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A study from researchers at the University of Toronto found that those with suboptimal mental health died earlier than their counterparts with excellent mental health. Those who were in excellent mental health when the study started in the mid-1990s lived almost five months longer than their peers who were in poorer mental health. [More]

The large majority of young people who experience suicidal thoughts or self-harm experience only mild or moderate mental distress. Researchers from Cambridge University found that young people who thought about suicide or engaged in self harm were at medium risk for mental distress, rather than having obvious symptoms from a diagnosable disorder. [More]

Cultivating a locus of control has benefits to our mental health, but it can be difficult to do, especially in today’s culture where people are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, and an economic decline. But even in times like this with so much out of control, research suggests the ability to find some sense of control better equips people to accept situations that cannot be changed. [More]

Sensitivity is a basic trait. It’s defined as the ability to perceive and process information about the environment. All people are sensitive but some considerably more than others. A new study published in the Journal of Molecular Psychiatry examined the genetic architecture of environmental sensitivity using a sample of 2868 adolescent twins. Twins are usually used in psychological or biological studies. Studies with twins are useful to researchers because twins share 100 per cent of their genes. That means, any differences between the twins are due to outside influences. [More]

There is no shortage of need in our communities, especially around COVID-19 And previous research has shown that volunteering improved depression, life satisfaction, and wellbeing. A more recent study found that volunteering increases people’s sense of ‘mattering’ and boosts well-being in a time of crisis. I invited people to share their perspectives on the benefits of volunteering and how it improves mental health. [More]

By some predictions, the COVID19 pandemic will cause the worst financial crisis in the US since the Great Depression. Already across the United States many are experiencing pay cuts and job losses, and for couples this may mean a lot of pressure on romantic relationships. Whilst financial struggles are never easy, research from the University of Arizona has found that some couples are better prepared to cope with financial stress than others. [More]

Health authorities have emphasised the importance of social distancing to keep the community safe from COVID19, but for some, the social isolation can be challenging. But new research from the University of Buffalo suggests that there are other ways of fulfilling social needs without being physically close to others. [More]

Experts around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for COVID19. But there is a group of people who are unlikely to sign up: vaccine skeptics. Vaccine skepticsm has become increasingly widespread, and researchers from Texas Tech University may have found the reason why. [More]

Being less agreeable in old age may be protective against Alzheimer’s disease. Using brain imaging and psycho-cognitive evaluations, researchers from the University of Geneva and the University Hospitals of Geneva found that certain personality traits in elderly people were protective against neuro-degeneration. [More]

Older refugees can experience high rates of depression even decades after immigrating. A study that looked at Canadians between the ages of 45 and 85 found that refugees were 70 per cent more likely to experience depression when compared with those born in Canada, even if they immigrated decades earlier. [More]