Support Our Work

Please donate so we can continue our work to reduce the stigma of psychiatric illness, encourage research, and support educational activities for behavioral health professionals and the public. Ways you can donate and help are on our Support and Donations page. Thank you!

More Info

Latest News Around the Web

Exposure To Alcohol Marketing Associated With Increased Odds Of Binge Drinking Among Adolescents, Review Finds

Healio (11/17, Feliciano) reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies found that “among adolescents, exposure to digital alcohol marketing correlated with increased odds of recent alcohol use, binge drinking and susceptibility to drink.” Researchers observed that “compared with those not exposed, the young adults and adolescents who encountered alcohol marketing had greater odds of reporting alcohol use within the last 30 days, binge drinking and susceptibility to drink among never users.” The review was published in The Lancet Public Health.

Related Links:

— “Binge drinking rates higher in adolescents exposed to alcohol marketing,”Octavia Feliciano, Healio , November 17, 2025

Metformin Can Help Manage Weight Gain Among Pediatric Patients Prescribed Bipolar Medications, Study Finds

HealthDay (11/17, Thompson) reports a study found that the diabetes drug metformin “can help manage weight gain among children prescribed medications to treat bipolar disorder.” For the study, “researchers recruited more than 1,500 8- to 19-year-olds taking second-generation antipsychotics for bipolar disorder. All of the children” had overweight or obesity “at the start of the study.” According to the researchers, “data at six and 24 months showed that children taking metformin were more likely to avoid or minimize the weight gain associated with their psychiatric medications. These results dovetail with recent updates in national and international guidelines supporting the use of metformin in both children and adults taking second-generation antipsychotics, researchers noted.” The study was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Diabetes Drug Quells Weight Loss Among Kids On Bipolar Meds,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, November 17, 2025

Listening To Music Regularly Reduces Dementia Risk In Older Patients, Study Suggests

HealthDay (11/14, Edwards) reported a study suggests that “older adults who regularly listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who didn’t make music a part of their daily lives.” Researchers observed that of the 10,893 adults aged 70 and older, “about 7,000 said they listened to music most days, and those frequent listeners had the greatest reduction in dementia risk. The study did not specify what type of music was most beneficial.” The research team “emphasized that the study can’t prove that listening to music directly prevents dementia, but the results were strong enough to suggest a possible link.” The study was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Can Music Protect Your Brain? Study Says It Might Help Prevent Dementia,”I. Edwards, HealthDay, November 14, 2025

Individuals Who Experienced A Sexual Assault Face Increased Risk For Developing Functional Somatic Disorder, Study Finds

Psychiatric News (11/14) reported a study found that “individuals who experienced a sexual assault are at higher risk of developing functional somatic disorder (FSD) – widespread issues with fatigue, discomfort, and pain sensitivity – over the subsequent five years.” After adjusting “for variables like sex, emotional distress levels, neuroticism levels, and medical comorbidities,” researchers observed “that individuals exposed to sexual assault had a 69% increased risk of developing an FSD and a 54% increased risk of developing an [functional somatic syndrome] FSS.” In examining individual syndromes, they also “found that somatic repercussions of sexual assault are not equal – sexual assault was associated with chronic widespread pain, for example, but not irritable bowel syndrome or chronic fatigue.” The study was published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Children Whose Fathers Took Valproate Prior To Conception More Likely To Have Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Study Suggests

MedPage Today (11/13, George) reports a study found that “children whose dads took valproate up to 3 months before conception were more likely to have neurodevelopmental disorders.” Researchers observed that “compared with children whose fathers took lamotrigine or levetiracetam, kids with fathers exposed to valproate had a higher risk of a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis up to age 12 years.” They noted that “congenital malformation risk did not differ between exposure groups.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Foundation News

Seeking Nominations for 2022 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

The annual Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award recognizes a worthy piece published in a major newspaper that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

A Maryland author and/or newspaper is preferred.  Click here for past winners and published articles.

The award carries a $500 prize, which is given at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting in April.  To nominate a piece to be considered for the 2022 award, email it to mfp@mdpsych.org no later than January 10, 2022.  The article should be published during the period from January 15, 2021 to January 10, 2022.

New PSA Examines Anxiety as Pandemic Improves

As the pandemic improves and restrictions and shutdowns are lifted, many people may be experiencing anxiety at returning to the world and being amongst people. This new PSA from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc. examines fears people may have as they try to navigate uncertainty about going outside as well as deal with conflicting messages about how to stay safe and healthy.

Post-Pandemic AnxietyPost Pandemic Anxiety, MP3, 1.3MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

Jamie and Sarah Raskin Recognized with Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

Congressman Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin were awarded the Foundation’s 2021 Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize for the tribute about their son, Tommy, posted on January 4, 2021. The MFP board of directors felt that it was very effective in conveying what a wonderful and gifted person their son was, that depression did not detract from this, and how painful and sad his loss and the loss of others suffering from depression can be. The board also greatly admired their courage in writing about him in such a forthright manner. The Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award was formally presented at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting on April 22.

The Foundation established this annual prize for a worthy media piece, preferably local or regional, that accomplishes one or more of the following:

  • Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family member, or simply in the community.
  • Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental illness.
  • Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

Click here for information about past winners.

Psychiatrist Weighs Taking The COVID Vaccine in New Radio Ad

Psychiatrists aren’t necessarily on the front lines treating COVID patients in a hospital, so should they take or not take a COVID vaccine? In this new ad from The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, Inc., one psychiatrist goes trough his thoughts as he decided whether to take it. He examines the science, the risks, possible complications, and what his decision means to his patients as well as to mental health in general.

COVID Vaccination — Why You Should Take ItCOVID Vaccination — Why You Should Take It , MP3, 1.3MB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

Political Anxiety PSA is Timely Again

As this election cycle nears election day, there is no guarantee we will know the results very soon. A combination of many factors, including a pandemic that brings its own anxiety and has seen record numbers use absentee voting and early voting to avoid crowds on election day, could cause delays in vote counts and that can add to the stress and anxiety of many people. We are featuring our PSA from 2017 which examines the wide variety of feelings people experience after a particularly divisive political campaign and things that can be done to help, ranging from breaks from Facebook and Twitter and similar sites to seeking actual help from professionals.

Listen to the PSA on our home page or on our PSA collection here, where you can listen to or download other advice given in past PSAs, also.