Mental Health

Alabamians are being offered support and resources for mental health as winter moves in and days grow shorter, and the temperatures drop. Seasonal affective disorder symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer.

The end to daylight saving time (DST) for the 2024 year is upon us. Clocks in most parts of the U.S. did the annual "fall back" routine by one hour in the early morning of Sunday, Nov. 3. Health experts say the fall change should be easier to adjust to, but some might experience some trouble.

More than a dozen states, including Alabama, and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against the social media platform TikTok, saying that the popular short-form video app is designed to be addictive to kids and harms their mental health.

Mobile and Birmingham rank among the worst in a new study on most relaxed cities in the United States. The landscaping company LawnStarter commissioned the report on 500 municipalities and ranked them based on eight issues like mental stress, hours on the job, and drug and cigarette use.

Birmingham restaurants are participating in an annual fundraising event that helps support services for people living with HIV/AIDS in Alabama. This is the Magic City’s 15th year celebrating Dining Out For Life, a national event also observed in part of Alabama, taking place Thursday, April 25.

People who live in Alabama and aren’t happy, aren’t alone, and a new study shows it has everything to do with location. Findings from the financial website WalletHub have Alabama ranked near the bottom on the list of Happiest States in America.

Research shows the stressors police officers encounter daily can lead to a significantly reduced life expectancy, sometimes 10-15 years shorter. Stress, anxiety and disrupted sleep patterns are just a few of the stressors that can impact the physical and emotional well-being of police officers.

Before Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman checked himself in to a hospital for clinical depression in February, he used to walk the halls of the Senate stone-faced and dressed in formal suits. These days, he's back to wearing the hoodies and gym shorts The Associated Press also wrote about Fetterman’s collegial relationship with other members of the upper chamber, perhaps mostly notably with Republican Junior Senator Katie Britt of Alabama.

The Auburn City Council has reopened applications to fill a vacancy on the East Alabama Mental Health Board. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 10.

Staffing shortages in Alabama’s mental health field are raising concerns. Health professionals in the state say the crisis has reduced access to mental health care and provider capacity. The Alabama Department of Mental Health is working to tackle this rising issue.