The Local Optimist Digest #11

Welcome to The Local Optimist Digest, your crib sheet for the latest news in mental health. Whether you want to know how the government is (or is not) investing in our wellbeing, discover the latest research on how the mind impacts the body, or find out which celebrities are helping destigmatize the conversation by opening up about their own mental health struggles, we’ll be covering it all here every other week. This week, we're looking at the impact of heatwaves on mental health, how genetic testing could help pair people with the right antidepressant, and the internet's new, self-affirming definition of "hotness."

Awesome – heatwaves are bad for our mental health, too

If you're alive in the world today, there's a good chance you're experiencing an unprecedented heatwave that makes you want to claw your eyes out and cling to the air conditioning forever (please tell us we're not alone). In news that pours salt on an already gaping wound, it turns out that heatwaves are not just bad for our physical health and body odor – they do a number on our mental health, too, contributing to a rise in depression and anxiety symptoms. Even more troubling, rising temps are also linked to an increase in suicide attempts. If that's not a reason to fight climate change, we don't know what is. READ

Genetic testing could help pair people with the right antidepressants

If you've ever tried antidepressants, you know that the road to finding one that works for you (read: doesn't come with a whole host of symptoms) can be long and winding. But a new study from The Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that genetic testing may make the process smoother by looking at drug-gene interactions that could affect how someone reacts to different antidepressants. The 24-week study found that those who underwent genetic testing showed a greater decrease in symptoms than the control group. Where do we sign up? READ

Water might be better for our mental health than green spaces

If you've been reading this newsletter for a while then you're crystal clear on the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. While any time outside is better than none, research shows that coastal areas and other bodies of water may have a greater benefit on our overall wellbeing than purely green spaces. One theory is that blue spaces offer more fascinating and immediate states of change (the ebb and flow of tides, waves lapping, sunlight shifting on the horizon) that help divert our attention from negative rumination. READ

Beyond secondhand smoke: parental smoking isn't great for kids' mental health, either

We all know that smoking around children can be harmful to their physical health, but a new study out of UPenn is the latest to underscore how it might affect their mental health, too. The study discovered possible links between parents using nicotine and their children developing anxiety, addictive behaviors, and cognitive deficits (associated with a reduced expression of SATB2, a protein that impacts learning and memory). File this under: another great reason to squash the tobacco industry. READ

Social media giants suck at protecting LGBTQ users

GLAAD's latest Social Media Safety report is here and things are not looking great for the social media giants we all know and love (or hate, depending on the day). Grading each platform based on the measures they've put in place to protect LGBTQ users (including whether they block ads that could be discriminatory or harmful), Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok all received failing grades under 50 out of a possible 100. In news that will surprise no one, TikTok scored the lowest at 43%. READ

"Crazy Rich Asians" star Constance Wu says online bullying led her to attempt suicide

In 2019, the actress Constance Wu complained on Twitter about her show "Fresh Off the Boat" being renewed, barring her from taking on a passion project. The backlash from fans of the show, which was lauded for its Asian-American representation, was so severe that Wu deleted her account and, she said recently in her first post on social media in 3 years, led her to attempt suicide. "Looking back, it's surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life," the actress wrote, underscoring the scary, real-life implications of online trolls. READ

Need psychiatric help in a pinch? Consult this vetted list of online companies

We've spoken a lot about the limits of digital therapy and psychiatry in this newsletter, but there are benefits to these companies as well, including increased accessibility. However, with so many options now available, it can be hard to know which one to try. Luckily, the Forbes Editorial team did the groundwork for us, vetting the best online psychiatry services of 2022 using metrics like cost, conditions treated, added features, and more. Brightside Health took the cake for #1. READ

You know that friend you were once very close to but have lost touch with over time due to increasingly busy schedules and/or distance? Today would be a great day to reach out to them, no matter how long it's been since you last spoke.New research published by the American Psychological Association found that reaching out to an old friend to see how they are can be beneficial to your mental health – and theirs, too. After the disconnection brought on by the pandemic, check-ins like these can do wonders for decreasing feelings of loneliness and depression, the study found. And you don't have to connect in person to reap the benefits: even a text or call will do.

Prince Harry interviews Olympian Chloe Kim about the importance of mental fitness

In a new film titled "Transform with Mental Fitness" for the company BetterUp, Prince Harry (the company's chief impact officer) interviews the two-time Olympic Gold medalist Chloe Kim about the role that mental health has played in her career as a pro snowboarder. "I can't expect myself to perform at my peak when I'm doubting myself and I'm feeling negative emotions," says Kim. "If I'm not feeling good mentally, then it will jeopardize my physical health and they go in hand in hand." To that we say, amen. READ

"Hotness" gets a makeover, and it's not about looks

The internet (well, mostly women on TikTok) is toying with a new question: what if being "hot" was less about your looks and more about who you are as a person, the way you move through the world? What if it was something you declared yourself ("I'm hot") rather than waiting for someone else to anoint you with? Many women are starting to see it that way, remaking the once-exclusionary term to reflect something more significant – a state of mind. A non-toxic, self-affirming TikTok trend? We'll take it. READ

Hike Clerb

This week, Madhappy launched its Summer Outdoors collection in partnership with Columbia – a line of clothing celebrating the mental health benefits of spending time outdoors. For too long, the ability to access the healing effects of nature on a regular basis has been limited to a privileged few. With this in mind, we want to shout out Hike Clerb this week, an LA-based intersectional women's hike club and 501c(3) founded by Evelynn Escobar that's dedicated to increasing representation of people of color in the outdoors. To check out their upcoming events, apply for free National Park access, and donate to support their mission, head to their website HERE.

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