The Mental Elf

The Mental Elf

Welcome to the Mental Elf podcast, which features interviews with leading experts in mental health: researchers, clinicians, practitioners and experts by experience. I will help you keep up to date with the latest reliable mental health research. Our podcasts are recorded at major mental health events and conferences, and explore a wide range of topics relevant to people who work in mental health and related fields. Check out the Mental Elf website for thousands of free blogs summarising the latest reliable mental health research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5d ago

    Immuno-metabolic depression & the future of precision psychiatry — Brenda Penninx (Amsterdam UMC)

    Depression is not one thing, and treating it as if it were may be why so many people don't get better. In this episode, Prof Brenda Penninx offers a sharper way to think about it. Recorded ahead of her guest lecture at the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) Summer Meeting, Brenda talks to André Tomlin (The Mental Elf) about "immuno-metabolic depression": the 20–30% of depressed patients who show low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysregulation, clustered with atypical, energy-related symptoms such as fatigue, oversleeping, increased appetite and leaden paralysis. Drawing on the large Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), she explains why these patients respond slightly less well to standard antidepressants, and why that matters. 00:00 Meet Brenda Penninx 01:03 Why Depression Varies 03:03 Defining Immunometabolic Depression 04:11 Cause or Vicious Cycle 05:56 Treatment Targets and Trials 07:41 Proof of Concept IL6 Study 10:26 Lifestyle as Medicine 13:19 From Concept to Clinic 15:11 Mind Body Care Gap 16:29 Conference Takeaways Is the biology a cause or a consequence of depression? Neither, Brenda argues: it's a vicious cycle, with common roots in genetics, lifestyle and childhood adversity. She discusses what this means for treatment (anti-inflammatory drugs, metabolic and lifestyle interventions) and why the key is targeting the right subgroup rather than the whole depressed population. She reflects on the recent Bristol tocilizumab proof-of-concept trial (Foley & Khandaker, JAMA Psychiatry), the Wellcome-funded ASPIRE project bringing these trials together, and why running therapy should be treated as a genuine, supported intervention rather than a slogan. Finally, the conversation turns to what still stands between concept and clinic (how to identify the right patients, which intervention to choose) and Brenda's wish to bring mental and physical healthcare back together. About the guest: Prof Brenda Penninx is Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at Amsterdam UMC / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and lead of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). Find out more about Brenda Penninx's talk at the 2026 BAP Summer Meeting: https://www.bap.org.uk/summersessiondetails.php?meetingID=19&sessionID=740 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Immuno-metabolic depression & the future of precision psychiatry — Brenda Penninx (Amsterdam UMC)

  2. Jul 6

    Inside the British Association of Psychopharmacology with Prof Catherine Harmer and Prof Naomi Fineberg

    Catherine Harmer, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Oxford and outgoing president of the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP), and Naomi Fineberg, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hertfordshire and incoming BAP president, discuss how BAP brings together non-clinical scientists, experimental medicine researchers, clinicians, and industry to translate discoveries into patient care. They explore growing involvement of people with lived experience through a panel shaping council work and the summer meeting, and the need to balance professional and lived-experience perspectives. Fineberg highlights BAP’s evidence-based guidelines, aimed at improving patient outcomes via clinician uptake, and plans to strengthen dissemination through NHS engagement, accessible formats, training, and webinars. They also address support for early career researchers and pipeline challenges, strategy implementation during the presidential handover, and how global stressors and emerging digital and genetic data may reshape mental health research and precision medicine. 00:00 Meet the Presidents 00:55 What BAP Does 01:17 Bridging Lab to Clinic 02:47 Lived Experience Voices 06:08 BAP Guidelines Explained 07:03 Getting Guidance to Clinics 08:30 Supporting Early Careers 09:11 Pipeline Challenges 10:57 Handover and Strategy 12:39 Global Pressures and Hope Find out more about the 2026 Summer Meeting of the British Association of Psychopharmacology to be held at the University of Birmingham, 19th-22nd July. https://www.bap.org.uk/summermeetinghome.php?meetingID=19 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Inside the British Association of Psychopharmacology with Prof Catherine Harmer and Prof Naomi Fineberg

  3. Jun 26

    Dr Lucy Foulkes - Adolescent mental health: The truth behind the headlines

    Oxford psychologist Dr Lucy Foulkes discusses myths and research around adolescent mental health ahead of her public lecture at the British Association of Psychopharmacology Conference (Sunday, 19 July). She critiques Keir Starmer’s proposal to ban social media for under-16s, arguing bans won’t remove risks, may reduce teens’ willingness to discuss online experiences, and ignore social media’s benefits, especially for marginalised or isolated young people; she supports stronger regulation to make platforms safer. Foulkes explains her “prevalence inflation” hypothesis: rising reported mental health problems may reflect better recognition, broadened definitions that pathologise normal distress, and a possible third pathway where exposure to mental health content can increase anxiety (including new evidence from Instagram posts, akin to a nocebo effect). She addresses self-diagnosis as often understandable and frequently accurate, but warns of “concept creep,” shifting meanings, and potential trivialisation that can obscure severe illness, and she emphasizes listening to young people while exploring their reasons and needs. 00:00 Meet Lucy Foulkes 01:00 Social Media Ban Reaction 02:26 Regulation Over Bans 03:29 Benefits and Teen Agency 05:49 Mental Health Awareness Myths 06:18 Prevalence Inflation Explained 09:01 Nocebo and Lessons Backfire 12:00 Why Self Diagnosis Is Rising 15:20 Concept Creep and Costs 17:25 How Clinicians Should Respond 19:40 Next Research Questions 21:18 Public Lecture Invitation You can watch Dr Foulke's Public lecture on Adolescent mental health: The truth behind the headlines in person or online on 19th July 2026, 17:30 – 19:00. It's part of the BAP Summer Meeting. More details online: https://www.bap.org.uk/summersessiondetails.php?meetingID=19&sessionID=743 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Dr Lucy Foulkes - Adolescent mental health: The truth behind the headlines

  4. Jun 9

    Nurture-U Episode 4: Taking Action - What Next for Student Wellbeing?

    Five years of research. 14,000 students surveyed. Interventions tested. A whole-university framework developed. Now: what needs to change? In the final episode of the Nurture-U Podcast, researchers, university leaders and students reflect on what it will take to turn evidence into action. What are universities actually responsible for? How do we scale what works? And what do students need most? Three things universities can do right now: Lead from the top — make student mental health a board-level priority, not just a departmental onePrevention, prevention, prevention — build mental health literacy into induction and the curriculumWork with students — if it doesn't meet their needs, you are wasting your time Featuring Professor Ed Watkins (Nurture-U PI, University of Exeter), Professor Sir Steve West (Vice Chancellor, UWE), Dr Jane Harris (University of Oxford), Kate Wicklow (GuildHE), Yanting Sun and Rida Ali. Presented by André Tomlin, The Mental Elf. Find all four episodes and access all Nurture-U resources at https://www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk Nurture-U is funded by the Medical Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Nurture-U Episode 4: Taking Action - What Next for Student Wellbeing?

  5. Jun 3

    Nurture-U Episode 3: Changing Systems - Compassionate Campus

    The Nurture-U Compassionate Campus framework identifies three pillars: culture, communication, and community. What does that mean in practice? How do mitigating circumstances systems end up failing the students who need them most? And is it really as simple as putting benches inside buildings? Three things universities can do right now: Trust your staff to exercise judgement, not just follow protocolsAudit your communication: simplify ruthlessly and reduce barriersInvest in community: fund student societies, open more grants Featuring Dr Nicola Byrom (King's College London), Gareth Hughes (Student Minds), Dr Neil Armstrong (SOAS University of London) and Audrey Fok (University of Exeter). Presented by André Tomlin, The Mental Elf. Find out more and access all Nurture-U resources at https://www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk Sign up for the Nurture-U webinar on June 15th: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-universities-can-do-about-student-mental-health-nurture-u-webinar-tickets-1990175904705?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true Nurture-U is funded by the Medical Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Nurture-U Episode 3: Changing Systems - Compassionate Campus

  6. May 28

    Nurture-U Episode 2: What Works - Testing Solutions

    Evidence alone doesn't solve the student mental health crisis. The question is: what actually works?   Nurture-U tested three interventions. A mental health literacy course that protected students from the wellbeing dip across the academic year. Digital CBT that produced a surprising finding: guided and unguided versions were equally effective. And a rumination app that prevented depression in students who overthink, with benefits maintained at 12 months.   In this episode, Douglas Badenoch talks to the researchers and practitioners who designed, delivered and evaluated these interventions. They explore what the evidence shows, why prevention remains chronically underfunded, and what universities can do right now.   Speakers: Professor Ed Watkins (Nurture-U PI, University of Exeter), Dr Lucy Robinson (Newcastle University), Dr Emma Broglia (University of Sheffield), Dr Dominique Thompson (Buzz Consulting, University of Bristol), Liam Snaith, Elsa Saddler (Newcastle University) and Will Parman (University of Oxford).   Presented by Douglas Badenoch, The Mental Elf. Find out more at https://www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk Sign up for the Nurture-U webinar on June 15th: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-universities-can-do-about-student-mental-health-nurture-u-webinar-tickets-1990175904705?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Nurture-U Episode 2: What Works - Testing Solutions

  7. May 20

    Nurture-U Episode 1: The Evidence — What 14,000 Students Taught Us

    What does the largest longitudinal study of UK student mental health tell us about who struggles, what protects them, and where universities should focus?   Nurture-U surveyed 14,000 students across five universities over three academic years. The findings are clear and some are surprising. Half of students experience high levels of loneliness. Marginalised groups are most at risk. And the protective factors that make the biggest difference aren't expensive or mysterious.   Featuring Professor Ed Watkins (Nurture-U PI, University of Exeter), Dr Jacks Bennett (Bristol Medical School), Otilia Puiu (UCL) and Audrey Fok (University of Exeter).   Find out more at https://www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk Sign up for the Nurture-U webinar on June 15th: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-universities-can-do-about-student-mental-health-nurture-u-webinar-tickets-1990175904705?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Nurture-U Episode 1: The Evidence — What 14,000 Students Taught Us

  8. Feb 3

    Why Preventing Mental Ill-Health in Schools is Essential: ReSET School Mental Health

    In the final episode of the ReSET Podcast, host André Tomlin from the Mental Elf explores the importance of mental health prevention in schools, featuring insights from Professor Peter Fonagy, Professor Essi Viding, Professor Jess Deighton, and Dr Ros Law. This episode emphasises the necessity of prevention over treatment, as optimal treatments can only reduce depression by a third. Key points include the challenge schools face in implementing prevention strategies amidst numerous demands, the long-term benefits of prevention, and the need for sustainable, evidence-based approaches. The episode concludes with actionable advice for schools to cut through ineffective interventions and focus on proven methods. Join us to learn why prevention is not just a luxury, but an essential part of creating a conducive learning environment. 00:00 Introduction to the ReSET Project 00:57 Recap of Previous Episodes 01:21 The Importance of Prevention 01:29 The Challenges Schools Face 02:06 Implementing Prevention in Schools 03:56 The Role of Teachers 06:56 Evidence and Long-Term Benefits 10:32 The ReSET Project's Unique Approach 14:08 Practical Benefits for Schools 17:34 Building Trust and Partnerships 21:31 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways 23:33 Conclusion and Call to Action Find out more about the ReSET project at: https://resetproject.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Preventing Mental Ill-Health in Schools is Essential: ReSET School Mental Health
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About

Welcome to the Mental Elf podcast, which features interviews with leading experts in mental health: researchers, clinicians, practitioners and experts by experience. I will help you keep up to date with the latest reliable mental health research. Our podcasts are recorded at major mental health events and conferences, and explore a wide range of topics relevant to people who work in mental health and related fields. Check out the Mental Elf website for thousands of free blogs summarising the latest reliable mental health research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Mental Elf
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    791
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Mental Elf

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