Institute for Applied Psychology and Research

10/05/2026

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29/04/2026

The One Million Coders Programme is active!

Registration is ongoing, and you should take advantage of this via onemillioncoders.gov.gh.

NOTE: Solely for Ghanaians.

This program is an initiative of the Government of Ghana under the Ministry of Communication Digital Technology and Innovations (MoCDTI).

23/03/2026

Anticipate 🥰✍️

01/03/2025

01/03/2025

HAPPY NEW MONTH

22/11/2024

HOW CAN I HELP MYSELF IF I AM DEPRESSED?

If you have depression, you may feel exhausted, helpless and hopeless. It may be extremely difficult to take any action to help yourself. But it is important to realize that these feelings are part of the depression and do not accurately reflect actual circumstances. As you begin to recognize your depression and begin treatment, negative thinking will fade.

1.Engage in mild activity or exercise. Go to a movie, a ballgame, or another event or activity that you once enjoyed. Participate in religious, social or other activities.

2.Set realistic goals for yourself.

3.Break up large tasks into small ones, set some priorities and do what you can as you can. Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.

4.Try not to isolate yourself, and let others help you. Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Do not expect to suddenly “snap out of ” your depression. Often during treatment for depression, sleep and appetite will begin to improve before your depressed mood lifts.

5.Postpone important decisions, such as getting married or divorced or changing jobs, until you feel better. Discuss decisions with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.

Remember that positive thinking will replace negative thoughts as your depression responds to treatment.

followers

13/11/2024

DID YOU KNOW?
According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 3% of children and teens between the ages of 3 and 17 have depression. It's more common in teens than children. About 1 in 5 teens have been diagnosed with major depression. And that's only those that have an official diagnosis.

Research has shown that childhood depression often persists, recurs and continues into adulthood, especially if it goes untreated. The presence of childhood depression also tends to be a predictor of more severe illnesses in adulthood. A child with depression may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that a parent may die. Older children may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative and irritable, and feel misunderstood. Because these signs may be viewed as normal mood swings typical of children as they move through developmental stages, it may be difficult to accurately diagnose a young person with depression. Before puberty, boys and girls are equally likely to develop depressive disorders. By age 15, however, girls are twice as likely as boys to have experienced a major depressive episode.


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01/11/2024

Seven tips for mental wellness ✊

25/10/2024

How do older adults experience depression?

Depression is not a normal part of aging, and studies show that most seniors feel satisfied with their lives, despite increased physical ailments. However, when older adults do have depression, it may be overlooked because seniors may show different,
less obvious symptoms, and may be less inclined to experience or acknowledge feelings of sadness or grief.

In addition, older adults may have more medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke or cancer, which may cause depressive symptoms, or they may be taking medications with side effects that contribute to depression. Some older adults may experience what some doctors call vascular depression, also called arteriosclerotic depression or subcortical ischemic depression. Vascular depression may result when blood vessels become less flexible and harden over time, becoming constricted. Such hardening of vessels prevents normal blood flow to the body’s organs, including the brain. Those with vascular depression may have, or be at risk for, a co-existing
cardiovascular illness or stroke.

Although many people assume that the highest rates of su***de are among the young, older white males age 85 and older actually have the highest su***de rate. Many have a depressive illness that their doctors may not detect, despite the fact that these su***de victims often visit their doctors within one month of their deaths.

The majority of older adults with depression improve when they receive treatment with an antidepressant, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.

Research has shown that medication alone and combination treatment are both effective in reducing the rate of depressive recurrences in older adults.

Psychotherapy alone also can be effective in prolonging periods free of depression, especially for older adults with minor depression, and it is particularly useful for those who are unable or unwilling to take antidepressant medication.

14/10/2024

How do men experience depression?

Men often experience depression differently than women and may have different ways of coping with the symptoms. Men are more likely to acknowledge having fatigue, irritability, loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities, and sleep disturbances, whereas women are more likely to admit to feelings of sadness, worthlessness and/or excessive guilt. Men are more likely than women to turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed, or become frustrated, discouraged, irritable, angry and sometimes abusive. Some men throw themselves into their work to avoid talking about their depression with family or friends, or engage in reckless, risky behavior. And even though more women attempt su***de, many more men die by su***de.