by Professor Nick Titov, a renowned Psychology Professor at Macquarie University and the Director of the University’s digital mental health service, MindSpot, is on a mission to help individuals with mild to moderate anxiety and depression take charge of their mental health. His ultimate goal is to make himself obsolete by empowering more people with the knowledge and skills to maintain good mental health.
To further this objective, Professor Titov and his team developed The Big 5, an evidence-based program that encourages five broad types of activities linked to improved Mental Health when practiced regularly. These activities may vary from person to person, but research from large cohort studies in Australia and Canada reveals that individuals with healthy thought patterns, a future focus, engagement in meaningful activities, healthy routines, and frequent social connections exhibit better mental health than those who do not.
One of the most significant individual predictors of good mental health is healthy thinking. This involves maintaining a realistic perspective of ourselves, the world, and the future, as well as treating ourselves with kindness and respect, particularly during challenging times.
Healthy routines, such as preparing and eating nutritious meals, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and engaging in regular physical activity, can contribute significantly to mental wellbeing. Meaningful activities, which provide a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, or joy, are also essential for maintaining good mental health.
The latest data from over 20,000 participants in The Big 5 program shows a consistent trend: those who practice more of these activities report better mental health, while those who engage in fewer activities experience worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety.
To further explore the impact of The Big 5 practices on mental health, Professor Titov designed a study where participants would be asked to systematically reduce these activities under supervision and then resume them again. The study’s findings, published in the journal Behavior Research and Therapy, provide valuable insights into the role of these practices in managing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research.
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
