Mental, Behavioral Related

A growing body of research connects gut health to mental well-being. The ecosystem within our digestive tract, also known as the gut microbiome, is home to many species of tiny organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. When the ecosystem is balanced, these organisms help keep the body functioning. But when an infection or stress disrupts the microbiome, the imbalance can affect not only our gut, but our entire body, and possibly even our mental health.

The likelihood that Black children will experience racial discrimination increases as they age and spend time in their communities, schools, and online. Racial discrimination is a significant public health concern. Approximately 90% of Black youth report discriminatory experiences each year that increases their vulnerability to depression and anxiety.

According to researchers, Black youth may ruminate about their discriminatory experiences, which is the internalization of negative feelings as a coping strategy, but it can lead to detrimental mental health outcomes.

Hundreds of postbac fellows recently filled the Natcher Conference Center for NIH’s 2024 Postbac Poster Day. Among them were 11 NIMHD early-career researchers already advancing understanding of minority health and health disparities research.

Socio-Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behaviors (SCBT-SB), the first culturally specific treatment developed for Hispanic/Latino teens experiencing a suicidal crisis, shows potential to reduce suicidal behaviors.

Having one’s social needs met (e.g., food security, employment, health care access) improves life satisfaction, linked to a longer, healthier, and better quality of life overall, research shows. But little is known about how social needs influence the mental health and life satisfaction of immigrant populations. NIMHD researchers examined how social needs impact mental health and the influence of mental health on life satisfaction among 4,320 U.S. immigrants aged 18 years and older, using the 2021 National Health Interview Survey data.

NIMHD’s Conversations with Researchers Engaging With Communities

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. As we celebrate the significant contributions to America—from its history through present day and beyond—by people who represent AANHPI communities, we’re recognizing researchers who are promoting health equity through their community-engaged research.

NIMHD’s Conversations with Researchers Engaging With Communities

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. As we celebrate the significant contributions to America—from its history through present day and beyond—by people who represent AANHPI communities, we’re recognizing researchers who are promoting health equity through their community-engaged research.

In this NIMHD study, focused on Chinese and Korean American populations experiencing sleep disturbances, researchers found an association between:

• Complex multimorbidity
• The coexistence of three or more chronic diseases in an individual
• Sleep apnea risk

The study is the first known to examine the associations between sleep measures and complex multimorbidity and to analyze these relations among Asian Americans.