Five on Friday 2018

Dear Readers,

Another year of musings on mental health. From the gut biome to the unintended consequences of focusing on resilience. From explorations of gun violence and suicide to the teenage brain, concussions, technology, and the mental health benefits of nature and laughter. From weddings to child’s play to turning ninety. From exploring ways that mental health matters to community to recognizing that community matters to mental health. Thank you for reading Five on Friday. Thank you for sharing your favorite posts with others. Thank you for writing to me with comments on what I have written and topics I might consider for another week.

Here is 2018 in review. Please click on the links to read posts you may have missed or to read once again posts you especially enjoyed.

Hundred Acre WoodGut Feelings —  Antipodal Mental HealthThe Downside to Fostering Resilience TouchLove is EleMENTALPutting our Heads Together#ArmMeWith…And the Winner is…An Award of Our OwnWhat’s the Matter with Kids Today?Is Mom Depressed?Two Years of Five on Friday!Edinburgh in AprilCrossing the Channel Healthy NY Summit and Awards 2018Mimi and David Say I DoHow is Laughter the Proverbial “Best Medicine?”Why I Ride for Mental HealthThe Black Swan, Turkey, and ButcherGraduation Junkie Seeing the “Men” in Mental IllnessTwo Suicides in One Week?Men, Mental Illness, & Suicide – Your Questions AnsweredICD-11 has Arrived: Hello Gaming Disorder, Goodbye Gender Incongruence, and more… SCOTUS: What about Mental Illness?When in Doubt, ServeFriday the ThirteenthDo You Pixar?Guru PurnimaThe Bright Future of Mental HealthWhat about Dorothea Dix?Lyme Disease and Mental HealthIf Truth isn’t Truth, What About Lies?Just for Fun“Wow! That’s about all I can say – Wow!”A Life’s Work  — An Easy FastBreaking the GlassMental Health Parity & RealityWorld Mental Health Day – Focus on YouthI Crossed the Street Fat and HappyA Walk in the ParkHealthier, Longer LivesKnockin’ Your NogginThanksgiving 2018Ninety Years and CountingThe Happiness Industry Makes Me Sad2018 Home Office Challenge Suicide and the Holidays


Wishing you a new year filled with light and love. Wishing all of us a new year filled with discoveries that increase our understanding of mental illness and mental health.

Kathleen M. Pike, PhD

Kathleen M. Pike, PhD is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Global Mental Health WHO Collaborating Centre at Columbia University
[email protected]