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Boldly proclaiming to Congress that it's time to redesign the U.S. mental and behavioral health system, Senate lawmakers last month released a white paper outlining a national strategy to integrate mental health care, enhance delivery within local communities and improve how federal funds and other resources are planned for and allocated to increase the nation's investment through better mental and behavioral health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can bird‐watching improve mental health? A new study has found that people who have nature‐based experiences report better well‐being and lower psychological distress than those who do not, a North Carolina State University news release stated. Bird‐watching in particular yielded promising results, with higher gains in subjective well‐being and more reduction in distress than more generic nature exposure, such as walks. Because bird‐watching is an easily accessible activity, the results are encouraging for college students, who are among those most likely to suffer from mental health problems, the news release indicated. "Bird‐watching is among the most ubiquitous ways that human beings interact with wildlife globally, and college campuses provide a pocket where there's access to that activity even in more urban setting, said Nils Peterson, corresponding author of the study and a professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University. The paper, "Birdwatching linked to increased psychological well‐being on college campuses: A pilot‐scale experimental study," was published in Environmental Psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can too much free time be almost as bad as too little? As an individual's free time increases, so does that person's sense of well‐being — but only up to a point, according to a news release from the American Psychological Association. Too much free time can also be a bad thing, research published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology stated. "People often complain about being too busy and express wanting more time," said Marissa Sharif, Ph.D., an assistant professor of marketing at the Wharton School and lead author of the paper. "But is more time actually linked to greater happiness? We found that having a dearth of discretionary hours in one's day results in greater stress and lower subjective well‐being. However, while too little time is bad, having more time is not always better. In cases where people do find themselves with excessive amounts of discretionary time, such as retirement or having left a job, our results suggest these individuals would benefit from spending their newfound time with purpose." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new study by researchers at Oxford University found that playing video games can actually be good for mental health, 69 News reported Nov. 17. It was published as video game sales are booming this year because more people are stuck at home during this pandemic, and a lot of countries have once again imposed limits on public life. The paper was based on survey responses from more than 3,000 people who played two games: Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The study used data provided by game makers Electronic Arts and Nintendo on how much time participants spent playing. The researchers say they found the actual amount of time spent playing was a small but significant positive factor in people's well‐being. The study says the level of enjoyment players get from a game could be a more important factor for their well‐being than mere playing time. The results could cast doubt on long‐held assumptions that gaming causes aggression or addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the paper published by researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Dartmouth, which details the link between parents' debts and the socio-emotional well-being of children within the family.