#Mentalhealth

A new study has revealed that “virtual forest bathing”—experiencing the sights, sounds, and even scents of natural forests through digital technology—can significantly reduce stress and boost mood, offering potential mental health benefits to people with limited access to nature. As Thailand’s cities grow increasingly dense and natural green spaces become harder to access for many urbanites, these findings carry important implications for stress management and wellness across the kingdom.

Originating from Japan, the concept of “forest bathing” or Shinrin Yoku involves spending quiet, undistracted time in a forest environment to calm the mind and promote health. Traditionally, this practice fosters deep immersion in nature, but modern lifestyles and urban expansion are rapidly separating millions—including Thais in cities like Bangkok—from such restorative environments. With green spaces shrinking and daily pressures mounting, experts have been exploring alternative methods to connect people with nature’s healing effects, even from within the cityscape.

Talking to pets as if they are people may do more than entertain our furry friends — it could reflect and even strengthen vital emotional skills for their human companions, according to emerging research and expert analysis. As pet ownership grows steadily in Thailand and worldwide, scientists and psychologists are delving deeper into the social and psychological benefits of treating pets as conversational partners, with recent studies suggesting that these interactions are closely linked to seven distinct emotional strengths.

As Thailand’s society becomes increasingly aware of mental health challenges, especially post-pandemic, many are grappling with the often unseen social costs of depression. Recent global research and lived experiences—like that described in Slate’s recent advice column about a decade-old friendship tested by one friend’s withdrawal and history of depression—highlight a growing dilemma: when a person’s struggle with a common illness like depression begins to erode the very bonds that once provided support and joy, what are friends to do? slate.com

A wave of new research and cultural conversation is challenging the long-standing assumption that exercise’s primary purpose is to achieve physical ideals. Instead, experts and individuals are finding that the true benefits of moving our bodies reach far deeper—improving mental health, brain function, community connection, and overall well-being—regardless of changes on the bathroom scale.

The most recent discussion, highlighted in The Atlantic’s July 2025 newsletter by Isabel Fattal, asks why people move their bodies and what motivates them to keep going. As noted by contributors such as Xochitl Gonzalez and Julie Beck, many grew up linking exercise exclusively with weight loss, often battling cycles of discouragement. However, emerging thought leaders argue that reframing movement as a source of joy, agency, and mental relief—rather than simply a tool to sculpt bodies—opens the door for more sustainable and self-affirming habits. For some, this means trading high-intensity workouts for the pleasures of running with a pet, weight lifting, group classes, or even simple nature hikes. The emphasis is personal exploration and finding what fosters comfort and connection to one’s body (The Atlantic).

A new nationwide study reveals that pastors, traditionally seen as frontline counselors in their communities, are now providing less counseling than a decade ago, have fewer resources for referrals, and are increasingly isolated with their own struggles. The Lifeway Research survey, involving over 1,500 evangelical and Black Protestant pastors across the United States, underscores an important shift in how spiritual leaders participate in mental health care—a development with broad implications for faith communities worldwide, including Thailand.

More college students than ever before are choosing to major in psychology, drawn by the field’s versatility and its promise to help understand both themselves and others. Yet, as the latest research and economic data reveal, this boom comes with a significant financial catch for graduates. While the degree opens doors to a host of industries, the starting and mid-career salaries for psychology majors often lag behind those of peers in more specialized or technical disciplines—a tension now under scrutiny for both Thai and global students making career decisions in today’s changing economy (Newsweek/MSN).

A growing wave of psychological research and theory is turning the spotlight away from the individual mind and highlighting the profound impact of relationships on mental health. New arguments from the field of relational psychology challenge the traditional view that mental disorders are rooted solely within the individual, calling for a social and interpersonal understanding of mental wellbeing—a perspective with sweeping implications for how Thai society approaches mental health care.

A groundbreaking study has revealed that scents can fundamentally alter decision-making in mammals by forging indirect associations in the brain—findings that may pave the way for innovative treatments for mental health conditions in humans. The new research, conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by a doctoral student and supervised by a leading neuroscientist, used behavioral experiments in mice to explore how the brain’s response to smells influences future choices—offering important insights for both science and society.

A mere three minutes of slow, controlled breathing can significantly enhance a person’s ability to manage their emotional reactions, according to groundbreaking research published in Psychological Reports. The study, detailed in a recent report by PsyPost, demonstrates that this brief breathing exercise not only soothes negative feelings in the moment but also makes it easier for individuals to consciously regulate their emotional responses—offering potential benefits for mental health and daily stress management PsyPost.

A new wellness trend known as the “cortisol cocktail” has taken TikTok by storm, with users around the world — including in Thailand — mixing up alcohol-free mocktails touted to reduce stress and lower the body’s main stress hormone, cortisol. But while influencers and wellness bloggers swear by the drink’s benefits, medical experts remain skeptical, emphasizing the lack of robust clinical evidence supporting these claims and urging caution for certain groups of people.

Raising Generation Alpha, children born between 2010 and 2024, has become one of the most hotly debated topics among parents, educators, and researchers worldwide. Sparked anew by a recent firsthand essay in Spiked and reinforced by major new findings from Thai and global scholars, the reality of parenting in this digital, progressive, and complex era defies simple stereotypes. With Thai families encountering both unique opportunities and daunting dilemmas, the question of how best to nurture the youngest cohort remains deeply relevant and, at times, fraught.

In a world where relationships are under increasing strain, new research is spotlighting six small but powerfully effective daily habits linked to happier, longer-lasting marriages—findings that resonate with couples across Thailand as much as anywhere else. Compiled from the latest peer-reviewed studies, these rituals promise to help couples enjoy not only marital stability but also greater day-to-day happiness, all without expensive retreats or couples therapy marathons. The science suggests that, like any good recipe for longevity, it’s the daily consistency and intent that make the difference.

A leading Xbox executive has sparked debate in the workforce and technology sectors after advocating for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help laid-off workers manage the emotional and practical challenges of job loss. The executive, speaking candidly about the realities of layoffs in a post on social media, suggested that large language model AI platforms—including ChatGPT and Copilot—can play an integral role in reducing the emotional and cognitive load faced by those navigating unemployment (The Verge).

A brief, guided breathing exercise can significantly improve our ability to regulate negative emotions, according to a new study published in the journal Psychological Reports. The findings suggest that as little as three minutes of “box breathing”—a simple technique involving slow, measured inhales, holds, and exhales—may offer a fast, accessible strategy to calm the mind, reduce agitation, and enhance self-control in the face of everyday stress.

Emotional regulation lies at the heart of mental wellbeing, influencing how we cope with life’s inevitable challenges. For many Thais, navigating emotional ups and downs is an essential part of maintaining family harmony, workplace productivity, and community life. The latest research offers hope for those seeking alternatives to medication or long-term therapy by demonstrating that even short, intentional breathing sessions can have immediate and measurable impacts on mood and resilience.

A recent wave of parental discussion has emerged following a widely read advice column in Slate, in which a parent described the unsettling discovery that their teenage child had stolen a personal, “intimate” item from them. The incident, and the conflicting parental responses it generated, spotlight crucial questions at the intersection of adolescent development, privacy, consent, and healthy family communication—challenges familiar to Thai families navigating modern parenting.

In the Slate column, the parent expressed shock and discomfort upon learning that their adolescent had taken a deeply personal object. The parent’s spouse, in contrast, urged a more hands-off approach, advocating for letting the incident pass without confrontation. This difference in parental perspective mirrors a broader debate occurring in homes worldwide about how best to respond when boundaries are crossed within the family, especially as children move into the often confusing terrain of adolescence (Slate).

A recent psychological study has sparked international debate after researchers found that a surprising number of men would rather subject themselves to an electric shock than spend time alone simply thinking. The findings, which have made headlines globally, challenge long-held assumptions about the human mind’s relationship with solitude and the discomfort that can arise from being alone with one’s thoughts.

In the study, conducted at a leading university and summarized widely in scientific news reports, participants were asked to sit alone in a room with no distractions—no phones, books, or even paper—for a period of 6 to 15 minutes. They were instructed to occupy the time with their own thoughts. Unbeknownst to them, the room also contained a button that, if pressed, would deliver a mild but noticeably unpleasant electric shock. While many participants chose to simply sit quietly and think, a significant number of male participants opted to give themselves one or more electric shocks rather than endure “just thinking” in solitude. This unexpected behavior, highlighted in multiple psychological journals and recapped by VegOutMag, underscores the degree of discomfort that some individuals experience when left entirely alone with their own minds.

Recent research and expert analysis reveal that people who genuinely enjoy eating alone often possess seven rare psychological strengths, challenging common beliefs about the drawbacks of solo dining. Far from being a sign of loneliness or social anxiety, the preference for solitary meals may actually reflect powerful qualities such as self-determined autonomy, emotional resilience, mindfulness, and independent thinking—qualities increasingly recognized as important in our fast-paced, socially connected world (VegOut).

For many Thai readers, solo dining often carries stigma, with social meals remaining a focal point of family, friendship, and workplace rituals. Yet as lifestyles in Thailand continue to diversify, driven by urbanization and shifting work patterns, research into the psychological benefits of eating alone is especially relevant. Traditionally, Thai society places great value on communal eating, where sharing food is a symbol of kinship and care. However, the increasing popularity of single living, mukbang culture, and solo travel is bringing new perspectives to the humble table for one.

In Thai society, laughter is often celebrated as the glue that brings people closer together—whether amongst friends over dinner, couples strolling the markets, or families gathered during festivities like Songkran. Yet, emerging research cautions that not all laughter is created equal, especially in romantic relationships. A new wave of scientific findings reveals that humor can, at times, function less as a tool of intimacy than a weapon of subtle contempt—leaving lasting marks on trust, self-esteem, and emotional safety.

A new artificial intelligence (AI) system, developed by international researchers, is turning heads worldwide for its uncanny ability to predict human decisions with unprecedented accuracy—raising both hopes of revolutionary applications and urgent questions about privacy and ethics. This breakthrough, recently published in the journal Nature, introduces the AI model “Centaur”, which has outperformed decades-old cognitive models in forecasting how people think, learn, and act across diverse scenarios (studyfinds.org).

Centaur’s creators set out with an ambitious goal: develop a single AI system capable of predicting human behaviour in any psychological experiment, regardless of context or complexity. To achieve this, they compiled a massive “Psych-101” dataset spanning 160 types of psychological tests—ranging from memory exercises and risk-taking games to moral and logical dilemmas—amassing data from over 60,000 people and more than 10 million separate decisions. Unlike traditional models tuned for specific tasks, Centaur was trained to generalise, understanding the plain-language descriptions of each experiment.

A quiet revolution is reshaping screens across Asia: Korean dramas, or K-dramas, are boldly reclaiming mental health narratives, breaking longstanding stigmas and fostering new conversations. Once shadowed by shame and silence, topics such as depression, anxiety, autism, and workplace stress are now portrayed with empathy and nuance in prime-time Korean series—offering hope, healing, and representation to millions of viewers across the region, including Thailand.

For decades, mental health themes were largely absent or misrepresented in Asian popular culture. K-dramas, long a staple among Thai audiences for their romance and family conflicts, were no exception. Societal attitudes in South Korea placed mental health on the far side of taboos, rarely discussed openly, let alone explored on television. But as understanding of mental wellness expanded globally, content creators in Korea began to tackle these sensitive topics head-on, blending storytelling with therapeutic insight.

A major new study from Norway has found that children born later in the school year—those who are the youngest in their class—are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems than their older classmates. The research, which analyzed data from over one million children, has ignited global debate over how education systems, including Thailand’s, may inadvertently disadvantage their youngest students through rigid school entry cut-off dates. Experts are now urging policymakers and educators to reconsider age-based class placements and provide additional support to mitigate these long-term mental health risks.

A viral social media trend is reframing the age-old after-meal stroll as the so-called “fart walk,” claiming benefits for digestion, gut relief, and even blood sugar control. While the cheeky name has sparked widespread attention, medical experts confirm that the underlying health advice is sound, particularly for individuals struggling with bloating, gas, or metabolic issues.

The “fart walk” is not as novel as it sounds. In Thailand, as in many cultures, an after-dinner saunter—often around the family compound or local neighborhood—has long been practiced, sometimes as a way to connect with relatives or enjoy the evening air. However, recent online conversation has repackaged this gentle walk, typically taken within an hour after eating, into a wellness hack purported to ease gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort and aid overall health. The trend’s catchy rebranding may have helped drive new attention to some well-founded medical advice: walking after a meal genuinely encourages healthy digestion and offers a range of additional benefits.

A sweeping new study has found that rates of depression and severe psychological distress differ widely across job sectors, with employees in retail, food service, media, and healthcare support among the most at risk. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored workplace mental health strategies, particularly as young adults and women are shown to be disproportionately affected.

The research, led by a team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, analyzed data from over 536,000 working adults across 37 US states, collected between 2015 and 2019. The results, published in JAMA Network Open (JAMA Network Open, June 2025), paint a nuanced portrait of how occupation, age, gender, and insurance status shape mental well-being across the labor market. This information is particularly timely for Thailand, where the impacts of economic change, urbanization, and shifting industry are reshaping the workforce and its vulnerabilities.

A new wave of research is shedding light on the heavy toll financial stress is exacting on individuals’ mental health and sleep, with implications that resonate strongly in Thailand’s own escalating cost-of-living crisis. While a recent US-based study conducted by the Affordable Housing Hub found that over half of surveyed adults lose sleep over money worries, the underlying story has deep international relevance—including for Thai society, where struggles with financial anxiety, depression, and insomnia are rising sharply (ksby.com).