A new umbrella review shows in-person social engagement reduces depression, especially for older adults and people most at risk of isolation.
[read the full story...]Can stronger social connections really help reduce depression?
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Can group singing offer lasting relief from postnatal depression?
New evidence shows Melodies for Mums outperforms standard community activities in reducing postnatal depression, with sustained effects lasting six months after the singing ends.
[read the full story...]Do hobbies protect against adolescent substance misuse? Not so fast…
A new study claims hobbies reduce substance misuse in adolescents, but are we mistaking correlation for causation? Before we start fiddling with interventions, this blog explores the risks of jumping to conclusions.
[read the full story...]From pills to people: the rise of social prescribing
Can we reduce our reliance on medication by prescribing nature walks, art classes and community groups instead? Two new 2025 studies shed light on who’s getting referred to social prescribing, and who isn’t.
[read the full story...]Which exercise interventions treat depression most effectively? A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Jakob Yianni celebrates National Walking Day by summarising a recent review which finds that a wide variety of activities can help treat depression, ranging from yoga and tai chi to high-intensity strength and aerobic training.
[read the full story...]Can green space help protect us from self-harm and suicide?
Trish Darcy on a systematic review which suggests a protective association between green space exposure and all suicide-related outcomes. The protective associations were stronger for women than for men.
[read the full story...]People with psychosis who attend more leisure activities have a higher quality of life
Lorna Collins reviews a cross-sectional study that found the quality of life of people with psychosis is higher when they participate in leisure activities.
[read the full story...]Community interventions for anxiety and depression: the benefits of sports, music, gardening, art and culture
Jessica Bone critically considers a systematic review of community interventions for anxiety and depression in adults and young people, which suggests that more research is required targeting young people and specific community assets.
[read the full story...]Community arts participation linked with wellbeing, life satisfaction and purpose in older adults
Karen Mak considers a recent study that explores the associations between participation in community arts groups and aspects of wellbeing in older adults in the US.
[read the full story...]How are loneliness, social isolation and frailty linked with age?
Clarissa Giebel explores a recent prospective study using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), which looks at the longitudinal relationship between loneliness, social isolation, and frailty in older adults in England.
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