The Bridge

Stress

Stress, the Brain, and Immunity

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on December 15, 2023

Stress can lead to a misfiring between the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems that results in disease.

Stress can lead to a misfiring between the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems that results in disease.

Workplace Dynamics

Why People Quiet Quit: Motivations and Provocations

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on October 7, 2023

A new study explores what provokes or motivates quiet quitters, and whether their intentions can be changed.

A new study explores what provokes or motivates quiet quitters, and whether their intentions can be changed.

Child Development

From Childhood Maltreatment to Adulthood Psychopathology

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on May 7, 2023

We can be biologically, psychologically, and socially shaped toward a lifelong vulnerability to mental illness by childhood violence, abuse, neglect, indifference, and insecurity.

We can be biologically, psychologically, and socially shaped toward a lifelong vulnerability to mental illness by childhood violence, abuse, neglect, indifference, and insecurity.

Gender

Lucky or Able?: How We View the Success of Others

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on March 4, 2023

Are the most successful in society merely the luckiest?

Are the most successful in society merely the luckiest?

Sleep

When Money Worries Keep You Up at Night

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on December 2, 2022

The cost of living crisis has caused a "cost of sleep" crisis, but neither are experienced equally in society.

The cost of living crisis has caused a "cost of sleep" crisis, but neither are experienced equally in society.

Stress

In Sickness and Wealth: Financial Stress Can Make Us Sick

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on November 13, 2022

Financial stress can permeate every aspect of our lives. But is it our inability to pay bills, live, and eat that leads to disease, or is it where we live?

Financial stress can permeate every aspect of our lives. But is it our inability to pay bills, live, and eat that leads to disease, or is it where we live?

Career

But You Don’t Look Sick

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on September 30, 2022

You’re a go-getter with an illness, but you don’t look sick. This can lead to dysfunctional team dynamics, poor mental health, and bad work outcomes, despite efforts to the contrary. Here's what can be done about it.

You’re a go-getter with an illness, but you don’t look sick. This can lead to dysfunctional team dynamics, poor mental health, and bad work outcomes, despite efforts to the contrary. Here's what can be done about it.

Cognition

Words Matter: How Language Influences Inclusion

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on April 21, 2022

Language underlies why professional women are often relegated to note-taking or coffee runs while men in the same orbit get selected for supervision.

Language underlies why professional women are often relegated to note-taking or coffee runs while men in the same orbit get selected for supervision.

Domestic Violence

Silence, Secrecy, and Shame: It is Not a Domestic Affair

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on April 4, 2022

Domestic violence, even by name, has been framed as a domestic affair; personal and private, but we need a whole-society approach.

Domestic violence, even by name, has been framed as a domestic affair; personal and private, but we need a whole-society approach.

Embarrassment

Silence, Secrecy, and Shame: Forced to Reinvent the Wheel

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on April 3, 2022

The silence, secrecy and shame around gendered violence forces each new victim to reinvent the wheel, and without an indication of support domestic violence can be soul-destroying.

The silence, secrecy and shame around gendered violence forces each new victim to reinvent the wheel, and without an indication of support domestic violence can be soul-destroying.

Domestic Violence

Silence, Secrecy, and Shame: Reframing Domestic Violence

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on April 2, 2022

Let us not ignite a battle of the sexes. Not all men are abusive, not all abusers are men, and victims are not only women. But we must face the harsh reality of gendered violence.

Let us not ignite a battle of the sexes. Not all men are abusive, not all abusers are men, and victims are not only women. But we must face the harsh reality of gendered violence.

Sleep

Night Owls Aren’t Lazy: Rethinking Sleep Variation

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on March 18, 2022

The 9-to-5 job is a human-constructed paradigm that goes against natural inter-individual variation in sleep patterns, yet we label night owls "lazy" for a chronotype beyond their control.

The 9-to-5 job is a human-constructed paradigm that goes against natural inter-individual variation in sleep patterns, yet we label night owls "lazy" for a chronotype beyond their control.

Stress

A Brain Changer: How Stress Shapes Cognition and Memory

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on February 18, 2022

"Bad stress" often makes us more forgetful. Neurobiological effects on the brain can help to explain why.

"Bad stress" often makes us more forgetful. Neurobiological effects on the brain can help to explain why.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Older Adults Have Been Primed for Pandemic-Related Mental Illness

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on January 28, 2022

COVID-19 has resulted in a dislocation of people's lives at the expense of psychological well-being. It is time to consider mitigation of the damages done.

COVID-19 has resulted in a dislocation of people's lives at the expense of psychological well-being. It is time to consider mitigation of the damages done.

Sleep

Stress, Sleep & Repeat: Reciprocal Stress-Sleep Associations

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on January 16, 2022

Stress and sleep are inextricably linked but how and why is not widely known. Here, we explore biological mechanisms that underpin these relationships and expose the costs.

Stress and sleep are inextricably linked but how and why is not widely known. Here, we explore biological mechanisms that underpin these relationships and expose the costs.

Stress

Beneath the Skin: The Problems Chronic Stress Can Cause

Odessa S. Hamilton MSc, MBPsS, FRSPH on December 11, 2021

Take a journey beneath the skin to see how stress at work triggers inflammatory processes that lead to mental illness, with an exploration of the extremity of costs for us all.

Take a journey beneath the skin to see how stress at work triggers inflammatory processes that lead to mental illness, with an exploration of the extremity of costs for us all.