Happy Hump Day!

Today is International Joke Day. Created in 1994 by author Wayne Reinagel, International Joke Day was specifically placed at the exact halfway point of the year to encourage people to take a mid-year breather, relieve stress, and spread smiles through humor and laughter.

Laughter has been shown to reduce stress hormones, soothe physical tension, and boost the immune system. Sharing humor is a proven way to build social bonds and relieve tense situations. It also provides a lighthearted break from daily routines and allows people to avoid taking life too seriously.

So make sure you learn a new joke today!

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Starting today, a new Minnesota law requires all social media platforms including TikTok and Facebook to display a mandatory mental health warning screen every time the app is opened — one that must stay visible until the user acknowledges it, cannot be disabled, and must include resources like the National Suicide Hotline.

A child and adolescent psychiatrist noted that spending more than four hours a day on social media is linked to increased risk of depression, anxiety, negative body image, and suicidal thoughts — calling social media "a thief of time, experience and development."

Read More: New Minnesota Law Forces Social Media Apps To Include Mental Health Warning (KTTC)

A new Gallup poll found that 1 in 10 U.S. adults were personally or indirectly affected by a scam in 2025, costing Americans an estimated $68 billion — roughly $186 million stolen every single day — with lower-income, Black, and Hispanic adults hit disproportionately harder.

But the emotional toll may be even more widespread than the financial one: nearly three in four scam victims reported that the experience negatively impacted their mental health or wellbeing, with over a quarter describing the impact as very negative.

Read More: Nearly Three in Four US Scam Victims Report Mental Health Harm, Poll Finds (Aljazeera)

Oprah Daily polled real therapists on the books they recommend most, and the results are anything but predictable — alongside classics, they're prescribing Fair Play for couples drowning in unequal household labor, Ikigai for anyone craving more meaning and joy, and Daughter Drink This Water — a collection of lyrical affirmations by psychologist Jaiya John — for women and girls doing the deep work of releasing shame.

The standout crowd-pleaser? The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, recommended by a therapist with over 20 years of practice who says it consistently delivers that "aha moment" for clients across every type of relationship.

Read More: 8 Life-Changing Books Therapists Swear By (Oprah Daily)

MYTH: Medications will change who I am or make me feel unlike myself.

FACT: Psychiatrists often hear from patients that they worry that medications will change who they are. The truth is that medications aim to reduce symptoms, not change who you are. Finding the right medication takes time and involves trial and error with your doctor to get the best results with minimal side effects.

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Thanks, and Be Well.

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