A great animated video from the Youth Council of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, about what it means to put recovery principles to practice for youth.

A clever and nicely-produced video, it points out important things to watch for when providing mental health services to youth.

Much food for thought, indeed.

To learn more about recovery-oriented principles for youth, click here.

In this powerful TED Talk, comedian Kevin Breel talks about his lived experience with depression.

He makes the distinction between sadness and clinical depression, and discusses why it’s so important to talk about it in society. Suicide can be the result of depression, and he talks about his experience with suicidality. He argues against stigma.

His delivery is intense, and the personal nature of his remarks make them even more effective and real.

I believe in second chances when someone is sincerely apologetic and makes amends for their mistakes. This appears to be the case with YouTuber Logan Paul.

A month ago he posted an insensitively offensive video about suicide. The backlash was fierce, and although he apology video it took a few weeks to organize a more substantial response. He has gone to suicide prevention experts including people with lived experience, to learn more about suicide and suicide prevention and to use his situation as a teachable moment for himself and for his viewers. He also is donating a million dollars to suicide prevention including $250,000 to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK).

Suicide: Be Here Tomorrow is his newest video, and it has gained over 22 million views in just four days. Comments are mostly positive. I join in applauding him for this effort.

The imposter syndrome might be hindering your mental health and keeping you from believing you deserve your success.

This short video explains the phenomenon in detail, discussing what it is and some science that has studied it.

SciShowPsych is a YouTube series delving into all kinds of psychology and brain science topics. View more of their videos on their channel.

A new treatment trend is tCDS, or transcranial direct stimulation, using electricity to enhance mental health and relieve depression, improve sleep, and more.

Or so the manufacturers claim. Is it legit?

In this short video, the pros and cons are discussed and skepticism is raised, with a closer look at the science behind the trend.

“Heather: Forensic Mental Health Success Stories” is a short and lovely video telling the story of a woman who was involved in the mental health forensic care system in Canada.

With beautifully rendered drawings illustrating Heather’s tale in a storybook titled “Dear Sam,” she reads her tale aloud to her son, with the saga unfolding page by page.

Heather begins to have hallucinations and hear voices, and at first doctors can’t help her. One day a voice tells her to walk too close to a senior woman, and ends up knocking her to the ground. Police attend and arrest Heather.

She is taken to a forensic psychiatric hospital, where at first she feels lost and scared, but eventually she confides in a peer. Her story continues with custody issues – one of her sons stays with his father while the other goes to foster care, and she is unable to get him back.

After a year she is released and moved to a halfway home and begins visitations with her son, and in time they move into an apartment together and smiles return. She talks about her mental health recovery process, but mostly focuses on her love for her son, in a touching end to the story.

Heather’s story is part of a series of Forensic Mental Health Success Stories produced by Principal Investigator Dr. Jamie Livingston and videographer Stephanie Young, aiming to educate people about those who have achieved recovery and success after being found “Not Criminally Responsible” in court due to a mental disorder.

From the Chrissy B. Show, three tips to stay strong in tough times such as facing loss.

Including an anecdote from her own family, Chrissy illustrates how there is hope and life changes, and talks about how to challenge negativity.

The Chrissy B. Show is a TV show about mental health and wellness from the UK.

A beautiful and moving video featuring the spoken word poem “Matt” performed by Andre Fenton, about a forensic mental health success story. Filmographer Steaphanie Young added great imagery as well.

The video was produced by Principal Investigator Dr Jamie Livingston for the Forensic Mental Health Success Stories project, aiming to increase understanding of people found Not Criminally Responsible due to mental illness, and how there can be hope and success with treatment.

This great short video was made in Canada.

Neuroscientist Leslie Vosshall  gives a talk during the “The Sensory Logic of the Gastronomic Brain” symposium at the Basque Culinary Centre, about the connections between the brain, the tongue, and scent.

From molecules to a perception of scent and taste, this engaging lecture shares interesting information for erudite conversations at your next dinner party.

Rockefeller neuroscientist Leslie Vosshall, PhD is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Photo by Mike Burns

“Code Therapy” is an award-winning 15-minute documentary about the benefits of digital health tools like apps, web sites, wearables, and other technology designed to improve mental health.

The acclaimed documentary has been screened at festivals in England, Ireland, India and the United States, and was  awarded Best Documentary at the 2016 Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival.

It’s now online and free to view in full (and share) on their site, or on Vimeo and YouTube.

Learn more about some digital health tools for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other issues, here at PsychCentral.

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