Mental Wellness Initiative Evidence

Below is an initial sampling of research supporting evidence for mental wellness approaches. From nutrition to yoga and sleep – simple wellness practices have been shown to make an impact on mental health. Be sure to check back soon as this list is continuing to grow as the Mental Wellness Initiative develops.

Neuroplasticity and Mental Wellness

  • Costandi, M. (2016). Neuroplasticity. MIT Press.
  • Denes, G. (2016). Neural plasticity across the lifespan. London: Routledge.
  • Diamond, D. (2005). Cognitive, Endocrine and Mechanistic Perspectives on Non-Linear Relationships between Arousal and Brain Function. Nonlinearity in Biology, Toxicology, Medicine, 3/1: nonlin.003.01.0. DOI: 10.2201/nonlin.003.01.001
  • Doidge, N. (2015). The brain’s way of healing. Viking Penguin.
  • Oberman, L., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2013). Changes in plasticity across the lifespan: cause of disease and target for intervention. Progress in Brain Research, 207: 91-120. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63327-9.00016-3
  • Swain, R., Berggren, K., Kerr, A., Patel, A., Peplinski, C., & Sikorski, A. (2012). On Aerobic Exercise and Behavioral and Neural Plasticity. Brain Sciences, 2/4: 709-744. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci2040709
  • Erickson, K., Miller, D., Weinstein, A., Akl, S., & Banducci, S. (2012). Physical activity and brain plasticity in late adulthood: a conceptual and comprehensive review. Ageing Research, 3/1: 6. DOI: 10.4081/ar.2012.e6
  • Engen, H., & Singer, T. (2015). Compassion-based emotion regulation up-regulates experienced positive affect and associated neural networks. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10/9: 1291-1301. DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv008
  • Cutuli, D. (2014). Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression strategies role in the emotion regulation: an overview on their modulatory effects and neural correlates. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 8. DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00175
  • Carcea, I., & Froemke, R. (2013). Cortical Plasticity, Excitatory–Inhibitory Balance, and Sensory Perception. Changing Brains – Applying Brain Plasticity to Advance and Recover Human Ability, 207: 65-90. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63327-9.00003-5
  • Bratman, G., Hamilton, J., Hahn, K., Daily, G., & Gross, J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112/28: 8567-8572. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1510459112
  • Tierney, A., & Kraus, N. (2013). Music Training for the Development of Reading Skills. Changing Brains – Applying Brain Plasticity to Advance and Recover Human Ability, 209-241. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63327-9.00008-4
  • Bengoetxea, H., Ortuzar, N., Bulnes, S., Rico-Barrio, I., Lafuente, J., & Argandoña, E. (2012). Enriched and Deprived Sensory Experience Induces Structural Changes and Rewires Connectivity during the Postnatal Development of the Brain. Neural Plasticity, 2012: 1-10. DOI: 10.1155/2012/305693
  • Müller, P., Rehfeld, K., Schmicker, M., Hökelmann, A., Dordevic, M., Lessmann, V., & Brigadski, T. et al. (2017). Evolution of Neuroplasticity in Response to Physical Activity in Old Age: The Case for Dancing. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 9. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00056
  • Li, B., Wang, Y., Tang, H., & Chen, S. (2017). The role of cognitive activity in cognition protection: from Bedside to Bench. Translational Neurodegeneration, 6/7. DOI: 10.1186/s40035-017-0078-4
  • Tang, Y., Hölzel, B., & Posner, M. (2015). The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16/4: 213-225. DOI: 10.1038/nrn3916
  • Marciniak, R., Sheardova, K., Čermáková, P., Hudeček, D., Šumec, R., & Hort, J. (2014). Effect of Meditation on Cognitive Functions in Context of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00017
  • Travis, F., & Parim, N. (2017). Default mode network activation and Transcendental Meditation practice: Focused Attention or Automatic Self-transcending?. Brain and Cognition, 111: 86-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2016.08.009
  • Grosswald, S., Travis, F., & Stixrud, W. (2011). ADHD, Brain Functioning, and Transcendental Meditation Practice. Mind & Brain, the Journal of Psychiatry, 2/1.
  • Hofmann, S., Grossman, P., & Hinton, D. (2011). Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: Potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review, 31/7: 1126-1132. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2011.07.003
  • Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9/7: 568-578. DOI: 10.1038/nrn2421
  • Gomez-Pinilla, F., & Tyagi, E. (2013). Diet and cognition. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 16/6: 726-733. DOI: 10.1097/mco.0b013e328365aae3
  • Simen, A., Bordner, K., Martin, M., Moy, L., & Barry, L. (2011). Cognitive dysfunction with aging and the role of inflammation. Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease, 2/3: 175-195. DOI: 10.1177/2040622311399145
  • Rea, K., Dinan, T., & Cryan, J. (2016). The microbiome: A key regulator of stress and neuroinflammation. Neurobiology of Stress, 4: 23-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.03.001
  • Ellingsen, D., Leknes, S., Løseth, G., Wessberg, J., & Olausson, H. (2016). The Neurobiology Shaping Affective Touch: Expectation, Motivation, and Meaning in the Multisensory Context. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01986
  • Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (2005). Cortisol Decreases and Serotonin and Dopamine Increase Following Massage Therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 115/10: 1397-1413. DOI: 10.1080/00207450590956459
  • Shaffer, J. (2016). Neuroplasticity and Clinical Practice: Building Brain Power for Health. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01118
  • Thirthalli, J., Rao, M., Varambally, S., Christopher, R., Gangadhar, B., & Naveen, G. (2013). Positive therapeutic and neurotropic effects of yoga in depression: A comparative study. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55/7: 400. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.116313
  • Farzana, F., Ahuja, Y., & Sreekanth, V. (2013). Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Enhancing Brain Plasticity and Promoting Brain Recovery: A Review. Research in Neuroscience, 2/3: 39-49. DOI: 10.5923/j.neuroscience.20130203.02
  • Jessen, N., Munk, A., Lundgaard, I., & Nedergaard, M. (2015). The Glymphatic System: A Beginner’s Guide. Neurochemical Research, 40/12: 2583-2599. DOI: 10.1007/s11064-015-1581-6

Early Life Prevention: the First 1000 Days of Life

  • Stephenson, J., Heslehurst, N., Hall, J., Schoenaker, D., Hutchinson, J., Cade, J., & Poston, L. et al. (2018). Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future health. The Lancet, 391/10132: 1830-1841. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30311-8
  • Fleming, T., Watkins, A., Velazquez, M., Mathers, J., Prentice, A., Stephenson, J., & Barker, M. et al. (2018). Origins of lifetime health around the time of conception: causes and consequences. The Lancet, 391/10132: 1842-1852. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30312-x
  • Barker, M., Dombrowski, S., Colbourn, T., Fall, C., Kriznik, N., Lawrence, W., & Norris, S. et al. (2018). Intervention strategies to improve nutrition and health behaviours before conception. The Lancet, 391/10132: 1853-1864. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30313-1
  • Bhutta, Z., Guerrant, R., & Nelson, C. (2017). Neurodevelopment, Nutrition, and Inflammation: The Evolving Global Child Health Landscape. Pediatrics, 139/Supplement 1: S12-S22. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-2828d
  • Gluckman, P. (2004). Living with the Past: Evolution, Development, and Patterns of Disease. Science, 305/5691: 1733-1736. DOI: 10.1126/science.1095292
  • Bateson, P., Gluckman, P., & Hanson, M. (2014). The biology of developmental plasticity and the Predictive Adaptive Response hypothesis. The Journal of Physiology, 592/11: 2357-2368. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.271460
  • Godfrey, K., Lillycrop, K., Burdge, G., Gluckman, P., & Hanson, M. (2007). Epigenetic Mechanisms and the Mismatch Concept of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Pediatric Research, 61/5 Part 2: 5R-10R. DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e318045bedb
  • West-Eberhard, M. (2003). Developmental plasticity and evolution. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
  • Bateson, P., Barker, D., Clutton-Brock, T., Deb, D., D’Udine, B., Foley, R., & Gluckman, P. et al. (2004). Developmental plasticity and human health. Nature, 430/6998: 419-421. DOI: 10.1038/nature02725
  • Barouki, R., Gluckman, P., Grandjean, P., Hanson, M., & Heindel, J. (2012). Developmental origins of non-communicable disease: Implications for research and public health. Environmental Health, 11/1. DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-11-42
  • Bell, C. (2017). The Epigenomic Analysis of Human Obesity. Obesity, 25/9: 1471-1481. DOI: 10.1002/oby.21909
  • Jimenez-Chillaron, J., Ramon-Krauel, M., Ribo, S., & Diaz, R. (2015). Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of diabetes risk as a consequence of early nutritional imbalances. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 75/01: 78-89. DOI: 10.1017/s0029665115004231
  • Harris, A., & Seckl, J. (2011). Glucocorticoids, prenatal stress and the programming of disease. Hormones and Behavior, 59/3: 279-289. DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.007
  • Gehring, U., Tamburic, L., Sbihi, H., Davies, H., & Brauer, M. (2014). Impact of Noise and Air Pollution on Pregnancy Outcomes. Epidemiology, 25/3: 351-358. DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000000073
  • Yzydorczyk, C., Armengaud, J., Peyter, A., Chehade, H., Cachat, F., Juvet, C., & Siddeek, B. et al. (2017). Endothelial dysfunction in individuals born after fetal growth restriction: cardiovascular and renal consequences and preventive approaches. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 8/04: 448-464. DOI: 10.1017/s2040174417000265
  • Ambeskovic, M., Roseboom, T., & Metz, G. (2017). Transgenerational effects of early environmental insults on aging and disease incidence. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.002
  • Van den Bergh, B., van den Heuvel, M., Lahti, M., Braeken, M., de Rooij, S., Entringer, S., & Hoyer, D. et al. (2017). Prenatal developmental origins of behavior and mental health: The influence of maternal stress in pregnancy. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.07.003
  • Joubert, B., Felix, J., Bakulski, K., Just, A., Breton, C., Reese, S., & Markunas, C. et al. (2018). DNA Methylation in Newborns and Maternal Smoking in Pregnancy: Genome-wide Consortium Meta-analysis. American Journal of Human Genetics, 98/4: 680-696. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.02.019
  • Johansson, H., Svingen, T., Fowler, P., Vinggaard, A., & Boberg, J. (2017). Environmental influences on ovarian dysgenesis — developmental windows sensitive to chemical exposures. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 13/7: 400-414. DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.36
  • Herceg, Z., Ghantous, A., Wild, C., Sklias, A., Casati, L., Duthie, S., & Fry, R. et al. (2017). Roadmap for investigating epigenome deregulation and environmental origins of cancer. International Journal of Cancer, 142/5: 874-882. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31014
  • Pecorelli, S. (2018). The First 1000 Days. 1000-days.org. Retrieved June 5, 2018, from www.1000-days.org

Nutrition & the Brain

Articles & Reports

Books

Research Links

The Gut-Brain Axis

Books

Articles

  • R. Khamsi. Metabolism in Mind: New Insights into the “Gut–Brain Axis” Spur Commercial Efforts to Target It. Nature Medicine 22, 697–700 (2016) doi:10.1038/nm0716-697 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/metabolism-in-mind-new-insights-into-the-gut-brain-axis-spur-commercial-efforts-to-target-it/
  • P. Smith. The tantalizing links between gut microbes and the brain. Nature 526, 312–314 (15 October 2015) doi:10.1038/526312a http://www.nature.com/news/the-tantalizing-links-between-gut-microbes-and-the-brain-1.18557
  • J. F. Cryan & S. M. O’Mahony. The microbiome-gut-brain axis: from bowel to behaviour. Neurogastroenterol Motil (2011) 23, 187–192. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2010.01664.x http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2982.2010.01664.x/abstract
  • Gut bacteria linked to development of Alzheimer’s disease: Mouse data. Nathan Gray, 13-Feb-2017. http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Gut-bacteria-linked-to-development-of-Alzheimer-s-disease-Mouse-data?nocount
  • T. Harach, N. Marungruang, N. Duthilleul, V. Cheatham, K. D. Mc Coy, G. Frisoni, J. J. Neher, F. Fåk, M. Jucker, T. Lasser & T. Bolmont. 2017. Reduction of Abeta amyloid pathology in APPPS1 transgenic mice in the absence of gut microbiota. Scientific Reports | 7:41802 | DOI: 10.1038/srep41802
  • Sherwin E, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Recent developments in understanding the role of the gut microbiota in brain health and disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017 Aug 2. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13416.
  • Alan E. Hoban, Roman M. Stilling, Gerard M. Moloney, Rachel D. Moloney, Fergus Shanahan, Timothy G. Dinan, John F. Cryan and Gerard Clarke. Microbial regulation of microRNA expression in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Microbiome (2017) 5:102 DOI 10.1186/s40168-017-0321-3
  • Lisa M. Christian, Jeffrey D. Galley, Erinn M. Hade, Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, Claire Kamp Dush, Michael T. Bailey. Gut microbiome composition is associated with temperament during early childhood. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2015; 45: 118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.10.018
  • Kang, Dae-Wook, James B. Adams, Ann C. Gregory, Thomas Borody, Lauren Chittick, Alessio Fasano, Alexander Khoruts, et al. 2017. “Microbiota Transfer Therapy Alters Gut Ecosystem and Improves Gastrointestinal and Autism Symptoms: An Open-Label Study.” Microbiome 5 (1): 10.
  • Kirsten Tillisch, Emeran Mayer, Arpana Gupta, Zafar Gill, Rémi Brazeilles, Boris Le Nevé, Johan E.T. van Hylckama Vlieg, Denis Guyonnet, Muriel Derrien, Jennifer S. Labus. Brain structure and response to emotional stimuli as related to gut microbial profiles in healthy women. Psychosomatic Medicine, 2017; 1 DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000493
  • New light on link between gut bacteria and anxiety – BioMed Central
  • Galland Leo, The Gut Microbiome and the Brain. Journal of Medicinal Food. December 2014, Vol. 17, No. 12: 1261-127
  • McVey Neufeld, K., Luczynski, P., Seira Oriach, C., Dinan, T., & Cryan, J. (2016). What’s bugging your teen?—The microbiota and adolescent mental health. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 70: 300-312. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.005
  • Wang, H., & Wang, Y. (2016). Gut Microbiota-brain Axis. Chinese Medical Journal, 129/19: 2373. DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.190667
  • Erny, D., Angelis, A., Jaitin, D., Wieghofer, P., Staszewski, O., David, E., & Keren-Shaul, H. et al. (2018). Gut-brain axis core collection. com. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/collections/dyhbndhpzv
  • Pinto-Sanchez, M., Ford, A., Avila, C., Verdu, E., Collins, S., Morgan, D., & Moayyedi, P. et al. (2015). Anxiety and Depression Increase in a Stepwise Manner in Parallel With Multiple FGIDs and Symptom Severity and Frequency. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 110/7: 1038-1048. DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2015.128
  • Harach, T., Marungruang, N., Duthilleul, N., Cheatham, V., Mc Coy, K., Frisoni, G., & Neher, J. et al. (2017). Reduction of Abeta amyloid pathology in APPPS1 transgenic mice in the absence of gut microbiota. Scientific Reports, 7/1. DOI: 10.1038/srep41802
  • Hoban, A., Stilling, R., Ryan, F., Shanahan, F., Dinan, T., Claesson, M., & Clarke, G. et al. (2016). Regulation of prefrontal cortex myelination by the microbiota. Translational Psychiatry, 6/4: e774-e774. DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.42
  • Hoban, A., Stilling, R., M. Moloney, G., Moloney, R., Shanahan, F., Dinan, T., & Cryan, J. et al. (2017). Microbial regulation of microRNA expression in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Microbiome, 5/1. DOI: 10.1186/s40168-017-0321-3
  • Foster, J., Rinaman, L., & Cryan, J. (2017). Stress & the gut-brain axis: Regulation by the microbiome. Neurobiology of Stress, 7: 124-136. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2017.03.001

Pathogens and Mental Health

Gut Microbes

Throat Microbes

Yeast Infections

Chron’s Disease (More on Microbiota and Candida)

Gut Bacteria & Fatigue

Food Additive Alters Gut Bacteria to Cause Colorectal Cancer:

Inflammation & Mental Health

SLEEP

Meditation

Books

Exercise

Yoga

Dance

  • Bräuninger, I. (2012). The efficacy of dance movement therapy group on improvement of quality of life: A randomized controlled trial. In: Arts in Psychotherapy, Vol. 39 Issue 5.
  • Bräuninger, I. 2014. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, Vol. 9, No. 3, 138–153, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2014.914977
  • Brown S, Martinez MJ & Parsons LM. 2006. The neural basis of human dance. Cereb. Cortex. 16: 1157–1167.
  • Brown S, Parsons LM. 2008 . The neuroscience of dance. Scientific American, July. 78-83.
  • Burzynska AZ, Jiao Y, Knecht AM, Fanning J, Awick EA, Chen T, Gothe N, Voss MW, McAuley E and Kramer AF (2017). White Matter Integrity Declined Over 6-Months, but Dance Intervention Improved Integrity of the Fornix of Older Adults. Front. Aging Neurosci. 9:59. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00059
  • Edwards S. 2016. Dancing and the Brain. In: On The Brain, The Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute Newsletter. http://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/harvard-mahoney-neuroscience-institute/brain-newsletter/and-brain-series/dancing-and-brain
  • Fasullo, L., Lurquin, J. and Bodeker, G. (2017), ‘Reconnecting to the feminine: Transformative effects of Sensual Movement and Dance’, Dance, Movement & Spiritualities, 3: 1+2, pp. 69–88, doi: 10.1386/dmas.3.1-2.69_1
  • Jeong, Y.J., Hong, S.C., Lee, M.S., Park, M.C., Kim, Y.K., Suh, C.M. (2005). Dance movement therapy improves emotional responses and modulates neurohormones in adolescents with mild depression. International Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 115 (12).
  • Karpati FJ, Giacosa C, Foster NE, Penhune VB, HydeKL. 2015. Dance and the brain: a review. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1337. 140–146
  • Mills LJ, Daniluk JC. 2002. Her body speaks: The experience of dance therapy for women survivors of child sexual abuse. Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD
  • Verghese J, Lipton RB, M.D., Katz MJ, Hall CB, Derby CA, Kuslansky G, Ambrose AF, Sliwinski M, Buschke H. Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly. N Engl J Med. 348;25, 2508-2516.
  • Westheimer O,  McRae C, Henchcliffe C, Fesharaki A, Sofya Glazman S,  Ene H, Bodis-Wollner I. 2015. Dance for PD: a preliminary investigation of effects on motor function and quality of life among persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD). J Neural
  • Kathrin Rehfeld, Patrick Müller, Norman Aye, Marlen Schmicker, Milos Dordevic, Jörn Kaufmann, Anita Hökelmann, Notger G. Müller. Dancing or Fitness Sport? The Effects of Two Training Programs on Hippocampal Plasticity and Balance Abilities in Healthy Seniors. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2017; 11 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00305

Nature Therapy

Links

Research

  • James L Oschman, Gaétan Chevalier, and Richard Brown. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015; 8: 83–96. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/#
  • Gaétan Chevalier, Stephen T. Sinatra, James L. Oschman, Karol Sokal, and Pawel Sokal. Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons. J Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541.. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/#
  • Alvarsson, J. J., Wiens, S., & Nilsson, M. (2010). Stress recovery during exposure to nature sound and environmental noise. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7(3), 1036-1046.
  • Behrens, E., Santa, J., & Gass, M. (2010). The evidence base for private therapeutic schools, residential programs, and wilderness therapy programs. Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, IV(1), 106–117.
  • Chalquist, C. (2009). A look at the ecotherapy research evidence. Ecopsychology, 1(2), 64-74.
  • Clay, R. A. (2001). Green is good for you. Monitor on Psychology, 32(4). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr01/greengood.aspx
  • Gass, M. A., Gillis, H. L., & Russell, K. C. (2012). Adventure therapy: Theory, practice, & research. NY: Routledge Press.
  • Hoag, M. J., Savicki, K., & Burlingame, G. M. (2001). The Efficacy of wilderness therapy: Individual and familial aspects of change. In American Psychological Association Convention. San Francisco, California.
  • Lewis, S. (2007). The outdoor division of Aspen Education Group: Examining treatment effectiveness. Retrieved from http://natsap.org/research/research-at-natsap-programs
  • Magle-Haberek, N. A., Tucker, A. R., & Gass, M. A. (2012). Effects of program differences with wilderness therapy and residential treatment center (RTC) programs. Residential Treatment For Children & Youth, 29(3), 202–218. doi:10.1080/0886571X.2012.697433
  • MIND. (2007). Ecotherapy: The green agenda for mental health. Retrieved from https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ecotherapy.pdf
  • NATSAP. (n.d.). NATSAP Research and Evaluation Network. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http:// natsap.org/research/natsap-research-and-evaluation-network/
  • OBHRC. (2010). Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative. Retrieved July 30, 2013, from http://www.obhrc.org/index
  • Outcome Tools. (2012). Outcome Tools. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from https://outcometools.com/ site/
  • Russell, K. C. (2003). An assessment of outcomes in outdoor behavioral healthcare treatment. Child and Youth Care Forum, 32(6), 355–381.
  • Russell, K. C. (2007). Summary of research in the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Research Cooperative from 1999-2006. Minneapolis, MN.
  • Russell, Keith, C. (2003). A nation-wide survey of outdoor behavioral healthcare programs for adolescents with problem behaviors. Journal of Experiential Education, 25(3), 322–331.
  • Russell, Keith, C. (2005). Two years later: A qualitative assessment of youth well-being and the role of aftercare in outdoor behavioral healthcare treatment. Child and Youth Care Forum, 34(3), 209–239. doi:10.1007/s10566-005-3470-7
  • Scott, D. A., & Duerson, L. M. (2009). Continuing the discussion: A commentary on “Wilderness Therapy: Ethical considerations for mental health professionals.” Child & Youth Care Forum, 39(1), 63–68. doi:10.1007/s10566-009-9090-x
  • Scull, J. (2009). Tailoring nature therapy to the client. In L. Buzzell & C. Chalquist’s (Eds.), Ecotherapy: Healing with nature in mind(pp. 140-148). San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.
  • Tucker, A. R., Zelov, R., & Young, M. (2011). Four years along: Emerging traits of programs in the NATSAP Practice Research Network ( PRN ). Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, 10–28.
  • Daniel T. C. Cox, Danielle F. Shanahan, Hannah L. Hudson, Richard A. Fuller, Karen Anderson, Steven Hancock  and Kevin J. Gaston. 2017. Doses of Nearby Nature Simultaneously Associated with Multiple Health Benefits. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14, 172.

Climate

Mental Wellness – Spa & Ayurveda Multi-Modality Therapy

  • F. Kwiatkowski, M.A. Mouret-Reynier, M. Duclos, A. Leger-Enreille, F. Bridon, T. Hahn, I. Van Praagh-Doreau, A. Travade, M. Gironde, O. Bézy, J. Lecadet, M.P. Vasson, S. Jouvency, S. Cardinaud, C.F. Roques, Y.-J. Bignon. 2013. Long term improved quality of life by a 2-week group physical and
    educational intervention shortly after breast cancer chemotherapy completion. Results of the ‘Programme of Accompanying women after breast Cancer treatment completion in Thermal resorts’ (PACThe) randomised clinical trial of 251 patients.  European Journal of Cancer, Volume 49, Issue 7, Pages 1530–1538,  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2012.12.021
  • Mills Paul J., Wilson Kathleen L., Pung Meredith A., Weiss Lizabeth, Patel Sheila, Doraiswamy P. Murali, Peterson Christine Tara, Porter Valencia, Schadt Eric, Chopra Deepak, and Tanzi Rudolph E.. The Self-Directed Biological Transformation Initiative and Well-Being. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. August 2016, 22(8): 627-634. doi:10.1089/acm.2016.0002.

Economics and Mental Wellbeing

Articles

Reports

Books

Spirituality & Faith

Social Dimensions of Mental Wellness

“Mental Wellbeing” includes the capacity to make health and happiness enhancing relationships with others. People with mental wellbeing know themselves and their needs, have clear boundaries, relate to others using the skills of emotional literacy and accept and manage conflict without manipulation or coercion.

People with mental wellbeing are also generous, wise and compassionate. They make good decisions on behalf of others. It therefore follows that promoting the mental wellbeing of all, particularly of those who are in positions of power, is an important approach to preventing social inequality and unhealthy policy.

Social wellbeing is:

  • the basis for social equality, social capital, social trust
  • the antidote to racism, stigma, violence and crime.

It depends on:

  • the sum of individual mental wellbeing in a group, community or society
  • the quality of government – local, organizational, national and international
  • the quality of services and provision of support for those in need
  • the fair distribution of resources including income
  • the norm with regard to interpersonal relationships in a group, community or society, including respect for others and their needs, compassion and empathy, and authentic interaction.

Hierarchically held power in families, communities, workplaces, schools or government is particularly potent in this regard, and respectful, compassionate, authentic government, families and organisations are important in the creation of collective mental wellbeing”. http://www.fph.org.uk/concepts_of_mental_and_social_wellbeing

WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health: Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673608616906;https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Michael20Marmot.pdf

The Social Cure: Identity, Health and Well-Being. A growing body of research shows that social networks and identities have a profound impact on mental and physical health. Social identities, and factors associated with them (such as social support and a sense of community), can bolster individuals’ sense of self and contribute to physical and mental health. Social identities constitute a “social cure”, capable of promoting adjustment, coping, and well-being for individuals dealing with a range of illnesses, injuries, trauma, and stressors. Practical strategies, based in an understanding of social identities, can maintain and enhance well-being, particularly among vulnerable populations.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Social-Cure-Identity-Health-Well-Being/dp/1848720211 http://samples.sainsburysebooks.co.uk/9781136698262_sample_840467.pdf

Young People – World Health Organization. Social determinants of health and well-being among young people: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/548ae0310cf225bf669e135e.pdf

Childhood Wellbeing – https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Child-Wellbeing-Brief.pdf

Men’s attitude towards fatherhood ‘affects child behaviour’. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/11November/Pages/Mens-attitude-towards-fatherhood-affects-child-behaviour.aspx

Later Life: Influences of socioeconomic status, social network, and competence on subjective well-being in later life: A meta-analysis. Pinquart, Martin; Sörensen, Silvia. Psychology and Aging, Vol 15(2), Jun 2000, 187-224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.15.2.187
Findings: (1) Income is correlated more strongly with well-being than is education. (2) The quality of social contacts shows stronger associations with subjective well-being (SWB) in the elderly than does the quantity of social contacts. (3) Whereas having contact with friends is more strongly related to SWB than having contact with adult children, there are higher associations between life satisfaction and quality of contact with adult children when compared with quality of friendships.

Research

Five Ways to Wellbeing: The evidence. Aked J, Marks N, Cordon C, and Thompson, S. (2008). London. NEF. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mental-capital-and-wellbeing

  1. connect
  2. be active
  3. take notice
  4. keep learning
  5. give

Measuring Social Capital. UK Govt. Office for National Statistics. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_371693.pdf

World Happiness Report. Happiness provides a better indicator of human welfare than do income, poverty, education, health and good government measured separately. In a parallel way, the inequality of well-being provides a broader measure of inequality. The report finds that people are happier living in societies where there is less inequality of happiness. And happiness inequality has increased significantly (comparing 2012-2015 to 2005-2011) in most countries, in almost all global regions, and for the population of the world as a whole. http://worldhappiness.report/

Innovation and Well-being. There is a substantial body of work that demonstrates that positive emotions in the work place contribute to good functioning and high performance. Furthermore, there are a number of studies specifically demonstrating that positive emotional states result in higher creativity and problem-solving skills, and build resilience and the ability to handle failure – all essential requirements for innovation. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/6.2.InnovationandWellbeingMilleretal.pdf

Social rank may impact immune system and inflammatory response. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314371.php

Book: Leading Well from Within: A Neuroscience and Mindfulness-Based Framework of Conscious Leadership by Daniel Friedland, MD. http://supersmarthealth.com/book

General: What works wellbeing: https://whatworkswellbeing.org/

The Global Wellness Institute serves as an umbrella organization for numerous Initiatives, that are independently chaired and run. The resources, editorial, research and opinions presented by the Initiatives do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Global Wellness Institute.