Special Report
The Future of Mental Health
Smithsonian magazine brings you stories about the latest advancements in treatments and understanding of mental illness
Can a Mother’s Mental Health Impact a Baby in the Womb?
Growing research indicates a pregnant woman’s stress level and overall mental well-being can affect fetal and child development, yet access to prenatal mental health care remains inadequate
Are Psychedelics the Future of Eating Disorder Treatment?
The drugs have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and make individuals more flexible in their thinking
Can Digital Psychiatry Really Fill the Mental Health Care Gap?
Thousands of new tools with unproven results are entering the fold to help Americans in need
More Stories
What Does the Future Hold for Psychiatric Brain Surgery?
For some patients, removing brain tissue can help treat OCD and other disorders. But ethical concerns remain
For Some Women With Serious Physical Ailments, Mental Illness Has Become a Scapegoat Diagnosis
Patients with difficult-to-diagnose conditions like endometriosis are often sent home with diagnoses like anxiety or bipolar disorder
Is Depression Contagious?
The science about whether mental health conditions can spread socially is uncertain, but exposure to an affected peer can drive awareness
Can a Mother’s Mental Health Impact a Baby in the Womb?
Growing research indicates a pregnant woman’s stress level and overall mental well-being can affect fetal and child development, yet access to prenatal mental health care remains inadequate
MDMA Treatment for PTSD Fails to Secure Federal Approval
One day after the FDA declined to approve the psychedelic for medical use, a journal retracted three studies of MDMA-assisted therapy due to unethical conduct by researchers
See How the Brain Responds to Psychedelic ‘Magic Mushrooms’
A new study mapped large, temporary changes in brain areas related to introspection and one’s sense of self, after participants took a dose of the drug psilocybin
Can Technology Help Us More Accurately Diagnose Mental Illnesses?
A new wave of tools promises to offer quicker, more objective assessments to help patients and clinicians
Can Virtual Coworking Platforms Make Us More Productive?
Membership services like Flow Club, Flown and Caveday offer online study halls complete with proctors and goal setting
A Modified Psychedelic Toad Toxin Reduces Signs of Depression and Anxiety in Mice, Study Suggests
Colorado River toads produce a psychoactive toxin that some have claimed has medical benefits. The new research suggests these benefits could be achieved without hallucinations