The understanding that mental health problems not always is an illness that can be medicated away or treated based on multi-decade old psychotherapy is growing at the same rate as science learn to understand more about how the human brain actually works.
This wiki-page will list great resources that explain and teaches based on new knowledge and that are openly available online.
MOOC - Learning How to Learn
This amazing Courseracourse from the University of Californiaprovides fantastic knowledge about how we learn from a mental perspective. It is based on current scientific research teaching for a personal development perspective.
This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. We’ll learn about the how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects.
The way Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski have created and presents this course is fantastic. The stories weaved in from their own past experience creates both depth and trust. The extra material, including several interviews with top peers in the field, adds even more.
Homepage: Coursera - Learning how to learn"
Status: Enrollment for current session closes October 10, 2015
Procrastination
Procrastination is also a common cause that contributes to mental health issues. Here Europe lags far behind North America in awareness and understanding. One reason is probably that it too easy can be mistaken as laziness, especially for others.
In the YouTube playlist What procrastination is really about you will be meet Dr. Tim Pychyl (profile on Psychology Today), who have 20+ years of research on the topic, in a recorded class lecture. Tim will make you laugh in recognition as he describe typical situations procrastinators get themselves into,
in a very good way as you at the same time get to understand why it happens.
Then the playlist continues with a 4-part presentation by called Combatting Procrastination that will give you even greater understanding about what it is, how it works and how to deal with it.
TED-talks about mental health
Another great way to get better understanding about a topic is to listen to experiences told by others. Listening to someone explain from a different perspective can often help unlock our own struggles as we recognize the similarities are greater than the differences.
The TED topic page for mental health contains articles as well as all their recorded talks on the topic.