Topic description and stories

Cambridge researchers are advancing understanding of mental illness and wellbeing – and putting this into practice.

Father hugging his son

Young children who are close to their parents are more likely to grow up kind, helpful and ‘prosocial’

09 Oct 2023

Study using data from 10,000 people in the UK found that those who had a closer bond with their parents at age 3 tended to display more socially-...

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Women enjoying sun

Suppressing negative thoughts may be good for mental health after all

20 Sep 2023

The commonly-held belief that attempting to suppress negative thoughts is bad for our mental health could be wrong, a new study from scientists at...

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A group of people standing around a table with plates of food

Healthy lifestyle can help prevent depression – and new research may explain why

11 Sep 2023

A healthy lifestyle that involves moderate alcohol consumption, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, healthy sleep and frequent social...

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Statue of a figure hugging its knees

Experts call for urgent mental health support for people living with long term autoimmune diseases

26 Jul 2023

More than half of patients with auto-immune conditions experience mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, yet the majority are rarely...

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Serene creative business people meditating in office

In-person mindfulness courses help improve mental health for at least six months

10 Jul 2023

Adults who voluntarily take part in mindfulness courses are less likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression for at least six months...

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Students in the classroom

Helping adolescents to feel competent and purposeful – not just happy – may improve grades

06 Jul 2023

Study of 600 teenagers suggests that having stronger self-awareness and sense of purpose may raise GCSE Maths scores "by a couple of grades".

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Girl reading a book

Reading for pleasure early in childhood linked to better cognitive performance and mental wellbeing in adolescence

28 Jun 2023

Children who begin reading for pleasure early in life tend to perform better at cognitive tests and have better mental health when they enter...

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Imaging of the Supplementary Motor Area (left) and the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (right) from the study

Chemical imbalance in the forebrain underpins compulsive behaviour and OCD

27 Jun 2023

Neuroscientists say that the findings are a “major piece of the puzzle” in understanding OCD, and could open up new lines of treatment.

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Teenager sitting near graffiti

Problems with ‘pruning’ brain connections linked to adolescent mental health disorders

24 Apr 2023

Problems with the brain’s ability to ‘prune’ itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during...

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Angry boy on stairs

Harsh discipline increases risk of children developing lasting mental health problems

31 Mar 2023

Parents who frequently exercise harsh discipline with young children are putting them at significantly greater risk of developing lasting mental...

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Humanoid QT robot and toy-like Misty robot

Robots can help improve mental wellbeing at work – as long as they look right

15 Mar 2023

Robots can be useful as mental wellbeing coaches in the workplace – but perception of their effectiveness depends in large part on what the robot...

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Would you prefer a four-day working week?

21 Feb 2023

Working a four-day week boosts employee wellbeing while preserving productivity, according to research on a major six-month trial in the UK.

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