In our September issue, we publish new work and commentary that feature translational science. As a nod to the translational role that bridges work from animal models to clinical research, the cover displays the profiles of a mouse and a human head in a contiguous line drawing. It symbolizes the interconnectedness of clinical and animal work in mental health research, in which so much is dependent on what can be observed and demonstrated preclinically before it can be translated in humans.

Read more about the enduring importance of translational work in mental health research in our Editorial.

Our August issue cover highlights how crucial our connections with countries and culture are and how they can meaningfully shape our mental health. In a sense, they are influences imprinted on brains and minds. From ancient philosophers and theologians to modern mental health researchers, country and culture have long been considered forces that affect our development and self-expression, our interpretations of feelings, and when and how we seek support or treatment for mental health conditions.

Read more in our Editorial about the importance of cultural context of mental health

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are associated with changes in the default-mode network (DMN), the distributed set of regions that are active when an individual is not focused on an external task or stimuli. In this issue, Ereira et al. demonstrate that altered DMN connectivity can be used to identify future dementia incidence at the individual level. The cover of the July issue alludes to the possibility of using brain activation patterns in the DMN to predict dementia and its potential for early detection and intervention.

See Ereira et al.

Every June, Pride is celebrated. The theme for Pride 2024 in New York City — Reflect. Empower. Unite. — sends a special message to LGBT+ and allies that in order to foster solidarity and the pursuit of equality, it is necessary to reflect on the great strides made by previous generations. Although there are powerful and somber elements, Pride is also about uplift and joy and commitment to improving LGBT+ mental health and wellbeing. With a mirror ball reflecting the many colors of the inclusive LGBT+ flag, the cover for June symbolizes reflections of diversity that are united and ready to celebrate.

Read more in our Editorial about Pride and supporting LGBT+ mental health

The cover of the May issue uses a braid of several colorful threads woven together to symbolize some of the current thinking about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood. Adult ADHD is not well understood and, consequently, can be overdiagnosed, underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. But recent work has attempted to identify the ways in which ADHD in adulthood may be both different from and similar to ADHD diagnosed in childhood by bringing many strands of research together. The braid also symbolizes the need for increasing the awareness of, reducing the stigma of and providing better treatment and multifactorial support for people with ADHD in adulthood.

Read more in our Editorial about the neurobiological basis of ADHD in adults and parental support and self-management in people with ADHD transitioning to adulthood.

How the brain changes as a function of sex and as we age are profound and relatively under-researched questions. The April cover challenges us to consider the maturation stages that make up the developmental trajectory over the lifespan and suggest the different windows of time in which the interplay of systems is especially salient, such as neuroendocrine function and puberty.

See our Editorial for more insights into sex and the brain across the lifespan.

The cover of the March issue focuses on the issue of the experience of loneliness and social isolation that can occur even when one is surrounded by others. Research investigating these constructs considers the nuances of the subjective and objective dimensions — where loneliness refers to the distress that arises from feeling one does not have enough fulfilling social contact, and social isolation refers to the limited number and quality of social contacts. Notably, both are associated with poor physical and mental health. Finding ways to disrupt the feeling of loneliness and experiencing social isolation is crucial for protecting vulnerable people, such as adolescents and older adults.

Read more in our Editorial, and see Benedyk et al. on the effects of physical activity on loneliness and social isolation.

The February cover is a moody depiction of climate mental health. Intended to invoke the idea of the interplay among Gaia (the spirit of Earth), nature and humanity, the blue tones also reference the Connecting Climate Minds project. As a means for placing mental health prominently in climate agendas, this initiative is a catalyst for invigorating the broader climate mental health field.

See our Editorial for more on the emerging field of climate mental health

In this issue, Williams et al. present the results from the Stanford Hypnosis Integrated with Functional Connectivity-targeted Transcranial Stimulation (SHIFT) trial investigating imaging-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) to increase the ability to be hypnotized. Hypnosis has been posited as a non-pharmacological intervention for functional pain disorders. The trial demonstrated that in a sample of participants with fibromyalgia syndrome, inhibition of the L-DLPFC was associated with greater ability to be hypnotized, indicative of a promising target for noninvasive neuromodulation. The cover depicts a representation of neuromodulation of the L-DLPFC during the SHIFT paradigm.

See Williams et al.