The Oxford Dictionary defines cognition as “the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses” Cognition can also be described as thinking skills. We need cognition - or thinking skills – to navigate the world around us, to learn and to make sense of information. Cognitive skills such as memory, concentration and processing speed can fluctuate over time and can be affected by illness (including physical and mental health), quality of sleep and stress levels. Cognitive skills can naturally decline as we age, but for people with mental health conditions can also be improved through approaches such as Cognitive Remediation (CR) and other compensatory approaches. 

If you would like more information on cognition, and detail on the different areas of cognition, HAPPYneuron Pro provides a useful guide here: What are Cognitive Functions? | HappyNeuron Pro 

To hear young people talking about what cognition means to them:

Someone experiencing difficulties with their cognition or thinking skills may find it difficult to keep track of a conversation, follow the plot of a movie, do the shopping, plan and cook a meal, remember peoples’ names, remember instructions and solve problems. 

Cognitive skills develop and change over time. An episode of illness can affect cognitive ability just as a poor night’s sleep or physical illness can also impact thinking skills and abilities. Someone may notice their memory, problem-solving, and concentration are not as sharp when they feel unwell. Sometimes, medications can also affect cognitive skills. Cognitive challenges are also associated with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.  

It is certainly possible to improve cognition, but it is important to check with a mental health professional to establish if an approach such as Cognitive Remediation is right for them. WISE IDEA’s Employ Your Mind (EYM) program is one example of program that uses Cognitive Remediation to improve participants’ cognitive skills, while also building confidence and skills for work (including paid employment, volunteering or study) 

Cognitive remediation is an intervention targeting cognition (thinking skills such as attention, memory, executive function, social cognition, and meta-cognition) using scientific principles of learning with the ultimate goal of improving functional outcomes such as employment. 

Under the guidance of a trained facilitator, CR combines computerised cognitive training exercises with specific techniques aiming to achieve cognitive improvements, with the gains transferring to areas of everyday life including work and study. 

To hear young people talking about Cognitive Remediation and the Employ Your Mind (EYM) program:

People with mental health issues may experience difficulties with their thinking skills or cognition. CR has been designed to address these concerns with research showing it to be effective for many people with conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. People who are motivated to work on and improve their cognition, in addition to having an ability to learn new information and strategies, may benefit from cognitive remediation.