The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with Peking University Sixth Hospital, conducted the first clinical study on a digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) intervention app. The study involved 708 participants aged 15-25 from mainland China and Hong Kong with insomnia disorder and subclinical depressive symptoms. The digital CBT-I app significantly improved sleep quality and reduced depressive symptoms, with a 42% lower incidence of depression in the intervention group compared to the control group. The app's automated format contributed to high engagement rates, and no adverse events were reported. The study suggests that digital therapeutics could serve as a scalable and accessible solution for addressing youth mental health challenges, particularly in regions with limited mental health resources.
https://opengovasia.com/2025/02/21/hong-kong-digital-therapy-for-insomnia-in-youth/A study conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's faculty of medicine and Peking University Sixth Hospital found that an app-based digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduced depression rates among young people in Hong Kong and mainland China by over 40%. The research, led by Professor Wing Yun-kwok, is the first clinical study in Asia to investigate this treatment.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3299478/app-based-insomnia-therapy-found-cut-depression-rate-among-hong-kong-youth?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionThe Live BeyondThe Live Beyond campaign, launched by the Office of the California Surgeon General as part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, is a historic investment by the State of California aimed at providing emotional, mental, and behavioral health support to young people and families. This initiative is a key component of Governor Gavin Newsom's Master Plan for Kids' Mental Health and his broader Mental Health Movement.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-surgeon-general-dr-diana-ramos-launches-psa-to-raise-awareness-of-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-and-toxic-stress-302380855.htmlNikki Davey, a busy flower farmer, has found success with her business by implementing the '1 per cent rule', which involves dedicating one percent of her profits to mental wellbeing initiatives. The strategy has helped her manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-20/minna-gilligan-unwind-being-kind-to-herself-first-time-mum/104951532Monique Ross, an Australian, shares her personal experience of not recognizing the signs of burnout and stress until it almost led to a mental health crisis. She attributes this to feeling overwhelmed by work demands, which she describes as "stress driving you towards burnout."
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/stress-driving-you-towards-burnout-time-to-go-green-20250218-p5ld0x.htmlA study found that listening to "work flow" music, characterized by strong rhythm and moderate dynamism, improved participants' self-reported mood after completing a cognitively demanding task. The music had no lyrics and was sourced from a music therapy app. Researchers also observed that participants who listened to work flow music responded more quickly over time and showed significant improvements in mood, independent of anxiety, depression, or stress levels.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/opinion/2025/02/17/music-playlist-that-can-boost-your-focusThe International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate mental health training into maritime education. Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan and ITF Maritime Operations Coordinator John Canias signed the agreement on February 12, 2025, during the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) session in an effort to prioritize the well-being of maritime workers.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/02/19/business/maritime/itf-marina-sign-pact-to-enhance-mental-health/2057419Vishal Fernandes, a mental health expert, notes a significant increase in phone, technology, and social media addiction over the past five years. One extreme case he's encountered involves a client who spent between 15 to 17 hours daily on YouTube.
https://nypost.com/2025/02/17/lifestyle/technology-addicts-suffer-same-withdrawal-symptoms-as-heroin-addicts-therapist-finds/A recent study compared the responses of human therapists and an AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in a simulated therapy setting. The results showed that while human therapists provided more empathetic and culturally competent responses, ChatGPT's answers were rated higher for incorporating key psychotherapy principles. In one instance, ChatGPT responded to a confession with advice on managing "difficult emotions" and improving communication, whereas the therapist offered words of comfort acknowledging the person's guilt. The study suggests that ChatGPT may have potential in improving psychotherapeutic processes, but mental health experts will need to become technically literate in machine learning to integrate GenAI into therapeutic settings.
https://www.ndtv.com/feature/can-ai-tools-replace-human-couples-therapist-study-says-yes-7725026#pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories_topstoriesImg