Discover NIMH: World AIDS Day, Seasonal Affective Disorder

National Institute of Mental Health sent this bulletin at 11/09/2021 09:00 AM EST

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Discover N I M H. Share science, Share hope

Community Outreach

Discover NIMH is a newsletter from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to help community advocates and health professionals raise awareness about mental disorders and the importance of mental health research. Find free education and outreach materials in this newsletter and on our Education and Awareness portal to share with your community. We encourage you to use the hashtag #shareNIMH to connect with people and organizations with similar goals.

NEWS AND EVENTS

November 11th is Veterans Day

On Veterans Day we pause to honor the tremendous sacrifices made by members of the U.S. armed forces and their families to preserve our freedom.

Share information and resources to help those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

NIH Veterans Day Celebration

The 10th NIH Veterans Day Celebration will take place on Wednesday, November 10 at 11:00 a.m. ET. This year’s event will be a virtual production titled Honoring Our Heroes: Hiring Veterans and Military Spouses. The video montage consists of staff interviews, including the NIH leadership of Dr. James K. Gilman, Pius Aiyelawo, and Colleen McGowan.

Tune in to the NIH Office of Human Resources YouTube channel to watch a trailer for the event and the broadcast.

December 1st is World AIDS Day

Every year on World AIDS Day, organizations and individuals worldwide focus on HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, to raise awareness about research, prevention, and treatment options, and reaffirm our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. The theme for World AIDS Day 2021 is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.”

People living with HIV have an increased risk of developing mood, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. Resilience, or the ability to adapt in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, or stress, can help protect people living with HIV from mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Learn more about HIV/AIDS and mental health.

FEATURED RESOURCES

Seasonal Affective Disorder

While many people feel less happy at times during cold, gloomy days during the winter, these “winter blues” are usually temporary and do not interfere with a person’s functioning. In contrast, some people may start to feel consistently “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter and begin to feel better in the spring with its longer daylight hours. Is it just the 'winter blues' or seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

Watch and share this livestream event on SAD.

Share this infographic to help guide others on when to seek professional help.

Clinical Trials - Information for Participants

Screenshot of What is Clinical Research video intro

Clinical research is critical to understanding and treating mental illnesses. At the heart of clinical research are clinical trials, research studies performed with people that aim to evaluate a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention.

NIMH created a series of short, user-friendly videos to help educate the public about participating in clinical trials.