Behavioral & Mental Health News from CHOP

Structural Racism and Pandemic Stressors Associated with Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Among Black Individuals
CHOP and Penn researchers have found the combined effects of structural racism and the pandemic, known as a “syndemic,” were associated with negative postpartum mental health.

U.S. Preventive Taskforce Suggests Children Ages 8+ Screened for Anxiety, Depression
The worsening mental health crisis is causing the Taskforce to rethink federal guidelines.
The National Mental Health Crisis Is Affecting 4 in 10 Teens
A recent CDC study finds 40% of teens feel “persistently sad and hopeless.”

CHOP Researchers Create Reference Model for Brain Growth over Human Lifespan
CHOP and Penn researchers, along with others, have created a new tool that benchmarks brain development over the human lifespan, based on MRI data from more than 100,000 individuals.

Strategies for Accepting Uncertainty
Coping with the unknowns of COVID-19 can be paralyzing. Get tools to help you and your child better cope and come out stronger.
Using Social Cues to Adjust Conversational Behavior May Be Challenging for Autistic Children and Teens
Learning to adjust talkativeness could be an important growth opportunity for verbally fluent people with autism.
Dr. Tami Benton Talks Mental Health Reform with NPR
Dr. Tami Benton, Psychiatrist-in-Chief, discusses the Biden Administration’s mental health care plan.
Dr. Tami Benton, Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Testifies In Front of US Senate Regarding National Mental Health Crisis
Dr. Benton discusses the growing crisis and steps we can take to address barriers to access.
CHOP Researchers Use Deep Learning to Find Genetic Causes of Mental Health Disorders in Frequently Understudied African American Population
The method could eventually lead to more personalized medicine approaches as well as properly diagnose patients with multiple disorders.
Stress of Returning to In-Person Learning Contributes to Mental Health Crisis
The transition from virtual to in-person schooling has taken a toll on young people’s mental health.