*Prompted by his own experience of living with depression and the escalating levels of depression and anxiety across the Western world, Johann Hari set out on a three-year investigation, interviewing experts and sufferers the world over.

*He questions the conventional wisdom about depression – essentially that it’s all in our heads, caused by an imbalance in our brain chemistry – and the efficacy of antidepressants.

*Looking outside our heads, rather than within, Hari argues, we can identify an alternative source for the rise in mental-health issues: disconnection from truly rewarding work, from other people, from meaningful values to live by, and even from the natural world.

*To improve our mental health, we need to seek connections – renewing links with others, finding fulfilling work, building better cultural values and tapping into our spiritual sides.

*In short, better mental health is a society-wide effort, rather than a matter confined to doctor and patient.

Theme 1: Effectiveness of Antidepressants - 0:29

Theme 2: The True Causes of Depression - 8:40

Theme 3: 7 Alternative Forms of Antidepressant - 20:08

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HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEWS MENTIONED IN TODAYS' EPISODE HERE:

YouTube. (2019). Johann Hari: The Antidote for Loneliness. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC2Na1E3iVg.

YouTube. (2019). Johann Hari: To Treat Depression, Provide Meaningful Work, Housing & a Basic Income, Not Just Drugs. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdSFliBttQI.

YouTube. (2019). Loneliness kills: How to fight depression with social support | Johann Hari. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp-L844-5k8.

Full Title: Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions

Year of Publication: 2018

Book Author: Johann Hari

To purchase the complete edition of this book click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078HSDZSQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_GQWGNZTMKPAR7BJPF677

Book Insight Writer: Laura Gladwin

Editor: Tom Butler-Bowdon

Producer: Daniel Gonzalez

Production Manager: Karin Richey

Curator: Tom Butler-Bowden

Narrator: Tom Evans

TIL 247: Pornography and Dating (feat. Sean Perron and Spencer Harmon)