Counselor ’ s Digest
Unreliable Social Science Research Gets More Attention Than Solid Studies
“ In 2011 , a striking psychology paper made a splash across social media , news , and academia : People used the internet as a form of ‘ external ’ memory , the study said , relying on it for information rather than recalling facts themselves . In 2018 , a key finding from that paper failed to replicate when a team of psychologists put it and 20 other high-profile social science studies to the test . But the original paper has been cited 1,417 times — with more than 400 of those citations coming after the 2018 replication project . That ’ s far more , on average , than the papers from the project that did replicate . Now , a new study shores up the popularity of unreliable studies : Social science papers that failed to replicate racked up 153 more citations , on average , than papers that replicated successfully .”
SOURCE : Science , by Cathleen O ’ Grady , May 21 , 2021 : https :// bit . ly / 2Zgs5eV
9-Year Study Reveals the Lasting Effects Childhood Trauma Has on Adult Relationships
“ An ongoing study among more than 2,000 adults in the Netherlands has found childhood maltreatment is associated with lower quality relationships later in life . Past research has also found childhood abuse or neglect can lead to insecure attachment patterns in adulthood , but the current study goes further and suggests these issues arise primarily from severe depression associated with that childhood trauma . The large cohort has been tracked for nearly a decade already . … Slightly more than three-quarters of the group reported a history of depression or anxiety .”
SOURCE : Science Alert , by Carly Cassella , Oct . 3 , 2021 : https :// bit . ly / 30J5IiM
Mental Wellbeing Is Not Just Beneficial for You — It Can Also Lead to Lower Healthcare Costs
“ Not only is [ mental wellbeing ] protective against physical illnesses and linked to greater productivity , but the mental wellbeing of a population is essential for a country ’ s sustainability , long-term growth , and development . But despite the clear benefits , governments tend to focus public spending on treating and preventing disease , and providing care for those who are ill . … Not only would enhancing mental wellbeing across all segments of the population lead to better health on average , it would also be beneficial from an economic perspective . In our latest study , … [ w ] e found that each increase in mental wellbeing in a population was associated with lower health and social care costs
Compiled by Kathleen McCarthy The Advocate Magazine
Below is just a sampling of some of the research results on topics related to mental health and clinical mental health counseling . Click on the links below each entry to find out more about the research described .
Since we can ’ t fit it all in , see an expanded list of the research linked to in Counselor ’ s Digest at : www . amhca . org / publications / advocatemag the following year . In other words , the greatest savings could be made by maximising everyone ’ s mental wellbeing .”
SOURCE : The Conversation , by Ziggi Ivan Santini , David McDaid , Sarah Stewart-Brown , and Vibeke Jenny Koushede , May 5 , 2021 : https :// bit . ly / 3Ga6hTf
Mental Health Declined During the Pandemic ,
But Some People With Depression Improved
“ Depression and anxiety disorders increased by over a quarter globally in 2020 , according to a recent review of 48 scientific papers . But although there ’ s been an obvious negative trend during the pandemic , deteriorating mental health hasn ’ t been inevitable , and people haven ’ t been affected equally . In our recent study , we found that there ’ s variation in how the pandemic has affected mental health , and that for some , mental wellbeing actually increased under COVID .”
SOURCE : The Conversation , Oct . 13 , 2021 : https :// bit . ly / 2ZnxgKn
It ’ s a New Era for Mental Health at Work
“ In 2019 , employers were just starting to grasp the prevalence of mental health challenges at work , the need to address stigma , and the emerging link to diversity , equity , and inclusion ( DEI ). One silver lining amid all the disruption and trauma over the last two years is the normalization of these challenges . In a follow-up study of their 2019 Mental Health at Work Report , Mind Share Partners ’ 2021 Mental Health at Work Report , the authors offer a rare comparison of the state of mental health , stigma , and work culture in U . S . workplaces before and during the pandemic . They also present ... their recommendations for what employers need to do to support their employees ’ mental health .”
SOURCE : Harvard Business Review , by Kelly Greenwood and Julia Anas , Oct . 4 , 2021 : https :// bit . ly / 3BbyViN
How Therapy , Not Pills , Can Nix Chronic Pain and Change the Brain
“… [ N ] ew CU Boulder research , published ... in the journal JAMA Psychiatry , provides some of the strongest evidence yet that a non-drug , psychological treatment can provide potent and durable relief . … The study found that two-thirds of chronic back pain patients who underwent a four-week psychological treatment called Pain Reprocessing Therapy ( PRT ) were pain-free or
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8 The Advocate Magazine Summer 2021 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org