🧠 国际心理学资讯速递

On May 15, the UK Government launched a call for evidence toward its first cross-department national mental health strategy. BACP called for "immediate and bold action on access and choice of therapy." Mental Health Foundation CEO Mark Rowland hailed it as "a big moment for England's mental health," with wide-ranging implications for service funding, workforce, and insurance coverage.

On May 1, BACP and the Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) launched a formal partnership to study diverse therapeutic practices across international contexts — a significant step in expanding UK counseling expertise to the Global South.

Published May 16 in Psychology Today, a new study found that AI interactions begin to alter human performance and motivation in just 10 minutes. Meanwhile, APA Monitor reports surging AI use among psychologists alongside growing concerns about accuracy, transparency, and unintended harm — raising urgent ethical questions for AI-assisted psychotherapy.

APA Monitor (Apr/May 2026) reports that in-person care still dominates mental health treatment despite telehealth proliferation. However, certain populations — rural residents, those with mobility issues, and lower-income groups — are more likely to use remote or hybrid models, suggesting that diversified service delivery will become standard.

APA Monitor reports that contingency management — a behavioral approach using rewards for treatment adherence — is "highly effective" and gaining policy momentum, with new programs expanding access. It is especially critical for stimulant use disorders where no pharmacological treatments exist.

On May 8, BACP launched the "Understanding Preferences in Counselling" (U-PIC) tool, designed to empower young people to shape their counseling experience. The structured preference assessment tool aims to improve therapeutic matching and engagement in youth mental health services.

A BACP survey released April 29 revealed that 70% of men in the UK would only consider therapy once hitting a breaking point. The association launched a campaign to tackle this "crisis point culture" by lowering psychological barriers to help-seeking in schools, workplaces, and communities.

During UK Mental Health Awareness Week (May 11–15), the Mental Health Foundation released nationwide data showing "self-isolation" and "bed rotting" as the most common harmful coping habits. Meanwhile, one in three UK adults actively use nature to support their mental health — providing public-health evidence for ecotherapy approaches.

New APA research (May 2026) found that anthropomorphism — treating nonhuman entities in humanlike ways — generates gratitude, trust, and protective urges. This has implications for ecotherapy, animal-assisted therapy, and counseling around human-AI relationships.

A new meta-analysis found that plant-based dietary patterns are significantly associated with lower depression risk, adding to the evidence base for integrating nutritional interventions into psychotherapy — advancing "lifestyle psychiatry" as an adjunctive approach.