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Funding success for research into Long COVID causes and treatment via the gut microbiome

Researchers from Deakin University’s Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation’s (IMPACT) Food & Mood Centre have received funding totalling close to $1 million through the 2023 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Post-Acute Sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) grant.  Deakin Distinguished Professor Felice Jacka and Dr Amelia McGuinness...

A little CALM during Covid-19 lockdowns

Food & Mood researchers have published a world-first trial in Lancet Regional Health showing that lifestyle therapy is equally as clinically and cost-effective as psychotherapy for helping relieve depressive symptoms in adults who experienced mental health distress during the Covid-19 pandemic. Led by Professor Adrienne O’Neil, the Curbing Anxiety...

Loneliness and Health: What Psychologists Wish You Knew

Experts state we are facing a loneliness epidemic and some of us are more vulnerable than others. In the last 20 years one in five Australians have consistently reported ‘often’ feeling lonely and during the COVID-19 lockdowns loneliness reporting rates increased to almost 1 in 2 Australians. Young adults...

Why is it so hard to exercise when we’re feeling down, even when we know it will probably help?

Most of us know that physical activity is important for our physical health and is increasingly recommended for our mental health. Exercise, as defined in scientific literature, is a form of physical activity that is intentional, and done in leisure time for the purposes of either recreation or health....

The latest on fibre as fuel for your mind and mood

Dietary fibre is an essential part of a healthy diet and is important for many functions in the body such as regulating bowels, increasing satiety (fullness), and regulating blood cholesterol, glucose, and insulin levels. While the benefits to physical health are clear and consistent, a growing body of evidence...

Working in TANDIM: new study showing diet may improve symptoms of IBS and anxiety or depression

The TANDIM trial published in the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics journal delivered some exciting findings relating to the Mediterranean Diet in people who have irritable bowel syndrome as well as symptoms of common mental disorders such as anxiety and/or depression. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common and debilitating...

Matt Agnew & The Power of Male (Role) Models for Men’s Mental Health

Written by Megan Pilon, Dean Saunders & Megan Turner *Trigger Warning: the content of this post involves discussion of suicide, and may be emotionally challenging for some people*  In 2019, Matt Agnew was the star of Network 10’s The Bachelor. In 2021, Matt attempted to take his own life....

Coke, or Diet Coke?

There has been an enormous increase in the consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) over the last two decades correlating with increased awareness of the harms of sugar on a range of chronic health conditions. The consumption of ultra-processed foods has also been increasing and as a result, exposure to...

Results from our world-first faecal microbial transplant (FMT) study

Food & Mood researchers have published a new study investigating how FMT may be used in the real world for people experiencing depression. Prior research has shown that people experiencing major depressive disorder have a different gut microbiota compared to people without depression. Some studies have also shown that...

Stress can cause heart attacks. Could tackling workplace bullying save lives?

The sad passing of Kimberley Kitching and Shane Warne (both 52) from suspected cardiac conditions has put a spotlight on the causes of heart disease. In recent days, attention has turned to the issue of psychological stress in the context of allegations of workplace bullying as a potential contributor...