Welcome to The Local Optimist Digest, your crib sheet for the latest news in mental health. Whether you want to know how the government is (or is not) investing in our well-being, discover the latest research on how the mind impacts the body, or find out which celebrities are helping continue the conversation by opening up about their own mental health struggles, we’ll be covering it all here every week. This week, we're looking at how the climate crisis is taking a toll on our mental health, why we procrastinate, and the psychology behind a great dating profile.

The Mental Health Realities Of Climate Change

As the effects of climate change continue to unfold, people around the world report feeling increasingly anxious, stressed, sad and hopeless. The inherent uncertainty and dread of what climate change may bring is often overwhelming and difficult for people to grapple with. Mental health professionals say there are ways to cope with the unknowns surrounding climate change, so long as people are able to accept the difficult emotions surrounding the crisis. READ.

The science behind why we procrastinate

Let’s face it. At one point or another, we have all put off completing a task. Although it's often easier to push the not-so-urgent or enjoyable chores of life to another time, procrastination can result in negative consequences such as exhaustion and stress. However, science also shows that procrastination, on occasion, has potential benefits if you are able to manage time and researchers share legitimate ways to counteract the habit if it is negatively affecting your mental health. READ.

What makes a great dating profile? Originality.

Although it may be true that you “love to take long walks on the beach,” new psychological research finds that almost all dating profiles can benefit from being original. Showing a sense of humor, and including self-disclosure statements, has been found to be more attractive than playing it safe with generic, and common, responses. Researchers have specific suggestions for how you can start upping your game while staying true to yourself. READ.

5 simple ways to become a better listener

1. Practice. Find a willing participant. Then, for two minutes, face each other without distractions while one of you speaks (answering a prompt) and the other listens.

2. Start from a place of open-mindedness and acceptance. Avoid making judgments and thinking about advice to offer. This will enable you to focus more on what the person is saying, and less on your own interpretation.

3. Be attentive but relax your gaze. You don’t need to strain your eyes or concentrate too hard, but be aware of the speaker in a natural and focused way. Block out distractions that might otherwise grab your attention.

4. Listen to both the words and the silence in between. Most of us are uncomfortable with pauses and what we may consider awkward silences. But in those pauses, we can reflect on the meaning of what a person has just said.

5. Ask open-ended questions. When it feels appropriate to engage in a response, ask open-ended questions, such as: What was that like? And how did that feel? It will make for a better dialogue.

Read MORE.

Jonah Hill’s new documentary Stutz opens the door for mental health conversations

Set to premiere November 14th on Netflix, Jonah Hill faces his mental health struggles head-on in his documentary, Stutz. The film provides an inside look into Hill’s unorthodox therapy session with world-renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Phil Stutz, in an effort to shed light on the tools that can help those struggling with mental health. The Hill-directed project works to further counter the societal taboo of therapy in a way that is raw, open and honest. READ.

Project HEAL

Did you know that 80-90% of people with eating disorders never get treatment? Project HEAL hopes to create a world where all people who struggle with an eating disorder have the resources they need to heal. Project HEAL is breaking down systemic, healthcare, and financial barriers that millions of people in the U.S. face while trying to find and navigate support. To access Project HEAL’s resources or donate to the cause, head HERE.

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