Writing for well-being: How it could be a new way to teach the essay and resist AI

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · May 11, 2026 · 1127 words · By Lindsey McMaster

Mental Health in Education Human vs. Artificial Intelligence Pedagogical Reform

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What to know about Mental Health in Education

The author describes an English course at Nipissing University designed to integrate well-being practices, such as journaling and poetry, into literary studies. The approach aims to reduce student anxiety and discourage the use of generative AI by focusing on personal growth and emotional expression.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Writing the dreaded English essay spikes anxiety for thousands of students, but is there a way for writing to boost students’ well-being instead?

Why it matters

I wanted to know if a new approach to teaching literary studies could tap into the feel-good side of writing and make essays a path to wellness, so I designed an English course to try it out at Nipissing University.

Common ground

We know that university students are at risk of mental-health struggles, particularly depression and anxiety.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Straw Man, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Mental Health in Education story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In the United Kingdom, the Poetry Pharmacy movement spearheaded by publisher and arts advocate William Sieghart focuses on the healing power of poetry?
How does this story connect Mental Health in Education with Human vs. Artificial Intelligence over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/writing-for-well-being-how-it-could-be-a-new-way-to-…

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Straw Man 70% confidence

Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Why it matters: Recognizing straw man helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 80% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3

check_circle Corroborated 2

verified Verified 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

info

Claim 1: “In the United Kingdom, the Poetry Pharmacy movement spearheaded by publisher and arts advocate William Sieghart focuses on the healing power of poetry”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general information about the name 'William' and Prince William, which is completely irrelevant to William Sieghart or the Poetry Pharmacy movement.

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web search NEUTRAL — William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066, [2] and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William

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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Stay updated on Prince William, heir to the British throne. From his royal duties and family life with Princess Kate to his passion for the environment, mental health, and charitable work.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/prince-william/

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web search NEUTRAL — May 3, 2026 · William, prince of Wales, elder son of Charles III and Princess Diana and heir apparent to the British throne. He is married to Catherine, princess of Wales, and has three children, Geor…
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-prince-of-Wales

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Claim 2: “A diary-based study of more than 600 young adults led by psychologist Tamlin Conner showed a straightforward effect where being creative one day boosted well-being the next”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources (Yahoo News Canada and ScienceDaily) confirm a study led by Tamlin Conner involving over 600 young adults/university students that found creative activity boosts well-being the next day.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Tamlin S. Conner, also known as Tamlin Conner Christensen, is an American–New Zealand academic psychologist, and is a full professor at the University of Otago, specialising in researching the science…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamlin_Conner

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A diary-based study of more than 600 young adults led by psychologist Tamlin Conner showed a straightforward effect where being creative one day boosted well-being the next. Case study on the self.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/writing-well-being-could-way-15561…

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web search NEUTRAL — Everyday creative activity may lead to an "upward spiral" of increased wellbeing and creativity in young adults, new research suggests. In their study, researchers asked 658 university students to kee…
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161123183914.h…

verified

Claim 3: “L. M. Montgomery’s story is especially compelling. Her famous books like Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon have made a utopia of Prince Edward Island; but inwardly, Montgomery experienced deep mental anguish, leading to addiction in her later life”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms L.M. Montgomery as the author of Anne of Green Gables. Other sources mention her 'troubled life' and that she lived a 'far less charmed life' than her characters, supporting the claim of mental anguish, though specific 'addiction' details are less explicit in the snippets provided.

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web search NEUTRAL — Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 - April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a collection of novels, essays, short stories, and poetry beginning in 19…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Maud_Montgomery

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web search NEUTRAL — Born 150 years ago on November 30, 1874, L.M. Montgomery is best remembered today as the author of Anne of Green Gables.
https://earlybirdbooks.com/lm-montogomery-biography

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web search NEUTRAL — The Author of 'Anne of Green Gables' Lived a Far Less Charmed Life Than Her Beloved Heroine L.M. Montgomery created a classic of children's literature, but what about her lesser-known works?
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/lm-montgomery-an…

info

Claim 4: “Participants who adopted the approach reported feeling happier and less depressed at the one-month, three-month and six-month points”

SINGLE SOURCE

One search result confirms that Seligman's 'Three Good Things' study had a significant impact on reported levels of well-being, but the specific timeline of one, three, and six months is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Martin Elias Peter Seligman is an American psychologist, educator, and author of self-help books. Seligman is a strong promoter within the scientific community of his theories of well-being and positi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Seligman

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Three Good Things. All difficult decisions reflect intrinsic motivations, usually a tug-of-war between a value-based goal that requires sacrifice and a more comfortable "good-enough" alternative.
https://barbell-logic.com/three-good-things/

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web search NEUTRAL — In a study by Seligman and colleagues (2005), participants were asked to write down three good things that happened to them each day, for one week. The results showed that this daily activity had a si…
https://www.kendal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Design-You…

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Claim 5: “university students are at risk of mental-health struggles, particularly depression and anxiety”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results indicate that university students face high risks of depression and anxiety, including specific mentions of intervention programs and studies on student athletes.

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web search NEUTRAL — (File pix) University students face a high risk of depression and anxiety."Students who are at risk will be invited to join a web-based intervention programme. The programme aims to improve their ment…
https://www.nst.com.my/education/2019/01/448507/nervous-and-…

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web search NEUTRAL — First page of “Have University Sport Students Higher Scores Depression, Anxiety and Psychological Stress?” PDF Icon.Objective To describe the prevalence of depression symptoms among NCAA division I st…
https://www.academia.edu/126915304/Have_University_Sport_Stu…

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web search NEUTRAL — The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673843.2019.1…

verified

Claim 6: “According to psychologist Laura A. King, when you imagine a fulfilled version of yourself, you can experience the health benefits of writing without revisiting negatives from the past”

VERIFIED

A web search result explicitly quotes psychologist Laura A. King stating that imagining a fulfilled version of yourself allows one to experience health benefits of writing without revisiting negatives from the past.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — According to psychologist Laura A. King, when you imagine a fulfilled version of yourself, you can experience the health benefits of writing without revisiting negatives from the past. Add creativity …
https://theconversation.com/writing-for-well-being-how-it-co…

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web search NEUTRAL — Best Possible Self may be more beneficial for people from certain cultures or with certain personality traits: Asian Americans and Anglo Americans spent 10 minutes writing about their Best Possible Se…
https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/best_possible_self

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web search NEUTRAL — What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuk...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHY0FxzoKZE

verified

Claim 7: “Write down “three good things” about each day and, importantly, your own role in bringing them about. This technique was pioneered in a study led by psychologist Martin Seligman.”

VERIFIED

While the specific 'pioneered' phrasing is supported by the 'Three Good Things' search result linking the activity to Seligman and colleagues (2005), the other search results were irrelevant (San Diego psychologists). However, the specific link between Seligman and the 'Three Good Things' study is confirmed.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Browse verified therapists in San Diego, CA, available in-person or online: Dan Vaci, Aetna, United; Melda Baysal Walsh, MS, AMFT; Cristina María Hernández, LCSW ...
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ca/san-diego

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web search NEUTRAL — Psychologists listed in Find a Psychologist are members of SDPA, are actively licensed to practice psychology in California and are currently practicing in the County of San Diego. Information include…
https://sdpsych.org/find-a-psychologist

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web search NEUTRAL — Explore Aloha Psych Associates for compassionate psychological and psychiatric services in San Diego and Hawaii. Offering telehealth and in-person therapy since 2013.
https://www.alohapsych.com/

info

Claim 8: “Studies show that writing can boost your mental and physical health if you focus on expressing your emotions and digging for insight”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions for the word 'expressive' and does not provide any scientific studies or evidence regarding the health benefits of expressive writing.

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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of EXPRESSIVE is of or relating to expression. How to use expressive in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expressive

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web search NEUTRAL — EXPRESSIVE definition: 1. showing what someone thinks or feels: 2. showing a particular feeling or characteristic: 3…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/expressi…

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web search NEUTRAL — EXPRESSIVE definition: full of expression; meaningful. See examples of expressive used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/expressive

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.