This year, keep a watch out for these new trends in mental health and fascinating recent research advances. In 2021, famous personalities such as Olympic athletes, entertainers, and others stepped forward to talk about their mental health and lessen its stigma. In 2022, we expect mental health to be a big deal still, especially as the United States faces a growing crisis in mental health care.
Trauma informed care
According to an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) study, more than 60% of adults have gone through at least one traumatic incident. Women and people from marginalized groups are more likely than the general population to have experienced four or more traumatic experiences as children. Trauma-informed care is becoming more popular with clinicians, health care providers, educators, and mental health professionals who want to help the public deal with trauma. In 2022, the importance of trauma-informed treatment will further grow.
Mental illness blood tests
You may one day be able to have a blood test to diagnose a mental health disorder like depression, for example. According to a new blood test for mental illness developed by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers in April 2021, RNA biomarkers may contain biological indicators for mood disorders. There is still a long way before blood testing for mental diseases can replace the trial-and-error method now used to identify mental illnesses.
Psychedelic research has progressed in recent years.
For a long time, most of the world's Indigenous people have been using psychedelics for religious, medicinal, and ceremonial reasons. According to a new study, psychoactive drugs including psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ketamine may effectively treat a variety of mental health issues, including sadness and anxiety. Many nations, including the United States, continue to classify psychedelics as restricted narcotics and consider them illegal. However, laws, practices, and stigma are beginning to change. Recently there has been a marked rise in the production of psychedelics, such as to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Social media usage in a responsible manner
Smartphone owners today know how hard it can be to keep screen time under control. Spending too much time on the internet might negatively impact your mental health. "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix will tell you that social media applications like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest were built to keep you engaged for the most extended amount of time possible.
In October 2021, a former Facebook employee testified before Congress on the damaging impacts of Instagram on teenagers' mental health. This coincided with a worldwide Facebook outage. When these things happened, they led to a long-overdue conversation about the dangers of social media and how important it is to take a break now and then.
It is just a matter of time until we hear more about "digital wellness" and the need to set limits on social media.
As more people become concerned about the impact of social media on their mental health, the scrutiny regarding social media use will grow. However, whether that translates into final action by lawmakers may be another issue. The definition of social media limits varies from person to person, and whether they work is still up for discussion. Consider using the following limits as a starting point for further investigation:
● Lower time spent on computer or other electronic devices.
● Take people off your social media feeds.
● Avoid reading the comments of any kind.