Perspectives and controversies

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

Evaluating therapies History and philosophy of mental health History of psychology and psychiatry Law and mental health Mental health across cultures Mind-body interactions Socioeconomics of mental health Stigma and taboo Therapeutic relationships

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Trauma and PTSD

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Why it matters that trauma affects women and men differently

They are too often ignored, yet sex differences affect the kind of trauma people experience and the effect it has on them

by Klára Hanáková

An Indigenous Australian man carrying a child on his shoulders walking through bushland observing a ‘cool’ burn (used to control underbrush), with smoke and flames in the background.

Knowledge and reason

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There is knowledge in the land as well as in ourselves

Indigenous Australian knowledge systems understand what Descartes didn’t – the natural world has important things to tell us

by Andrew Kirkpatrick

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Psychotherapy

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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

Various ancient Greek and Roman statue fragments, including busts and limbs, playfully arranged in a circular pattern against a light background.

Anxiety

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Self-honesty is crucial, life is weird – a tale of wisdom gained via panic attacks

Directed by Samira Mian

Green spiky thistle plants with purple flowers against a blurred grey background.

Evaluating therapies

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In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?

A ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality might make sense when striving for change – but don’t confuse discomfort and distress

by Nicholas Van Dam

A blurred black cat jumps on dirt ground in the foreground, with a distant statue of Pope John Paul II with arms outstretched against the sky in the background

Values and beliefs

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Cultural taboos arise from a basic feature of the human mind

Unquestioned community rules on marriage, dining and even black cats often stem from our hunger to explain random events

by Kevin (Ze) Hong

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Food and drink

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How to maintain a healthy gut

With a few lifestyle and dietary changes, you can protect your gut microbiome, boost your immunity and improve your mood

by Vincent Ho

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

Psychotherapy

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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

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Difficult emotions

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Feeling nothing can be as devastating as feeling too much

Emotional ‘emptiness’ is a damaging, underexplored phenomenon. Better understanding it could help steer people to fulfilment

by Christopher J Hopwood

Abstract painting of two figures near a brightly lit doorway with vivid orange and teal tones, interior includes a chair.

Psychotherapy

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How to get ready for therapy

Whatever brings you to a therapist’s office, taking these proactive steps as you begin can help you make the most of it

by Rochelle Frank