Latest from Mental Health

Effects of dope last long after high - expert
Regular dope smokers experience serious cognitive impairment long after they're high, an Aussie expert says.

System failing offenders with brain disability
Thousands of people may be ending up on the wrong side of the law due to an alcohol-related brain disability caused before birth, a New Zealand judge says.

Bystanders thanked for their courage
The family of a man who was run over by his partner outside a Hamilton superette have thanked bystanders for their "courage and kindness'' during the ordeal.

Blog: What is happiness?
How do you define happiness? Do you think high expectations can compromise it? Are our children destined to be less happy than we are?

Jennifer Lawrence reveals mental health struggles
Jennifer Lawrence saw a psychologist for an anxiety she developed while she was in high school.

Run-over man 'gentle soul'
A man who was run over by his partner outside a Hamilton superette is a gentle soul who was trying to help her through some issues, a friend says.

Why do we procrastinate?
Why do we choose to mess around when we need to knuckle down and do what we know to be important?

Combating stigma of mental illness
All the great sporting franchises, teams, sportsmen and women are constantly looking for an edge; the small percentages that add up to big gains.

Rugby star's message shone light into 'dark place'
When John Kirwan first delivered his message of hope to those New Zealanders suffering from depression, Dafydd Sanders was enduring his "lost years".

Mental health + sport: The JK effect
An email dropped into my inbox late last week from a rugby player of recent vintage whose name would be instantly recognisable to those who follow the national game.

Rural call for help on youth suicide
A Far North community grappling with a cluster of youth deaths says the Government isn't doing enough to prevent youth suicide.

How the weather affects your mood
Weather provides a vivid language for describing our emotional atmosphere, but does it also influence it?

Concerns over compulsory mental health care
Concerns are being raised over the number of mental health patients placed under compulsory treatment.

Uni project opens eyes of cricketer
Iain O'Brien was in the midst of a university project on the not-so-celebrated topic of chlamydia when he had his epiphany.

Cricket captures the highs and lows
When the British tried to break a young Robert Mugabe, they piped cricket commentary into his cell. There's probably a good reason they chose that sport.

Cricket star's inner demons
In a candid interview, former international cricketer Lou Vincent opens up about the mental health issues he faced while representing his country.

Boys sex ed 'should be vulgar'
You need to be crude and rude to teach schoolboys about caring sexual behaviour, says an expert who has enlisted the help of vulgar comedians.

Brain cleans itself when we sleep
A good night's sleep may be the key to preventing brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, a study has found.

Snoring can signal big pregnancy problems - study
Women who snore loudly in late pregnancy have an increased risk of depression and needing a caesarean, New Zealand research has revealed.

Sex hormones could affect anxiety treatment success - expert
The stage of a woman's menstrual cycle may have a major impact on how well she responds to treatment for anxiety, says an Australian psychologist.

Why do we daydream?
We are usually told that daydreaming is a waste of time and mental power, but the ability to daydream offers us tremendous flexibility in our daily lives.

Sleeping is like cleaning up after a house party - expert
"You can think of it like having a house party. You can either entertain the guests or clean up the house, but you can't really do both at the same time." - expert.

'It will have an impact'
Defence lawyers like the late Greg King - who suffered a "massive breakdown" after a major murder trial - have a higher risk of suffering depression, says an expert.

Greg King suffered 'massive breakdown'
Top defence lawyer Greg King had a "massive breakdown'' at the end of the Ewen Macdonald murder trial, four months before taking his own life, a coroner finds.

UK Prosecutor - Armed man wanted to see the Queen
A man with a history of mental illness was hoping to see Queen Elizabeth II when he tried to rush through a Buckingham Palace gate carrying a six-inch (15-cm) knife, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Ten rules for fighting dementia
The 10 golden rules to help avoid dementia have been unveiled by British scientists.

What is caffeine's impact?
Unlike many drugs, caffeine may be taken legally by people of all ages, which helps make it the world's most widely used stimulant.