system and curated samplers make it easy to find pieces by theme or series, with recurring features like recommendation lists and annual community calls to help discovery.

Could the world BE more fucked up?

So Here’s a Thing • 1828 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Mental health
  1. The world is facing challenging, contentious, and seemingly unsolvable issues that need to be discussed to find solutions and understand different perspectives.
  2. The conflict between Israel and Gaza is heartbreaking, and it's important to show compassion for innocent lives affected by the atrocities committed by power-hungry individuals.
  3. The debate around gun control in the United States is complex, emotional, and requires open conversations to find common ground and work towards addressing the root problems.

Midlife women feel like screaming

The Shift With Sam Baker • 2556 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Midlife women may feel overwhelmed and frustrated, leading to a need to let out pent-up emotions, like anger and exhaustion.
  2. Suppressed rage and unexpressed feelings can build up over time and negatively impact mental well-being.
  3. Making friends can be challenging for some individuals, causing feelings of desperation and inadequacy in social situations.

On clarity and mind-reading

Disaffected Newsletter • 2038 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Mental health
  1. Many people, including myself, really struggle with ambiguity in conversations. It's important to be clear about what we mean so everyone understands.
  2. I insist on defining terms when talking because my past has taught me how harmful unclear expectations can be. If we can't agree on definitions, I won't engage in that conversation.
  3. Today’s world feels more confusing and less trustworthy than ever. It’s not just personal; many others feel the same way about the lack of clarity around communication and social rules.

Sleep, Diet, Exercise and GLP-1 Drugs

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2688 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. GLP-1 drugs can be very effective for weight loss, and many people are seeing good results from them. They have contributed to a noticeable drop in obesity rates among those who use them, especially college graduates.
  2. Willpower plays an important role in personal fitness and dieting. While using willpower can be tough, it also has positive effects on self-discipline and can lead to healthier habits over time.
  3. It's vital to find joy in exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Enjoyable activities make it easier to stick to fitness routines and achieve overall well-being.