Behavioral Health | Penn Today

Public psychiatry’s mission: Providing mental health care to those who need it the most

Rachel Talley on public psychiatry, the impact of COVID-19 on community mental health, and how she went from an internship at the White House to championing public health at Penn’s department of Psychiatry.

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Money matters to happiness—perhaps more than previously thought

Research from Wharton’s Matthew Killingsworth shows that contrary to previous influential work, there’s no dollar-value plateau at which money’s importance lessens. One potential reason: Higher earners feel an increased sense of control over life.

Stock image of a person staring out the window, with greyed out images of other people illuminated as if the first person is thinking about them.

The link between perceptions of autonomy and global views of income inequality

Research from the Center for Social Norms & Behavioral Dynamics finds that people who feel independent think that most others are, too. They also underestimate the level of poverty in the United States.

Person running outside in warm weather, wearing a tanktop, running pants, and earbuds.

Self-awareness can drive behavior change, reprogram the brain’s reward system

Most people break New Year’s resolutions within a few weeks. Neuroscientist Vera Ludwig offers six tips to move mindfully through this process, leading to a greater chance for success.

A person in a suit and button-down shirt sitting on a stairwell landing, smiling. The intricate white stairwell and a brick wall behind it are to the person's right.

A modified game of ‘chicken’ reveals what happens in the brain during decision-making

Research from the Platt Labs found that in rhesus macaques, two regions of the brain mirror those of similar regions in humans, broadening the understanding of what unfolds, neurologically, when people interact and cooperate.

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Q&A

How did echo chambers influence the 2020 election?

Research from the Annenberg School for Communication shows that people are consuming news from more diverse sources, but many don’t consume any news at all. It’s too soon to tell what role that played in the recent race for president.

Person sitting cross-legged on an airport chair looking at a phone. A suitcase is in front of the image. A chair next to the person has a large, red X and read "Social Distancing."

How have new social norms emerged as COVID-19 has spread?

In a study of nine countries, researcher Cristina Bicchieri found that motivating people to modify behavior requires changing their expectations about the actions and thoughts of those who matter to them.

How to get voters off the fence? With a soft touch

According to Wharton’s Jonah Berger, one way to sway undecided voters is to break down the gap between two sides into smaller steps to make it easier for people to navigate.

Person standing outside of a brick building, in front of a lamppost and shrubbery, arms crossed.

Simple solutions reduce court no-shows, subsequent arrest warrants

For low-level offenses in New York City, text nudges and a redesigned summons form decreased failure-to-appear rates by about 20% and led to 30,000 fewer arrest warrants over a three-year period.

adolescent wearing face mask leans on fence staring into distance

Adolescents, psychiatric hospitalization, and COVID-19

As widespread community transmission of COVID-19 continues, researchers say the focus must shift to the broader effects on health and wellbeing, including on the mental health of children and adolescents. A recent Penn LDI study reports on the impact of the pandemic on youth at a local behavioral health hospital.

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