ABSTRACT Volunteer mental health workers (VMHWs) provide essential support to individuals experiencing a crisis or mental-unwellness in the UK, a demographic often overlooked in contemporary research. The study explored factors influencing compassionate expression among third-sector VMHWs, identifying opportunities to enhance resilience and mitigate poor mental well-being. Twelve VMHWs completed a semi-structured interview, exploring factors that inhibited and cultivated compassion. The data was then subjected to thematic analysis. The first theme, compassion towards self and others, explored how learnt compassion and social expectations combine within the therapeutic setting. In the second theme, the cultivation of self-compassion, highlighted opportunities to support compassionate expression through personal boundaries and self-awareness. Crucially, volunteers advocated for interventions that extend traditional support systems, emphasising the need for training and supervision that actively promote and normalise self-compassion. Findings call for further research and policy development within third-sector organisations, with targeted interventions fostering a more sustainable and compassionate environment for VMHWs.

ABSTRACT During the pandemic, the mental health industry saw a surge in cases. Due to the movement restrictions, these demands had to be fulfilled by online counsellors. Hence, online mental health organisations saw a massive surge in queries and concerns. Current research inadequately addresses the personal and professional challenges faced by online counsellors in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study bridges the gap by interviewing 25 Indian online counsellors working in mental health organisations. The results suggested that online counsellors demonstrate altruistic behaviour. They felt a sense of purpose to help others even while going through their own traumatic events. These counsellors revealed their efforts towards dynamic capacity building, and shared their sense of a re-emergence of the mental health industry.

ABSTRACT This study explores the role of art therapy in enhancing self-awareness and emotional regulation among adolescents, focusing on a single case study of Devi, an adolescent client in a residential treatment setting. Over six weeks, Devi engaged in structured art therapy sessions designed to facilitate emotional expression, self-reflection, and personal growth. Using content analysis of session transcripts, therapist observations, and Devi’s artwork, the study identified key themes reflecting her progression. Through symbolic and metaphorical art forms, she externalised and processed complex emotions, creating a safe space for exploring her inner world. This process highlighted the unique potential of art as a bridge between verbal and non-verbal communication, allowing her to gain insights into her emotional triggers and fostering a deeper understanding of her needs, boundaries, strengths, and weaknesses. As Devi translated her experiences into visual art, she not only developed more effective strategies for emotional regulation but also cultivated a more cohesive sense of self. This case illustrates how art therapy can support adolescents in residential care in developing emotional regulation, self-awareness, and a coherent sense of identity through symbolic and expressive art-making.

ABSTRACT Objective: The therapeutic contract covers agreements, expectations, and norms, usually established orally. This study examined professionals’ attitudes toward moving to a written therapeutic contract. Method: Fifteen active psychologists and four other professionals participated in structured qualitative interviews. Results: Four central themes emerged. Most therapists resisted written contracts, fearing they would harm the therapeutic relationship, while some believed they could foster collaboration and autonomy. All emphasised clarity about the legal consequences of written contracts in potential lawsuits. Conclusions: This research underscores the need to examine written therapeutic contracts and the tension between procedural clarity and their impact on the therapeutic alliance.

ABSTRACT This study explores therapists’ personal outcomes of the Portland Model (PM) approach to online peer group supervision. This approach is rooted in acceptance and commitment therapy, whose main features are being self-conducted and using experiential techniques. The study compared clinicians attending six PM sessions (N = 14) with a control group (N = 14) in terms of inclusion, self-compassion, burnout, well-being and mindful awareness. Furthermore, we used sociograms to explore the relationship network formed within the group. Results show that PM group supervision improves the sense of inclusion and mitigates some aspects of burnout. However, the approach didn't foster strong in-group relations.

ABSTRACT Existing research findings suggest that female college students face more mental health difficulties than their male peers. In order to better address their unique needs and improve accessibility to support services, it is essential to investigate the specific mechanisms through which their attitudes towards seeking counselling develop. This study explored female college students’ counselling-seeking behaviour, considering the influences of self-concealment, family support, depression, and self-stigma towards counselling. The participants included 272 female undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university in the United States. As a result of path analysis, findings indicated that self-concealment was associated with family support, depression, and self-stigma towards counselling, while depression positively influenced counselling-seeking behaviour, and self-stigma towards counselling negatively influenced counselling-seeking behaviour. These findings added empirical evidence of Cramer’s (1999) help-seeking model by expanding the scope of the investigation. Implications for promoting female college students’ mental health and improving access to counseling services are provided.

ABSTRACT The present study sought to ascertain the mediating role of psychological symptoms in the association between life satisfaction and happiness among Turkish individuals residing in Turkey and Australia. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, with a sample of 400 participants aged 18-65. The data were collected via an online survey using the Oxford Happiness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the SCL-90-R. Statistical analyses, incorporating independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlations and mediation analyses, were conducted utilising SPSS. The findings indicated that participants living in Australia reported significantly higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction, whereas those residing in Turkey exhibited higher levels of psychological symptoms. The implementation of correlation analyses indicated a positive association between life satisfaction and happiness, while psychological symptoms exhibited a negative correlation with both constructs. Mediation analysis demonstrated that psychological symptoms partially mediated the relationship between life satisfaction and happiness, accounting for 11.7% of the total effect. These results emphasise the pivotal role of psychological well-being in elucidating the association between life satisfaction and happiness within a cross-cultural context..

ABSTRACT Childhood trauma is a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet the psychological mechanisms underlying this link in young adult populations remain underexplored. This study examined the mediating role of self-compassion (SC) in the link between childhood trauma (CT) and PTSD among Turkish university students. A total of 592 students aged 18–30 participated. Mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro (Model 4) in SPSS. The findings showed that higher levels of CT were associated with lower SC and greater PTSD symptoms. SC partially mediated this link, with the indirect effect accounting for 19.07% of the variance in PTSD. In conclusion, SC may serve as a key protective factor in the link between CT and PTSD. Additionally, SC-based interventions have the potential to enhance student well-being and resilience in university counselling settings.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological flexibility and eudaimonic well-being, alongside exploring the mediating role of meaning in life and resilience. Participants included 611 Turkish individuals (57.28% female; mean age = 27.62 ± 8.14). Results showed that psychological flexibility was a significant predictor of meaning in life, resilience, and eudaimonic well-being. Meaning in life and resilience also had significant predictive effects on eudaimonic well-being. The mediating effects of meaning in life and resilience in the relationships between psychological flexibility and eudaimonic well-being were statistically significant. The findings indicate that meaning in life and resilience significantly mediate the relationship between psychological flexibility and eudaimonic well-being. These findings may guide researchers and practitioners to promote well-being.

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted significant mental health disparities among college students, many of which persist in the post-pandemic era. This study employed latent class analysis to examine mental health disparities in a sample of 93,274 college students from the early pandemic period. Four distinct latent groups were identified, revealing substantial between-group differences in mental health outcomes. Notably, the group consisting predominantly of students of colour, characterised by heightened experiences of discrimination and lingering COVID-19-related challenges, exhibited the most adverse mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the continued need for targeted interventions and systemic change to address these disparities among college students.