Healthy Minds Season 11 Premieres in October 2026
News related to:Brain & Behavior Research Foundation · 2 min read
New York, Sept. 15, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Emmy-nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein is set to return for its 11th season, premiering on October 1, 2026. The series, produced by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, aims to explore timely issues in mental health, bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, and individuals living with psychiatric conditions to provide viewers with a deeper understanding of mental health conditions, emerging science, and treatment options.
The series will delve into school-based mental health support, screen addiction, cannabis addiction, obesity and metabolism, and the role of schools in supporting student mental health. Additionally, episodes will cover suicide prevention, parenting an autistic teen, and managing bipolar disorder.
Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, the host and President and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, stated, "Over the past decade, Healthy Minds has actively worked to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness by sharing personal stories and trusted information about advances in research and care. As we begin our 11th season, we remain committed to helping viewers understand the issues that affect them and their families, and to showing that with help, there is hope."
The premiere episode, "School-Based Mental Health Support," will explore how elementary and secondary schools can use mental health screenings for anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, along with life skills curricula to build resilience. Dr. John Constantino, Chief of Behavioral and Mental Health at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, will be a guest on this episode.
In "Screen Addiction and Children," the series will examine concerns about excessive use of screens, social media, and video games by adolescents. The episode will draw on research from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which follows 11,000 young people since age 10 and uses MRI to study brain changes associated with addiction. Dr. J. John Mann, Professor of Translational Neuroscience in Psychiatry and Radiology at Columbia University, will be the guest on this episode.
"Suicide Prevention" will cover strategies to decrease suicide risk, including the potential benefits of folic acid, home firearm safety, patient follow-up, fast-acting medication options, the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and smartphone alerts for patient check-ins. Dr. J. John Mann will also be a guest on this episode.
The series will also feature "Parenting an Autistic Teen," where Grammy Award-winning musician and actor Steve Earle will discuss raising his autistic teenage son, building a support network, and advocating for resources. Dr. Earle's own recovery from chemical dependency will shape his approach to his son's diagnosis and care.
Dr. Shebani Sethi, Founder and Director of the Metabolic Psychiatry Clinical Program and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, will be a guest on this episode.
Other episodes will cover psychedelic drugs for psychiatric treatment, the role of stress in illness, resilience after paralysis, pharmacogenetics, and managing bipolar disorder. The series will be available nationally on public television stations and streaming on PBS.org, with local airtimes available at https://www.bbrfoundation.org/healthy-minds-tv.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the producer of Healthy Minds, has awarded research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness since 1987. The foundation has invested more than $487 million in research, with 100% of every dollar donated for research being invested in research.