February 5, 2018
by Patricia Tomasi
Researchers are wondering whether our biology is affected as an infant due to adverse early life experiences. The first study of its kind examining biological embedding is a Canadian study also looking at an intervention program to prevent children from developing mental illnesses as an adult.
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February 2, 2018
by Tracey Block
Trying to make a decision between two or more choices can cause anxiety, avoidance and procrastination. Even when faced with enough facts or details to make an educated decision, the task can seem daunting. For years, researchers have investigated the roles of the conscious and unconscious minds in decision-making, and some are beginning to believe "sleeping on it" may prove to be helpful in reducing the stress some people experience when faced with making choices.
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January 28, 2018
by Tracey Block
The behaviors characteristic of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) include impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattentiveness. But these symptoms are characteristic of a long list of other possible physical and mental health issues--such as vision or hearing loss, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. As the number of cases in North American children continues to rise, researchers are beginning to wonder if ADHD is too often being misdiagnosed.
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January 25, 2018
by Tracey Block
While aiming high and setting goals is encouraged in 21st century society, for many, perfectionism has become an obsession. Recent research indicates Millennials, in particular, are suffering challenges to their mental and physical well-being in the pursuit of ultimate perfection in education, professional work and in their own physical images. Can anything be done to help reduce the burden young people feel in their quest for the perfect life?
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January 23, 2018
by Tracey Block
Recent clinical trials using psychedelic drugs like MDMA to treat patients suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have shown some amazing results. With final testing now underway, the "psychedelic renaissance" may be on the horizon, potentially providing currently illegal drugs with new respect in the field of mental health care.
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January 9, 2018
by Tracey Block
The human sense of smell is well recognized for its attachment to memory in the brain. The smell of cookies baking, the scent of a perfume or the bouquet of fresh-cut grass can quickly take one back to a past time or place. But now, researchers are realizing human olfactory cues can have incredible effects on stress levels, mood and overall mental health.
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January 5, 2018
by Tracey Block
A recent video posting by an American social media celebrity has caused a public uproar. But researchers and mental health professionals are asking whether the finger pointing and outrage should be less about the people and technology producing the content—and more about facing the facts their videos illuminate: that suicides are still occurring at alarming rates.
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December 25, 2017
by Tracey Block
The last week of December rushes past in a whirlwind of remembering gifts, managing party schedules, and recalling recipe ingredients. Sometimes in the haste of it all, we forget what is most important--our mental health. Professionals suggest managing mental health issues as well in the last week of December as in the other 51 weeks of the year. How can you prevent one week of festivities from undoing all your hard work?
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December 21, 2017
by Tracey Block
Would you go to a mental health professional who publicly admits a personal struggle with mental illness? Researchers are finding that as long as the professional is stable, patients are buoyed by a therapist's example of success. Do counsellors with first-hand knowledge of mental illness elicit better results in their patients?
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December 19, 2017
by Tracey Block
We are well aware of how important exercise is for our bodies. But how can we keep our psyches in shape? Researchers are finding there really is a connection between mind and body. Exercise may not only improve mood and reduce anxiety, but it just may help prevent and treat some mental illnesses.
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