Nachnivsesnachalostart over: a guide to psychological wellbeing

An independent guide to psychological wellbeing. We do not diagnose and do not replace a doctor or psychotherapist; we are not affiliated with the previous website on this domain. If you feel very bad or your life is in danger, call 112 (or your local emergency number).

Sources

Sources and limitations

People take advice about mental health to heart, especially during hard times. That is why we rely on a small number of reliable sources, cite only verified figures and are honest about the limits of this guide.

A guide can explain how help works. Only a specialist who sees and hears a particular person can actually help them.

— Editor's note

What we rely on

Our foundation is materials from the World Health Organization: the guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior published in 2020, and the fact sheet on depression.

On sleep duration, we follow the joint recommendation of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, published in 2015.

Everything else we describe in general terms, without numbers and without references to individual studies that are hard for readers to check.

Which sources can usually be trusted

  • International and national health organizations
  • Professional medical associations
  • Your own doctor, who knows your health history
  • Materials that show who the author is, what they rely on and when the text was last updated

How to check advice about mental health

  1. Who is saying it

    Does the author have relevant training, and is it stated? An anonymous text or someone else's personal experience is no reason to change treatment.

  2. What is being sold alongside

    If the advice ends with an offer to buy a course, a challenge program or a consultation, evaluate it especially carefully.

  3. Does it match the recommendations

    Compare the advice with the WHO's position and your doctor's opinion. A mismatch is a reason to ask a question, not to act right away.

  4. Are there promises of a miracle

    Quick, guaranteed changes in the mind do not happen. A promise to change yourself forever in a week is a warning sign.

What this guide does not contain

We do not diagnose, do not publish scored tests, do not name medicines and do not offer techniques for treating yourself. We do not name specific clinics, specialists or apps, and we are not affiliated with the previous website on this domain.

  • Research

    How to read psychology news: big headlines, number of participants, surveys versus experiments, and who paid for the study.

  • Approaches

    Who primary care doctors, psychotherapists, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are, how to prepare for a visit and how to support someone.

  • Glossary

    Words from conversations about mental health in plain language, from stress and anxiety to sleep hygiene and helplines.

  • Topics

    Topics by group: stress and tension, sleep and rest, anxious thoughts, professional help, checking claims; plus the article catalogue.

Sources

  • WHO: Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior (2020)
  • WHO: Depression fact sheet
  • American Academy of Sleep Medicine: recommended amount of sleep for adults (2015)

This guide draws on the WHO guidelines on physical activity, the WHO fact sheet on depression and the recommendations on sleep duration for adults as they were available at the time of writing. Recommendations are refined over time, so questions about your own health are best discussed with a doctor.