A stunning second act! Meet the people who changed course in midlife – and loved it

It can feel as if our options narrow with every passing year. But taking a big risk could mean the second half of your life is much more exciting and fulfilling than the first

Constant craving: how digital media turned us all into dopamine addicts

According to addiction expert Dr Anna Lembke, our smartphones are making us dopamine junkies, with each swipe, like and tweet feeding our habit. So how do we beat our digital dependency, asks Jamie Waters

Jesy Nelson on leaving Little Mix: ‘I felt everybody hated me’

The singer left one of the most successful girl bands of all time after a decade of relentless trolling. Now, as she prepares to go solo, she reveals why she’s ready to return to the spotlight on her own terms

Blood, gore and a healthy dose of catharsis: why horror can be good for us

A grisly feast of scary British films is heading our way. Why now? Once seen as ‘video nasties’, many believe they have a positive role to play in a pandemic

Is robot therapy the future?

Seek help for a mental health issue today and you may find yourself referred to an online app or talking to a robot therapist. Is this welcome democratisation of an expensive resource – or the ‘Uberisation of therapy’? Eva Wiseman reports

Good old days: why body confidence improves after 60

A New Zealand study claims men and women become more satisfied with their bodies over time – bucking the expectations of our youth-obsessed culture

After my miscarriages I didn’t need to talk – I needed access to better care

Until we shift the culture around baby loss, women will still feel abandoned, says Jennie Agg, a writer on women’s health

‘The assignment made me gulp’: Could talking to strangers change my life?

So often we interact with the world via phones and apps, but what if you struck up a conversation with a random person? A growing body of research suggests we should

Simone Biles is forcing us to think about what sporting success really means

This astonishing athlete’s greatest triumph may be to make us confront the mental demands our culture puts on athletes, says Olympic rower Cath Bishop

A moment that changed me: meeting the rescue dog who comforted me through unfathomable loss

When I first held my dog Veela in my arms, I was grappling with my mother’s dementia, which was followed much too soon by her death. The teachings of my little red dog helped me survive

‘It was devastating’: what happens when therapy makes things worse?

Therapists are meant to help people change their lives, but those who behave badly may end up doing more harm than good

Good grief: how to get over a bone-crushing disappointment

Sorrow and disappointment are a big part of pandemic life – and England football fans are now feeling them keenly. But there are ways to deal with these distressing emotions

No goals: why is it so hard to do something for enjoyment’s sake?

Being wholly goal-driven sets us up for constant comedowns, but some high achievers have found a solution

Chucking the sickie: no-questions-asked ‘doona days’ give workers a break

Employers are increasingly seeing the wisdom in offering staff days off for mental health – no leave application or medical certificate required

Hope Virgo: the woman who survived anorexia – and began Dump the Scales

Hospitalised with an eating disorder as a teenager, she recovered to become a campaigner. Her mission? To show that eating disorders aren’t always visible