Mental Health Good News

Stories about people and organizations making a difference for mental health — and fighting the stigma around mental health

Two photos side-by-side. On the left is an elderly woman snuggling a small, elderly dog. On the right are two senior dogs sitting in a bed together

At this 'cuddle club,' senior dogs and senior citizens find companionship in each other

San Francisco’s Muttville Senior Dog Rescue hosts monthly meetups for elderly community members — both human and canine.

A grandma sits at a purple lemonade stand talking to a stranger. It's called "The Grandma Stand"

Strangers seeking life advice find it at the Grandma Stand, a rotating pop-up staffed by 15 NYC grandmas

Need a little good, old-fashioned advice? Or even just a listening ear? These grandmas are going pro bono.

This woman conquered 100 fears in 100 days. Now she's helping others do the same

Michelle Poler’s “100 Days Without Fear” project has since turned into an entire career.

A woman sits cross-legged on the floor of an art studio, studying a handful of paintings

Study suggests an interest in art leads to a more meaningful life

Researchers set out to explore “the value of art beyond aesthetic pleasure.” This is what they found.

A woman with short, styled red hair smiles as she looks down

'Live Fast. Die Old:' How a nonprofit is reducing suicide rates in the Dallas music scene

Amplified Minds has been helping musicians like Jonathan Taylor find mental health support in Dallas, Texas.

A middle schooler throws a pie in the face of her teacher at a school assembly

Absenteeism rates plummeted at this middle school after incentivizing students with a chance to 'pie a teacher'

The rewards are part of a more robust accountability program, which has seen great success after one year in action.

An elderly man reads a newspaper in a crowded cafe

Obituaries are the most-read parts of newspapers. Here's what 38 million tributes reveal about 'a life well-lived'

A new study examined 38 million American obituaries. Here's what the findings revealed.

A still from the movie "Inside Out" in which a blue haired yellow emotion named Joy holds up a golden glowing memory to their friend Sadness, a blue emotion.

'Inside Out' characters are the new 'go to' for therapists

In under a decade, the two “Inside Out” movies have been embraced by the psychology community at large.

Two young women sit at a desk studying and smiling at each other

No more 'heart vs. head:' New study shows how empathy and reasoning both inspire us to help others

New research examines how empathy and reasoning impact altruistic judgments and enable people to help one another.

On an orange scribble background are handwritten words reading "you matter"

The secret to confronting political division and anxiety? Feeling like we actually matter, Jennifer Wallace says

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is the expert on mattering, something she calls “a deep human need” to “feel valued by the people around us and to know that we have value to give back.”

From crying clubs to cuddle therapy, here's how people are combatting loneliness across the US

According to a recent survey from the American Psychological Association, over half of Americans feel isolated.

Writing — even just making a to-do list — rewires the brain, studies show

Researchers believe translating emotions and thoughts into words on paper is a complex mental task.