May 26, 2026 Book Review: “Mental Health Interventions in Everyday Life” by Alan E. Kazdin

Professor Alan Kazdin is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry at Yale University and a former President of the American Psychological Association (2008). He is also a careful scientist who promotes evidence-based treatments for mental health. In his words:-

“Our recent research shows worldwide that by the age of 75, 50% of adults will have a diagnosable mental disorder. This alone is astounding. Add to that the findings that:

1. Most people of the world with a mental disorder receive no treatment of any kind for their problem; this applies to low-, middle-, and high-income countries;
2. Mental disorders not only impair functioning but also predict physical disorders (e.g., serious diseases) and a reduced life expectancy;
3. Among those in the small group of people that actually receive treatment worldwide, approximately 7% receive a treatment (medication or psychotherapy) that is evidence-based. The remainder receive a concoction of interventions that do not have empirical support that they are effective or make any difference; and
4. Diagnosable mental disorders are on the rise in the past 5-10 years among children, adolescents, adults and older individuals.”

In his latest book, the author explores various activities in our daily lives that may positively affect mental health, including interactions with animals, physical exercise, time spent in nature, and yoga. He presents evidence indicating that these activities may help reduce mental disorders. Additionally, he discusses innovative methods, such as educational television, that can be used to provide “treatment” beyond what is typically available through a traditional visit to a mental health professional.

The book is organized into three main sections. The first section provides background information on mental health issues and the limited treatment options available for those who suffer from them. The second section discusses various interventions that can help bridge the treatment gap in everyday life. These interventions include physical activity and diet, mind-body practices such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi, and contact with nature and animals. Additionally, it highlights the importance of social support and connections, along with different delivery methods for these interventions, including digital formats. Finally, the third section addresses the challenges of integrating these interventions into public health solutions.

WellBeing International has designated “Feel Better” outreach as one of its program areas. This outreach term was influenced by a public poll of American adults in which respondents indicated that they “feel better” when they take individual actions that benefit the environment and/or animals. Professor Kazdin’s book is thus tailor-made as a “feel better” instruction manual for individuals around the world. In addition, as would be expected from someone who is a long-time advocate for evidence-based treatments, the book is thoroughly referenced, with approximately 1,200 references for readers who wish to dig a little deeper into a particular topic.

Professor Kazdin notes a growing global interest in human subjective well-being and happiness. Several countries have started measuring subjective well-being as an alternative indicator of national progress to the more traditional gross domestic product (GDP). WBI has confirmed this trend by tracking the use of well-being terms (well-being, well being, and wellbeing) using Google Trends (see chart). The worldwide growth in interest in these terms from January 2004 to February 2026 strongly supports Dr. Kazdin’s observation.

WBI is particularly interested in understanding how exposure to natural settings or contact with animals affects individual well-being. Professor Kazdin cites several studies reporting a positive impact of nature on mental health. However, he also warns that such studies are limited, and only a few are specifically designed to demonstrate a direct causal link between nature exposure and improvements in mental health. He concludes that “overall, the research on the benefits of contact with nature is limited in terms of direct tests in randomized controlled trials for the mental health issues we are focusing on.”

Regarding contact with animals, published research has produced conflicting results, making it impossible to definitively conclude that sharing a home with a companion animal has beneficial effects on mental health. Professor Kazdin cites a 2011 paper by Harold Herzog, who has written extensively about the inconsistent evidence supporting the health benefits of a companion animal. Having engaged in research on the health benefits of pets himself, Professor Kazdin is well-positioned to draw conclusions on this matter.

However, he notes that pet ownership is widespread, with approximately one-third of households around the world having pets, and many individuals argue that their pets help their mental health. Nevertheless, Professor Kazdin emphasizes that we do not have:

“..clear evidence that pets reduce depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and stress in everyday life and in a way that is reliable?”

Kazdin argues that the everyday interventions he highlights could be considered evidence-based and asks how the world could reduce the current mental health treatment gap, and concludes:

“The next step – to show that we can make a difference, if only moving the proverbial needle a little to ensure that more people in need are actually served – is critical.”