The Local Optimist Digest #18

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 week. This week, we're looking at the gut's new role in mental healthcare, an antidote to quiet quitting, and the growing presence of sports psychologists at the US Open.

Gut health is starting to play a role in mental health treatment

As the supplement business has boomed in recent years, it's been ingrained in us all that probiotics are crucial to good physical health. But a growing body of research into the gut-brain connection has many practitioners including gut health guidance in their mental health treatment plans, too. Studies have shown that people with gastrointestinal disorders are much more likely to live with psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder and depression. In response, an emerging group of nutritional psychiatrists is asking their patients to consume more gut-friendly foods in order to reduce inflammation and potentially boost mood. Time to add yogurt and kimchi to your cart? READ

Yeah, you probably shouldn't smoke weed while pregnant

It's not exactly shocking that smoking weed while pregnant isn't great for a child's overall health, but new research has found that it can specifically impact their mental health. An analysis of data from more than 10,000 children aged 11 and 12 revealed that exposure to cannabis in utero was associated with a higher risk of developing disorders such as ADHD, aggressive behavior, conduct disorder, and rule-breaking behavior. That's really all we need to know. READ

Oh great: poor mental health can increase your risk of long COVID

Today in things we really wish weren't true: new research published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that people who had high levels of two or more types of psychological distress (like depression, anxiety, or loneliness) are nearly 50% more at risk for developing long COVID. As for why that is? The study authors believe that prolonged psychological issues may mess with the body’s ability to cope with stress in general, which can lead to chronic inflammation and suppress the immune system, making people more susceptible. Excuse us while we go meditate. READ

Is your brain fog worth a visit to the doctor?

The term brain fog gets thrown around so often these days to describe a wide range of symptoms, making it difficult to know whether it's worth taking seriously. Used to describe feeling sluggish, forgetful, easily distracted, or completely overwhelmed by simple tasks, brain fog is not an official diagnosis but the phenomenon has increased post-COVID, with roughly 30% of COVID patients suffering from it in the 3-month period after illness. As for when you should seek help? If these feelings last for weeks on end or seriously impair your daily life, experts say it's time to see a doctor. READ

New California bill aims to make the internet safer for kids

Our great state of California passed a bill in late August that, if enacted, would require online platforms like Instagram and TikTok to take extra steps to ensure they are safe for young users. Called The California Age-Appropriate Design Code act, it would ask these platforms to consider how their product design (including their algorithms and targeting ads) might pose a danger to minors. Given the recent slew of lawsuits many of these companies are facing for their impact on minors, it seems like high time for such a bill (one that should really extend beyond the state lines of California). READ

No, you can't diagnose narcissism with an online quiz

As the internet has warped the definition of many clinical diagnoses, narcissist has become a favorite descriptor for shitty exes or problematic politicians. While the term is often used to describe someone who seems overly confident or cocky, true narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health diagnosis given to people whose narcissistic traits are so extreme they impact the person’s ability to function. As for trying to diagnose it with the ever-growing crop of online quizzes? Yeah, that's a no – experts say the results are misleading and unhelpful, so, if you're really concerned, stick to a professional instead. READ

Overwhelmed at work and tempted to quiet quit? Consider engaging with something you enjoy instead, says Laura Vanderkam, an expert in time management. After studying the behaviors of 140 busy people, she found that those who added new, energizing activities to their schedule instead of scaling back were left more satisfied and felt they had more control over their time than those who didn't.

So what does that look like? Building in regular physical activity, making space for small adventures, and participating in leisure activities that are effortful rather than effortless (like reading a book or knitting instead of binge-watching TV). As she put it: "[When we] add in things we want to do, to compete with those have-to-dos, time feels different."

Sports psychology lands at the US Open Women's Final

At the US Open Women's Final match between Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur, the competitors had more in common than it being their first time making it to the finals – they both work closely with sports psychologists, too. Once uncommon in tennis, the growing use of sports psychologists by top players underscores the mental pressures of the game and represents a broader shift in sports toward the importance not just of physical fitness but mental fitness, too. This is a move we can get behind. READ

L.A. now has a street psychiatrist working to change homeless lives

The emerging field of street psychiatry has made its way to Los Angeles, whose homeless population has grown by 4.1% since 2020. Dr. Shayan Rab leads a team of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners in treating clients with mental health issues where they find them, handling everything from medication support to bloodwork on the street. For people dealing with court hearings related to conservatorships, Rab helps them attend virtually via his laptop to make it easier. “When we work with an individual on the street we see how an individual is living in the community, what the realities of their environment are like," he explains. But the ultimate goal, he says, is to help get them off the street for good. READ

Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective

Dedicated to removing the barriers that Black people face in getting access to mental health care, the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective uses education, training, advocacy, and the creative arts to promote wide-scale healing among the Black population. Their work relies on a healing justice framework, which identifies ways to intervene and respond to generational trauma and violence. To take advantage of their mental health resources and wellness tools or donate to the cause, head HERE.

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