MFP/ANA e-Newsletter: September 26, 2025

Each week a quote is shared for your consideration. Some quotes might offer comfort, hope, a challenge, a chuckle, or inspiration. You may or may not agree with the quote, but it is offered simply to help you reflect and ponder.

3 Small Daily Habits Peloton's Cody Rigsby Swears by for a Healthier, Happier Routine (opens new window)

As the New This Girl Can Campaign Launches – Meet the Inspirational Women Using Movement as Medicine (opens new window)

One path to kick-starting a healthier lifestyle: Start small (opens new window)

Serena Williams Has a 'Self Care Day': 'Me Time Is Always at Top of My List These Days' (opens new window)

No expensive experiments: Billionaire biohacker Bryan Johnson’s shares 5 simple habits to beat anxiety and depression (opens new window)

Severe Morning Sickness Tied to Worse Mental Health (opens new window)

Severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy was linked with multiple adverse mental health outcomes, a large multinational study found. Compared to pregnant women without severe morning sickness, women with hyperemesis gravidarum had increased risk of 18 of 24 neuropsychiatric and mental health outcomes. The five with the greatest relative risks were: Wernicke's encephalopathy: RR 2.39 (95% CI 1.25-4.56) Refeeding syndrome: RR 2.57 (95% CI 2.32-2.84) Postpartum depression: RR 2.70 (95% CI 2.61-2.79) Eating disorders: RR 2.06 (95% CI 1.85-2.29) Antipsychotic prescription: RR 2.23 (95% CI 2.19-2.26). Read more (opens new window)

Survey: Virginia moms struggle to access mental health care for children (opens new window)

A national survey of more than 2,700 mothers, including hundreds in Virginia, reveals one in three moms in the Commonwealth say they were unable to access mental health care for their child when it was needed. The Count on Mothers survey, conducted in partnership with the mental health advocacy group Inseparable, highlights a growing crisis in pediatric mental health access. “Mental health care should be easy to get and easy to afford, and right now, it’s neither,” said Kathleen Daughety, senior vice president of campaigns and communications for Inseparable. Read more (opens new window)

Tyra Spaulding, Jamaican Pageant Star, Dead At 29 After Sharing Mental Health Post (opens new window)

Tyra Spaulding, a 26-year-old former finalist in the 2023 Miss Universe Jamaica pageant, has died in what police are investigating as a possible suicide. Per Caribbean National Weekly, her body was discovered by family members on Tuesday morning (Sept. 23), suspended from her apartment curtains. Spaulding, who worked as an accountant, had recently spoken publicly about her struggles with mental health. Read more (opens new window)

Trading recipes for rage on social media and the hidden mental health toll (opens new window)

Remember when Facebook was mostly about vacation pics, birthday wishes and casserole recipes? Those days feel very distant. Today, much of social media thrives on outrage. Platforms that once promised community now amplify conflict -- turning a space for lighthearted musings into a battleground of insults and polarization. In the past, you might have known how your uncle voted or where your best friend stood on an issue, but beyond that, politics and religion were topics left at the door. The tightly held beliefs of your neighbors, coworkers and the guy at the deli counter remained a mystery. But today, with every rant and meme shared to your feed in real time, the old adage to "never discuss politics or religion in polite company,” has been traded in for hashtags and hot takes. Read more (opens new window) (opens new window)

Their son was 'too unstable to function outside of hospital.' Insurance denied his mental health treatment anyway. (opens new window)

Nick Benz-Bushling never imagined that managing his son’s mental health care would turn into a real-life horror story. After years of struggles, 16-year-old Johnathan attempted suicide in February. Benz-Bushling 41, and his wife Misty Benz-Bushling, 39, of Stephensville, Michigan, rushed Johnathan to the emergency room, and then later took him to Forest View Hospital, an inpatient behavioral health facility in Grand Rapids that had room in its pediatric psychiatry unit. When a doctor there said Johnathan needed residential treatment, the Benz-Bushlings immediately found him a bed at Newport Academy in Washington. Read more (opens new window)

Senate Passes the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (opens new window)

On September 18th, the U.S. Senate passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483) by unanimous consent. This bipartisan legislation, led by sponsors Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), continues funding for substance use disorder and overdose prevention services across the full continuum of care–prevention, treatment, and recovery through fiscal year 2030. The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 366 to 57 in June 2025. The bill is now headed to the President’s desk for passage into law. Read more (opens new window)

Local expert discusses impact of AI chatbots and youth mental health (opens new window)

The Federal Trade Commission is asking companies that provide AI-powered chatbots to explain how they measure, test, and monitor potential negative impacts of this technology on children and teens. Regulators are especially focused on the risks of chatbots being used as companions. So how should parents and educators navigate kids using AI — and can it be used safely? Youth Villages’ top child psychologist, Dr. Jaque Cutillo, joined Boston 25’s Kerry Kavanaugh live during Boston 25 News Now at 3 to share perspective. Read more (opens new window)

Weight loss drugs linked to eating disorders and mental health issues (opens new window)

Prescription weight loss medications have become more popular in recent years, including medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Medications that were created to treat diabetes or obesity are now being used by many who don’t have those diseases. A new study is sounding the alarm about their effects on teenage boys and young men. Researchers found links between the medications and disordered eating or mental issues. Read more (opens new window) (opens new window)

We're Focused on School Shootings. But What About Youth Firearm Suicide? (opens new window)

For American kids, the new school year marks the return of active shooter drills. While events like Columbine and Sandy Hook are flash-points in the debate over gun rights and safety, some experts suggest these drills may do more psychological harmopens in a new tab or window than good. Our priorities are misguided because a far greater firearm threat is the leading cause of death among children and teens: suicide. Read more (opens new window) (opens new window)