Science Focus Book Club: Further reading on mental health and wellbeing

Science Focus Book Club: Further reading on mental health and wellbeing

What causes mental health problems such as anxiety and depression? What is mindfulness, and is there any real benefit? Read stories on mental health and wellbeing here while taking part in July's Science Focus Book Club.


Living by the coast could improve mental health © Victoria Jones/PA

Science Focus

Living by the coast could improve mental health

10/1/2019
Living near the sea could support better mental health in England’s poorest communities, according to the study.
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Raising awareness of mental health is all well and good, but the hows and whys are important too © Getty Images

Science Focus

Raising awareness of mental health is all well and good, but the hows and whys are important too

10/11/2019
It’s good that there are now many official campaigns dedicated to raising awareness of the fact that mental health can go wrong, but why is it so necessary, and often so difficult, to raise such awareness in the first place?
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Is mindfulness good for you? © Getty Images

Science Focus

Is mindfulness good for you?

10/22/2015
Mindfulness is the new fad for mental health, BBC Science Focus weighs up its effectiveness.
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Anthony David: Why is there still such stigma around mental health? © Getty Images

Science Focus

Anthony David: Why is there still such stigma around mental health?

7/1/2020
Neuropsychiatrist Professor Anthony David talks about why mental health stigma exists and whether it’s getting any better.
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Benefits of cold water swimming: Why an icy dip is good for your mental and physical health © Adam Gale

Science Focus

Cold water swimming: Why an icy dip is good for your mental and physical health

7/24/2020
Many people swear by the benefits of cold water swimming, and scientists think that they might be on to something.
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What are the most successful therapies for depression? © iStock

Science Focus

What are the most successful therapies for depression?

12/8/2015
There’s no simple answer to treating depression because individual experience, and therefore success of treatments, depends on many factors.
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Meditation leaves me feeling more stressed. What am I doing wrong? © Getty Images

Science Focus

Meditation leaves me feeling more stressed. What am I doing wrong?

6/2/2020
Ommm…Arrrgh. Not everyone has positive experiences practicing meditation.
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Eco-anxiety: How does the human mind deal with existential threats? © Getty Images

Science Focus

Eco-anxiety: How does the human mind deal with existential threats?

12/1/2019
From politics to climate change, there’s a lot in the news to cause existential angst at the moment. Is it possible to think helpfully about these issues or are they too big?
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Getting into a ‘flow’ state while playing Tetris can help to combat anxiety © Getty Images

Science Focus

Getting into a ‘flow’ state while playing Tetris can help to combat anxiety

11/27/2018
Playing on Tetris can lead to a calm state of ‘flow’. We bet the same can’t be said of Red Dead Redemption.
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Regular yoga practice may reduce symptoms of depression © Getty Images

Science Focus

Regular yoga practice may reduce symptoms of depression

5/19/2020
The effects were most noticeable among those with depression and schizophrenia, researchers said.
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