Bullying in childhood: cause or consequence of mental health problems? #AntiBullyingWeek

Educating children about early mental health difficulties and reducing stigma may help to reduce the risk of children with depressive symptoms or ADHD being bullied.

Stefan Brugger publishes his debut elf blog on a recent study, which looks at the role of vulnerability and resilience in relation to mental health and bullying in childhood.

Today marks the start of #AntiBullyingWeek, so look out for lots of activity around this theme on social media.

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Brief behavioural therapy for children and adolescents with anxiety and depression

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Mona Jones publishes her debut elf blog on a recent RCT of brief behavioural therapy for paediatric anxiety and depression in primary care.

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Are digital tools the answer to improving employee wellbeing and effectiveness? #WorldMentalHealthDay

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It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay today and the theme this year is promoting awareness of mental health in the workplace.

We’re getting in on the act with Chris O’Sullivan looking in detail at a recent systematic review of web-based psychological interventions delivered in the workplace, to improve employee wellbeing and effectiveness.

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Serious games for mental health: you cannot be serious!

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Sasha Danilina is encouraged by the results of the first systematic review with meta-analysis of serious games for mental health, which asks: are they accessible, feasible and effective?

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Is mental malaise the psychological equivalent of obesity?

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Stan Kutcher reflects on a recently published briefing paper entitled: mental ill-health among children of the new century, which concluded that one in four 14 year old girls had self-reported “high symptoms of depression”.

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cCBT for people with learning disabilities: Pesky gNATs #MHNR2017

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Leen Vereenooghe presents the results of an RCT of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for people with learning disabilities, featuring the computer game “Pesky gNATs: The Feel Good Island”.

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Genetics of depression: risk factors and protective factors

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Marcus Munafò reports on a new genome-wide association study that identifies 44 risk variants and helps us to further refine the genetic architecture of major depressive disorder.

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Physical activity and depression: new review confirms high levels of sedentary behaviour

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Tayla McCloud summarises a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, which found that more than two-thirds of people with depression did not comply with the recommendation of 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

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Does cannabis influence depression?

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Rob Allison and Ian Hamilton summarise a recent retrospective twin cohort study that explores the links between cannabis use and depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

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CBT versus counselling for depression: it ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it

This review focuses on medication, but ignores psychosexual treatment for sexual dysfunction for people with serious mental illness.

Mark Smith channels Ella Fitzgerald whilst reviewing evidence from the 2nd UK National Audit of psychological therapies, which compares CBT and generic counselling in the treatment of depression.

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