Psych Summaries

In this episode, Hannah is joined by Emma Green, PhD in Health Psychology, to discuss the research base into the relationship between weight and health, stigmatisation of larger bodies, intuitive eating, and more. Emma has an incredible presence on social media, with such in-depth and balanced views on research in the fields of fitness and food. You can follow her work here, I would *highly* recommend!

In this episode, Hannah discusses the current research base and what we know about sleep with leading expert in sleep biology and circadian rhythms, Jamie Zietzer. They explore the associations between mental health and sleep problems, the importance of regularity (and problems that may occur from irregularity), how screens and lights within our homes may impact our sleep, and more. You can read more about Jamie’s work here.

In this episode, Hannah speaks to Professor of Experimental Research Shane O’Mara from Trinity College Dublin. They explore neuroscience and psychological research into what walking does for our physical and mental health, reasons for why we may not naturally feel inclined to engage in activity, and how this becomes even more challenging when we live in environments that do not promote more active lifestyles. You can sign up to Shane’s newsletter here and check out his incredible research on his website.

In this episode, Hannah discusses the research base into Body Image with senior research fellow at Centre for Appearance Research, Dr Helena Lewis-Smith. They delve into how body image may be a catalyst in the onset of mental health problems - making it a public health issue - how this may have been impacted by the pandemic, why someone may suffer with body image concerns, and tips for those that do. CAR is the world’s largest research group focusing on the role of appearance and body image in people’s lives, and you can find more info here, as well as following Helena’s work here. Trigger warning: this episode refers to eating disorders and specific behaviours of someone suffering with one.

In this video, Hannah speaks to Caroline Hickman, Climate Psychologist, Researcher, Psychotherapist and Counsellor. We discuss her cross-cultural work with young people, hear first hand examples of Eco-anxiety, and discuss tools to build resilience. Trigger warning: this discussion includes reference to extreme levels of despair and high levels of anxiety. To learn more about psychological research looking at the impacts on mental well-being, please head to Climate Psychology Alliance - a multidisciplinary group of contributors in this research area.

In this episode, Hannah talks to Dr David McLaughlan. He has a distinctly prominent voice and is a trusted mental health source on social media. Trigger warning: they discuss the ‘4 P’s that contribute to the onset of a persistent low mood - including biological underpinnings of depression - and talk at length about the increased numbers of those suffering in low mood due to the pandemic, at what point low mood might become a pathology, and how to support someone you love that may be suffering. For more Psych summaries, be sure to follow @psychsummaries and to follow Dr McLaughlan's work, find him at @Offdutydoctor on Instagram, you won't be disappointed! 

In this episode, Hannah talks to Ted Dinan, Professor of Psychiatry at University College Cork. Ted has a wealth of experience having worked at St.Bartholomew’s Hopsital, London, Trinity College Dublin, and the University of London. He is highly cited in his literature and is well-known for his research into the communication between the brain and the gut, which he has shown is influenced by what we eat. While still in its infancy, this research has vast implications for the future of how we understand and treat mental health. You can read more about his research interests here . For more Psych Summaries, find me on Instagram