Research finds that people with substance-use problems who read a message describing addiction as a disease are less likely to report wanting to engage in effective therapies, compared to those who read a message that addiction behaviors are subject to change.

Adults who had close contact with natural spaces during their childhood could have better mental health than those who had less contact, according to a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.

Stigma is the main reason why elite athletes with mental health issues don't seek the help they need, finds a summary of the available evidence. But a poor understanding of mental illness, busy schedules, and gender stereotyping also play their part, the findings suggest.

Mental illness affects up one in three elite athletes every year. The elite sports culture, with its heavy training demands and constant drive to improve performance, only serve to heighten the risk, the evidence suggests.

Twitter users with depression and anxiety were found to be more likely to post pictures with lower aesthetic values and less vivid colors, particularly images in grayscale, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn Medicine. Additionally, they found that users tended to suppress positive emotions rather than outwardly display more negative emotions, such as keeping a straight face instead of outright frowning, in their profile pictures. 

Recently, many medical researchers have pushed for a greater understanding of poop, and have made some startling discoveries. Many of our health problems are related to damaged or missing gut bacteria; the solution may lie in transplanting healthy bacteria into a "sick" person. Listen to this podcast to learn more about fecal transplants (20 minutes)!

A machine learning algorithm can detect signs of anxiety and depression in the speech patterns of young children, potentially providing a fast and easy way of diagnosing conditions that are difficult to spot and often overlooked in young people. If undiagnosed, they can lead to an increased risk of substance abuse and suicide later in life.

People who don't give up on their goals (or who get better over time at not giving up on their goals) and who have a positive outlook appear to have less anxiety and depression and fewer panic attacks, according to a study of thousands of Americans over the course of 18 years. Surprisingly, a sense of control did not have an effect on the mental health of participants across time.

Yup. Me. And 7 other provincial peer support & lived experience (patient)/family (caregiver) advisers/advocates on Monday April 8th 2019.  It was very exciting to have a full 90 minutes with Hon.

From the Income Security Advocacy Centre http://incomesecurity.org/

APRIL 11, 2019

– Massive Cuts to Legal Aid Funding Also Announced –

We all have a remedy -- our favourite song or a piece of chocolate -- for lifting our spirits when we're in a bad mood. Rather than focusing on ways to make ourselves feel better, a team of researchers suggests wishing others well.

The researchers compared three technique involving looking at people and focusing on what they see on the outside.