Research on the role of self-compassion and self-criticism on academic burn-out.
Comparing ourselves to others who have more than we have or who are doing better than we are, without questioning factors that might account for the difference, can increase feelings of inadequacy.
This qualitative study by Jensen et al. (2023) explores how engineering undergraduates experience and understand stress within their unique academic culture. Participants described their experiences related to stress, shared norms, and expectations students have pertaining to stress and mental health.
Overview of research on the impact of cold on mental health.
Research on how forest bathing impacts undergraduate student well-being
Research on how interacting with nature impacts well-being
Do regular breaks really reduce fatigue and increase productivity? A systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers at the West University of Timișoara, Timișoara, Romania suggests they can.
Research on the use and impacts of generative AI is still in its early stages. While there are many well-placed concerns about the use of generative AI chatbots to support well-being, preliminary qualitative research from King’s College London, UK and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard Medical School, USA, reported several positive impacts, including better relationships and emotional healing from trauma and loss.
Losing someone or something we hold dear can be an incredibly challenging experience. Whether it’s the passing of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or the loss of a cherished possession, the feelings of grief and sadness that accompany such events can be overwhelming. Grief is something we all face, but don’t often talk about (Jakoby, 2014). Although grief can be difficult to understand, it is important to know that grief is a normal developmental process that humans go through when faced with either traumatic loss (e.g. a death), ambiguous loss (e.g. entering a new phase of life such as starting university /a new job, or immigrating to a new country), or symbolic loss (e.g. loss of a dream or goal) (Testoni et al., 2020).
Care farming, which uses farming activities as therapy, provides therapeutic benefits by promoting responsibility towards animals and the land and often integrates mental health treatment within social, stigma-free settings. A 2017 review by Gorman and Cacciatore found that care farming can benefit those experiencing psychological distress, suggesting it as a potential non-medicated support for individuals dealing with traumatic grief.