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

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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Person using an espresso machine

Hospitality and real estate sectors have highest rates of common mental health problems

14 Feb 2023

Mental health problems such as depression are most common in the hospitality and real estate sectors, but – at least prior to the COVID-19 pandemic...

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Taking care of mental health

09 Feb 2023

Psychiatrist, Professor of Neurotechnology and 'Enterprising Mind', Sabine Bahn has founded two companies both with the aim of helping people with...

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Childhood mental health problems resulting from early-life adversity drive poorer cognitive performance in adolescence, study suggests

08 Feb 2023

Early-life adversity has long-term effects on children’s mental health, which in turn affects cognitive functioning as teenagers, say researchers...

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Man looking out of window

Scientists explain emotional ‘blunting’ caused by common antidepressants

23 Jan 2023

Scientists have worked out why common anti-depressants cause around a half of users to feel emotionally ‘blunted’. In a study published today, they...

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