Medical diagnosis increases the risk of depression: but who’s most vulnerable?

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Dona Mathews highlights a new study showing a doubled risk of depression after a medical diagnosis – especially in the first month post-diagnosis, for those who are hospitalised for their medical condition, those with multiple medical conditions, those over 60, and for women.

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When help feels out of reach: mental health and the menstrual cycle

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KCL MSc student Chiara Roux considers a survey study on help-seeking behaviours and experiences for mental health symptoms related to the menstrual cycle.

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Mental health matters in premature menopause

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Dr Laura Naysmith summarises important new research on the mental health impacts of premature menopause.

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Hormonal coil dosage and depression risk

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Dr Rachel Reid-McCann discusses the latest research on dosage of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and the risk of depression. A well conducted study from Denmark “provides evidence of a dose-dependent association between LNG exposure and risk of subsequent depression across three dosages”.

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HRT associated with reduced risk of psychosis relapse in middle-age women

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Laura Naysmith summarises a study of menopausal hormone therapy (also known as HRT), which suggests the treatment is linked with reduce the risk of psychosis relapse in menopausal women.

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Navigating mental health support for female migrants in Europe: insights from a systematic feminist review

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Ana Veic explores a review on the female migrant experience in accessing mental health support in primary care settings across Europe, which concludes that services must be culturally aware and gender sensitive.

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New meta-analysis confirms high suicide rates amongst doctors #WMHD2024

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Today is World Mental Health Day and the theme this year is ‘Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace’. Clare Gerada reviews a study showing that doctor suicide rates, particularly for females, exceed those of the general population.

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The influence of the menopause in first onset of mental illness

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Katie Marwick on a new UK Biobank study which suggests that the two years either side of the final menstrual period represent a time of small increased risk for new onset bipolar and major depressive disorder.

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Community perinatal teams associated with more mental health service access and fewer postnatal relapses

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Roxanne Keynejad summarises the ESMI-II study on community perinatal mental health teams and mental health, obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women.

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How do Black and South Asian women experience perinatal mental health services?

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KCL Masters student Madeline Katta-Worae considers a UK qualitative study of perinatal mental health services, which explores the experiences of ethnically minoritised women.

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