Mindcare Counselling Blog

Researchers at The University of Nottingham are to investigate whether the therapeutic effects of clay modelling could help disturbed teenagers deal with their feelings of anger, anxiety and depression. Academics are teaming up with professionals in the NHS, Nottingham Contemporary art gallery and local artists for the innovative project that will look at the potential benefits that clay could offer to young people struggling with mental health problems. Dr Gary Winship, of the University's School of Education, part of the project team, said: "With its qualities of cold resistance and suitability for moulding, we believe creative play through clay could be an exciting alternative therapy for young people suffering from a range of mental health vulnerabilities. "Anecdotally, it may offer potential therapeutic effects through the cathartic venting of emotions through banging, squashing, bending or breaking the clay." The £25,000, one-year project will focus on young ...

WHO says India A depressed nation? A  World Health Organisation  study claims that  India  has the highest number of depressed people  but the country's leading mental health institution - the  National Institute of Mental Health  and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) - has refuted the findings. According to experts at NIMHANS , WHO's figures could be 'highly inflated' and they see very few severe depression patients. "Most people who come to the tertiary mental health care centre have moderate to mild forms of depression'' is their argument. The WHO-sponsored study concluded that while around 9% of people in India reported having an extended period of depression within their lifetime, nearly 36% suffered from what is called Major Depressive Episode (MDE). But Dr S K Chaturvedi, professor and head of the department of psychiatry, Nimhans, told TOI: "I think the figures in the study are highly inflated. There could be a methodological problem. If th...

A new   study finds that children who experience abuse or adversities in childhood are at a greater risk of having chronic pain related physical problems as adults. The sample for the study included people living in 10 of the 28 countries participating in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys initiative, according to the report. “The team looked at anxiety disorders and depression in children  and at the following childhood adversities: abuse, neglect, loss of a parent through death or other causes, divorce, parental substance abuse, parental criminal behavior, family violence and being poor. Both anxiety and depression in childhood were associated with three chronic pain conditions in adulthood: osteoarthritis, chronic spinal pain (back or neck), and frequent or severe headache.” Physical abuse in childhood was linked to chronic diseases in adulthood such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, chronic spinal pain and headache.