Wallowing in a soup of despair? Try ‘lemonading’ to buck the gloom
Linda Geddes spends a week with a clown, a comic and some toddlers to test the science behind the uplifting power of play
Fancy a stroll? Across Europe, young people like me are finding friends by walking our cities
We are the post-pandemic flâneurs: stepping out of social media silos to meet people and connect with the world around us
Oh, no! It takes 162,335 minutes a year to maintain my health and wellbeing
When is anyone supposed to do anything? Bathing, stretching and cooking: the relentless grind of self-care consumes 112 days of my life each year
Scientists find that things really do seem better in the morning
UCL study into mental health and wellbeing finds that people generally feel worse at night and on Sundays
Royal Ballet school settles with former student over body shaming claim
Ellen Elphick, 31, accused the elite institution in London of breaching its duty of care
All in the mind? The surprising truth about brain rot
Is screen use really sapping our ability to focus and lowering our IQs? The scientists who have actually analysed the data give their verdict
‘I couldn’t let this monster get away with it’: how I survived rape – and sent my attacker to prison
Paula Doyle was raped by a man she had known for years. It took five painful years for the case to come to trial, but she was determined to fight for justice
Roman Kemp: ‘Here’s all my faults. Have ’em. Enjoy’
With famous parents, Roman Kemp always knew people would make certain judgments about him – but he never guessed he’d become an advocate for mental health. Here, he talks about radio, tattoos – and the event that changed his life
There’s a word for people who prefer phones to meeting friends: addicts
Ditching hanging out for isolated scrolling on our sofas is a dangerous habit that warrants help on a par with gambling
How writing about female cannibals changed my relationship with food
Describing issues of autonomy, femgore, worth and hunger all had an impact on what I wrote and how I felt about myself, says Lucy Rose
‘Be picky’: how to start therapy
Consider what kind of therapist you’d like to work with – and keep searching until you find the right fit
As an agony aunt, I know the biggest cause of unhappiness: other people. Here’s the secret to better relationships
Looking back through her post bag, Observer Magazine’s Philippa Perry answers her readers most commonly asked question: why are other people so awful?
Move body and mind: five exercises to improve mental health, from twists to lunges
Combining ideas from therapy with physical activity can bring huge health benefits, say the therapists pioneering a holistic approach
Do you feel hopeless about humanity? Look for the good things – and build a bridge towards them
We all have the capacity for creativity and growth. Hold on to this potential when life seems bleak
‘75 hard’: the viral fitness challenge is back – but is it really the best way to spend January?
Do you yearn to do two workouts a day, eat healthily, eschew alcohol and commit to reading self-improvement books? If not, there are softer options ...