Mental Health

Beloved actress Jennifer Aniston, globally recognized for her roles in television and film, has opened up about her long-standing “extreme fear of flying”—a common phobia facing millions worldwide. In a recent interview, Aniston discussed not only her apprehension toward air travel but also the practical steps and psychological therapies she’s used to reclaim her sense of calm while flying. Her story—and the massive social resonance it has sparked—points to broader discussions about mental health, celebrity openness, and modern approaches to managing anxiety disorders.

In the aftermath of the shocking arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s official residence, the spotlight has shifted from security failures to the complex web of mental health law meant to protect both individuals and the public. The incident, in which Cody Balmer allegedly attempted to set fire to the governor’s mansion using Molotov cocktails and a hammer, has ignited a heated national conversation about the effectiveness—and limitations—of involuntary mental health commitment laws in preventing violence. This story isn’t just an American one; its echoes are keenly felt in Thailand, where similar debates rage over the balance between civil liberties and public safety in mental health interventions.

A recent clash between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has brought renewed global attention to mental health policymaking, highlighting debates that resonate far beyond the U.S.—including here in Thailand. Mayor Adams sharply criticized Williams’ newly proposed plan to address the city’s escalating mental health crisis, blasting it as “neglectful” and insufficient because it relies heavily on the creation of additional administrative panels and bureaucratic structures. This high-profile dispute offers Thai readers a timely lens to examine our own approaches to national mental health challenges and bureaucratic reform.

A bold expansion of Ohio’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) brings immediate mental health support to young people in crisis everywhere in the state. Governor Mike DeWine announced the statewide rollout at Hopewell Elementary School, stressing the urgency of delivering swift help to children and adolescents in distress. He described MRSS as a crucial tool for rapid, effective crisis response that protects and empowers youth.

MRSS has already been piloted in fifty counties and sends trained clinicians to the crisis site—whether at home, school, or a playground—within 60 minutes of a call to Ohio’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline. The approach provides crisis stabilization, on-site counseling, and the creation of a care plan in coordination with the youth’s support network. Hopewell Elementary’s principal, Susann Wittig, recalled a recent incident where clinicians arrived within the hour and collaborated with the student, family, and school to outline services and ongoing care. The expansion is supported by a coalition of twelve service providers across Ohio to ensure rapid coverage statewide.

In a bold move to address the growing mental health needs among young people, Ohio has announced the statewide expansion of its Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program, bringing rapid, on-the-ground mental health support to youth in crisis across all 88 counties. Governor Mike DeWine made the announcement at Hopewell Elementary School in Dublin City Schools, highlighting the urgency of providing immediate help to children and adolescents experiencing mental, emotional, or behavioral distress. “MRSS is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively when a child is experiencing a crisis,” Governor DeWine explained, underscoring the initiative’s potential to protect and empower the state’s youth population (10tv.com).

Jennifer Aniston has spoken candidly about her long-standing fear of flying, a phobia that affects millions worldwide. In her account, she shares not only the challenge of air travel but also the practical steps and therapies she’s used to regain calm in the skies. Her openness highlights growing conversations about mental health, celebrity influence, and contemporary anxiety treatments.

Aviophobia affects a widening slice of the population. In the United States alone, tens of millions experience some level of fear during flights, with parallels seen globally, including in Thailand. While the Thai aviation sector powers domestic tourism and international connections, conversations about mental health can still carry stigma. Aniston’s disclosure helps normalize seeking support for anxiety in travel contexts. She described moving beyond a pre-flight superstition—tapping the outside of the aircraft and stepping in with her right foot—as part of a ritual she is gradually leaving behind. She credits a recent focus on hypnosis for reducing reliance on superstition and boosting confidence in flying. Experts note hypnosis can complement evidence-based practices when paired with mindfulness and relaxation techniques.

A growing digital crisis is sweeping across the United States and capturing global attention: the rise of pornography addiction and its complex impact on mental health and social wellbeing. Recent research, echoed in an April 2025 report by WWMT in Michigan, highlights how excessive consumption of online pornography is not just a matter of individual choice—it is evolving into a public health concern with serious personal and societal consequences. The phenomenon is increasingly relevant in Thailand, where digital access is rapidly expanding and patterns of media consumption mirror global trends.

The arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence has shifted the national debate from security gaps to the effectiveness of involuntary mental health commitments. The incident involved Cody Balmer, who allegedly targeted the governor’s home with Molotov cocktails and a hammer. While the focus is U.S.-centric, the discussion resonates with Thailand’s ongoing conversations about balancing civil liberties with public safety in mental health care.

Central to the discussion is Pennsylvania’s Section 302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act, which allows for emergency compulsory psychiatric treatment. Days before the incident, Balmer’s mother asked police to commit him involuntarily, describing him as irritable, agitated, and off his medication. When officers arrived, Balmer had left his hotel and seemed “fine” to staff, and there was no immediate threat visible. Without clear danger, police could not detain him for treatment. This gap—well-intentioned but sometimes ineffective when symptoms are severe but not obviously dangerous—has rekindled questions about whether the threshold for intervention should be lowered, and the risk of infringing on individual rights.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the United States has unveiled a major rebranding and expansion of its well-known pediatric mental health program. The initiative, previously known as On Our Sleeves, has distributed free educational resources to more than 15 million people since 2018. It will now operate as The Kids Mental Health Foundation, reflecting a strengthened commitment to addressing the growing mental health needs of young people nationwide.

This moment matters to parents, teachers, and health professionals. The US Surgeon General and other authorities have called children’s mental health a national crisis. In Thailand, educators and families report rising anxiety linked to intense academic pressure, social media, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 on youth. A recent survey conducted by the foundation indicates that about 70 percent of nearly 540 parents are worried about their children’s mental health, with almost 40 percent describing themselves as very concerned.

A growing digital challenge is drawing global attention: the rising prevalence of problematic pornography use and its effects on mental health and social wellbeing. A 2025 regional update from WWMT in Michigan highlighted that heavy online pornography consumption goes beyond individual choice and can become a public health concern with personal and societal consequences. As Thailand experiences rapid digital expansion, these patterns are increasingly relevant for Thai readers as well.

A rising wave of scientific scrutiny is reshaping how Thai clinicians and patients view stopping antidepressants. A recent Daily Mail feature titled “I almost ended my life on antidepressants, ditching them saved me” has sparked conversations about long-term use and withdrawal. As researchers publish larger studies, the message is clear: stopping antidepressants can trigger a range of withdrawal symptoms, and careful management is essential for Thai patients who rely on these medicines for depression and anxiety.

Hollywood actor Penn Badgley’s candid discussion about body dysmorphia has sparked a worldwide dialogue about mental health, celebrity influence, and society’s beauty standards. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Badgley reflected on feeling “I hated my body and wanted a different one,” noting how fame can intertwine appearance with perceived value and opportunity. This admission resonates beyond the West, inviting Thailand to examine how media shapes self-image among Thai youth and adults alike.

A new CDC assessment shows depression has surged in the United States, with widening gaps in access to care. The analysis, based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics gathered between August 2021 and August 2023, highlights both the scale of the problem and the hurdles people face when seeking help. As similar trends emerge in Thailand and across Asia, the findings offer timely insights for the Kingdom and the region.

A new study from Sweden is making waves in both the scientific community and among environmental advocates, revealing that anxiety medications commonly used by humans can fundamentally alter the behavior of salmon exposed to these drugs. When traces of clobazam, a prescription drug used to treat anxiety, were introduced to farm-raised salmon, the fish began to display markedly bolder behaviors than their untreated peers. While the consequences might initially appear positive—bolder salmon migrated to the sea more quickly—the broader implications point to serious ecological risks (Newser).

A wave of online gambling is sweeping through high schools, with students increasingly drawn to virtual poker tables and digital casinos—a trend raising serious alarms among educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers worldwide. Recent first-hand reporting by the New York Post underscores how students, some as young as 14, are losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in online poker games, often facilitated by easily accessible gambling apps and weak age verification systems. According to a University of Pennsylvania study cited in the report, 2.9 million adolescents in the United States are involved in gambling, with 580,000 playing online. These numbers spotlight a risky phenomenon not confined to the West but resonating globally, including here in Thailand, where digital platforms are increasingly threading into youths’ social lives and leisure activities (New York Post).

A new survey from the Pew Research Center underscores a generation increasingly ambivalent about social media: while most American teens credit social platforms with boosting connections to friends, nearly half now say these sites have a mostly negative effect on people their age—up markedly from just two years ago. The report, released April 22, 2025, is a comprehensive reflection of shifting attitudes among teens and their parents, highlighting mounting concern over youth mental health amid unprecedented digital exposure. For Thailand—a nation ranking among the world’s leaders in internet and smartphone usage among youth—these findings ring alarm bells about the potential risks and opportunities facing its own adolescents in the digital age. (Pew Research Center: Teens, Social Media and Mental Health)

Executives worldwide are rethinking stress management as market volatility and demands of leadership persist. A new wave of high-profile leaders is turning to yoga, nature time, and carefully curated digital use to stay grounded. Insights from recent coverage show how these practices translate into practical strategies for Thai professionals facing similar pressures.

In Thailand, traditional values around calm, community, and balance—embodied in the idea of jai yen (cool heart)—resonate with modern wellness approaches. Mindfulness and physical health are increasingly viewed not as luxury but as essential foundations for effective leadership. Data from Thai health experts and international researchers suggest mindfulness and regular movement can reduce stress hormones and improve emotional regulation, offering measurable benefits for leaders navigating complex decisions.

A new global survey highlights a shift in how teens view social media. While most U.S. teens say these platforms help them stay connected, nearly half now believe social media often harms people their age. The results, published in April 2025, come amid growing concern about youth mental health in highly connected societies. For Thailand, where smartphone use among young people is among the highest worldwide, these findings raise important questions about risks and opportunities in the digital era.

The Trump administration’s sweeping move to eliminate the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has sent shockwaves through the global mental health community, raising urgent questions on how political decisions at the heart of developed nations reverberate as far as Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. As documented in a sobering opinion piece by Paolo del Vecchio—a mental health advocate and former senior leader at SAMHSA—this U.S. policy shift comes at a precarious time, where suicide is the second leading cause of death among young Americans, substance use deaths top 200,000 annually, and the economic burden of untreated mental illness exceeds $700 billion each year STAT News.

The vagus nerve, often dubbed the body’s “electrical information superhighway,” is gaining growing attention as a novel pathway to reducing anxiety—with both ancient practices and high-tech solutions vying for public interest. From deep breathing and Mediterranean diets to wearable devices, the quest to “exercise” the vagus nerve and calm the mind has surged in popularity, stirring debate among clinicians and wellness influencers alike. This new wave arrives in an era where anxiety ranks among the most common mental health challenges globally and in Thailand, as modern life accelerates and traditional coping methods are increasingly supplemented by science-backed therapies and wellness trends.

Anxiety remains one of the world’s top mental health challenges, and Thai communities are seeking accessible ways to cope. The vagus nerve—often called the body’s information superhighway—has attracted renewed interest as a potential route to calmer mood and better resilience. From simple breathwork to new wearables, people are exploring how to “exercise” the vagus nerve. Experts caution that while promise exists, robust scientific proof is still developing.

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, extending from the brain to the heart, lungs, and digestive system. It plays a central role in the parasympathetic system, guiding rest, digestion, and mood regulation. For decades, researchers focused mainly on anatomy, but recent advances are shining light on how stimulating this nerve could influence health. According to a senior neurosurgeon, the nerve’s complex wiring—comprising two major bundles with around 200,000 fibers—means scientists are just beginning to understand precise health impacts. Research is ongoing, and findings vary by individual.

A Swedish study shows that anxiety medications, when present in farmed salmon, can change the fish’s behavior in ways that raise ecological concerns. Salmon exposed to the drug clobazam moved through dangerous turbine barriers more quickly than untreated fish, suggesting bolder, riskier actions that may not be beneficial in the long run.

Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences fed about 280 farmed salmon either clobazam, tramadol, or no drug. The results were clear: higher clobazam levels sped salmon through hydroelectric turbines by two to three times compared with controls. Lead researcher Jack Brand cautioned that altering natural behavior can have broad negative consequences for a population. In practical Thailand terms, bolder salmon could face greater risks navigating man-made barriers in rivers that already host heavy traffic from boats and structures.

A growing crisis in youth mental health in the United States has driven hundreds of parents to make an agonizing choice: surrender custody to the state in hopes of securing urgent, specialized care their families cannot access otherwise. National reporting highlights cases like Nina Richtman’s in Iowa, revealing deep systemic gaps in health, social support, and child welfare that resonate with Thai families, policymakers, and healthcare providers seeking better outcomes at home.

Rejection can sting for anyone, but some people react as if every slight is deadly. This phenomenon, known as rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), has gained prominence through social media, evolving research, and personal accounts. A recent feature in a leading international publication uses real stories, clinical insight, and emerging science to explore a condition not yet common in medical textbooks but increasingly discussed by mental health professionals worldwide, including among Thai youths.