Mental Wellness Article Series

2021

Mental Wellness Article Series
2021 – JWB’s New Groundbreaking Report: Move Your Mental Health
By: John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation

2020

Mental Wellness Article Series

2020 – Keynote lecture on Mental Wellness September 2020
By: Spa China

2020 – Mental Wellness feature article, Summit issue September 2020
By: Spa China Magazine

2020 – Chapter on Wellbeing & Mental Wellness published August 2020
By: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Global Public Health

2020 – Wellness in Coronavirus Times: Real Strategies and Mental Health Best Practices for Coping With the World in Duress Embracing Houston’s Best Time of Year — Even in a Pandemic
By: Alina Hernandez

2020 – Wellness At Home: Professor Gerard Bodeker On Managing Digital Wellbeing, Stress & Tension At Home
By: Rebecca Cairns, Compare Retreats Magazine

2020 – Pathways to Immunity and Mental Wellness
By: SpaChina

Mental Wellness Initiative Interviews

2020

Parin Siddhartha Ravichanthiran, Oxford student tells Dr Gerry Bodeker of the Global Wellness Institute about the support available for students both financial and pastoral, at this time of MCOs.
Watch Interview HERE

Azrin, from the Oxford University Malaysia Club Interviews Dr Gerry Bodeker about Youth Action for Mental Wellness.
Watch Interview HERE

Governmental Representatives

Wellness Leaders
H.E. Mr. Jigmi Thinley, former Prime Minister of Bhutan
Interviewed by Prof. Gerry Bodeker, PhD, May 2016
Watch Interview HERE

Global Wellness Institute Initiatives Support

Mental Health Month

May 2022

Join us for a month of resources, education and collaboration in support of Mental Health Month brought to you by the GWI Mental Wellness Initiative in collaboration with the Breathe Initiative, Wellness Architecture & Design Initiative and the Wellness Coaching Initiative.

View the LinkedIn Live Kick-off Event, April 29 | View Video

Be sure to follow GWI on  LinkedIn, Facebook  and  Instagram where we will be trumpeting the great work and resources of the GWI initiatives and the many global experts participating in this #GWImentalhealth campaign, including other LinkedIn and Instagram Live events.  

A message from the GWI Mental Wellness Initiative Co-chair: 

May is Mental Health month in the US where we’re celebrating Spring, and all things in bloom – including your mental health and wellness! That’s why we, members of the GWI  Mental Wellness Initiative, are joining forces with our friends from three other GWI Initiatives—Breathe, Wellness Architecture and Design and Wellness Coaching—for a May Mental Health Month campaign to bring awareness and promote some of the many ways that we can bring mental wellness into our lives. 

Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing ideas on some of the basic building blocks to support our mental health which, are fundamental to help us build resilience and thrive in our daily lives.  

Apart from the many things that help us create mental health in our lives, including exercise, nutrition and stress management, what about the importance of breathing? What about environments that we create for ourselves and the places we live in? And finally, how is it that we learn about making positive changes in our lives?  

There are many pathways to mental wellness and promoting growth, and we’ll be sharing these with you throughout the month. Join us for tips, best practices, and happenings during this month – because whole health starts with your mental health and wellness.  

There are many things that grow in the garden of mental wellness, and we’re excited about helping you cultivate your own mental wellness garden.  

Join us!  Sincerely, 

The GWI Mental Health Month Initiative Collaboration 

 

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

• Harvard Medical School: Nutritional psychiatry – Your brain on food: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626
• The Connection Between Good Nutrition and Good Cognition: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/the-connection-between-good-nutrition-and-good-cognition/251227/
• The Mental Health Foundation – Feeding Minds: The Impact of Nutrition on Mental Health: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Feeding-Minds.pdf
• The influence of nutrition on mental health: The Links Between Diet and Behaviour. Report of an inquiry held by the Associate Parliamentary Food and Health Forum, UK: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/FHF.pdf
• International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research: http://www.isnpr.org/
• Plant compounds may boost brain function in older adults:
  The same compounds that give plants and vegetables their vibrant colors might be able to bolster brain functioning in older adults, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia. People get these compounds, known as carotenoids, from their diets, and two of them — lutein and zeaxanthin — have been shown in previous research to bolster eye and cognitive health in older adults. MRI data showed that individuals between 65 and 86 with higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin didn’t require as much brain activity to complete cognitive tasks. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-11/uog-pcm112116.php
• Lindbergh CA, Mewborn CM, Hammond BR, Renzi-Hammond LM, Curran-Celentano JM, Miller LS. Relationship of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Levels to Neurocognitive Functioning: An fMRI Study of Older Adults. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2016 Oct 25:1-12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27776568

Books

• Nutrition and Mental Health: https://www.crcpress.com/Nutrition-and-Mental-Health/Leyse-Wallace/p/book/9781439863350
• Nutrition Essentials for Mental Health: A Complete Guide to the Food-Mood Connection: https://www.amazon.com/Nutrition-Essentials-Mental-Health-Connection/dp/0393709949/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WZZJGNS1QKY1ZR25AMB5
• Brain-Building Nutrition: How Dietary Fats and Oils Affect Mental, Physical, and Emotional Intelligence: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Building-Nutrition-Physical-Emotional-Intelligence/dp/1583941819/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1583941819&pd_rd_r=ATV78THN9FR52S18TWMT&pd_rd_w=1NqYb&pd_rd_wg=xFOmE&psc=1&refRID=ATV78THN9FR52S18TWMT

Research Links

• http://www.isnpr.org/publications/

The Gut-Brain Axis

Books

• The Gut-Brain Axis, 1st Edition. Dietary, Probiotic, and Prebiotic Interventions on the Microbiota. N Hyland & C Stanton.  http://store.elsevier.com/The-Gut-Brain-Axis/isbn-9780128023044/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780128023044

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

• http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/anxiety-and-depression-caused-by-stress-linked-to-gut-bacteria-living-in-intestines-scientists-find-10422303.html

Throat Microbes

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4259177/
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584614001687
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471491414000811
• https://peerj.com/articles/1140/?con=&dom=prime&src=syndication
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4294997/
• https://www.google.com/#safe=off&q=gut+microbes+and+schizophrenia

Yeast Infections

• http://www.nature.com/articles/npjschz201618
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160504121327.htm
• http://www.medicaldaily.com/yeast-infection-candida-albicans-schizophrenia-bipolar-disorder-384770

Chron’s Disease (More on Microbiota and Candida)

• http://mbio.asm.org/content/7/5/e01250-16
• http://www.livescience.com/56334-gut-fungus-suspected-in-crohns-disease.html

Gut Bacteria & Fatigue

• http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/06/indicator-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-found-gut-bacteria
• https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-016-0171-4

Food Additive Alters Gut Bacteria to Cause Colorectal Cancer:

• http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313938.php (QUESTION: Can food additives similarly alter bacteria to cause brain disorders?)
• Probiotics reduce Alzheimer’s: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/11November/Pages/Probiotics-aid-memory-in-people-with-Alzheimers-disease.aspx(QUESTION: Is this because they reduce inflammation or because they reduce gut bacteria presence in /passage to the brain?)

Inflammation & Mental Health

• B. Steka. Could Depression Be Caused By An Infection? Oct 2015.http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/25/451169292/could-depression-be-caused-by-an-infection
• The Link Between Brain Inflammation and Mental Health.http://www.integrativepsychiatry.net/brain_inflammation.html
• N Kappelmann, G Lewis, R Dantzer, P B Jones and G M Khandaker. Antidepressant activity of anti-cytokine treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials of chronic inflammatory conditions. Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication 18 October 2016; doi: 10.1038/mp.2016.167
• http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2016167a.html http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313551.php
• (NOTE: Although this is research on the effects of pharmaceutical drugs, i.e. cytokine modulators, it demonstrates that inflammation is linked to brain pathology resulting, in this case, in depression, and that treating the inflammation can reduce depression by reducing inflammation in the brain.)
• Social rank may impact immune system and inflammatory response. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314371.php
• Chang-Kai Chen, Yung-Tsan Wu and Yu-Chao Chang. 2017. Association between chronic periodontitis and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a retrospective, population-based, matched-cohort study. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 9:56 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-017-0282-6

SLEEP

• Can The Moon Actually Affect Your Sleep? HTTP://WWW.MENSFITNESS.COM/LIFE/ENTERTAINMENT/CAN-MOON-ACTUALLY-AFFECT-YOUR-SLEEP?UTM_SOURCE=OUTBRAIN2&UTM_MEDIUM=CPC
• Csilla Zita Turányi, Katalin Zsuzsanna Rónai, Rezső Zoller, Orsolya Véber, Mária Eszter Czira, Ákos Újszászi, Gergely László, András Szentkirályi, Andrea Dunai, Anett Lindner, Julianna Luca Szőcs, Ádám Becze, Andrea Kelemen, Zsófia Lendvai, Miklos Z. Molnar, István Mucsi, Márta Novák. Association between lunar phase and sleep characteristics. Sleep Med. 2014 Nov;15(11):1411-6. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.06.020. Epub 2014 Aug 20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.06.020
• Associations between actigraphy-assessed sleep, inflammatory markers, and insulin resistance in the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study. Tae Ho Kim, Judith E. Carroll, Suk Kyoon An, Teresa E. Seeman, Kee Namkoong, Eun Lee. Sleep Medicine. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2016.07.023
• C.O. AirhihenbuwaJ.I. Iwelunmor, C.J. Ezepue, N.J. Williams, G. Jean-Louis. I sleep, because we sleep: a synthesis on the role of culture in sleep behavior research. Sleep Medicine. February 2016Volume 18, Pages 67–73DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2015.07.020
• Sleep disorders & mental health: http://www.sleep-journal.com/action/doSearch?searchType=quick&searchText=mental+health&occurrences=all&journalCode=sleep&searchScope=fullSite
• Researchers explore link between sugary drinks and poor sleep. https://www.ucsf.edu/n
  ews/2016/11/404796/study-links-shorter-sleep-and-sugar-sweetened-drink-consumption, http://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-sugar-drink-5468/
• Aric A. Prather, Cindy W. Leung, Nancy E. Adler, Lorrene Ritchie, Barbara Laraia, and Elissa S. Epel. Short and sweet: Associations between self-reported sleep duration and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among adults in the United States. Sleep Health. Published online November 9 2016. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2016.09.007
• Max Hirshkowitz, PhD, Kaitlyn Whiton, MHS, Steven M. Albert, PhD, Cathy Alessi, MD, Oliviero Bruni, MD, Lydia DonCarlos, PhD, Nancy Hazen, PhD, John Herman, PhD, Paula J. Adams Hillard, MD, Eliot S. Katz, MD, Leila Kheirandish-Gozal, MD, MSc, David N. Neubauer, MD,Anne E. O’Donnell, MD, Maurice Ohayon, MD, DSc, PhD, John Peever, PhD, Robert Rawding, PhD, Ramesh C. Sachdeva, MD, PhD, JD, Belinda Setters, MD, Michael V. Vitiello, PhD, J. Catesby Ware, PhD. National Sleep Foundation’s updated sleep duration recommendations: final report. Sleep Health Journal. December 2015, Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages 233–243. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2015.10.004
• Mark S. Rea, PhD. A natural view of artificial light. Sleep Health Journal. June 2015 Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages 88–89. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2015.02.001
• Sleep deprived workers more likely to be overweight: http://www.humanresourcesonline.net/sleep-deprived-workers-likely-fat/

Meditation

• Harvard MRI Study Shows Meditation Rebuilds Brain’s Grey Matter in 8 Weeks. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/
  https://www.davidwolfe.com/meditation-rebuilds-brains-gray-matter-in-8-weeks/
• Transcendental meditation may help ease trauma symptoms, stress. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313331.php
• Sanford Nidich, EdD; Tom O’Connor, PhD; Thomas Rutledge, PhD; Jeff Duncan; Blaze Compton, MA; Angela Seng; Randi Nidich, EdD. Reduced Trauma Symptoms and Perceived Stress in Male Prison Inmates through the Transcendental Meditation Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Perm J 2016 Fall;20(4):16-007 https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/16-007
  http://www.thepermanentejournal.org/issues/2016/fall/6227-incarcerated-healthcare.html
• Singleton O, Hölzel BK, Vangel M, Brach N, Carmody J, Lazar SW. Change in brainstem gray matter concentration following a mindfulness-based intervention is correlated with improvement in psychological well-being. Frontiers in human neuroscience [Internet]. 2014; 8.
• Andrew B. Newberg, Nancy Wintering, David B. Yaden, Li Zhong, Brendan Bowen, Noah Averick, Daniel A. Monti. Effect of a one-week spiritual retreat on dopamine and serotonin transporter binding: a preliminary study. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 2017; 443: 114.1 DOI: 10.1080/2153599X.2016.1267035

Books

• The Scientific American Healthy Aging Brain: The Neuroscience of Making the Most of Your Mature Mind. https://books.google.com.my/books?id=XVOOwKaKb34C&pg=PT194&dq=Meditation+research+brain&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZs-aMk7XQAhXMtY8KHT75BOoQ6AEIMDAE#v=onepage&q=Meditation%20research%20brain&f=false
• N. Rosenthal. Super Mind: How to Boost Performance and Live a Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation. https://books.google.com.my/books?id=ycQBDAAAQBAJ&dq=Transcendental+Meditation+research+brain&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyvYe3krXQAhWEtI8KHdPFBJMQ6AEIIDAB

Exercise

• Mayo Clinic: Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495
• Kirsten Weir. The exercise effect.  December 2011. Monitor on Psychology, American Pyschological Association. Vol 42, No. 11. http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise.aspx
• Exercise and Depression: Endorphins, Reducing Stress, and More. WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression#1
• Exercise for Mood and Anxiety: Proven Strategies for Overcoming Depression and Enhancing Well-Being. MW Otto & JA Smits. 1st Edition. 2011. Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/exercise-for-mood-and-anxiety-9780199791002?cc=my&lang=en&
• Exercise for Mood and Anxiety Disorders: The State-of-the Science. Mark B. Powers, Gordon J. G. Asmundson, and Jasper A. J. Smits Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Vol. 44 , Iss. 4,2015
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4545646/
  http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16506073.2015.1047286
• Exercise and Depression. Harvard Medical School. http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-and-depression-report-excerpt The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/exercise-fitness/emotional-benefits-of-exercise.htm

Yoga

• Yoga for anxiety and depression. Harvard Medical School.
  http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression
  http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-benefits-beyond-the-mat
  http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/yoga-can-blunt-harmful-effects-of-stress
• Yoga Breathing May Help to Reduce Depression.http://psychcent
  ral.com/news/2016/11/25/yoga-breathing-may-help-to-reduce-depression/112996.html
• Anup Sharma, MD, PhD; Marna S. Barrett, PhD; Andrew J. Cucchiara, PhD; Nalaka S. Gooneratne, MD; and Michael E. Thase, MD. A Breathing-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Following Inadequate Response to Antidepressants: A Randomized Pilot Study. J Clin Psychiatry 2016, 10.4088/JCP.16m10819.
• Chris Streeter, Patricia L.Gerbarg,TheodoreH.Whitfield, Liz Owen,Jennifer Johnston, Marisa M. Silveri, Marysia Gensler, Carol L. Faulkner, Cathy Mann,Mary Wixted,Anne Marie Hernon,Maren B. Nyer, E. Richard P. Brown, and John E. Jensen. 2017. Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder with Iyengar Yoga and Coherent Breathing: A Randomized Controlled Dosing Study. J. Alt. Comp. Med. Volume 23, Number 3, 2017, pp. 201–207. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0140
• People with major depressive disorder with inadequate response to antidepressant treatment showed significant improvement with the introduction of a yoga breathing technique.http://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/article/Pages/2016/aheadofprint/16m10819.aspx
• Yoga for depression: the research evidence. Karen Pilkington, Graham Kirkwood, Hagen Rampes, Janet Richardson. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Pilkington_Kirkwood_Rampes_Richardson_2005_final.pdf
• Yoga for anxiety: a systematic review of the research evidence G Kirkwood, H Rampes, V Tuffrey, J Richardson, K Pilkington. Br J Sports Med 2005;39:884–891. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2005.018069
  https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/v039p00884.pdf
• M. Javnbakht, R. Hejazi Kenari, M. Ghasemi. Effects of yoga on depression and anxiety of women. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 15 (2009) 102–104. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Effects-of-yoga-and-depression-and-anxiety-in-women-2009.pdf
• Yoga for depression – latest research. http://yogafordepression.com/latest-research/

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

• Nature & Forest Therapy: http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/the-science.html
• WebMD – “Do You Need a Nature Prescription? Nature therapy may mean that better health is right outside your door”. http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy
• Ecotherapy/Nature Therapy: http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/econature-therapy
• Psychology Today – The Power of Nature: Ecotherapy and Awakening: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201204/the-power-nature-ecotherapy-and-awakening
• Benefits of Ecotherapy: http://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/new-research-shows-benefits-of-ecotherapy-for-mental-health-and-wellbeing/#.WDuuoGR950s

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

• Sunshine Improves Mental Wellbeing, With Dark Months Linked To Emotional Distress, Study Finds: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-sun-light-affects-mental-health_uk_581c4f1ce4b09d57a9a8377f
• Mark E. Beecher, Dennis Eggett, Davey Erekson, Lawrence B. Rees, Jennie Bingham, Jared Klundt, Russell J. Bailey, Clark Ripplinger, Jessica Kirchhoefer. Sunshine on my shoulders: Weather, pollution, and emotional distress. Journal of Affective Disorders, November 15, 2016, Volume 205, Pages 234–238 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.021

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

• Frasquilho D, Matos MG, Salonna F, Guerreiro D, Storti C.C, Gaspar T, and Caldas-de-Almeida J. M (2016) Mental health outcomes in times of economic recession: a systematic literature review, BCM Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26847554
• Golberstein E. (2015) The Effects of Income on Mental Health: Evidence from the Social Security Notch. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics. Online ISSN: 1099-176X https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25862202
• Lindstrom M, Giordano G.N, (2016) The 2008 financial crisis: Changes in social capital and its association with psychological wellbeing in the United Kingdom – A panel study, Social Science and Medicine, Vol 153, March, 71-80. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26889949
• Silva Ribeiro W, Bauer A, Rezende Andrade M.C, York-Smith M, Pan P.M., Pingani L, Knapp M, Silva Freire Coutinho E, Evans-Lacko S (2017) Income inequality and mental illness-related morbidity and resilience: a systematic review and meta-analysis, The Lancet Psychiatry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28552501
• Turunen E, Hiilamo H. (2014) Health effects of indebtedness: a systematic review. BMC Public Healthhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4060868/

Reports

• Andrew E. Clark, Sarah Flèche, Richard Layard, Nattavudh Powdthavee & George Ward. The Key Determinants of Happiness and Misery. 2017; 5: 122-143. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HR17-Ch5_w-oAppendix.pdf

Books

• Andrew E. Clark, Sarah Flèche, Richard Layard, Nattavudh Powdthavee & George Ward. The Origins of Happiness: The Science of Wellbeing over the Life Course http://press.princeton.edu/titles/11179.html

Spirituality & Faith

• Abd Aleati NS, Mohd Zaharim N, Mydin YO. Religiousness and Mental Health: Systematic Review Study. J Relig Health. 2016 Dec;55(6):1929-37. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27654836
• McClintock CH, Lau E, Miller L. Phenotypic Dimensions of Spirituality: Implications for Mental Health in China, India, and the United States. Front Psychol. 2016 Oct 27;7:1600. eCollection 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27833570
• Peres MFP, Kamei HH, Tobo PR, Lucchetti G. Mechanisms Behind Religiosity and Spirituality’s Effect on Mental Health, Quality of Life and Well-Being. J Relig Health. 2017 Apr 25. doi: 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28444608
• Van Elk M, Aleman A. Brain mechanisms in religion and spirituality: An integrative predictive processing framework. Neuroscience and BioBehaviral Review. 2017 Feb;73:359-378. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28041787
• Visser A, Garssen B, Vingerhoets AJ. Existential Well-Being: Spirituality or Well-Being? The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2017 March; 205(3):234-241. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27861460
• Raquel Gehrke Panzinia, Bruno Paz Mosqueiroa, Rogerio R. Zimpela, Denise Ruschel Bandeirab, Neusa S. Rochaa and Marcelo P. Flecka. Quality-of-life and spirituality. International Review of Psychiatry, 2017.VOL. 29, NO. 3, 263–282. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2017.1285553

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/

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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.

Mental Wellness Initiative at the Global Wellness Summit

Global Wellness Summit 2018

Mental Wellness: Pathways, Evidence and Horizons; Many Roads to the Mountaintop
Prof. Gerry Bodeker, PhD, chair, Mental Wellness Initiative, GWI & Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, UK
Watch Presentation HERE

Taking the Mental Wellness Message to the Wider Public
Panel moderated by Prof. Gerry Bodeker, PhD, chair, Mental Wellness Initiative, GWI & Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, UK
Panelists:
Debra Benovitz, SVP, global consumer insights, Weight Watchers International, Inc., US
Niamh O’Connell, VP, guest experience & wellness, Rosewood Hotel Group, Hong Kong
Sergio Pecorelli, MD, PhD, professor, University of Brescia, Italy
Bob Roth, CEO, David Lynch Foundation, US
Watch Panel HERE

Global Wellness Summit 2017

Mental Wellness: Many Roads to the Mountaintop
Prof. Gerry Bodeker, PhD, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; & Dept. of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, United States. Public Health Academic & Clinical Psychologist
Interviewed by Susie Ellis, CEO and Chairman, Global Wellness Summit, October 2017
Watch Interview HERE

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Global Wellness Summit 2016 General Session: Q & A

Mental Wellness: the Far Horizons
Prof. Gerry Bodeker, PhD, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; & Dept. of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York,  United States.  Public Health Academic & Clinical Psychologist
Interviewed by Susie Ellis, CEO and Chairman, Global Wellness Summit, October 2016
Watch Session HERE

Mental Wellness Initiative
THEME AREAS/WORKING GROUPS

 

Individual

• Brain plasticity throughout the lifespan – possibilities & evidence.
  MEMBERS: Prof Gerry Bodeker, Vivenne O’Keeffe, Vanessa Stoessel,
• The Gut-Brain Axis – paths to mental wellness based on understanding the gut microbiome and its brain effects.
  MEMBERS: Prof Gerry Bodeker, Nancy Board, Alina Hernandez, Bryan Hoare, Vanessa Stoessel, Dr. Harald Stossier, Paulina Tracz
• Impact of technology on mental wellness – linked by Jeremy McCarthy to a group that Jeremy has set up on the impact of technology on wellness.

Societal

• Societal dimensions of Mental Wellness.
  MEMBERS: Margareth Brepohl, Dr. Danny Friedland, Jeremy McCarthy
  • A focus on the ‘social mind’ – i.e. “Social Connection and Generosity/Solidarity or the Collective Well Mind”. Catalyst: Margareth Brepohl
  • Societal factors that have an impact on mental wellness such as: Rise of Technology; Social Media; Deterioration of families and communities; Political process; Media and news reporting; The way we work (i.e. work hours and schedules, connection to office, compensation models, job security [which seems to be declining], replacement of labor by technology, etc.); Health Care. Catalyst: Jeremy McCarthy
  • “Conscious Leadership” – key to creating flourishing cultures of wellness and well-being. Catalyst: Dr. Danny Friedland

Professional

• Caring for the carers & cultivating awareness of this.
  MEMBERS: Nancy Board, Dr. Danny Friedland, Alina Hernandez, Vivenne O’Keeffe
• Standards for mental wellness practice and an evidence base.
  MEMBERS: Bryan Hoare, Dr Fikry Isaac, Robert Ranzi, Vanessa Stoessel
• Curriculum content on mental wellness.
  MEMBERS: Nancy Board, Alina Hernandez, Bryan Hoare, Robert Ranzi, Vanessa Stoessel, Dr Harald Stossier, Jeremy McCarthy

Mental Wellness Initiative Video Series

2020 Spa China, Mental Wellness Initiative video.
Watch Video HERE