All posts tagged: depression

Neutrogena under fire again for dropping Hayden Panettiere after she revealed postpartum depression struggle

Neutrogena under fire again for dropping Hayden Panettiere after she revealed postpartum depression struggle

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Neutrogena is facing a boycott and swarms of social media backlash over a story from Hayden Panettiere that has resurfaced after her sudden death at 36. The Heroes star, who was the face of the popular skincare brand for about 10 years, said in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning that Neutrogena severed ties with her after she spoke publicly about receiving mental health treatment for postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Panettiere alleged that her contract with the company was canceled because she revealed her PPD diagnosis on Live! with Kelly and Michael in 2015, explaining in her memoir: “Neutrogena canceled my long-standing contract, and it was yet another blow in a year that had given …

3 habits to avoid when your ageing parent is losing their spark, according to a psychologist

3 habits to avoid when your ageing parent is losing their spark, according to a psychologist

Published by Daniella Wilson

Watching our parents grow older is deeply painful. It becomes even harder when one or both seem to lose their spark, dwelling on the past, missing those who have gone and longing for the familiar rhythms of years gone by.  While these feelings are entirely natural and understandable, is there anything we can do to bring a sense of joy back into their lives? We spoke with psychologist Adriana Henríquez Lomba, who explains why this sadness—or even depression—often creeps in during later life. The expert shares practical ways families can help light up their world again, and the well-meaning pitfalls to avoid. Why do some older people lose their spark? “More often than not, it doesn’t happen ‘just because’ or simply as a result of getting older. It occurs because so many of the things that once gave them a reason to keep going change or disappear. There are fewer activities that excite them, a dwindling sense of purpose, and, at times, fewer reasons to look forward to the day ahead. On top of this, …

Faith, purpose, and healthier digital habits linked to better mental health

Faith, purpose, and healthier digital habits linked to better mental health

Published by Jenni Sidey

Religiosity was linked with fewer mental health and addiction problems, but much of that advantage was tied to a stronger sense of purpose and healthier digital habits. People reporting more meaning in life, less social media use, and less exposure to graphic or hateful online content generally showed lower psychological vulnerability. Because the study captured one period in time, it cannot prove cause and effect, but the findings identify potentially changeable factors that deserve further study. Religiosity has often been linked with better mental health, but the protection may have less to do with religious identity itself. An Israeli study points instead to meaning in life and digital habits, raising a broader question about resilience. Religious and ultra-Orthodox participants generally reported fewer problems involving substance use, behavioral addictions, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress than secular and traditional participants. They also reported a stronger sense of meaning, less social media use, and less exposure to harmful online material. “Our findings suggest that religiosity itself is not the whole story,” said Dr. Aaron D. Cherniak. “Much of …

‘I’ve sat at the very precipice of life’: ex-footballer Clarke Carlisle on gambling, depression – and survival | Clarke Carlisle

‘I’ve sat at the very precipice of life’: ex-footballer Clarke Carlisle on gambling, depression – and survival | Clarke Carlisle

Published by Sam Flores

‘How are you?” I ask Clarke Carlisle. Usually when you meet people it’s a nicety. Not with Carlisle. He smiles ecstatically. “I’m incredibly well, thank you. Yeah, really, really good,” says the former footballer and incoming chair of the mental health charity Mind. “I have been consistently well – not just stable, but well – for three or four years now.” Few people understand what it is to be mentally unwell quite like Carlisle does. And few understand what recovery means like he does. “It doesn’t happen by accident. Once you get stable that’s not the end of the journey. And that seems to be the MO of our society these days. You do something, you go into hospital and they patch you up, then send you on your way. And that’s the same with mental health. You might get some pills, have a counselling session, you might have a hug and a chat with someone, and they think that’s the end of the journey. And it’s not.” It has taken him a lot of …

George R.R. Martin says he’s fighting ‘sadness and depression’

George R.R. Martin says he’s fighting ‘sadness and depression’

Published by Sam Flores

George R.R. Martin says he fears “the worst may be yet to come” as he opened up about the personal challenges that ran parallel to a year of professional highs. The fantasy author, who created the world of HBO series “Game of Thrones,” said in a post published to his website on Monday that he has “battled sadness and depression” amid a “stressful” and “overwhelming” year of some exciting endeavors, “dreams coming true” and “nightmares.” In his blog post, his first since February, Martin wrote that he has lost friends — he did not provide names — and briefly mused on aging: “I turned seventy-seven last September, and I tell you, getting old is no fun.” “But there have been amazing times as well,” he continued, “I suppose that’s just life. Of course, I knew that.” Martin, who is writing his long-awaited book “The Winds of Winter,” said he has fallen behind on blog entries and intends to get readers up to speed, “but my posts are likely to [be] short and rushed.” The author …

Why older men may be particularly vulnerable to suicide in Singapore

Why older men may be particularly vulnerable to suicide in Singapore

Published by Sam Flores

WHAT CAN BE DONE If older men experience emotional distress differently, experts said support must also be offered differently. The pattern is reflected in SOS’s data. While women accounted for about one-third of suicide deaths in 2024, they made up 62.5 per cent of suicide-related calls and texts received by the organisation. SUSS’ Dr Ko said outreach efforts should be designed around how men naturally build relationships. “Women talk face to face but men talk shoulder to shoulder,” she said, explaining that men often connect through shared activities rather than conversations. Rather than expecting men to join traditional support groups, she said programmes centred on practical activities may feel more natural, allowing friendships and trust to develop over time. Dr Ko pointed to the Men’s Shed model as an example where older men meet regularly to work on practical projects and spend time together.  She said similar approaches could help reduce loneliness by creating opportunities for men to connect in ways they find more comfortable.  Ms Jennie Wan, director of mental health at Montfort Care, …

5 Casual Phrases Mentally & Emotionally Unwell People Rarely Want To Hear

5 Casual Phrases Mentally & Emotionally Unwell People Rarely Want To Hear

Published by Jenni Sidey

When I’m mentally & emotionally unwell, there are some casual phrases I just can’t hear. It’s as if they’re being broadcast on an inaudible frequency that affects me the way sonic fences affect dogs. Suddenly, I’m a teeth-gritting, fist-clenching, curled-up ball of prickly defense. The hard truth I’ve had to face is this: a well-intentioned attempt at comfort from other people can send me into a despair-filled rage. This isn’t the fault of the kindness-giver. I’m wired the way I am, and though I’m tempted to throw labels at myself like “ungrateful” and “stubborn,” I’ve decided that’s a colossal waste of time and annoying to boot. The following is a list of casual phrases I simply cannot receive when I’m mentally & emotionally struggling. I’d like to say up front that I’ve been guilty of saying every one of these and that I’m very likely to re-offend. I’m making this list as much to sort myself out as to hold myself accountable. Mentally and emotionally unwell people rarely want to hear these phrases when they’re …

Anger and Depression: Addressing the Links Between Them

Anger and Depression: Addressing the Links Between Them

Published by Jenni Sidey

Studies suggest that up to 50 percent of patients with depression experience problems with anger and irritability (Fava et al., 2010; Kovess-Masfety et al., 2013). However, the prevalence may well be higher, as many patients are inhibited about experiencing or expressing angry feelings toward others (Busch, 2009). Anger can exacerbate depression in several ways; for example, irritability can lead to disruptions in relationships, causing increased feelings of loss and isolation. Additionally, anger can be directed toward the self, leading to intense self-criticism and guilt (Abraham, 1911; Busch et al., 2016; Freud, 1917). Despite the frequency of these difficulties, anger is not part of the standardized diagnostic criteria for depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Several of the most widely used clinician-rated measures of depression, including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Hamilton, 1960) and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (Montgomery & Asberg, 1979), do not directly assess anger or irritability. Nevertheless, it is important that clinicians inquire about anger and its management in their …

Exercise works for depression. So why isn’t it treated like real medicine?

Exercise works for depression. So why isn’t it treated like real medicine?

Published by Jenni Sidey

After fracturing my humerus in an arm-wrestling match, something happened that I wasn’t prepared for. For the first time in my life, I lost the ability to exercise; the one thing that had always anchored my mental health. My mood began to unravel. The only solutions I knew were the ones I’d been taught in medical school: therapy or medication. My experience isn’t unique; it reflects a much larger problem in how we currently treat depression. An estimated 1.17 billion people live with a mental disorder globally, and depression remains one of the most common. People with depression also face higher risks of other medical problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Yet our standard approach — medication, therapy, or both — leaves up to 30 to 50% of people without meaningful improvement and does little to address these physical comorbidities. This is why more holistic options, particularly exercise, deserve serious consideration. What the evidence actually shows Hundreds of clinical trials now show that exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of depression. For mild to moderate …

She turned down Le Cordon Bleu and joined a Forbes-listed startup. Now she is baking her way to better health

She turned down Le Cordon Bleu and joined a Forbes-listed startup. Now she is baking her way to better health

Published by Sam Flores

Around the same time, feelings of inadequacy peaked as classmates compared internships at banks, consultancies and multinational firms, while she wondered whether she was on the right path in her own decision to intern at startups. After graduating with a business degree from SMU in December 2019, Ms Tan joined American business news channel CNBC as a marketing and communications assistant. About a year later, an opportunity arose when a friend who had co-founded a cryptocurrency firm invited her to join the fledgling company. She rose from being the marketing and communications lead at the startup to chief marketing officer a year later. At just 25, Ms Tan was leading the venture’s marketing and communications strategy despite having barely any formal training in the field. She learnt on the job, often relying on online resources while adjusting to the relentless pace of life at a startup. Within three years, the company earned a spot on the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list, with Ms Tan leading the public relations campaign behind the recognition. “I jumped …