Blog Posts: Mental wellbeing

In recent months, voices have been raised calling for a national strategy to support mass grieving and bereavement during the current and future pandemics. But what programs and services could be put in place to support those who must cope with the loss of a loved one during pandemics?

Can diet impact mental well-being? Emerging evidence gives us some food for thought.

Some evidence highlights the potential benefits of laughter and humor interventions, as well as the need for more research on their use.

While at home, keep all facets of your health and well-being a priority! What benefits do Pilates and yoga have to offer?

Research shows that online support services can be a beneficial alternative for caregivers.

Food not only nourishes the body, it helps maintain or rebuild the individual and social identity of older adults. Deteriorating health or any other change due to aging threatens the social context of food activities, which can lead to social isolation and an identity crisis.

Though most people gamble safely for entertainment, there is an emerging concern about gambling-related harms among some individuals and communities. There is a need to consider what changes could be made to reduce gambling-related harms and better support those at risk of problem-gambling behaviours.

Depression is a difficult road to travel. Research has shown that psychological and educational approaches may be effective in helping to prevent it.

Immersive technologies are developing at great speed and have spread to many areas. While some envision that immersive technologies could alleviate social isolation and loneliness, the evidence remains limited and some experts have expressed concerns that they may actually exacerbate social isolation.

Many older adults have a fear of falling. Cognitive behavioural therapy may help people overcome this fear by reducing negative thoughts about falls and shifting their focus to what they can do to curb their falls risk.

Companion animals and animal-assisted therapies can improve the physical and mental health of older adults, and animal-assisted therapies appear promising to alleviate loneliness among older adults.

Arts have beneficial effects on patients, but also on community-dwelling older adults. It may be time to wake the artist inside you.

Exercise can have benefits for women who have gone through breast cancer treatment. But can it prevent breast cancer’s return? Unfortunately, the jury is still out.

Developing activities to promote social activity among older men, especially those who are lonely or socially isolated, is complex. "Men's sheds" can have beneficial effects on mental health and social well-being by allowing men to work, break social isolation and give back to their community.

Many older adults suffer from loneliness, which is often exacerbated by illnesses or the loss of a loved one. Older adults have different strategies for dealing with loneliness, but those around them also need to help break down the walls of solitude.

Music can promote the social well-being of older adults with dementia and their caregivers. Let the sound of music brighten up our homes and communities for the well-being of older adults and their caregivers.

Coping with depression can feel like an uphill battle. In addition to treatments prescribed by your doctor, taking an active role in your treatment through self-care strategies – such as exercise, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and reminiscence therapy – can make a big difference in how you feel.

Greater efforts must ensure the voices of older adults are heard and acted upon when it comes to addressing the problem of abuse.

Psychological and organizational factors at work contribute to early retirements due to disability. These factors need to be recognized and addressed to lessen their influence on workers who leave the workforce earlier than necessary.

Mindfulness may be one way to help control your eating habits and become more physically active.