Theravive Home

Clinical research has identified strengths and weaknesses in treating mental illness with medication. A focus on art therapy and programs such as ‘Arts on Prescription’ are developing a growing recognition of potential benefits for mental health. And 'Arts for the Blues – A New Creative Psychological Therapy for Depression', recently shared results from a pilot study, reporting positive results of art therapy. Based on this research, I invited experts to provide insight into how art therapy benefits people struggling with mental health concerns. [More]

Experts say cartoons, comics, graphic novels, and other images can be helpful for those struggling from mental health issues in addition to spreading awareness when done correctly. Those who have not experienced a mental health condition in themselves or families and who have not received training find mental health is a difficult concept to understand. [More]

"Getting creative really does boost your mood" was a recent headline based on the BBC Arts Great British Creativity Test, suggesting that creativity can help avoid stress and improve self-development. Some mental health professionals promote creativity in their work with clients and others report benefits from using it personally. [More]

Hackathons traditionally are short term projects with a group of people collaborative on software projects. HackMentalHealth has a different focus. Recently hosting the second annual 24-hour Bay Area mental health hackathon with over 500 attendees, their goal is to positively revolutionize mental health care alongside technology. [More]

Misophonia, a ‘hatred of sound’ is more common than most people realize, affecting approximately 15% of adults. But where can people go where there isn’t noise? Whether visiting a local restaurant or shopping at the grocery store, there is music playing or poor acoustics so it is not easy to find quiet. [More]

In mid-2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the 11th revision of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), adding a disorder that’s of particular interest to gamers: gaming disorder. Earlier this year, Prince Harry wanted the popular game Fortnight banned in the U.K due to its addictive nature [More]

Many people practice the ketogenic diet for the purpose of losing weight, but some report mental health benefits, such as an improvement in symptoms for anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. But clinical research is limited. There are no no listings for ‘mental health’ and ‘ketogenic diet’ on clinicaltrials.gov. However, if ketones impact brain function, why would they not impact mental health? [More]

A recent study found that one social media channel, Pinterest, an image sharing site, is a source of support for people living with chronic pain. Analyzed pins reflected supportive content, both informational and educational. Mental health and social media professionals were invited to comment on the potential positive impact of social media activity for this channel. [More]

A recent JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery article highlighted “Snapchat dysmorphia” where the desire for perfection has crossed the line from playing with a filter for fun to believing plastic surgery is needed with some users experiencing symptoms of Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). [More]

There is some indication that the nature of ASMR may have the potential to assist people with their mental health. But is this a passing trend or could it have a legitimate physiological and therapeutic benefit? [More]