A year ago, a 24-year-old woman with depression was given an unusual prescription by her doctor: a weekly swim in cold water. The patient, Sarah, was filmed as part of the BBC documentary series The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs, presented by Christoffer van Tulleken, a doctor and researcher at University College London.

Money has poured into Alzheimer's research, but until very recently not much of it went toward investigating infection in causing dementia. A million dollar prize may lead more scientists to try.

Ever wonder why some people seem to feel less pain than others? A study conducted at Wake Forest School of Medicine may have found one of the answers—mindfulness. "Mindfulness is related to being aware of the present moment without too much emotional reaction or judgment," said the study's lead author, Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the medical school, part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. "We now know that some people are more mindful than others, and those people seemingly feel less pain."

Smartphones and social media are blamed, but moderate use can be beneficial

Patient complaints are pushing up suicide rates among doctors, a leading medic has said as it emerged that female doctors are up to four times more likely to take their own lives than those in other professions. The number of physicians ending their own lives is on the rise, Dr Clare Gerada has warned as she said that one of the main reasons seems to be that patients are now encouraged to make complaints which doctors find "shatter their sense of self" even when they are trivial or unjustified.

The Netherlands is pioneering new ways to treat dementia, with sensory aids, soothing music and other tools to calm and nurture patients.

Refugee children on Nauru are facing an unprecedented health crisis and are at a real risk of death, three whistleblowers have warned. One healthcare worker recently employed on Nauru told 7.30 some of the children are using Google to research ways to die. Leaked documents compiled by immigration workers and obtained by 7.30 reveal a shocking spate of recent self-harm incidents.

That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… It’s an adage that’s backed up in part by studies of people who’ve been through a trauma, such as a car accident or a robbery. While it’s true that around 7-8 per cent of trauma survivors develop chronic PTSD and experience persistent intrusive, unwanted memories of the event, most people recover quickly, and some even report better mental health than they had before (generally when the trauma has been moderate, rather than severe).

About 65% of patients with schizophrenia experience verbal auditory hallucinations, which are characterized by harsh voices that emanate from body-less “others.” Usually, these “others” fit a common profile – they're domineering, derogatory and unremittingly hostile, making an already-burdensome condition even more painful for those who suffer from it.

Poor mental health may cost businesses nearly as much as physical health problems, according to researchers. A single extra poor mental health day in a month was associated with a 1.84 percent drop in the per capita real income growth rate, resulting in $53 billion less total income each year.

He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after the Iraq War. Thanks to MDMA, Jonathan Lubecky finally feels like he’s recovering.

The Nordic countries top the polls as the happiest in the world, but the assumption that life in Scandinavia is all bicycles and big smiles disguises the sadness of a significant minority of young people, it has emerged. Among those in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland who do not say that life is good, some of the largest numbers are among the young – and particularly young women. While the reasons will vary from one individual and one country to another, it is thought that stress, loneliness and feeling under pressure to succeed may be playing a large part in their unhappiness.

Sometimes people kill themselves because their lives lack meaning.

Human herpes virus 6 and 7 were found in Alzheimer's-affected brains at levels up to twice as high as in those without Alzheimer's, the scientists reported Thursday.

Neuroscientist Barbara Bendlin studies the brain as Alzheimer’s disease develops. When she goes home, she tries to leave her work in the lab. But one recent research project has crossed into her personal life: She now takes sleep much more seriously. Bendlin works at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, home to the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention, a study of more than 1,500 people who were ages 40 to 65 when they signed up. Members of the registry did not have symptoms of dementia when they volunteered, but more than 70 percent had a family history of Alzheimer’s disease.

One in three adults is affected by loneliness. It's time for us to take a risk and let others into our lives, says Olivia Remes, PhD candidate at the Cambridge Institute of Public Health, writing for The Conversation. Loneliness is a common condition affecting around one in three adults. It damages your brain, immune system, and can lead to depression and suicide. Loneliness can also increase your risk of dying prematurely as much as smoking can – and even more so than obesity.

Bill Gates believes we need a better way of diagnosing Alzheimer’s before we’re able to slow the progression of the disease.

To fight a rising tide of depression and suicide, psychiatrists need to do more than just fill patients up with pills writes James S Gordon, a psychiatrist

Clinicians treating teenagers with gender dysphoria, the teens themselves, and their parents, are faced with a dilemma – puberty suppressing drugs and hormonal treatments will likely make it easier for the adolescent to gender transition in due course, and the earlier that process begins, the more effective it is likely to be. However, intervening earlier comes with a greater risk that the teen may later de-transition...

Our floodlit society has made sleep deprivation a lifestyle. But we know more than ever about how we rest—and how it keeps us healthy.

How the veterinary anesthetic and recreational drug saved me from suicidal thoughts.

Approximately 102 million Americans work in the service industry, according to the Pew Research Center, filling critical positions in restaurants, salons and transportation. In many cases, these jobs offer base pay at rates up to 71 percent lower than federal minimum wage, with the expectation that tips, which are highly unpredictable, will make up the difference.

Montreal model and artist Rick Genest, also known as Zombie Boy, has died, police sources have told Radio-Canada. Genest was 32. Genest came to the public's attention after tattooing his body from head to toe, including images of a skull and brain on his head. He holds a Guinness World Record for most insect tattoos (176) and another for most human bone tattoos (139).

Social isolation can be as unhealthy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and loneliness affects nearly half of Americans—but few organizations are addressing this critical psychosocial risk factor. Here are three strategies, shared by leading organizations, to address the epidemic.

Children face a lower risk of suicidal behavior if their parents are religious, according to new research published in JAMA Psychiatry. The study found that parents’ belief in the importance of religion was associated with a lower risk for suicidal behavior by their children, regardless of a child’s own beliefs.

A new study by Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill in the journal Psychological Bulletin finds perfectionism is on the rise. The authors, both psychologists, conclude that “recent generations of young people perceive that others are more demanding of them, are more demanding of others, and are more demanding of themselves."

I often find myself scrolling through media outlets–like Twitter, for instance–shaking my head and breathing long sighs of disappointment when I come across posts that seemingly point the finger at video games for the world’s mental health problems. The vast majority of research on the effects of “gaming” has been on its negative impact: namely, their potential harm related to violence, addiction, and depression. In this article, I’d prefer to stay away from the news that we’ve seen lately on TV...

New research suggests that having a firmly held religious belief can provide a sense of increased purpose in life among those who are socially disconnected. The findings, which were published in the Journal of Personality, indicate that religion can be one way that individuals cope with the reduced sense purpose in life that is associated with loneliness.

The number of dementia cases is predicted to more than double in the next three decades.

Its passing will not be mourned

I noticed how much volunteering was helping with my anxiety and stress, and there’s science to back it up.

Tyler Haire was locked up at 16. A Mississippi judge ordered that he undergo a mental exam. What happened next is a statewide scandal.

In this extract from his new book, Johann Hari, who took antidepressants for 14 years, calls for a new approach

Teens who were severely bullied as children by peers are at higher risk of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "Our findings showed a general tendency, in about 15% of the children, of being exposed to the most severe levels of victimization from the beginning of their education until the transition to high school," writes Dr. Marie-Claude Geoffroy, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, with coauthors.

The country that put the starch in “stiff upper lip” has made companionship, conversation and human contact a national priority. On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced the creation of a new ministerial portfolio in her Cabinet: combating loneliness.