Emotional Hygiene,
February 7, 2020

February means Valentine’s Day and that has us thinking about love. Self-love, that is.

On any given day we take for granted that we will brush our teeth, wash our hands, and tend to tasks around the house. We consider this basic personal hygiene. Somehow, though, we have kept another type of hygiene, emotional hygiene, in the background.

Thanks to advances in brain science, we know a lot more about how to best take care of our mental health day-by-day. So this Valentine’s Day let’s make a vow that our daily self-care must include the emotional as well as the physical.

In Memoriam, Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D.,
January 7, 2020

Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D.
1938-2020

It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of our dear colleague Dr. Bruce McEwen, a Rockefeller University neuroscientist and founding member of Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s (HDRF) Depression Task Force, who died on January 2 at age 81 after a brief illness.

Bruce McEwen was a giant in the field of neuroscience who transformed our understanding of how the brain changes throughout life.  He is renowned for his studies on how stress hormones reshape neural circuits in the brain — work that has profound implications for public health and the understanding and treatment of depression.

#GivingTuesday 2019,
December 4, 2019

Yesterday, our extraordinary donors came together to help us surpass our $20,000 goal.

For 24 hours, people around the world unite to celebrate generosity and make an impact. Every dollar donated to HDRF’s #GivingTuesday campaign will go directly towards our Next Generation Mental Health program. This program aims to increase understanding and awareness about mental health and remove the stigma of seeking treatment.

Practicing Gratitude,
November 27, 2019

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and that of course makes us think about gratitude.  Studies show that gratitude is good for us, and not just on national holidays.  A disposition of gratitude on a daily basis makes us healthier people both physically and mentally.

Indeed, recent research suggests that counting our blessings on a regular basis can help decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety over the long term. More research is in the works, but in conjunction with therapy or other medical treatment, it seems that gratitude can have a significant impact.

HDRF Scientists in the News!,
October 24, 2019

We’re excited to announce that two members of our Depression Task Force recently received prestigious awards from the Society for Neuroscience, the largest society of professional neuroscientists in the world. Its annual meeting draws over 44,000 participants.

Huda Akil, PhD
Dr. Akil received the Julius Axelrod Prize for her enduring influence on the field. She is recognized for her major achievements in neuroscience as well as her exemplary efforts in mentoring young scientists.