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Harvard University

Mental Health

Across Harvard, researchers and scholars are working to better understand the full scope of mental health, including what causes disorders and how to best implement preventions and treatments.

An overview

In addressing the global mental health crisis, it’s important to understand the full scope of the problem so experts can properly provide care and support.


50%
of the world’s population will experience a mental health disorder (Source)


1 in 5
people under 18 experience a mental illness each year (Source)


11 years
is the average delay between onset of mental health symptoms and treatment (Source)


35%
increase in suicide rates over the past two decades (Source)

Lets talk treatment

Researchers and physicians at Harvard are working to improve diagnostic methods, medical treatments, and access to care to move mental health care forward.

Patient speaking with a doctor

Normalizing mental health check-ups

Promoting a proactive approach to mental health can help catch problematic symptoms early on.

Normalizing mental health check-ups

Seeking solutions for bipolar disorder

Photo of Paola Arlotta
Seeking solutions for bipolar disorder

Creating a drug discovery platform for mental health conditions

Close up of brain neurons
Creating a drug discovery platform for mental health conditions

Using a machine-learning tool for assessing suicide risk in patients

Photo of Matthew Nock and Jordan Smoller
Using a machine-learning tool for assessing suicide risk in patients

Diagnosing psychiatric disorders through genetic testing

An illustration of a double helix and a human brain
Diagnosing psychiatric disorders through genetic testing

Treating drug-resistant depression with TMS

A woman wearing a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) device
Treating drug-resistant depression with TMS

Just start

Supporting and maintaining your mental health is a lifelong practice and can often require professional assistance, but creating positive habits that have a lasting impact can start at any time.

Learn more about building personal resilience

Youth and mental health

A text exchange where someone is asking of the other person is ok

The kids aren’t alright

In this issue of the Harvard Medicine magazine, experts at Harvard Medical School explore the mental health crisis among young people through a number of different approaches.

Explore Harvard Medicine magazine

Exploring how early development impacts mental health

Researchers are exploring early means of mental disorder prediction through teeth analysis, and better understanding how independent play can help with resilience, self-reliance, and mental health.

Understanding the power of the parent-child relationship

Harvard scientists are exploring the link between the mental health of parents and the mental health of adolescents, and offering advice and at-home interventions to improve issues.

Learning how school impacts mental health

With colleges seeing an increase in demand for mental health services on campus, Harvard experts are working to help colleges design meaningful systems of support for all students.

Screen time

Emerging technologies have the potential to help or harm mental health. Harvard researchers are working to better understand their impact.

Why is AI use associated with depressive symptoms?

Learn more about the study

Do mood tracking apps help with mental health?

Learn more about the research

Is social media responsible for its impact on mental health?

Learn more about the connection

Work/life balance

We spend close to a third of our lives working. Researchers are working to understand how that impacts our mental health, and what we can do to improve that relationship.

An illustration of a working tired but still working

Psychological safety at work is essential

A Harvard study found that workplaces where workers believed speaking up would not lead to embarrassment, rejection, or punishment had less incidence of employee burnout and less turnover.

Psychological safety at work is essential

Teachers

Why it’s important that schools create space to acknowledge and respond to the stress of the job.

Teachers

Executives

Why it’s important for organizations to address mental health and how executives should handle pressure at the top.

Executives

Factory workers

Research shows that a one-size-fits-all approach to worker wellbeing initiatives aren’t as effective as ones catered to workers specific needs.

Factory workers

Doctors

Sharing stories of personal struggle can help doctors become better at their jobs.

Doctors

Athletes

A study found that NFL players face an increased risk of suicide compared to basketball and baseball players.

Athletes

Delving deeper

Harvard faculty and alums are inviting readers and listeners to take a closer look at the many corners of mental health.

Want to be happier?

Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks co-wrote a book with Oprah Winfrey, “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,” which presents small improvements readers can make in their daily lives.

Read more about their tips for happiness

Talking about suicide saves kids’ lives

Authors of “Life Under Pressure,” Anna S. Mueller and Seth Abrutyn recommend talking with students and showing concern for their mental health as the guiding principle for responding to a suicide.

Learn more about their book

Why mattering matters

“Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose,” a book by Jennifer Breheny Wallace, explains the power of feeling valued and asking for help.

Read more about Jennifer’s book

Harvard Thinking

“The Things We Carry”

This episode of the Harvard Thinking podcast features experts discussing how trauma and adversity affect our biology and what that might mean for health care in the future.

Colloquy

“The Graduate Student Mental Health Crisis”

This episode features alum and clinical psychologist Emily Bernstein who studies the challenges faced by graduate students and why she thinks our smartphones could become an important vehicle for delivering mental health care.

On our campus

All across Harvard, mental health services are expanding and improving to support the wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff.

Supporting wellbeing and mental health

Harvard is raising awareness of available mental health services, improving access to and availability of these services, and implementing new services on campus.
Learn more about mental wellbeing at Harvard

Support at the theater

Harvard's American Repertory Theater worked with a Harvard-trained psychologist to design resources in case a production unintentionally activates distressing or traumatic memories.
Learn more about the resources

Increased rest, decreased stress

Harvard SEAS students spent a semester working to address both mental wellness on campus and the challenges students face finding the wellness resources to promote it.
Learn more about their research

Managing your mental health abroad

While abroad, it's important to be kind to yourself and take time for self-care. Harvard's Global Support Services have collected strategies and tips to help manage, adapt, and recover from difficult situations.
Learn more about the guide

Supporting spiritual care

In their commitment to religious pluralism, Harvard Divinity School offers students spiritual care, counseling, and other resources to deepen their intellectual and spiritual lives.
Learn more about the resources

Bringing mindfulness to the Harvard Longwood community

When Mallory Hackett isn't working as an administrative coordinator at Harvard's School of Dental Medicine, she is active with the Health and Wellness Committee where she helps promote mental and physical wellbeing for all Dental School students.
Learn more about Mallory's work

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