On September 27-29, we are waiting for you at the National Library, at the largest exhibition dedicated to people with disabilities. How much do you know about the impact of disabilities on mental health? Test your knowledge by taking this quiz and come to our stand to find out how we support people with disabilities.
News
Mental Health for Romania @ AccessABILITY Expo 2024
therapy
Mental Health Professionals’ Red Flags
We know how difficult the process of choosing the right professional can be, so we have come to your rescue with a list of 'red flags' to look out for during your sessions. However, if you meet a professional who ticks the following red flags it does not mean that there are no other competent professionals ...
Invited to the Economic Forum in Karpacz
From September 3-5 we were honored to participate in a panel on mental health within the Karpacz Economic Forum. The other panelists were representatives of 4 foundations and associations from Poland and the UK, as well as a former minister of health from Poland. The discussion focused on post-pandemic EU, government and NGO initiatives to promote the importance of mental health and combat social isolation.
Poetry Night #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
On May 23, at 6:30 p.m., we meet at Seneca Anticafe for an evening of poetry to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. We will be reading a selection from the winning submissions at the Mental Health for Romania Art Contest and also give the participants the opportunity to share their own poems related to mental health. As a result of this event, we hope to bring more understanding to the experiences of people affected by mental illness and dispel stigma. For more details and registration see the event page.
Workshop for Mental Health & Wellbeing
On May 30, at 18:30, join us at Seneca Anticafe for afree, interactive workshop, where we will explore together various strategies to improve our mental health and well-being. At Seneca you will find a safe space, and a group of volunteers who can answer your questions and provide resources related to mental health. See more details on the event page.
Awarded a special prize at the Capital Excellence in Management Gala
At the Excellence in Management Gala, Maria Pascale, founder of Mental Health for Romania, received an award for the implementation of workshops to raise awareness of the importance of mental health. We are grateful for the award and the opportunity to take part in the event, together with the managers included in Capital Top 100 Managers, 2024 edition. The event was broadcast live on Facebook and can also be watched on Youtube.
Our mental health workshops in high schools continue in 2024
In January and February, our volunteers gave 6 presentations for high school students from Bucharest and Arad. A notable moment was the workshop organised at an event of the Interact Central Bucharest Club, in collaboration with the “Saint Sava” National College, in which more than 50 students participated. During this event, MHR volunteers and students discussed the signs of the most common mental disorders, how they can be prevented and where you can ask for help if you are in a difficult situation.
Videoconference organized by the Economic and Social Council about the state of mental health in Romania
On the 26th of January we got the opportunity to participate in a debate initiated by the Economic and Social Council (CES) in Romania, with the theme “The Overview of Mental Health in Romania”. CES released a comprehensive report, presenting the current situation of mental health in Romania, and suggesting the introduction of public policies to improve both the prevention and treatment of mental disorders, in the medical system, at the workplace, and in educational institutions.
We hope that those who joined in the conversation will build on the steps started by the CES, and that the proposals in the report will materialize in changes in the public system.
relationships ● self-care
Helping others – a conversation about prosocial behaviours
Prosocial behaviors are those behaviours that we do for others. If you want to learn more about the reasons why prosocial behaviours should be promoted, what influences the engagement in this type of behaviours and how they can develop, we invite you to listen to the podcast episode in full, and also to check the bibliographic sources used.
(1) Aknin, L. B., Van de Vondervoort, J. W., & Hamlin, J. K. (2018). Positive feelings reward and promote prosocial behavior. Current Opinion in Psychology, 20, 55–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.08.017
(2) American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved August 23, 2023, from https://dictionary.apa.org/prosocial
(3) Crone, E. A., & Achterberg, M. (2022). Prosocial development in adolescence. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 220–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.09.020
(4) Dahl, A., & Brownell, C. A. (2019). The Social Origins of Human Prosociality. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 28(3), 274–279. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419830386
(5) Luberto, C. M., Shinday, N., Song, R., Philpotts, L. L., Park, E. R., Fricchione, G. L., & Yeh, G. Y. (2018). A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors. Mindfulness, 9(3), 708–724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0841-8
(6) Mesurado, B., Guerra, P., Richaud, M. C., & Rodriguez, L. M. (2019). Effectiveness of Prosocial Behavior Interventions: A Meta-analysis. In P. Á. Gargiulo & H. L. Mesones Arroyo (Eds.), Psychiatry and Neuroscience Update (pp. 259–271). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95360-1_21
(7) Helliwell, J., Aknin, L., Shiplett, H., Huang, H., & Wang, S. (2017). Social Capital and Prosocial Behaviour as Sources of Well-Being (w23761; p. w23761). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w23761 (8) Pfattheicher, S., Nielsen, Y. A., & Thielmann, I. (2022). Prosocial behavior and altruism: A review of concepts and definitions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 124–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.021
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Together to support access to therapy services in Romania: Partnership with Hedepy
Hedepy is a platform that offers online psychotherapy services, available in 12 countries of the world, including Romania. It hosts over 30 carefully selected therapists, even offering a quiz to help you find a specialist that suits your needs.
Starting with 2024, Mental Health for Romania became a partner of the online therapy platform Hedepy Romania. In the coming weeks, the Hedepy professionals will appear on the MHR Map of Professionals, and the users of our map will be able to directly access the fully online services offered by Hedepy. Afterwards, we will launch a program where we will give away some free and discounted session packages offered by Hedepy specialists. Note that this program will only be available to members of our Discord server, so if you want to take advantage of it, we invite you to join the server by going to this link.
trauma ● anxiety ● depression ● reviews ● self-care
Mental Health in Gaming: 6 games about mental health
“Press any button to start” Curious, isn’t it? How video games can transport us into virtual worlds of limitless possibilities – from medieval kingdoms to dystopian cities in the far distant future. How we can get lost in the stories of characters we can identify with and whose destiny is dictated by us, the players. ...
Launching the the MHR Art Contest Gallery
Today we launch the online gallerywith over 250 illustrations, photos, poems and prose on mental health topics, selected from the 3 editions of our art contest!
We are delighted to have been able to create this space on our website where different art forms portray a wide range of emotions and vulnerable experiences related to mental health that so many of us find ourselves in.
Thanks to everyone who trusted to send us their work, to the MHR team who worked for months to build the gallery, and to the sponsors of each year’s contest! 
The achievements of Mental Health for Romania in 2023
This year was one in which we grew and explored the possibilities through which we can have the greatest impact in the community, mainly how we can help educate and raise awareness among young people in Romania about mental health.
Our team has grown, currently counting 40 active and passionate volunteers. În total, in 2023, over 500 middle and high school students from Dolj, Arad, București, Iași and a few other counties participated in our mental health workshops. We benefited from the attention of engaged students and the support of generous teachers. Approximately 97% of the students found the workshop useful, interesting, and well presented.
The MHR Map of Professionals, where mental health psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists in the country sign up to be easily connected with those seeking help, has reached over 200 professionals. We are extimating that aprox. 300 people used mental health services through the Map, over 90% of them benefiting from partial or full discounts.
In 2023 we also relaunched another MHR project, our podcast, where we talk about various mental health related topics. We want to thank our over 2.100 de ascultători, who tuned in for the 6 episodes released this year. You can follow us on Spotify, Google Podcasts and YouTube. Psss! A big announcement is coming at the beginning of 2024, but you are finding out about it now! We are very close to launching the online gallery including all the winning submissions from the past 3 editions of our art contest. Keep an eye on our social platforms in January!
self-care ● medication ● therapy
Mental health is not a trend, it is a priority – Dr. Gabriel Zanfir
In today’s episode we have Dr. Gabriel Zanfir, resident doctor at the Alexandru Obregia Psychiatric Hospital and accredited clinical psychologist, with whom we discuss the mental health of young people and the importance of professional help when it comes to our mental health.
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A new semester talking about mental health in Romanian schools
Our new MHR volunteers started the new school year with the ambition to bring the discussion about mental health to as many high schools as possible. Thus, Alex Căpitanu visited the 9th grade, at the “Buzești Brothers” National College in Craiova, where the students were involved and receptive. Also, this month Gabriela Roman from Iasi visited 30 students from the 10th grade of the “Vasile Alecsandri” National College, welcoming a whole group of students open to the discussion of this topic.
If you want to bring one of our workshops to your class, you can ask your teachers to join the project here!
October 10: World Mental Health Day
Since 1992, the World Health Organization (WHO) has dedicated October 10 to mental health awareness, so today we celebrate it as World Mental Health Day. WHO defines health as “a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, being important throughout our development and influencing relational, decision-making and hardship management patterns.
We asked you, through our Social Media channels, what mental health means to you. See some of the responses below.
News about Romanians’ relationship with mental health
On June 26 the order 1992/2023 was published through which the public services related to the medical act are regulated, includingthe rules regarding the implementation of psychological services. The order stipulates that from now on, the premises of all the offices that deliver psychological services must be sanitary authorized by DSP, if they deliver public services related to the medical act, regardless of whether or not they have a contract with CNAS.
The requirements for obtaining the approval are more difficult to access for individual practices due to space considerations (for example requirements regarding the number of bathrooms, waiting rooms, etc.) These requirements are also difficult to maintain financially, something that could make it more difficult to afford to own / rent office spaces. Psychologists might then have to raise prices, and refuse to cooperate with CAS. There might also be other undesirable effects in a system where the profession of psychologist is already onerous.
Pride Month 🏳️🌈
The month of June is internationally recognized as Pride Month, where we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community 🌈
The mental health of this community has been an important focus of Mental Health for Romania over the last few years, and this is why we prepared an overview of our LGBTQ+ related projects.
The Map of Romanian Mental Health Professionals has psychologists and therapists who are part of or allies of the LGBTQ+ community, and who can provide a safe space for counseling and support.
Our Discord server is a place for free conversations about mental health. The entire space is LGBTQ+ friendly, with zero tolerance for discrimination.
Onour Instagram you can see our collaborations with the Accept NGO.
Our research team began a literature review project focused on identifying the differences between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ individuals in terms of mental health issues. The results will be published in 2023.
Starting with the 2022 edition of our Art Contest we have awarded a special prize for the best work that touches on queer mental health.
The first free psychotherapy center in Romania was opened in Bucharest
The first free psychotherapy center in Romania, “Together for Humanity” Social Psychotherapy Center, officially opened in Bucharest in May. It is fully operational to provide psychological support to adults, youth and children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds throughout the country. The center currently has 6 volunteer therapists, but their number will reach 30 soon, for psychological counseling both in persoon and online.
Exam time can be overwhelming – talk about it with us on Discord
Are you looking for a place to relieve yourself from the difficulties and stress of the university exam season, Baccalaureate or entrance exams? Onour Discord server you can find channels dedicated to high school and university students, named #elevi and #studenți respectively. There you can talk freely with other members, but also with mental health specialists.
One last high school mental health workshop before summer break
On June 9, our new volunteer, Catinca Verga, visited the “Matei Basarab” National College in Bucharest, where she spoke to 20 11th grade students about the importance of mental health.
She was welcomed to the biology class of Professor Urdea, where the students were receptive and interacted throughout the session. The feedback received by Catinca was very positive, and we hope that the students were left with some new and useful knowledge about the importance of mental health. If you want to bring a workshop presented by Mental Health for Romania to your class, you can ask your teachers to sign up for the fall semester here!
Welcome to the new members of the MHR team!
After an intense recruitment period in April, we welcomed more than 20 new volunteers to the Mental Health for Romania team. They are located both in Romania and abroad, aged between 17 and 28, and with varied educational and professional experiences. They will contribute to organise even more mental health workshops in schools, create more educational content, and spread the word about our map with mental health professionals.
Welcome, new MHR volunteers!
eating disorders ● personal story ● self-care
About body shaming during adolescence
Body shaming is an act in which a person expresses unsolicited and usually negative opinions or comments about someone’s body (size, shape, weight, etc.). If you want to learn more about body shaming in adolescence and ways in which this phenomenon can be managed, we invite you to listen to the full podcast episode, produced in partnership with Ridmi Magazine, a magazine with uncensored stories on education in Romania.
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New collaboration: MHR Map of Specialists – Banometru
Banometru is a free program that provides the support of a financial coach for anyone who needs help with managing expenses or increasing their income. From their experience, the Banometer team found that those in financial difficulty often have mental health issues, and believe that helping them should be done from both directions, in order to have a long-lasting beneficial result.
Thus, this year we are collaborating for the second time with Banometru to facilitate 3-4 free psychotherapy sessions for 50 beneficiaries in their financial coaching program. We thank our specialists on the MHR map who volunteered to offer these free sessions.
The Mental Health for Romania website, 100% functional!
This month we got rid of all the bugs we had on our website – https://mentalhealthforromania.org/. From now on you can navigate more easily through our articles on the blog and can be up to date with all our projects and news. All this thanks to our friend Tony Hegyes!
Student Mental Health – ASE University of Cybernetics Students Union
A new visit with an enthusiastic audience took place on April 26 in Bucharest, at the Faculty of Cybernetics within ASE. Diana Iorga, MHR coordinator for our educational collaborations, spoke with more than 50 students about anxiety, stress and burnout, and how we can navigate such issues more easily. We thank all the participants at the event, as well as SiSC ASE, which you can find on Facebook and Instagram.
self-care ● stress ● burnout ● learning difficulties
Why do we procrastinate? The science behind procrastination
“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do just as well the day after tomorrow” – said Mark Twain. He was not the only one, however, because it is estimated that “procrastinastus”, a word of Latin origin meaning “to put off until tomorrow”, has been in use since the 1500s. If you want to learn more about why we procrastinate, the research behind this phenomenon, and how to take action, we invite you to listen to the full episode.
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Every mind matters – Dumbrava, European Youth Village
On the 1st of April, we had the priviledge of launching the “Informed Dumbrava” workshop series with a workshop on mental health, facilitated by Ioana Tonceanu, researcher in the Mental Health for Romania team. The workshop helped the young students become aware of the importance of mental health in everyday life, talk freely about mental health stigma, and recognize a possible mental health problem. The village of Dumbrava in Prahova county holds the title of European Youth Village 2023, granted by the European Youth Village program, a political program for the empowerment of rural youth. You can follow their events this year on Facebook and Instagram.
self-care ● depression
What impact do hormones have on mental health?
Some of the hormones we’re bringing up are widely known to have an effect on mental health, such as serotonin, but others, like testosterone, are less well known. With this episode we hope to remind our listeners that anyone’s mental health can be affected by the hormonal changes they go through, regardless of gender or age.
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Good news: mothers will be able to benefit from psychological counseling through CNAS, for 4 months after giving birth
Government officials are responding to the great need for support for mothers, who often experience post-natal depression. The new proposed Law no. 33/2023, supplementing Law no. 95/2006, was implemented in January to introduce the women’s right to benefit from psychological and counselling services, post-partum. This initiative comes in response to statistics showing that approximately 20% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression. This percentage refers only to those who officially recognized that they need professional help, the actual percentage being much higher.
See more details here.
anxiety ● burnout ● depression ● self-care ● stress
About students’ mental health around the exam period
Student mental health has begun to be recognized as a public health issue internationally, with studies in other countries estimating that between 20 and 40% of students may meet diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder. So, it’s time to talk more openly about this topic. We invite you to listen to the episode to find out about the experiences of Romanian students who are now going through exams.
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From the friends of MHR 🤝
“The Others“ play, in Bucharest
The Center for Creation, Art and Tradition in Bucharest brought the representation The Others, conceived at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, in the capital between January 12-14. The audience explored the concept of vulnerability and intimacy through various interactions with the artists. Ioana Paula, MHR volunteer, attended the show: “The interactions I had with the three actors made me reflect on my personal beliefs about intimacy and vulnerability. A space was created where I could look into myself with a stranger, who, through the thoughts and emotions he expressed, put a mirror in front of me in which I could analyze and explore my fears.” You can follow the initiative at Teatrelli on Instagram and Facebook.
medication ● therapy
A brief history of mental health
Mental health was, for a long time, a taboo subject, as people considered that disorders in its sphere represented a divine choice or a punishment, resulting in social isolation. In this podcast episode, we explore the progression of views on mental health, from ancient theories to the conditions in asylums, psychoanalysis and current treatment options.
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YEVE – Young Europeans Volunteering for Europe
YEVE is a project funded by the European Parliament that supports young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to acquire the necessary knowledge to become engaged citizens, with initiatives to change the community for the better. The project consists of a series of training sessions (online and in person), for a group of 42 young people from 7 different countries.
We were happy to be invited to one of the YEVE sessions, where we had the opportunity to present the story behind Mental Health for Romania and to motivate the young participants to come up with their own initiatives to raise awareness about mental health.
High school students interested in mental health
Mental Health for Romania volunteers started the year off right, with two high schools in the country opening the doors to our “Let’s bring mental health to schools” project.
Dan Mirea, one of the project coordinators, held a workshop in front of three 10th grade classes from his former high school in Craiova, the Buzești Brothers National College. Laura Goia also went to two 12th grade classes at the “Gheorghe Marinescu” Theoretical High School in Târgu Mureș.
They talked about how we can detect and manage mental health issues and how to get help. We are still looking for teachers to collaborate with, especially in Cluj, Bucharest and Mureș. You can find more details about the project here.
Join our Christmas party on Discord!
We hope you can join our Discord server, where more than 1200 members openly discuss about mental health, as well as school, books, games, and other topics. In addition to the various channels for specific mental health issues that function as support groups, we also have educational, hobby or event channels. Come tonight(on Thursday, the 22nd of December), at 20:00, on our Meeting Room, with a mug of tea or hot chocolate! We prepared thematic surprises for all ages 🎄
Mustaches for mental health in Romania
The Beer and Sport Social Club, inspired by the international Movember movement, wants to promote and draw attention to mental health in Romania – the mental health of men, but not limited to that – in November.
We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for choosing to do this by organizing a fundraiser on our behalf, which you can access here.
Follow them on Instagram, where you can see their crazy mustaches grown throughout November, sports exercises and more.
borderline ● personal story ● therapy
Life before and after a personality disorder diagnosis
Studies and surveys estimate the prevalence of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) to be 1.6% of the total population, with the first symptoms beginning in late adolescence or early adulthood.
MHR Art Contest – 3rd edition
Between September and November we organized the third edition of our art competition with the theme of mental health. We were delighted to receive 411 entries in the 4 categories: Poetry, Prose, Photography and Drawing, Painting, Collage & Illustrations.
The winners will be announced on St. Nicholas Day via email, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks also to Sabrina Dasca 
70,000 hours of free psychological counseling and psychotherapy for children in Romania
We congratulate the Romanian Government’s initiative to offer free psychological counseling and psychotherapy services to children, for a period of two years. We are glad that steps are being taken towards a society that normalizes discussions about mental health and going to therapy among young people, and we hope that this step will be followed by long-lasting solutions, for both children and adults.
In order for a child to be able to benefit from these services, it is necessary for a parent, teacher or social/community assistant to report the need for psychological support. The official recommendation can be made by the family doctor or a doctor practising school medicine or pediatric psychiatry, following which the child’s legal representative will have the opportunity to select a specialist enrolled in the program. You can learn more about the program on the official government website.
MHR art contest ● personal story ● sleeping disorders
2 am
it’s two in the morning. you’re crying. why are you crying? you’re fine. are you though? your head hurts, your hand itches for your phone, this surely is something serious, you’re dying, there’s rot in your head, in your bones, in your chest. you’re dying. you’re dying and no one believes you and you’ve told ...
“Mental Health for Romania” Art Contest – the 3rd edition
We are back with a new edition of our art contest, this year with bigger and better prizes. As always, the categories you can sign up to are poetry/prose/drawings, paintings, collages & illustrations/photography. Good luck and don’t forget to share it with your friends!
anxiety ● self-care ● stress ● trauma
Emotional Behavior Guide for Teens: How can we cope with periods of uncertainty and stress?
As I write this, it is the 33rd day since Russia declared war on Ukraine. Neutrality talks are in a new round in Istanbul. The prognosis does not look good for the two warring countries or for the rest of the world. We live in troubled times, which have brought to the surface many latent conflicts and which
personal story ● relationships ● self-care ● stress
Irina (Coffentropy) – social media, mental health
Social media platforms have become ubiquitous in our lives, and whether we realize it or not, we are all exposed to various types of content every time we access such a platform. In today’s episode, Larisa talks to Irina Rusu, known online as “Coffentropy”.
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burnout ● depression ● relationships ● reviews ● schizophrenia ● bipolar disorder
Books you can read to better understand mental illness
After the article on series dealing with mental health, I continue the series of representations of mental illness in art with the form I appreciate most - writing. Books that contain characters or stories that we identify with can make us accept and understand ourselves
personal story ● relationships ● self-care ● stress
Cristina Frei (art, social media, mental health)
In this month’s episode, we meet the perspective of an influencer, through the lens of their career as an illustrator. Rodica talks to the content creator Cristina Frei about the challenges and joys of the life of a designer, juggling between the role of a young mother, wife, woman and campaigner for time spent authentically in relationship with loved ones and with oneself.
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therapy ● anxiety ● breathing ● self-care ● stress
Breathing and nature – how can they help us manage anxiety?
Are you constantly worrying about the future? Are you afraid of what might happen, the ways in which you might fail or things might not go the way you want? Do you feel anxious for no reason, or do you often feel that you cano't control this excessive worry? Do you feel irritable and tired
PTSD ● addictions ● depression ● medication
Psychedelics: History, Research, and Possible Roles in Psychiatry
Psychedelic substances are psychoactive substances that alter the way we think, the way we perceive the world and the state of consciousness, mainly through their action on the serotonergic system. Surely you’ve heard of LSD (diethylamidolysergic acid), psilocybin or ayehuasca, and if not, we’ll tell you about it in this month’s episode.
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stress ● COVID ● anxiety
The stress of the exam period and what the students would change in the Romanian education system
We are in the exam period, which is why this month’s episode is made together with high school students, about their experiences during exams and tests. Stress, anxiety and discomfort can accompany us in many ways when taking an exam or on the way to handing in the exam paper.
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therapy ● bipolar disorder ● personality disorders ● PTSD ● autism ● borderline ● depression ● relationships ● reviews
3 Netflix shows you can watch to better understand mental illness
After my first time in the psychiatric hospital, I was always curious to know and understand as much as possible about what it means to have and live with a mental illness, to see other people or characters who are going or have gone through something similar, to
depression ● medication ● therapy
Depression – from how we measure it to the role of loved ones
If you want to learn more about depression, how it’s measured, what the risk factors and treatment options are, but also if you want to learn how you can support a loved one who is dealing with depression, this episode is for you. This month’s episode addresses depression, the most prevalent mental disorder.
Study about ketamine as a treatment for depression | Kraus, C., Wasserman, D., Henter, I. D., Acevedo-Diaz, E., Kadriu, B., & Zarate Jr, C. A. (2019). The influence of ketamine on drug discovery in depression. Drug discovery today, 24(10), 2033-2043 | EN
Study on problems in measuring depression | Cai, N., Choi, K. W., & Fried, E. I. (2020). Reviewing the genetics of heterogeneity in depression: operationalizations, manifestations and etiologies. Human molecular genetics, 29(R1), R10-R18 | EN
Study on problems in measuring depression (melancholic subtype) | Fried, E. I., Coomans, F., & Lorenzo-Luaces, L. (2020). The 341 737 ways of qualifying for the melancholic specifier. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(6), 479-480 | EN
First aid for mental health | | RO
Book about depression – The Noon Demon by Andrew Solomon | RO
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stress ● sleeping disorders ● personal story
Perfectionism or fear of failure – from obsession to balance
The cruel moment of truth: the display of the results... I was getting very close to the list of scores, afraid that the result would not be the one I wanted. If there was a high score or even a prize, it was good news, all good. If it was below expectations, then it wasn't bad news; it was a catastrophe
informative article ● medication ● self-care ● stress ● therapy ● OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – a short guide
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? How widespread is it? What causes it and who can develop it? Types of OCD Treatment What should I do if I have symptoms? Self-help tips A guide for loved ones: what should I do if a loved one might have OCD? What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder
addictions ● personal story ● relationships ● therapy
The road from trauma to help: A story about mental health and perseverance
This article tells Daniel's story and his journey to a peaceful life following his experience with traumatic events and being diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder. "As a little child you want to do something when you grow up and you start looking for role models
personal story ● self-care ● medication ● therapy
Talking to a psychologist
“Talking to a psychologist” is an informative but warm episode about the psychologist profession and what it entails. Larisa Dinu and Rodica Afrăsinei are graduates of the faculty of psychology, who chose different specializations. Larisa is a researcher in the field, and Rodica Afrăsinei is a personal development counsellor.
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ADHD ● depression ● learning difficulties ● medication ● personal story ● stress ● therapy
Attention to inattention, and how I found out about ADHD
Attention to inattention, an advice heard since elementary school, but which I would never have put down to a developmental atypicality - a phrase that intimidates and prevents the acceptance of an obvious reality: at least 1 in 10 people is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, formerly publicized by American society as
self-care ● burnout ● depression
The burnout phenomenon
The phenomenon of burnout is a topic of interest nowadays, when its occurrence and maintenance are influenced by organizational environments and individual vulnerabilities. Larisa Dinu, research assistant in the field of psychiatry, together with Rodica Afrăsinei, personal development counsellor, discuss this phenomenon and answer the questions received from you on Instagram.
Burnout Prevalence Study (2010) | Norlund et al. Burnout, working conditions and gender – results from the northern Sweden MONICA Study, BMC Public Health | EN
Systematic Review (2017) | Salvagioni et al. Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies, PLoS One, 12(10) | EN
Report commissioned by the European Union on costs: Matrix (2013) | Economic analysis of workplace mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention programmes and of their potential contribution to EU health, social and economic policy objectives | EN
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bulimia ● personal story ● relationships ● self-care ● stress ● eating disorders
The obsession with the perfect body. From dieting to bulimia.
In hindsight, I was never a child with weight problems. I started becoming aware of my body in primary school, around 7-8 years old. When puberty kicked in and my boobs started to grow, I really went crazy
personal story ● relationships ● self-care ● stress ● COVID ● anxiety ● depression ● mindfulness ● loneliness ● therapy
Lessons from 2020 about mental health
2020 was a difficult year that we will remember for a long time to come. In 2020 we spent more time alone, learned that not all things are in our control and started to be even more grateful for what we have. In this episode, research assistant Larisa Dinu recaps the events of the past year, identifies two important lessons from 2020 and proposes ideas for a better 2021.
Nature Therapy Review (2018) | Frontiers in Psychology | EN
Loneliness during the Pandemic Study (2020) | PLOS ONE | EN
Article on COVID-19 and Mental Health (2020) | Mental Health for Romania | RO
Atomic Habits Book | James Clear | Elefant.ro | RO
Guide to free or low-cost psychological services | Mental Health for Romania | RO
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relationships ● therapy ● trauma ● personality disorders ● PTSD ● anxiety ● borderline ● personal story
Borderline – with one foot always at war
Manipulators. Chaotic. Unstable. Irrational. Hypersensitive. Extreme. Toxic. This is what they call us. People think we're unlovable. They're trying to stay away from us so we don't destroy them, so we don't push them out of their comfort zone
medication ● schizophrenia ● MHR art contest
“Pascu Paraschiva is killing me!”
If her aunt was in a good mood, Aura would sometimes let her sit with her in her parents' bedroom and watch a movie or TV show together. Her small, child's body lay sprawled on the bed, propped up by a pile of large, firm pillows stuffed with goose feathers
therapy ● personal story ● medication
The science behind mental health
Ep 3 – In this episode, the young researchers from the MHR team, Dan Mirea and Larisa Dinu, tell us about the science behind health and mental disorders, debating various topics such as: the diagnostic system and its problems, the biological and psychological theories behind psychiatric disorders, how different types of treatment work and what they are based on, and finally the place of mental health within our overall health.
Articles:
The Real Problems With Psychiatry | Interview with Gary Greenberg | EN
- criticism of the diagnostic system as not being a product of science
Debunking the two chemical imbalance myths, again | Ronald W Pies | EN
- debunking the myth of chemical imbalance and introducing the model
- bio-psycho-socio-cultural of mental disorders
Cognitive psychology | Saul McLeod | EN
- explanation of the field of cognitive psychology and how its principles are applied in CBT
Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy | ColorMind | RO
- very clear introduction to CBT/CBT and the conceptual model behind it
Evidence-Based Therapy: Science or Marketing? | Jonathan Shedler | EN
- explanation of the fact that just because CBT is a form of therapy based on evidence and scientific principles does not mean that it is necessarily more effective than eg: psychodynamic therapies
Books:
Masters of the Mind | Theodore Millon | EN
- historical perspective on people’s and different cultures’ understanding of mental health and disorders
The Inflamed Mind | Edward Bullmore | EN
- the book in which the inflammatory theory of depression is presented by its author
The Globalization of the American Psyche | Ethan Watters | EN
- about another component of the faulty diagnostic system that we haven’t gotten around to addressing, namely the absence of cultural differences in the understanding of disorders
Videos:
The DSM’s Origin Story | SciShow Psych | EN
- about the factors that led to the conception of the diagnostic system in the DSM, none of these factors being linked to empirical evidence
The Science Behind Depression | ASAPScience | subtitrat în RO
- focused on the theory of neurogenesis, another theory of depression, whereby depression is linked to insufficient regeneration of neurons
Neuroscience of anxiety | Neuro Transmissions | EN
Mental disorders as brain disorders | TEDTalk-ul lui Thomas Insel | subtitled in RO
- about psychiatric disorders as brain disorders
The connection between mental and physical health | Pysch Hub Education | EN
- short animation showing the holistic view of overall health, which includes physical and mental health and is more than the absence of disorders
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eating disorders ● anorexia ● bulimia ● personal story ● therapy
How eating disorders stole my adolescence
It's well known that the teenage years, when we all 'blossom' and try to discover our qualities and who we really are, can come with certain challenges. It's a time when we develop both mentally and physically, making certain decisions that seem normal but can end up scarring us for life
anxiety
On anxiety and all its states – part II
Ep 2 – The second episode is the second part of the dialogue with Bianca Vătășescu. Bianca Vătășescu is a psychologist, psychotherapist and career consultant and she talks to us about anxiety – what it is and how it manifests itself. Panic attacks, the link between anxiety and depression, and the importance of therapy and medication in the fight against mental disorders are discussed.
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personal story ● therapy ● mindfulness
Online therapy in pandemic times
How did the therapeutic process and the intimacy between patient and psychologist change during the pandemic? During the pandemic, therapists moved all office sessions online, on Skype or WhatsApp Video. So patients either continued with online sessions or dropped out. We asked psychologists how intimacy changes in
anxiety
On anxiety and all its states – part I
Ep 1 – In our first podcast episode, we present the first part of the dialogue we had with Bianca Vătășescu, psychologist, psychotherapist and career consultant. Bianca talks to us about anxiety, what it is and how it manifests itself. Also discussed are panic attacks, the link between anxiety and depression, and the importance of therapy and medication in the fight against mental disorders.
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stress ● therapy ● sexual and domestic violence ● PTSD ● addictions ● anxiety ● depression ● phobias ● personal story
What happens once you’ve asked a social service organization for help?
Most cases of domestic violence, be it physical or psychological, are due to the perpetrator being confronted with violence since childhood, implicitly learning that violence is the way to deal with conflict. Also, contextual factors such as anger
anxiety ● depression ● relationships ● stress ● therapy ● sexual and domestic violence
Another kind of toxic relationships
"Even if it's difficult to resist parental pressure, lack (or excess!) of affection and the inability to bond with your parents, it's important not to get caught in the middle!" When the term 'toxic relationship' is mentioned, there's a tendency to think of misunderstandings
stress ● therapy ● anxiety ● personal story ● relationships ● self-care
Anxiety – or how it is all just “in your head”
Anxiety and I go way back. Probably since childhood. I cannot remember a time when it was not there in one form or another. Sure, some might say, anxiety is something we all face. It is a normal response to
relationships ● therapy ● ADHD ● informative article ● learning difficulties ● medication
Everything you need to know about ADHD
ADHD throughout life - what it is, how common it is, symptoms, treatments and tips Contents: What is ADHD? Is ADHD a mental health disorder? Symptoms Are there treatments? I have ADHD. What strategies can I use in my daily life? What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
addictions ● anxiety ● mindfulness ● breathing ● self-care ● stress ● therapy ● eating disorders ● sleeping disorders
Mindfulness and its benefits
Bigstock James Baraz, author and meditation instructor, said of mindfulness that "it means simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were otherwise, enjoying the things you like without attaching to them when the situation changes
ADHD ● anxiety ● informative article ● autism ● depression ● psychotic disorders
Autism and mental health disorders accompanying autism in adults
What are spectrum disorders? Autism and spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulties with communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviours or interests. The disorders that fall on the autism spectrum are autism, Asperger syndrome and atypical autism
personality disorders ● self harm ● depression ● personal story ● therapy ● trauma ● bipolar disorder
Me and mental disorders: a story about stigma, diagnosis and recovery
I've been hearing pretty much all my 20-something life "think positive" or "stop thinking negative" or "if you think negative that's all you'll attract". Sure, it's easy enough for a "normal" person to push away less pleasant thoughts, but what about someone who tries and tries again and again and fails? Who fails to be "positive" like "the others". These two words have been foreign to me for a long time now.
PTSD ● informative article ● depression ● medication ● self-care ● stress ● therapy ● trauma ● bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder: everything you need to know
What is bipolar disorder How common is it? What causes it and who can develop it? Symptoms: how can I tell if I might have bipolar disorder? Treatment: how is bipolar disorder treated What should I do if I have symptoms? Life with a diagnosis and self-help Guide for loved ones: what to
anorexia ● informative article ● bulimia ● medication ● therapy ● eating disorders
Eating disorders: a brief introduction
Contents: What are eating disorders? Eating disorders are medical conditions that manifest as altered eating behavior, such as overeating or under-eating, usually accompanied by negative self-image and obsessive thoughts about your body or weight. NB: eating disorders are often extremely serious and can be life-threatening. They are NOT a personal lifestyle choice. Educating yourself can ...
anorexia ● anxiety ● autism ● borderline ● depression ● schizophrenia ● therapy ● bipolar disorder ● addictions
Mental disorders in art
This article addresses the link between art (mainly fine arts), artists and mental health. Both art therapy and what patients in psychiatric hospitals have been able to create and how they have contributed to a new movement are discussed.
COVID
COVID-19 and mental health: information & advice
The recent infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the COVID-19 disease, has rapidly become the most acute health problem worldwide, recently declared a "pandemic" by the World Health Organization (WHO). Over the past five days, drastic measures have also been taken in Romania, such as canceling all events with more than 100 people, closing schools and suspending the export of medicines abroad.
