Is vaping really a gateway to smoking? New review of youth vaping confirms uncertainty

Clinicians who withhold opiates to protect patients from self-harm may be doing more harm than good; is it time to retire this outdated assumption?

Vaping is helping millions quit smoking, but concerns about teen uptake remain. A new blog explores whether the ‘gateway hypothesis’ stands up to scrutiny in the latest umbrella review of vaping harms in young people.

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Out at work? A systematic review of LGBTQ+ mental health in the workplace

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Depression, anxiety, and suicidality are higher among LGBTQ+ workers, especially in hostile or unsupportive workplaces. But are research and policy keeping up? This new review sets out the case for change.

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Spotting the storm before it breaks: mapping the prodrome of severe mental illness

Storm,Cloud,Coming,Over,The,Local,Road.

People with severe mental illness often face years of poor health before diagnosis. A new study uses machine learning and clinical notes to map the early warning networks of symptoms that could help us intervene earlier.

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Closing the care gap: Why so few people with mental disorders receive effective treatment worldwide

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Effective treatment for mental health disorders remains the exception rather than the rule. A new 21-country study reveals where in the treatment cascade people are most likely to drop out and which factors improve the odds of getting the care they need.

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Teen drug use today, mental health struggles tomorrow? What the evidence says

Young boy smoking concept of hallucinogens and drug abuse among teens,  smoking risks in teens 3d rendering

Ian Hamilton unpacks a new study revealing how teenage substance use can pave the way to serious mental health struggles later in life. A clear warning: early use today could mean bigger problems tomorrow.

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Immersive virtual reality for the treatment of mental health disorders: anxiety leads the way

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Rena Gatzounis blogs about a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality treatments for mental health disorders.

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Treatment of harmful gambling in the UK: new review highlights worrying lack of evidence

Developing evidence-based interventions for gambling-related harms would help improve the effectiveness of care across under-recognised populations. 

Clare Gerada and Ruby Wiltshire summarise a new scoping review of UK-based research on the treatment of harmful gambling, which finds a complete lack of high quality intervention studies to support decision making.

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The risks arising from having ADHD: physical health, mental health, social and lifestyle

Skateboarding teenager

Jack Wainwright explores how ADHD can impact on all aspects of our lives, not just the three key symptom domains, but on our lifestyle, physical and mental health.

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Alcohol and interpersonal violence: new review estimates how many adults experience emotional violence from others’ drinking

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Nora de Bode looks at the international prevalence of interpersonal violence due to others’ alcohol consumption. This new review finds that in 2019, around 1 in 4 adults in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, and 1 in 6 adults in high income regions, experienced emotional violence from others’ drinking.

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