Most mental health disorders not increasing in children, youth: Large Canadian study

ScienceDaily

“Popular media tends to perpetuate the idea that the prevalence of mental disorders is increasing,” writes Dr. Ian Colman, Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Epidemiology and associate professor at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, with coauthors. “However, research supporting this position has been inconsistent.”

Dr. Colman and colleagues sought to better understand whether symptoms of mental illness are increasing, specifically hyperactivity, aggression, depression and anxiety, suicidal thinking and behaviour. They looked at data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, which involves a group of children and adolescents from across the country who are followed every two years. Their study included 11 725 children aged 10-11 years (1994/95-2004/05), 10 574 aged 12-13 years (1996/97-2006/07) and 9835 aged 14-15 years (1998/99-2008/09). Participants were asked by confidential questionnaire to describe their feelings and behaviours and the frequency at which they experienced them in the previous week.

Most mental health disorders not increasing in children, youth: Large Canadian study — ScienceDaily.

The ONE CHANGE that could reduce anxiety that almost no one tries….

It’s astonishing to me how many times I’ve had this conversation with countless clients. And the solution seems simple: if alcohol is scientifically known to stir up anxiety, then eliminating or significantly reducing its consumption would reduce anxiety. Yet when I offer this suggestion, I’m often met with resistance.

It’s not like when I suggest reducing or eliminating sugar, gluten, or grains, all of which are also known to contribute to anxiety and depression for some people. Those aren’t easy to eliminate, but they don’t occupy the same social status in our culture that alcohol does.

The #1 Change That Could Reduce Anxiety (That Almost No One Tries).

Thinking Humanity: Psychoanalyze Yourself Test

This is a very interesting test. Try it.
Have a pen and paper handy before you read any further. As soon as you read a question, write the answer right away. Make sure to answer questions 1-10 before moving on…NO CHEATING!!
Read the following questions, imagining the scenes in your mind, and write down the FIRST thing that you visualize. Do not think about the questions excessively.
Thinking Humanity: Psychoanalyze Yourself Test.

High-dose opioid painkillers still prescribed at high rates in Canada

Health – CBC News

Many Canadians are prescribed high-dose painkillers such as OxyContin and morphine, among the most dangerous pills, say researchers, who found differences between dispensing between provinces.

Investigators at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto reviewed retail pharmacy dispensing rates for opioids between 2006 and 2011.

High-dose opioid painkillers still prescribed at high rates in Canada – Health – CBC News.

Why Exercise and Relaxation Techniques Benefit The Socially Anxious

PsyBlog

In treating social anxiety — discomfort or fear in social situations, often of being judged — both relaxation techniques and exercise have been found beneficial (see: how to deal with anxiety).

New research from Queen’s University suggests this is because it changes the way people perceive the world (Heenan & Troje, 2014).

In the study, participants watched a point-light display of a human figure walking.

The figure walked in such a way that it’s difficult to tell whether it’s coming towards you or going away.Why Exercise and Relaxation Techniques Benefit The Socially Anxious — PsyBlog.

Poor Sleep Can Lead to False Memories

PSY BLOG

Short of sleep? Your memory could be playing serious tricks on you.

We all know that lack of sleep affects our memory, along with other cognitive abilities.

Sitting in the office, sleep deprived, it’s difficult to remember your own name, let along the ever-lengthening to-do list. But now new research shows that not getting enough sleep increases the chances your mind will actually create false memories.

The study, published in Psychological Science, allowed one group of participants to get a full nights’ sleep, while another had to stay up all night (Frenda et al., 2014).

Poor Sleep Can Lead to False Memories — PsyBlog.

Creative Therapies and Intellectual Disability

| AIPC Article Library

Sand tray therapy: How the therapy works

In the first half of the last century, British paediatrician and child psychiatrist Margaret Lowenfeld utilised sand and water in combination with small toys to help children express “the inexpressible” after reading H.G. Wells’ observation that his two sons would work out family problems playing on the floor with miniature figures (Zhou, 2009). Lowenfeld added miniatures to the shelves of her therapy rooms, and the first child who came to use them took the figurines over to the sandbox, playing with them there. Thus, it was a child who “invented” what Lowenfeld came to call “The World Technique” (Zhou, 2009). In the 1950s, Jungian analyst Dora Kalff (Zhou, 2009) extended the use of the sand tray to adults, realising that the technique allowed not only the expression of fears and anger in children, but also processes of transcendence and individuation (in adults) which she had been studying with Jung. She called it “sandplay” (Zhou, 2009)

.AIPC Article Library | Creative Therapies and Intellectual Disability.

Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience, Human Development Report 2014

Human Development Reports | United Nations Development Programme.

The 2014 Human Development Report – Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience provides a fresh perspective on vulnerability and proposes ways to strengthen resilience.

According to income-based measures of poverty, 1.2 billion people live with $1.25 or less a day. However, according to the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index, almost 1.5 billion people in 91 developing countries are living in poverty with overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards. And although poverty is declining overall, almost 800 million people are at risk of falling back into poverty if setbacks occur. Many people face either structural or life-cycle vulnerabilities.

Human Development Reports | United Nations Development Programme.

How to Deal With Stress and Anxiety: 10 Proven Psychological Techniques

PsyBlog

When do you feel anxious and stressed and what are those physical signs of anxiety?

When you can identify what’s stressing you out and how your react, you’ll know when to use the techniques below.

How to Deal With Stress and Anxiety: 10 Proven Psychological Techniques — PsyBlog.

Anxiety Symptoms: 10 Common Signs To Watch Out For

By HUFFPOST LIVING CANADA

According to Statistics Canada, anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the country and is usually chronic and generally lasts at least six months.If left untreated, anxiety can get worse over time and people may not feel comfortable doing day-to-day routines like going to work or openly communicating with their partners.

While there are several symptoms of anxiety, Masand says they can be broken down to psychological and physical ones. Everything from irregular sleeping patterns to constantly fearing something in your life may be signs of anxiety disorder.

Masand says there are also several misconceptions about anxiety in the medical world. He believes not all forms of anxiety can be harmful, but rather they can help us stay focused and productive when we’re dealing with fears, for example. People suffering from anxiety, however, are also aware of the stigma. Telling someone to“calm down” or relating to them with your own stress, can all be viewed as annoying and unhelpful to someone with anxiety.

Anxiety Symptoms: 10 Common Signs To Watch Out For.

Related reading from around the Web:

 Anxiety Symptoms – Anxiety Attacks
 15 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Improve Anxiety Symptoms …
 Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Get the Facts on Symptoms
 Anxiety symptoms, panic attacks symptoms and treatment of anxiety …
 Symptoms | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

 Stress and anxiety: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia