Our news
-
Pastimes (hobbies) and Mental Wellbeing
Leisure activities or pastimes or hobbies are activities outside of our obligations to family and friends, outside of our job, and outside of our requirements as members of society. Pastimes can benefit our mental health. Pastimes (hobbies) contribute to our mental wellbeing. Let’s explore further. Evidence for Pastimes (hobbies) and Mental Wellbeing I will review…
-
Gardening and Mental Wellbeing
Gardening and Mental Wellbeing A garden is a space where one cultivates plants. Working a garden incorporates many activities. Gardening and mental health partner to improve our lives. Let’s explore the intersection of gardening and mental wellbeing. Why This Matters Mental health conditions are common. According to the Centers for Disease Control (USA CDC), the…
-
Maternal Mental Wellbeing
May 2024 is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Maternal mental wellbeing refers to the mental health of women who are mothers and who have children. Why This Matters Caregivers of children have responsibilities towards their children. Caregivers’ mental health needs are important because their mental health symptoms can affect their ability to be caregivers. Women…
-
Sleep and Mental Wellbeing
May 2024 is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Sleep and mental wellbeing are tightly linked. Let’s explore further. What Happens When We Sleep Sleep is an opportunity for the brain to refresh itself. The rested brain allows the body to function optimally. Sleep is not a waste of time. Russell Foster, PhD, of The University…
-
Cultivating Empathy for Mental Wellbeing
Cultivating Empathy for Mental Wellbeing Empathy affects our mental health positively and possibly negatively. Let’s explore empathy’s impact on mental wellbeing and how cultivating empathy may contribute to mental wellbeing. Empathy Defined Empathy is the ability to sense emotionally and cognitively how other people are experiencing their lives. Emotional empathy relates to experiencing the feelings…
-
Smoking and Mental Wellbeing
Nicotine consumption, often in the form of smoking, is a habit for many people in the world. Smoking and mental health are linked in a bidirectional relationship. Optimizing mental health can benefit from the cessation of smoking to lead to mental wellbeing. Why This Matters According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), in…
-
Motivation and Mental Wellbeing
Motivation and mental wellbeing are linked in a bidirectional relationship. Let’s explore further. What Is Motivation Motivation is the desire to accomplish a goal, complete a task, acquire a skill, secure a comfort, maintain a relationship. I distinguish motivation from motive (reason for doing something) though I have seen dictionary definitions which equate the two…
-
Mental Wellbeing and Poetry
April is National Poetry Month in the USA. If you don’t believe me, check out the website of the American Academy of Poets, filled with resources for all of us (https://poets.org/national-poetry-month). Let’s talk about mental wellbeing and poetry. Why This Matters Mental wellbeing and poetry are good companions. Research on the benefits of poetry is…
-
Driving and Mental Health Medications
Why This Matters Medications prescribed to address mental health symptoms benefit many people. In the USA, adults who can drive do take medications to treat mental health symptoms. Driving and mental health medications are not an uncommon combination. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), data from the National Health Interview Survey, conducted in…