Mental health & wellbeing
Daily research and news on mental health, therapy, psychology and wellbeing, summarised in plain English with the original sources.
Latest: Saturday, 7 November 2026
A large pooled analysis found that mental health benefits from green spaces rise and then level off, and that how often you visit matters more than how long you stay. Two smaller studies suggest rising food prices are linked to worse wellbeing in US households, and that students in ten countries often cope alone because of their surroundings, not only personal choice. A study from rural China shows how a community mental health programme for mothers worked in practice; only the green space finding is strong enough to take note of, and none of this is treatment advice.
Best 5
- Regular short visits to green spaces may matter more than long ones: Pooling a very large body of research, scientists found mental health benefits from green space rise with use and then level off. How often people visit mattered more than total time spent. It suggests realistic weekly targets for time outdoors rather than 'more is always better'.
- Small trial tests MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety: A pilot trial of 20 adults compared MDMA-assisted therapy with a waiting list for social anxiety disorder. It looked at safety, response and how the therapy might work. It adds early data to a debated field, but the trial is too small and open-label to draw conclusions.
- Students who handle mental health alone are shaped by their surroundings: Interviews with 261 college students in ten countries found that coping alone was driven by relationships, campus life and wider society, not just personal preference. Getting students to seek help may mean changing their surroundings, not only their attitudes.
- Rising food prices linked to money strain and poorer wellbeing: A US household survey found food price inflation went along with more financial strain, less food and worse mental wellbeing. Effects varied with how households coped. Cost-of-living pressure is a mental health issue for many UK households too.
Top stories
- Regular short visits to green spaces may matter more than long ones Pooling a very large body of research, scientists found mental health benefits from green space rise with use and then level off. How often people visit mattered more than total time spent. It suggests realistic weekly targets for time outdoors rather than 'more is always better'. Evidence: Strong · Original source: OpenAlex
- Rising food prices linked to money strain and poorer wellbeing A US household survey found food price inflation went along with more financial strain, less food and worse mental wellbeing. Effects varied with how households coped. Cost-of-living pressure is a mental health issue for many UK households too. Evidence: Limited · Original source: OpenAlex
- Students who handle mental health alone are shaped by their surroundings Interviews with 261 college students in ten countries found that coping alone was driven by relationships, campus life and wider society, not just personal preference. Getting students to seek help may mean changing their surroundings, not only their attitudes. Evidence: Limited · Original source: OpenAlex
- How a village-run mental health programme helped mothers in rural China Interviews with 60 caregivers and facilitators showed how a programme run by non-specialists worked in practice. It also identified the main barriers to delivering it. Programmes led by trained community members could widen access where therapists are scarce. Evidence: Limited · Original source: OpenAlex
Archive
- Saturday, 7 November 2026: Regular short visits to green spaces may matter more than long ones