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Mental Health

Why are anxiety and depression rates rising? Which self-care trends are worth your time and money? Vox’s coverage of mental health and wellness.

Is this controversial policy helping kids — or making school more difficult?Is this controversial policy helping kids — or making school more difficult?
Life

How a day off can (and can’t) help children.

By Anna North
Political news is making me miserable. Is it wrong to tune out?
Future Perfect

It feels very tempting to cocoon myself in relaxing hobbies to spare my mental health.

By Sigal Samuel
Could an inexpensive vaccine help stave off dementia?Could an inexpensive vaccine help stave off dementia?
Future Perfect

Dementia has long resisted treatment. But one answer could be surprisingly simple.

By Bryan Walsh
When your garden fails, the magic happens
Even BetterThe Highlight

Nothing will cure you of perfectionism faster than trying to grow living things.

By Natalie Pattillo
How to buy a year of happiness, explained in one chartHow to buy a year of happiness, explained in one chart
Future Perfect

Want to improve someone’s well-being? These are the “best buys” identified so far.

By Sigal Samuel
Screen time reports won’t help you put your phone down. Here’s what can.Screen time reports won’t help you put your phone down. Here’s what can.
Even Better

Why you should make your phone boring.

By Adam Clark Estes
How to dread winter a little lessHow to dread winter a little less
Even Better

Winter lovers share their tips for making the most of the season.

By Lilly Milman
Validate me, please!Validate me, please!
Even Better

Why other people’s approval is so intoxicating.

By Allie Volpe
AI is impersonating human therapists. Can it be stopped?AI is impersonating human therapists. Can it be stopped?
Future Perfect

Exclusive: California has a new plan to put chatbots in their place.

By Sigal Samuel
The transformative power of journalingThe transformative power of journaling
Life

Writing down your thoughts can be good for your mental health. Here’s how to start — and keep at it.

By Jillian Anthony
How long should you meditate?How long should you meditate?
Future Perfect

And other practical meditation questions, answered.

By Oshan Jarow
How meditation deconstructs your mind
Future Perfect

Want to learn how to meditate? Scientists have a new theory that might change how you practice.

By Oshan Jarow
Does my health insurance cover therapy?Does my health insurance cover therapy?
The Vox guide to using your benefits

How to decode your mental heath benefits.

By Keren Landman, MD
The high-tech future of assisted suicide is here. The world isn’t ready.
Politics

A “suicide pod” in Switzerland roils the right-to-die debate.

By Marin Cogan
9 actually good things that happened in 20249 actually good things that happened in 2024
Future Perfect

It wasn’t the easiest year, but 2024 was not without its bright spots.

By Bryan Walsh
Get out of your chair every hour and 11 other ways to improve your life in 2025Get out of your chair every hour and 11 other ways to improve your life in 2025
Even Better

The best advice we got this year.

By Allie Volpe
Are men okay? Our modern masculinity problem, explained.Are men okay? Our modern masculinity problem, explained.
Podcast
The Gray Area

Why is it so hard to talk about masculinity?

By Sean Illing
The world’s most mysterious psychedelic is already inside your brain
The Highlight

DMT, “the nuclear bomb of the psychedelic family,” explained.

By Oshan Jarow
The author of the seminal book about loneliness explains what we’re getting wrongThe author of the seminal book about loneliness explains what we’re getting wrong
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Nearly 25 years after Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, Americans are more socially isolated than ever.

By Miranda Kennedy and Noel King
How to get through thisHow to get through this
Even Better

Coping strategies for the next few days — and the next four years.

By Allie Volpe
Your guide to coping with election anxietyYour guide to coping with election anxiety
Even Better

Nervous about the election? Try these tips to stay calm.

By Allie Volpe
Your mind needs chaosYour mind needs chaos
Podcast
The Gray Area

The human mind is designed to predict, but uncertainty helps us thrive.

By Oshan Jarow
Why don’t your psychiatric drugs work better?Why don’t your psychiatric drugs work better?
Future Perfect

Billions of dollars later, neuroscientists are still struggling to address the mental health crisis.

By Celia Ford
Nitrous, one of the oldest mind-altering drugs, is backNitrous, one of the oldest mind-altering drugs, is back
Future Perfect

Whippets on TikTok are just a re-run of inhaling nitrous on stage in the 1800s.

By Oshan Jarow
Instagram’s Teen Accounts aren’t really for teensInstagram’s Teen Accounts aren’t really for teens
Technology

What to know about Meta’s new restrictions on young people’s social media use.

By Ellen Ioanes
The cost of cynicismThe cost of cynicism
Podcast
The Gray Area

It’s irrational to be cynical, so why is it becoming more prevalent?

By Sean Illing
What are extracurricular activities for?
Life

Extracurriculars matter for more than college applications. Here’s why.

By Charley Locke
Does being a gifted kid make for a burned-out adulthood?
Mental Health

How being labeled “gifted” can rearrange your life — for better and for worse.

By Constance Grady
The youth mental health crisis is hitting LGBTQ+ teens hardestThe youth mental health crisis is hitting LGBTQ+ teens hardest
Future Perfect

While better data is needed to understand just how wide the gap is, help doesn’t have to wait.

By Sam Delgado
MDMA therapy didn’t get FDA approval. Now what?MDMA therapy didn’t get FDA approval. Now what?
Future Perfect

The end of psychedelic prohibition will have to wait a little while longer.

By Oshan Jarow
The surprising truth about loneliness in AmericaThe surprising truth about loneliness in America
Even Better

No one is immune to loneliness. But some are more at risk.

By Allie Volpe
Confronting the self
Even Better

How to truly live the life you want.

By Vox Staff
The only child stigma, debunked
Parenting

Being an only child doesn’t mess you up for life. We promise.

By Charley Locke
Think like an OlympianThink like an Olympian
Even Better

More of a mathlete than an athlete? A gold medal mindset can help you do almost anything better.

By Keren Landman, MD
Feeling drained from the night before? It could be an emotional hangover.Feeling drained from the night before? It could be an emotional hangover.
Even Better

Here’s how to keep one from ruining your day.

By Anna Medaris
Is your kid addicted to their phone? Here’s how to set smart boundaries.Is your kid addicted to their phone? Here’s how to set smart boundaries.
Even Better

A definitive guide to managing your children’s tech.

By Allie Volpe
The existential struggle of being BlackThe existential struggle of being Black
Podcast
The Gray Area

A conversation with author Nathalie Etoke on Black existentialism and the case for tragic optimism.

By Sean Illing
The world’s emotional status is actually pretty good, a new global report findsThe world’s emotional status is actually pretty good, a new global report finds
Future Perfect

But which country comes first in happiness completely changes depending on how you measure.

By Oshan Jarow
The biggest unknown in psychedelic therapy is not the psychedelicsThe biggest unknown in psychedelic therapy is not the psychedelics
Future Perfect

Why critics call the company pushing to legalize MDMA a “therapy cult.”

By Sigal Samuel
What a social media warning label can’t doWhat a social media warning label can’t do
Technology

What the surgeon general wants to do for kids safety leaves the rest of us behind.

By Adam Clark Estes