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☆ How to sustain happiness, from the president of the American Psychological Association: 'Joy can be an inside job'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

She is the president of the American Psychological Association and a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. CNBC Make It talked to Bryant about how to find happiness and what role routine can play in sustaining joy. A quote I really like by Howard Thurman is: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Thema Bryant President of the American Psychological AssociationFor me, one of the things that makes me come alive is dancing and spoken word poetry.

☆ Utah is poised to be the first state to pass a gender-affirming care ban in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Utah is likely to become the first state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors this year. The Utah Senate approved a bill Friday that would bar minors from receiving gender-affirming surgeries and place an indefinite moratorium on their access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Spencer Cox, who became the second Republican governor last year to veto a bill that bars transgender students from playing girls’ sports. Bri Martin, the editor of the student newspaper at West High School, described gender-affirming care as “nothing short of life-saving,” the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The bill also allows minors to sue medical providers for malpractice for gender-affirming medical care if the minor “later disaffirms consent” before they turn 25.

☆ Yale University’s most popular class is now free for teenagers—why it could make you happier
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Santos, the psychology professor behind Yale University's most popular course, recently launched a free six-week version of the class aimed at teenagers, called "The Science of Well-Being for Teens." It was developed to address rising rates of anxiety, depression and suicide rates for kids between ninth and 12th grade, Santos says. 1, she preaches in one of the course's pre-recorded lectures: Our brains lie to us about what makes us happy. "The problem isn't that we're not putting work into feeling better — it's that we're doing the wrong things, prioritizing the wrong behaviors." Santos says she wants to help change those numbers by making the science of happiness accessible.

☆ ChatGPT wrote part of this article—it didn’t go great
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

I tasked it with writing a financial blog post on tax-loss harvesting, a topic I chose for two reasons:I recently wrote a story on the subject. Tax-loss harvesting is a strategy that investors can use to offset gains in their portfolio by selling investments that have decreased in value. However, there are some important factors to consider before deciding to pursue tax-loss harvesting. Tax-loss harvesting can be beneficial in the short term, but it should not be the driving factor behind your investment decisions. Make sure that your investment strategy aligns with your long-term goals and that you are aware of the wash-sale rule.

☆ To be successful, let go of false ideas about sacrifice and productivity, says president of the American Psychological Association
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As of 2023 she is the president of the American Psychological Association. Before that, she was the coordinator at Princeton's University's SHARE program which offered programming and support to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment. And before that she received her doctorate in clinical psychology at Duke University and did her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical Center. "It's time to let go of the false dichotomy, or the false choice, which is we believe that in order to be successful I have to abandon myself," she says. Bryant: A common misconception is people think "if I try not to think about it I'll get over it."

☆ With over 100 anti-LGBTQ bills before state legislatures in 2023 so far, activists say they're 'fired up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

So far, Texas has taken the lead with 36 such bills, according to Equality Texas, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group. Four states — Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona — have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for minors, though federal judges have blocked them from taking effect in Arkansas and Alabama. State Sen. David Bullard, the Republican sponsoring the bill, told The Oklahoman that gender-affirming medical care is a “permanent change in your body that cannot be reversed. Accredited medical associations — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — have supported gender-affirming care for minors. Advocates and doctors who treat trans youth have said many of the health care restrictions proposed by state legislators mischaracterize what gender-affirming care is.

☆ A lawsuit filed by Seattle's public schools accuses Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snapchat of creating a youth mental health crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Social media companies are named in a lawsuit filed by the Seattle public schools district. The suit accuses Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap of creating a mental health crisis among America's youth. Seattle's public school system said it had a responsibility to file the suit because children suffering from mental health problems perform worse in school and are less likely to attend at all, affecting the schools' educational mission. A Snap spokesperson said "nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community" and it works closely with mental health organizations to give users "resources to help them deal with the challenges facing young people today." Google, Meta, and TikTok did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Having a mean boss may be upsetting, 'but it’s not traumatic,' says psychologist—here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Working for a difficult boss can color your professional life for years to come. Fisher is a former instructor at Harvard Medical School whose research has advanced the trauma treatment field. “Being undervalued is a very distressing experience,” Fisher says. “But it’s not traumatic.” Still, mainstream popularity of books like The Body Keeps the Score has led to the term “trauma” becoming commonplace. An event that is distressing doesn’t yield the same response as an event that is traumatic, Fisher says.

Last year, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization, the Human Rights Campaign, labeled 2021 the “worst year” for LGBTQ rights in modern U.S. history, citing a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures across the country. “The LGBTQ+ community is really under siege right now,” said Ricardo Martinez, CEO of LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Texas. One bill that was successfully implemented, and gained national headlines for months, was Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, or what critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The word “grooming” has long been associated with mischaracterizing LGBTQ people, particularly gay men and transgender women, as child sex abusers. Those losses came after some conservative groups ramped up misleading or inflammatory campaign ads targeting transgender rights.

☆ More Americans are seeking help for their mental health. Here's how to talk to your boss if you're struggling with anxiety or depression.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mental health experts shared tips for approaching your manager about your mental health. Thousands of cancelled flights during the holidays, inflation, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine are chipping away at Americans' mental health. A Gallup poll published in December found that the number of Americans reporting their mental health was "good" or "excellent" was at a record low, while the number of Americans seeking help for their mental health was up. Many are likely grappling with whether to talk to their manager about their mental health. "Beyond Happiness" author Lim suggested framing the conversation around improving your mental health as something that would help both you and your employer.

In one study, researchers reported a link between screen time and higher rates of obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnoses among preteens. The studies, published in separate journals on Monday, followed their young participants to observe the effects of screen time over months or years. Researchers logged how much time the kids spent on devices and found that 4.4% qualified for a new OCD diagnosis. The researchers noted that they found an association between OCD and streaming videos on devices but not with traditional television-watching. “Just because their kid is playing video games doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to develop OCD,” he said.

☆ The 10 countries with the least paid vacation—the U.S. is No. 2
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The report, which reviewed data on laws governing annual statutory paid leave and paid public holidays in 197 countries, found that the United States is the second worst country for paid vacation days. NigeriaContinent: AfricaTotal Paid Vacation Days: 17According to van Rijswijk, the U.S. also falls short in the paid leave department. Though most countries have a norm of 4 weeks of paid leave, the U.S. is the only "developed country with no statutory paid leave." For employees vying for more paid vacation days or paid leave, van Rijswijk recommends advocating for yourself by expressing your needs with leadership. "Another way countries with the least paid vacation days can push for change is by putting pressure on government groups and representatives.

☆ These 3 habits are making you feel overly busy—and it's easy to unlearn them
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Dorie Clark, a leadership expert and former presidential campaign spokesperson, says lots of people are just looking at busyness the wrong way. When asked why they feel so overworked, most people cite external causes, like those incessant emails or constant Zoom calls. In a May TED Talk, Clark argued those are merely manifestations of busyness — not necessarily the root causes. Avoiding uncertaintyHuman brains are notoriously averse to ambiguity, and many of us use busywork as a way to avoid uncertainty, Clark said. And so we become busy ... so that we don't even have to ask the question," Clark said.

☆ 'Jeopardy!' champ Amy Schneider testifies against Ohio transgender care ban
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

champion Amy Schneider testified before an Ohio House of Representatives committee meeting Wednesday against a bill that would restrict gender-affirming medical care for minors. After receiving gender-affirming care, "for the first time in my life, that alarm went silent, and I knew peace and quiet for the first time." Rep. Latyna Humphrey, a Democrat, asked Schneider if she has ever regretted receiving gender-affirming care or experienced suicidal thoughts after her transition. “We’ve made quite a few concessions, and that’s to bring this to a middle ground,” Click said of the substitute bill. Four states — Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee — passed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors.

☆ A spiral of violence and fear is creating angst for many voters ahead of the midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Seitz-Wald-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alex Seitz-Wald | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

For many voters, a vicious spiral of violence and fear is creating angst, paranoia and an overwhelming sense of dread that the nation is on the eve of destruction, according to a growing body of public opinion research. Polls show a large portion of Republicans fear democracy is in peril because they believe that elections are rigged against them. Frustrated by the fear that democracy no longer serves them, some Americans are becoming convinced that violence is the answer. Steele, the former head of the national GOP, said the public and political leaders both bear responsibility for protecting the republic. “But it also gives space for people who want a safer country to plan ahead, too.

☆ As election nears, some conservative groups have ramped up anti-trans campaign ads
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Matt Lavietes | Matt Lavietes Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

In the last leg of what has been a heated midterm election cycle, some conservative groups have ramped up misleading or inflammatory campaign ads targeting transgender rights, which have become an increasingly partisan and divisive issue. Within the last several weeks, the American Principles Project aired campaign ads in six battleground states, the group wrote on Twitter. Justin Unga, the director of strategic initiatives for the Human Rights Campaign, said ads targeting transgender rights can have real-world ramifications. A record 346 anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in state legislatures around the country this year, including 145 that restrict transgender rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Many of the recent campaign ads targeting transgender rights were directed at Black and Latino voters, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

☆ The least stressful job that pays over $100K, according to data—and how to get it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

And some of those relatively low stress jobs also pay handsomely. The least stressful job on the list that pays more than $100,000 per year is environmental economist, with a ranking of 52 out of 100. In terms of why the job might be comparatively lower stress, "They're not working in very competitive conditions," says Sinem Buber, lead economist at ZipRecruiter. Plus, "it's really a fulfilling job," says Buber, "knowing that you are doing something good for the environment, that you're doing something good for humanity. If you're considering doing the work to become an environmental economist yourself, keep in mind, all job experiences are relative, and no job is stress-free altogether.

☆ Two Florida medical boards advance ban on gender-affirming care for minors
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Zachary Schermele | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Florida’s state medical boards voted Friday afternoon to approve the language of a first-of-its-kind rule banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors who don’t already receive it. The rule updates the medical standards of practice in the state to mostly prohibit health care professionals from starting treatment for gender dysphoria in those younger than 18. Gender dysphoria refers the stress and discomfort some experience when their gender identity doesn’t match their sex assigned at birth. The measure bans the prescription of puberty blockers or hormone therapy to new patients who are minors, and it forbids gender-affirming surgeries. In a statement Friday, Equality Florida said once the rule goes into effect, it will be the only ban in the country of gender-affirming care for minors instituted by a state medical board.

☆ Florida medical board votes to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Florida’s medical board is the first in the country to pursue such a rule, but Florida is among a wave of states where officials have attempted to restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. The effort to restrict such care began in April, when DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued nonbinding guidance through the Florida Health Department that sought to bar both “social gender transition” and gender-affirming medical care for minors. Accredited medical groups — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — have supported gender-affirming care for transgender youths. The first nine attendees who spoke were in favor of restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Only one of the eight had received gender-affirming medical care as a minor.

☆ Queer fans mourn Leslie Jordan, a symbol of a 'lost generation' of gay men
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Zachary Schermele | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“When things really begin to change is when the social culture changes,” Biden said. By 1995, a tenth of the 1.6 million gay men ages 25 to 44 had died. Socialization among gay men and gay-centric networks, particularly in gay neighborhoods, has myriad political and social benefits. “For a lot of gay men from a certain generation, that was really hard to do without alcohol,” he said. In the same interview, DeGeneres thanked Jordan for coming on her show.

☆ The ridiculous rise of the chief purpose officer — corporate America's half-baked attempt to fix the employee burnout crisis
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Tracy Moore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Every company on Great Place to Work's ranked list of best employers has a chief purpose officer or purpose among the company's missions and goals. Its chief purpose officer, Kwasi Mitchell, who stepped into the role in 2020, told me that establishing purpose was a powerful talent-retention tool. The same is true for chief purpose officers. And a chief purpose officer can be used as a crutch, a way for a business to say, "Of course, we care," when employees raise issues with the culture. Instead of fixing the burnout problem, these executives can allow management to turn a blind eye and assume all is well, letting workplace rot set in even deeper.

☆ Toxic Workplaces Are Bad for Mental and Physical Health, Surgeon General Says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Lindsay Ellis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. surgeon general is telling Americans for the first time that disrespectful or cutthroat workplaces could be hazardous to their health. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s office—which is more often associated with warnings about nicotine, Zika and the Covid-19 pandemic—issued a guidance Thursday outlining how long hours, limited autonomy and low wages can affect workers’ health and organizational performance. Chronic stress disrupts sleep, increases vulnerability to infection and has been linked to conditions ranging from heart disease to depression, the document said, citing research from the American Psychological Association and a Stanford University psychologist.

☆ The Teen Mental Health Industry Is Failing Them - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Alexander Stockton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +26 min

Sometimes they are treated in ways that are illegal to treat prisoners, let alone kids seeking mental health treatment. But former patients from residential treatment facilities whom Times Opinion interviewed said they received one-on-one therapy only once a week, if that. The company owns dozens of hospitals and hundreds of behavioral health facilities and makes about $11 billion a year. In 2017, when he was 15 years old, his mother, Renee Hanania, sent him to a UHS facility in Virginia. America’s patchwork mental health treatment is still insufficient.

☆ Why some kids love horror -- and why it's nothing to worry about
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Kayla Lopez’s kids, meanwhile, just need to pull on their Michael Myers masks to feel invincible. “I don’t really know of anybody that likes horror as much as them, honestly,” she said. Adorable kids and horror paraphernalia seem like an incongruous pairing. There’s no doubt we’re interested in that.”The Lopez kids have what Farley calls “type-T personalities” – the “T” stands for thrill-seeking. They’ve learned to filter themselves around their pals so as not to scare the other kids and save it for when they’re home, where their horror habits aren’t questioned.

☆ Long waiting lists, long drives and costly care hinder many kids’ access to mental health care
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-06 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Nearly half of those parents, 47%, say the pandemic has negatively affected their kids’ mental health, with 17% saying it had a major negative impact. Mental health providers who specialize in care for kids are concentrated in urban areas but missing from rural communities. One, TeamUp for Children, has placed full-time mental health providers in seven federally qualified health centers around the Boston area. She says this model – integrating mental health services into primary care – is being copied to varying degrees in pilot projects across the country. The KFF CNN Mental Health Survey was conducted by SSRS from July 28 through August 9 among a random national sample of 2,004 adults.

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