Mental health

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

Photo of two people sitting at a wooden table each holding a mug, with a blurred outdoor background.

Psychotherapy

idea

Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up

Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across

by Kathryn Gordon

Photo of a woman walking past a mural of large teeth and lips on a brick wall.

Hallucinations and delusions

idea

If you hear voices, here are some empowering ways to respond

Hearing voices isn’t always a problem – but if they’re stressful or frightening, it is possible to regain a sense of control

by Mark Hayward

Two people holding mugs of tea at a round wooden table, one wearing a scarf, blurred green background.

Psychotherapy

guide

Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up

Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across

by Kathryn Gordon

Illustration of a young woman with a bob haircut, red skin and two different coloured eyes. She holds her hands up to her cheeks.

Mental health

film

Fixating on her body, a woman grapples with strange distortions of the self

Directed by Chenghua Yang

Photo of a hand using a smartphone with a city street in the background, creating a double exposure effect.

Technology and media

idea

What I learned from sharing my private self with an AI journal

‘Quantified self’ apps analyse our physical and behavioural data. Now, AI journals want to access our emotional lives too

by Angela Chen

Trauma and PTSD

idea

The shadows cast by childhood abuse and neglect are not the same

Unravelling the pathways from different forms of childhood maltreatment to mental illness could lead to better treatments

by Anne Alkema & Marco Boks

Photo of a person walking past a mural of large, realistic teeth and lips on a wall, with the mural dominating the background.

Hallucinations and delusions

guide

If you hear voices, here are some empowering ways to respond

Hearing voices isn’t always a problem – but if they’re stressful or frightening, it is possible to regain a sense of control

by Mark Hayward

Illustration of a person in a bathtub, their head covered by vibrant, multicoloured flowers, against a pink-tiled background.

Bipolar disorder

film

What’s it like to feel betrayed by your brain? A memoir of bipolar disorder

Directed by Melanie Cura Daball

Photo of a man in a suit and bowler hat holding a microphone performing on stage with spotlights in the background.

Laughter and comedy

idea

Absurdist comedy is uniquely brilliant at conveying human pain

On stage as Mr Fruit Salad, I’ve seen how the bizarre and ridiculous can convey deep meaning in a way that resonates

by Joz Norris

Silhouette of a man by a window in a dim room with a ring light laptop and papers on the table, photo.

Mental health

idea

Why we’re hopeful about mental health videos on TikTok

People are broadcasting their psychological self-diagnoses on TikTok. Some experts are worried, but we see an opportunity

by Elliot Jurist & Julia Jurist

Photo of nine matches in a row, progressing from unused to completely burnt.

Mental health

guide

How to recover from burnout

Feeling worn down, checked out, or bitter about work? The answer is not to ‘just work harder’. Try these steps instead

by Debbie Sorensen

Close-up of a woman wearing a flight helmet with a microphone, looking ahead with a focused expression.

Mental health

film

Denise finds a hard-earned freedom in Colorado’s alpine skies

Directed by Lindsey Hagen