Happy Friday!
Welcome to The Mental Minute where our goal is to make mental health an everyday conversation. Take a few minutes to enjoy today’s news, tips, key resources and product reviews.
🗞 In The News
Credit: ClickOnDetroit | WDIV4
Holiday movies aren’t just cheesy background noise — they can actually help lift your spirits when the season gets stressful. Experts say watching feel-good, predictable films gives your brain a break from anxiety and the pressures of the holidays by triggering comfort and nostalgia, which can boost your mood. The stories often highlight connection, hope, and warmth — themes that tap into our need for social support and emotional comfort.
For many people, cozying up with familiar films becomes a kind of cinema therapy that lowers stress and helps you relax instead of overthinking. So if curling up with a classic holiday flick makes you smile a little more and stress a little less, that’s not just nostalgia — it’s a legit mental health win.
Read More: Why holidays are good for your mental health (ClickOnDetroit)
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter | Getty Images
At her third annual Rare Impact Fund benefit, Selena Gomez used her spotlight to talk honestly about how social media affects mental health — especially for young people trying to figure themselves out. She emphasized that it’s really important to take breaks from online life when scrolling starts to feel stressful or overwhelming, reminding fans that your feed isn’t real life.
The event was all about boosting awareness, encouraging people to be intentional with tech, and supporting mental health resources for youth. Gomez’s message resonates because she’s been open about her own journey with anxiety, depression, and stepping back from social media to protect her well-being. Her advice: prioritize your mind over the likes, and don’t be afraid to unplug if it helps you stay grounded.
Read More: Selena Gomez Gives Advice On Protecting Mental Health On Social Media (The Hollywood Reporter)
37 million
An estimated 1 in 200 (or 37 million) people live with bipolar disorder worldwide. Many people with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed or untreated and experience discrimination and stigma. On average, people with bipolar disorder die on average 13 years earlier than the general population.
📖 What’s The Meaning
Bipolar disorder is any of a group of mood disorders in which an individual fluctuates between symptoms of mania, depression and uncontrolled consumption of abnormally large quantities of food accompanied by distress associated with this behavior. Mania or manic episodes are characterized by elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, often coupled with an increase in activity, talkativeness, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, extreme distractibility, and intense pursuit of activities likely to have unfortunate consequences (e.g., buying sprees, sexual indiscretions).
Know someone struggling with bipolar disorder? Suggested treatments include therapy and medication to manage mood swings, plus crucial self-management strategies like consistent sleep, exercise, stress reduction, and peer support to maintain stability and prevent relapse.
🆘 Help for All
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Mental Health: In Crisis? Call or Text 988
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press ‘1’ or Text 838255
Youth Helpline: 2NDFLOOR - (888) 222-2228
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255)
Addiction: Start Your Recovery - (800) 662-4357
🗞 More News
Credit: The Guardian | Cavan Images | Getty Images
A fresh national poll shows Americans’ mental health is at a record low, with fewer people rating their mental well-being as “good” or “excellent” than ever before. Only about 72% say their mental health is good or better — and less than 30% call it “excellent,” the lowest figure since this kind of tracking began. Experts think this drop reflects not just real stress from economic pressure, political uncertainty, and social difficulties, but also less stigma and more honesty about how people actually feel.
Even groups that used to rate their mental health higher — like college-educated adults and certain political demographics — are showing declines, suggesting these struggles are widespread.
So while it sounds alarming, part of the trend might be because more people are actually naming and acknowledging their mental-health challenges — which is an important step toward getting help.
Read More: Americans’ view on their mental health at record low (The Guardian)
🕹 Mind Games
Solitaire is a single-player card game where your goal is to organize cards based on certain rules and place them in foundation piles by suit in ascending order from Ace to King. Classic Solitaire, also called Klondike or Patience, is the most played solitaire game but there are other popular variations.
Play Solitaire
✏ Take The Quiz: Bipolar Disorder
Online screening is a quick and easy way to see what mental health symptoms you may be experiencing. It’s quick, free, confidential, and backed by science.
Mental health conditions are real and common.
Take the Bipolar Disorder or the Universal Mental Health Quiz
🛍 Product Review
The “mouth tape” sleep trend — taping your lips at night to force nose breathing — has gone viral as a supposed fix for better sleep and less snoring. While nasal breathing can feel more comfortable for some people, experts say there’s very little solid science proving mouth taping actually improves sleep quality.
In fact, if you have nasal congestion, allergies, anxiety, or sleep apnea, taping your mouth shut could make things worse. Doctors stress that sleep issues usually have deeper causes that tape alone can’t solve.
Bottom line: mouth tape might help a few people wake up with less dry mouth, but it’s not a sleep miracle — and safety should always come first.
Read More: The WIRED’s Guide To Mouth Tape (Wired)
📞 Share the Health
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Thanks, and Be Well.
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