cafebabel.com

German books on generation Y: crisis of ego and well-being

('Kate Saunders-Puntis',) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:23:44 -0000

In the last year, two women writers have described generation Y, which was born in the eighties and nineties. Whilst one author evokes pity and the other admonishes, the pair agree on one thing: things can’t go on they way they are

Peace in 2011: 'solutions to conflicts do exist’

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:15:14 -0000

From democratic aspirations to the transformation of the media game, Cathy Van Dorslaer, a Belgian psychologist specialising in the prevention of conflicts, explains why she believes 2011 stood under the sign of peace

How an Italian boy became a ‘happiness coach’

('amare.ca',) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:16:45 -0000

Born in the land of ‘la dolce vita’, Bergamo-born Frank Ra, 32, travelled Europe before publishing a book on happiness. He offers his thoughts on spiritual scepticism, being a former erasmus student or ex-pat and how ‘no place is perfect unless we accept it with all its features’

Depression: ‘alcohol abuse is far more common in eastern and northern Europe’

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:01:28 -0000

Is Europe more depressed than it used to be? Professor Frank Jacobi from Berlin’s psychology college (PHB) took part in a European neuropsychopharmacology magazine study from 30 countries, revealing that 38% of Europeans suffer from psychological illnesses. The figure is up from 27% in 2005. Interview

Cinema psyche: the enemy is within us

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:53:15 -0000

Black Swan, Melancholia, A Dangerous Method; recent screen outings seem to feel the need to place psychological disturbances at the heart of their storylines. Depression, personality disorders, feelings of inadequacy and suicidal tendencies are but a few of the themes dealt with by the great Aranofskys, Von Triers and Cronenbergs of today

One third of Europeans suffer from mental illness: really?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:59:49 -0000

On 6 September a controversial sounding report from the European college of neuropsychopharmacology revealed that 38.2% - of the EU population as well as people from Switzerland, Iceland and Norway - are not quite right up there. Four psychologists from Poland, Spain, France and Italy give cafebabel.com their verdict

Belgian singer Selah Sue, no Amy Winehouse

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:45:00 -0000

She’s a singer with American, even Jamaican soul, but Sanne Putseys is also just like any other young angel-faced Belgian girl, despite her groove sisterhood

Social networking in Sarajevo: analyse this (over Bosnian coffee)

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:48:15 -0000

Bosnia's capital wears its war wounds from the 1992-1995 war with Serbia honestly, the signs on its bomb-shelled buildings and pavements. What about its mental scars fifteen years on? Amidst a blaze of foreign healing initiatives, few private psychologists and one 'social networking internet cafe', this is a society which is resolved to solve its problems - globalised as they are - over coffee

Psychology of Europe's youth: generation ‘no subject’

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:08:11 -0000

Today's young generations in Europe seem traumatised by emptiness – the lack of perspectives and opportunities, goals, aspirations. No better comparison than the metaphor of an email without a title, says one young volunteer youth organisation counsellor and psychology graduate

Are Balkan women more promiscuous?

('Milena Stosic',) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:45:08 -0000

It's official: more women are approaching men in the dating stakes and a recent book in Serbia reveals a more liberal attitude. So is the Balkan woman moving towards a western, less conservative European model? We hear from Balkan guys and girls

German students swoop down on Austrian universities

('Darren Thompson',) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0000

In some border university towns, the student population is as high as 12%, as German students escape the various clauses in their own universities and enrol 'abroad' for subjects like medicine and psychology. A common tongue and the abolition of tuition fees are the fundamental attractions

After tragedy, French psychiatry toughens up

('Natalie Huet',) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Following the 2008 death of a student stabbed by a schizophrenic man who had slipped out of a psychiatric hospital, ever-present president Nicolas Sarkozy demanded an ‘in-depth reform’ of the French psychiatric system. An outline was announced less than three weeks later, on 2 December

Roger Woolger: 'it's not psychosis'

('Elisa Marengo',) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The British psychotherapist from Sussex, 63, brings together Jung theory and eastern philosophy in his 'deep memory process'. His theory on reincarnation: our past lives help us resolve our present neuroses

Post-Erasmus syndrome: SOS distress

('Andrew Burgess',) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Erasmus = a riotous life abroad of non-stop parties and lovemaking. But once they’ve returned, the majority of students experience a low period, a mixture of nostalgia and apathy. Is this the end of innocence?

Continental blues

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0000

The French consume 65 million boxes of antidepressants every year. The Baltic states have the highest suicide rates, but Italians are among the least affected

'Women in Quebec are more violent towards men - not the other way round'

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0000

Every third day in France, a woman dies at the hands of a violent partner. The case is different on the other side of the francophone world

Muslim matchmakers go online

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:08:00 -0000

Muslims turn to online matchmaking to find perfect spouse

Dutch prostitution: from sex trade to trade unionism

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Though Prostitution was legalised in October 2000, Dutch call-girls enjoy little social recognition