John Kerr • Apr 28, 2017 •
Māori, Pacific and Asian New Zealanders are more at risk of depression and anxiety disorders and yet are likely to be under-diagnosed, say the authors of a new study. Around one in six New Zealand adults are diagnosed with an anxiety or mood disorder in their lifetime. However some minorities are less likely to be diagnosed, despite appearing to have higher rates of … Read More
Guest Work • Sep 14, 2016 •
Sarah Bailey, University of Bath Depression is sometimes categorised as a mental, rather than a physical illness – as though somehow mental health is different from physical health. But the brain is not a magical black box inside your head. It is an organ, just like the heart or lungs, made up of cells and supplied with … Read More
Erica Mather • Jul 14, 2015 •
Convinced that smoothies really are a superfood? You may not be imagining it if they contain blackcurrants. The berry, examined extensively by scientists at Plant & Food Research (NZ) and Northumbria University (UK), has been found to positively affect mental performance. The impressive results show, for the first time, an improvement in accuracy, attention and mood after independent consumption of … Read More
Michael Edmonds • Feb 25, 2012 •
This clip gives a valuable and compelling insight into what it is like to suffer from a mental illness. With idiots such as Tom Cruise and his fellow scientologists in the habit of running down psychiatric medicine, I think it is valuable to hear the story of someone who has personally felt the benefits of both drug and counselling treatment. Read More
Amanda Johnson • Dec 09, 2011 •
Depression is fast becoming one of the most common chronic conditions in Western countries, and it’s been predicted that its incidence is likely to continue to rise. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that by the year 2020, in developed regions depression will become the highest-ranking cause of burden of disease. According to the WHO: ’Mental and … Read More
Jim McVeagh • Aug 06, 2010 •
Yesterday’s Herald contained a sad story about a young man who had been seen by the local mental health team, diagnosed him as potentially psychotic and prescribed an anti-psychotic. His counsellor later told him to stop taking the anti-psychotic and continue with counseling. He subsequently committed suicide. A young man committed suicide after his counsellor [...] Related posts: … Read More
Jim McVeagh • Dec 26, 2009 •
Quality of Life Issues (voluntary euthanasia) In end-of-life euthanasia, there is, at least, some objective standards which we can use to determine whether a patient is truly dead. When the discussion moves to quality of life, the criteria are far more subjective. What, exactly, determines quality of life? Productivity? Mobility? Social Activity? Dignity? Any and all [...] Related posts: … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Oct 21, 2009 •
Reading an article on Destigmatizing depression among medical trainees or graduates which, in turn, points to an article by Karen Hebe “Destigmatizing Depression” on Science magazine’s Science careers website, reminded me of an idea I had to improve the grad students’ and post-docs’ lot a few years ago. The original article focuses on … Read More
Darcy Cowan • Jun 26, 2009 •
Ever noticed that when you are excited or happy your thoughts seem to zip hither, thither and yon at a dizzying pace? Perhaps at the same time you also had feelings of increased energy, creativity and self esteem. These are all symptoms of the psychiatric condition of mania, but you’re probably fine. The persistent linking [...] … Read More