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The "It Gets Better" project aims to reduce suicide among LGBT adolescents by offering narratives by mainly adult LGBT persons. A recent, but very small study, found both positive and negative aspects of these campaigns. Messages were helpful for promoting hope, but there was a perceived lack of diversity on sexual identities, and some shallowness around suicidal ideation. I invited experts to comment on whether these types of campaigns can make a difference. [More]

Life in a pandemic for married couples can lead to feelings of sadness and anger. Many couples across the country are co-existing at home for extended periods due to COVID-19. Now, researchers have found the more a person feels their spouse disrupts their daily lives, the more they view their relationship as turbulent. [More]

Participation in creative activities is linked with positive outcomes for people with mental illness. A recent small, longitudinal, and qualitative study found that participants in a series of creative workshops enjoyed a range of creative mediums, valued peer support, and shared their stories. Overall, workshop participation improved confidence and understanding about their illness. [More]

Those who are religious use the same coping strategies when facing a crisis as those recommended by psychologists. A study in The Journal of Religion and Health found that religious people use emotion-regulation strategies (like looking at hardships in a positive way). Psychologists refer to this as cognitive reappraisal. [More]

It has been asserted that one of the reasons that many individuals view those who are homeless with disdain is so that the observer can feel better about him/herself. These particular people, with no knowledge of the road that led to homelessness, assume that anyone without a sheltered residence is damaged and “less than”. They, can,(the judges) then, flatter themselves that they are substantial and first-rate. [More]

A year ago, trying to get patients at Michigan Medicine to agree to telehealth for their mental health appointments was a challenge. The academic medical centre associated with the University of Michigan had only 26 video appointments in a six month period compared with 30 thousand in person visits. COVID-19 changed all that. [More]

According to a study from the UK, pets are an important source of emotional support for many people during lockdown, reducing and improving people’s mental health. But not everyone recognizes the long-term commitment required with owning a pet. [More]

Even if someone that we do not know insults us, it is likely that our feelings get hurt. Why? That individual doesn’t even know you. Why grant creditability to strangers? [More]

Having access to nature during COVID-19 lockdowns is important for mental health. Researchers in Europe found that those living in European countries with strict COVID-19 lockdown policies were more likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression. [More]

Levels of anxiety among young people in Britain doubled during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown. Researchers say the findings could have implications for young people around the world grappling with the same challenges during COVID-19. [More]