Religion, psychology share methods for reducing distress, study finds

 Religious people facing life crises rely on emotion-regulation strategies that psychologists also use, a new study finds. 

Read ScienceDaily article here

Read full text article here

Seven in 10 adults are motivated to get healthier in 2021 due to COVID-19

An England-wide survey of over 5,000 adults found that 80% of people aged over 18 have made the decision to change their lifestyle in 2021. Read Government press release here

The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment

 There is a growing body of research on the links between volunteering and wellbeing. This review (co-published with Spirit of 2012, and in partnership with the Institute of Volunteer Research) brings together the most relevant studies. Click here to access King's Fund blog

For Mental Well-Being, Live in Moment But Plan For Future

People who manage to balance living in the moment with planning for the future are best able to weather daily stress without succumbing to negative moods, according to a new study by researchers from North Carolina (NC) State University. Read PsychCentral article here

7 Ways Traveling Can Be Good For Your Mental Health

Read article from The Science Times here

Building resilience: how local partnerships are supporting children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Too many children and young people nationally do not receive the support they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this research, commissioned from Isos Partnership, is to explore some of the factors which are contributing to this nationally challenging context. Read King's Fund blog and report here

Ramblers Walking for Health

Walking for Health targets older adults and those with long-term health conditions to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing. Read government case study here

Mental health and wellbeing: JSNA toolkit

Links mental health data, policy and knowledge to help planners understand needs within the local population and assess local services. Click here to link to government guidance

We are in the midst of a mental health crisis – advice about jogging and self-care is not enough

Physical exercise can help, but we need to understand what it is about the way we live that makes so many of us ill. Read newspaper article here

Individual And Local Area Factors Associated With Self-Reported Wellbeing,

The findings reported here are from an analysis of data from the Understanding Society Survey (USS) which follows a large sample of people from across Britain over time. This study was undertaken to examine questions likely to be especially relevant for those working in the field of public health intelligence, using small area statistics to identify localities where interventions may particularly need to be targeted in order to reduce inequalities in wellbeing across England. Click here for link to the report from the King's Fund blog

Advice For Introverts: Faking Extraversion Could Make You Happier

Emerging research may provide sage advice for introverts as investigators discovered “forced extraversion” for a prolonged time period improves well-being. So, for introverts, faking it as an extravert or forcing yourself to be an extravert can make you happier. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Perseverance toward life goals can fend off depression, anxiety, panic disorders

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. To read ScienceDaily article click here

Interventions to improve mental wellbeing and resilience in children and young people living in poverty: an Evidence Synthesis

This evidence-synthesis report aims to investigate the effectiveness of family- and community-based interventions in promoting mental wellbeing and resilience in children and young people (CYP) aged 7-18 years living in poverty. This rapid review was produced by the Risk Factors Intelligence’s Evidence Synthesis Team. Click here to link to full text (look for online resource in catalogue record)

Positive Well-Being May Buffer Against Depression in Newly Employed Adults with Autism

A new study shows that positive well-being — a sense of happiness and life satisfaction — is linked to a lower risk of developing depression in newly employed adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 12 months follow-up.  Click here to read further.

Training to Boost Wise Behavior Can Help Those with Schizophrenia

Emerging research suggests training to enhance positive psychological traits, such as wisdom, may promote health and well-being in persons with schizophrenia. Read PsychCentral article here

Setting Realistic Goals Linked to Higher Level of Well-Being

A new study shows that people who set realistic goals can hope for  better well-being. The key for later satisfaction is whether the life goals are seen as attainable, according to psychologists at the University of Basel in Switzerland. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Seeing Yourself as Busy Can Bolster Self-Control

In a new study, researchers from the global business school INSEAD find that although busyness is often thought of as a modern-day affliction, it can help delay gratification and provide long-term benefits. Read PsychCentral article here

Better mental health: JSNA toolkit

The release of this toolkit signals the National Mental Health Intelligence Network’s (NMHIN) intent to support the development of mental health and wellbeing joint strategic needs assessments (JSNAs). It has been developed for those seeking to understand the breadth and complexity of mental health issues in their area, such as JSNA and mental health leads in local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). It helps people to consider factors that affect mental health and wellbeing and to identify some of the key data, information and knowledge that local areas may use to build a picture of need.

Mental health services: cost-effective commissioning

Public Health have published return on investment resources to support local commissioners in designing and implementing mental health and wellbeing support services.

Wellbeing in mental health: applying All Our Health

Evidence and guidance from Public Health England to enable healthcare professionals to make improvements against wider factors that affect health and wellbeing in mental health.